--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The author has discovered to his cost…" description: "\"“The author has discovered to his cost that if you call a zoo to ask the cubic volume of the average adult camel, they treat you as if you are a comple..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/58a/clive-maxfield-68662_books_the-author-has-discovered-to-his-cost-th_430851.jpg" --- # The author has discovered to his cost that if you call a… ![“The author has discovered to his cost that if you call a zoo to ask the cubic volume of the average adult camel, they treat you as if you are a complete idiot.” quote by Clive Maxfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/58a/clive-maxfield-68662_books_the-author-has-discovered-to-his-cost-th_430851.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/58a/clive-maxfield-68662_books_the-author-has-discovered-to-his-cost-th_430851.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/58a/clive-maxfield-68662_books_the-author-has-discovered-to-his-cost-th_430851.jpg) > ““The author has discovered to his cost that if you call a zoo to ask the cubic volume of the average adult camel, they treat you as if you are a complete idiot.”” [Clive Maxfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-maxfield/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The author discovers that asking a zoo for a camel’s volume results in being treated as ignorant, highlighting absurdity in bureaucratic responses. **In simple terms:** Bureaucratic answers can feel condescending. Key Takeaway Expect expertise, not mockery. Themes frustration communication expertise absurdity Mood irritated wry Type observational satirical When to use this quote - research inquiry - customer service - academic request Key Concepts bureaucracy knowledge gaps humor Questions to Reflect On - How can you ask more effectively? - When do you accept a dismissive reply? A Different Perspective Not all questions receive respectful answers. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Adult Camel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adult-camel-3797238/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Complete Idiot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/complete-idiot-571280/) [Cost Zoo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cost-zoo-3797237/) [Discovered Cost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discovered-cost-3797239/) [Idiot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/idiot/) ## Related quotes > [When you see someone trying to manoeuvre it round the school gates, you have to think, 'You are a complete idiot.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-livingstone/when-you-see-someone-trying-to-manoeuvre-it-round-the-school-gates/) [Ken Livingstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-livingstone/) > [“Apparently while I was reading The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Dating, he’d read The Guide to Dating a Complete Idiot.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-brogan/apparently-while-i-was-reading-the-complete-idiot-s-guide-to-dating/) [Tracy Brogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-brogan/) > [“I'm a complete idiot".”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/burak-alkan-chester/i-m-a-complete-idiot/) [Burak Alkan Chester](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/burak-alkan-chester/) > [It always shocked me how you could understand so many things and be such a complete idiot about so many others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-butcher/it-always-shocked-me-how-you-could-understand-so-many-things-and-be/) [Jim Butcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-butcher/) > [“You realize, of course, that you are a complete idiot. Well, conscience, I'd say that much is obvious.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-bischoff/you-realize-of-course-that-you-are-a-complete-idiot-well-conscience-i/) [Susan Bischoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-bischoff/) > [There is no way to read your password to someone else without feeling like a complete idiot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-is-no-way-to-read-your-password-to-someone-else-without-feeling/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I make it a policy to try never to make a complete idiot of myself twice in the same way. After all, there's always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margot-dalton/i-make-it-a-policy-to-try-never-to-make-a-complete-idiot-of-myself/) [Margot Dalton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margot-dalton/) > [“THAT MORON! THAT COMPLETE IDIOT!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/crafty-nichole/that-moron-that-complete-idiot/) [Crafty Nichole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/crafty-nichole/) > [Sometimes the first step to forgiveness is understanding the other person is a complete idiot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sometimes-the-first-step-to-forgiveness-is-understanding-the-other/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I cannot pull off a mustache. It's like threading a needle, because most of the time, I'll look like a complete idiot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-forte/i-cannot-pull-off-a-mustache-it-s-like-threading-a-needle-because/) [Will Forte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-forte/) > [This is an awesome time to be a knowledge seeker, no better time, but it's also the best time in history to be a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-weinberger/this-is-an-awesome-time-to-be-a-knowledge-seeker-no-better-time-but/) [David Weinberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-weinberger/) > [Sometimes the first step to forgiveness is understanding that the other person is a complete idiot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sometimes-the-first-step-to-forgiveness-is-understanding-that-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [A girl doesn't need a guy in her life in order to act like a complete idiot. Certainly I, at least, never have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-jane-gilman/a-girl-doesn-t-need-a-guy-in-her-life-in-order-to-act-like-a-complete/) [Susan Jane Gilman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-jane-gilman/) > [That one teacher who makes you feel like a COMPLETE idiot when you get an answer wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/that-one-teacher-who-makes-you-feel-like-a-complete-idiot-when-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I'd have to be a complete idiot to leave this girl. An absolute moron. I buried my face in her hair, holding on to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-cross/i-d-have-to-be-a-complete-idiot-to-leave-this-girl-an-absolute-moron/) [Julie Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-cross/) ## More by Clive Maxfield > [“(I know, multiple exclamation marks are the sign of a deranged mind, but I’ve reached the age where I no longer care.)