---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: He frowned. \"Who cares about that? Screw…"
description: "\"“He frowned. \"Who cares about that? Screw the gerbils.\" \"Screw them?\" I raised an eyebrow. \"Lyle, this is not your personal recreation time.”\" — Cecily..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f27/cecily-white-11430_time_he-frowned-who-cares-about-that-screw-th_2517694.jpg"
---

#  He frowned. "Who cares about that? Screw the gerbils."…

![“He frowned. &quot;Who cares about that? Screw the gerbils.&quot; &quot;Screw them?&quot; I raised an eyebrow. &quot;Lyle, this is not your personal recreation time.” quote by Cecily White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f27/cecily-white-11430_time_he-frowned-who-cares-about-that-screw-th_2517694.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f27/cecily-white-11430_time_he-frowned-who-cares-about-that-screw-th_2517694.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f27/cecily-white-11430_time_he-frowned-who-cares-about-that-screw-th_2517694.jpg)

> ““He frowned. "Who cares about that? Screw the gerbils." "Screw them?" I raised an eyebrow. "Lyle, this is not your personal recreation time.””

[Cecily White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecily-white/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Shows a character dismissing trivial concerns, emphasizing personal priorities over minor distractions.

**In simple terms:** Ignore insignificant worries.

Key Takeaway

Focus on what matters to you.

Themes

priorities distraction individualism humor

Mood

wry assertive

Type

satirical conversational

When to use this quote

- workplace
- social gatherings
- creative projects
- family time

Key Concepts

value judgment personal boundaries

Questions to Reflect On

- When is it okay to disregard others' concerns?
- How do you set boundaries without offending?

A Different Perspective

Dismissal may harm relationships.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/)

## Related quotes

> [“Y'all probably watched a lot of television." "We didn't have TV." "Nintendo, then?" He shook his head. "Fantasy football? Xbox?" I frowned. "Please tell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecily-white/y-all-probably-watched-a-lot-of-television-we-didn-t-have-tv-nintendo/)

[Cecily White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecily-white/)

> [“Vetinari gave him a look that did not actually employ a raised eyebrow but which implied that one might be forthcoming if the recipient…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/vetinari-gave-him-a-look-that-did-not-actually-employ-a-raised/)

[Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/)

> [A single raised eyebrow. "You've defected, sweetheart. No use worrying about the big, bad wolf now." She was aware of Judd speaking, but her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nalini-singh/a-single-raised-eyebrow-you-ve-defected-sweetheart-no-use-worrying/)

[Nalini Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nalini-singh/)

> [“My mother raised her eyebrow, and murmured, “And to think I was always worried that you didn’t have any friends. I suppose I should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-briggs/my-mother-raised-her-eyebrow-and-murmured-and-to-think-i-was-always/)

[Patricia Briggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-briggs/)

> [“He raised an eyebrow, which made Clary instantly jealous. She’d always wanted to be able to do that. ... Magnus raised an eyebrow. Damn,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/he-raised-an-eyebrow-which-made-clary-instantly-jealous-she-d-always/)

[Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/)

> [“Over a million? A million books?” Her heart leapt and danced, and she cracked a smile. “I’d die before I even got through half…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/over-a-million-a-million-books-her-heart-leapt-and-danced-and-she/)

[Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/)

> [“Time’s up,” I muttered. “Let’s do this.” Alek raised an eyebrow at me. He didn’t get the Leroy Jenkins reference, but that was okay.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-bellet/time-s-up-i-muttered-let-s-do-this-alek-raised-an-eyebrow-at-me-he/)

[Annie Bellet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-bellet/)

> [“Louisa raised an eyebrow. "Is he—how shall I put it delicately—a simple man?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heidi-cullinan/louisa-raised-an-eyebrow-is-he-how-shall-i-put-it-delicately-a-simple/)

[Heidi Cullinan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heidi-cullinan/)

> [“Behind me, Eaden cleared his throat. “Rachel?” He was holding open the door of a sleek, tiny black sports car, the kind I didn’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georgia-bell/behind-me-eaden-cleared-his-throat-rachel-he-was-holding-open-the/)

Georgia Bell

> [“I sat up and squeezed my ass cheeks together hard. “I really don’t think that’s nec—” Jolie raised an eyebrow. “Do you really want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-ward/i-sat-up-and-squeezed-my-ass-cheeks-together-hard-i-really-don-t/)

[Alice Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-ward/)

> [“I raised an eyebrow. "You know, you're really good at compliments. Actually, it's surprising that a person with charm like yours has any enemies."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yvonne-woon/i-raised-an-eyebrow-you-know-you-re-really-good-at-compliments/)

[Yvonne Woon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yvonne-woon/)

> [“Andrew raised an eyebrow in appreciation. “Damn…what is it with this town?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-gregory/andrew-raised-an-eyebrow-in-appreciation-damn-what-is-it-with-this/)

Amy Gregory

> [“Looking down at me, Kellan raised an eyebrow. “Did your dad buy you the squeakiest bed in the world on purpose?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-c-stephens/looking-down-at-me-kellan-raised-an-eyebrow-did-your-dad-buy-you-the/)

[S.C. Stephens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-c-stephens/)

> [“You get everything you need?” She squealed like an idiot and whirled around to see him smirking at her. “JeSUS!” She glared at him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samantha-young/you-get-everything-you-need-she-squealed-like-an-idiot-and-whirled/)

[Samantha Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samantha-young/)

> [“Call me crazy, but I kind of like actually -- you know -- being attracted to the girl I'm making scream my name out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-blakely/call-me-crazy-but-i-kind-of-like-actually-you-know-being-attracted-to/)

[Lauren Blakely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-blakely/)

## More by Cecily White

> [“No one had ever left me so simultaneously relaxed and knotted up all at once (except maybe Rhett Butler, which doesn't count since he's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecily-white/no-one-had-ever-left-me-so-simultaneously-relaxed-and-knotted-up-all/)

[Cecily White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecily-white/)

> [“She broke up with you again, didn't she?" He flopped back in his chair, lanky legs hooked at the ankles. "She also reserved a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecily-white/she-broke-up-with-you-again-didn-t-she-he-flopped-back-in-his-chair/)

[Cecily White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecily-white/)

> [“She takes after her father." "Uh, I guess," I said, unsure how to respond. Bud's reputation was too far down the toilet for it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecily-white/she-takes-after-her-father-uh-i-guess-i-said-unsure-how-to-respond/)

[Cecily White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecily-white/)

> [“Daddy, I'll be fine. Smalley says some people are late bloomers, that's all." Actually, what she'd said was, 'Tis a marvellous bud that opens…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecily-white/daddy-i-ll-be-fine-smalley-says-some-people-are-late-bloomers-that-s/)

[Cecily White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecily-white/)

> [“Tell her I got detention for defending her honour," Alec shouted in the distance. "Did he really?" "Well, he got detention, but mostly for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecily-white/tell-her-i-got-detention-for-defending-her-honour-alec-shouted-in-the/)

[Cecily White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecily-white/)

> [“No girl has ever offered to feed my enemies' fingernails to her cat before." "Lisa's cat. And don't flatter yourself. At the moment, I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecily-white/no-girl-has-ever-offered-to-feed-my-enemies-fingernails-to-her-cat/)

[Cecily White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecily-white/)

> [“Duh, why didn't you just kill her?" Lisa asked, annoyed. "Two more seconds and it would have been justifiable vampicide." "Lis, for all we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecily-white/duh-why-didn-t-you-just-kill-her-lisa-asked-annoyed-two-more-seconds/)

[Cecily White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecily-white/)

> [“Good grief," Alec muttered. "Be afraid," Katie quoted. "Be very afraid." Alec squinted at her. "That sounds familiar. Revelations?" "David Cronenberg. It's a long,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecily-white/good-grief-alec-muttered-be-afraid-katie-quoted-be-very-afraid-alec/)

[Cecily White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecily-white/)

> [“Your pupils are dilated," he said. "I think-" "Yes?" I breathed. "I think you have a concussion." I blinked. A concussion? That's so not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecily-white/your-pupils-are-dilated-he-said-i-think-yes-i-breathed-i-think-you/)

[Cecily White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecily-white/)

> [“You give frequent flyer miles with that guilt trip?” “Absolutely,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecily-white/you-give-frequent-flyer-miles-with-that-guilt-trip-absolutely/)

[Cecily White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecily-white/)

> [“Human scrambled around, totally oblivious to the hell that burned beneath them. They were like children, so addicted to their toys they'd probably never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecily-white/human-scrambled-around-totally-oblivious-to-the-hell-that-burned/)

[Cecily White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecily-white/)

> [“I thought you called dibs on him." "I did, but you can have him first. After he dumps you, imagine how good I'll look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecily-white/i-thought-you-called-dibs-on-him-i-did-but-you-can-have-him-first/)

[Cecily White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecily-white/)

> [“Are you insane?" "Never diagnosed," the guy said.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecily-white/are-you-insane-never-diagnosed-the-guy-said/)

[Cecily White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecily-white/)

> [“Lyle, I don't care who you date." "Good, because I want you to know that thing with Skye was also a mistake. We both…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecily-white/lyle-i-don-t-care-who-you-date-good-because-i-want-you-to-know-that/)

[Cecily White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecily-white/)