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-maxfield/i-know-multiple-exclamation-marks-are-the-sign-of-a-deranged-mind-but/) [Clive Maxfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-maxfield/) > [“Quarks are so weird that they have been referred to as “The dreams that stuff is made from,” and they are way beyond the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-maxfield/quarks-are-so-weird-that-they-have-been-referred-to-as-the-dreams/) [Clive Maxfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-maxfield/) > [“As you may have noticed, things are racing along in technology space (where no one can hear you scream).”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-maxfield/as-you-may-have-noticed-things-are-racing-along-in-technology-space/) [Clive Maxfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-maxfield/) [Explore all 4 Clive Maxfield quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-maxfield/) ## More Books quotes > [I think a new world will arise out of the religious mists when we approach our Bible with the idea that it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/i-think-a-new-world-will-arise-out-of-the-religious-mists-when-we/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [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/) > [If what I write is literature, I guess you'd better emphasize the 'litter.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lydia-lunch/if-what-i-write-is-literature-i-guess-you-d-better-emphasize-the/) [Lydia Lunch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lydia-lunch/) > [My sentences got sharper and my stories more efficient, and I gradually learned to imagine the reader more clearly and to empathize with that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-thompson-walker/my-sentences-got-sharper-and-my-stories-more-efficient-and-i/) [Karen Thompson Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-thompson-walker/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [“Within the pages of books, I've journeyed to Mandalay, the Milky Way and Santa Fe, without once having to leave my armchair.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-ansbro/within-the-pages-of-books-i-ve-journeyed-to-mandalay-the-milky-way/) [Kevin Ansbro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-ansbro/) > [The Rosary is the book of the blind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/the-rosary-is-the-book-of-the-blind/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) > [“Tacitus did not write a most dangerous book. His readers made it so.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-k-krebs/tacitus-did-not-write-a-most-dangerous-book-his-readers-made-it-so/) [Christopher K. Krebs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-k-krebs/) > [“Take some books and read; that’s an immense help; and books are always good company if you have the right sort.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louisa-may-alcott/take-some-books-and-read-that-s-an-immense-help-and-books-are-always/) [Louisa May Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louisa-may-alcott/) > [Reader, if you are gifted with nerves like mine, aspire to any character but that of a wit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/reader-if-you-are-gifted-with-nerves-like-mine-aspire-to-any/) [Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) > [I have many who keep me going, I am very fortunate in this sense. There is nothing like a child who knows more about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/floyd-cooper/i-have-many-who-keep-me-going-i-am-very-fortunate-in-this-sense-there/) [Floyd Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/floyd-cooper/) > [I think books in which people are really happy and things are going well are probably the most challenging novels there are to write,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-quindlen/i-think-books-in-which-people-are-really-happy-and-things-are-going/) [Anna Quindlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-quindlen/) > [It's like the query letter problem that I just mentioned, magnified a hundredfold. You might be good at telling a story, but that doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/it-s-like-the-query-letter-problem-that-i-just-mentioned-magnified-a/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [“Be careful about reading health books. Some fine day you'll die of a misprint.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-herz/be-careful-about-reading-health-books-some-fine-day-you-ll-die-of-a/) [Markus Herz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-herz/) > [But editors are still the world's readers. And thus the eyes of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betsy-lerner/but-editors-are-still-the-world-s-readers-and-thus-the-eyes-of-the/) [Betsy Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betsy-lerner/) [Browse all 59,485 Books quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“The author has discovered to his cost that if you call a zoo to ask the cubic volume of the average adult camel, they treat you as if you are a complete idiot.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Clive Maxfield" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-maxfield/the-author-has-discovered-to-his-cost-that-if-you-call-a-zoo-to-ask/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Books" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-maxfield/the-author-has-discovered-to-his-cost-that-if-you-call-a-zoo-to-ask/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/58a/clive-maxfield-68662_books_the-author-has-discovered-to-his-cost-th_430851.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/58a/clive-maxfield-68662_books_the-author-has-discovered-to-his-cost-th_430851.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/58a/clive-maxfield-68662_books_the-author-has-discovered-to-his-cost-th_430851.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The author has discovered to his cost that if you call a zoo to ask the cubic volume of the average adult…” — Clive Maxfield", "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": "Clive Maxfield", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-maxfield/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“The author has discovered to his...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-maxfield/the-author-has-discovered-to-his-cost-that-if-you-call-a-zoo-to-ask/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-maxfield/the-author-has-discovered-to-his-cost-that-if-you-call-a-zoo-to-ask/#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 } } ] } ```