> [“It looks like my grandma's old VW Rabbit after the Berlin Wall fell on it. Twice.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecily-white/it-looks-like-my-grandma-s-old-vw-rabbit-after-the-berlin-wall-fell/)

[Cecily White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecily-white/)

[Explore all 60 Cecily White quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecily-white/)

## More Time quotes

> ['Mad TV' is one of my most favorite shows of all time and is a huge part of my obsession with sketch comedy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-dawson/mad-tv-is-one-of-my-most-favorite-shows-of-all-time-and-is-a-huge/)

[Shane Dawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-dawson/)

> [These joys were so trifling as to be as imperceptible as grains of gold among the sand, and in moments of depression she saw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/these-joys-were-so-trifling-as-to-be-as-imperceptible-as-grains-of/)

[Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/)

> [“William didn't look like he'd be difficult about anything - he was thin and sandy-haired and already wore eyeglasses like his father. Most of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-c-wrede/william-didn-t-look-like-he-d-be-difficult-about-anything-he-was-thin/)

[Patricia C. Wrede](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-c-wrede/)

> [Intel has a very complete process that I go through any time I want to sell that ensures I have no insider information.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-krzanich/intel-has-a-very-complete-process-that-i-go-through-any-time-i-want/)

[Brian Krzanich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-krzanich/)

> [The man who can master his time can master nearly anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/the-man-who-can-master-his-time-can-master-nearly-anything/)

[Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/)

> [I feel like the future is unwritten. So many of the things that we write now haven't been about educating people on the environment,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flansburgh/i-feel-like-the-future-is-unwritten-so-many-of-the-things-that-we/)

[John Flansburgh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flansburgh/)

> [You'll seldom experience regret for anything that you've done. It is what you haven't done that will torment you. The message, therefore, is clear.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-ll-seldom-experience-regret-for-anything-that-you-ve-done-it-is/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [When you do things they're absolutely right at that time for you and it can always teach you something about yourself. You can take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kym-marsh/when-you-do-things-they-re-absolutely-right-at-that-time-for-you-and/)

[Kym Marsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kym-marsh/)

> [Resist discouragement by speaking His Word over your future. Keep standing. Keep hoping; keep believing because He is working behind the scenes. He's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/resist-discouragement-by-speaking-his-word-over-your-future-keep/)

[Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/)

> [If I had a dollar for every time I couldn’t sleep, I could buy a billion locks and finally read a book in peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aesop-rock/if-i-had-a-dollar-for-every-time-i-couldn-t-sleep-i-could-buy-a/)

[Aesop Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aesop-rock/)

> [Me.. I have been through a lot, but I still manage to have a smile on my face. Im not worried about the past…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/me-i-have-been-through-a-lot-but-i-still-manage-to-have-a-smile-on-my/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“The future is only an indifferent void no one cares about, but the past is filled with life, and its countenance is irritating, repellent,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/the-future-is-only-an-indifferent-void-no-one-cares-about-but-the/)

[Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/)

> [“Conception is the beginning of human life. From the time that an ovum is fertilized a new life begins that is neither that of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/declaration-on-procured-abortion-congregation-for-the-doctrine-of-the-faith-1974/conception-is-the-beginning-of-human-life-from-the-time-that-an-ovum/)

Declaration on Procured Abortion Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith 1974

> [“You put together two things that have not been put together before. And the world is changed. People may not notice at the time,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-barnes/you-put-together-two-things-that-have-not-been-put-together-before/)

[Julian Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-barnes/)

> [“It was about damn time something happened.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lev-grossman/it-was-about-damn-time-something-happened/)

[Lev Grossman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lev-grossman/)

[Browse all 215,255 Time quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“He frowned. \"Who cares about that? Screw the gerbils.\" \"Screw them?\" I raised an eyebrow. \"Lyle, this is not your personal recreation time.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Cecily White"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecily-white/he-frowned-who-cares-about-that-screw-the-gerbils-screw-them-i-raised/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Time"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecily-white/he-frowned-who-cares-about-that-screw-the-gerbils-screw-them-i-raised/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f27/cecily-white-11430_time_he-frowned-who-cares-about-that-screw-th_2517694.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f27/cecily-white-11430_time_he-frowned-who-cares-about-that-screw-th_2517694.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f27/cecily-white-11430_time_he-frowned-who-cares-about-that-screw-th_2517694.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“He frowned. \"Who cares about that? Screw the gerbils.\" \"Screw them?\" I raised an eyebrow. \"Lyle, this is not…” — Cecily White",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Cecily White",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecily-white/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“He frowned. \"Who cares about that?...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecily-white/he-frowned-who-cares-about-that-screw-the-gerbils-screw-them-i-raised/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecily-white/he-frowned-who-cares-about-that-screw-the-gerbils-screw-them-i-raised/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
