--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What I like best about the telephone is…" description: "\"What I like best about the telephone is that it keeps you in touch with people, particularly people who want to sell you magazine subscriptions in the ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb2/dave-barry-222_answering-machines_what-i-like-best-about-the-telephone-is_573678.png" --- # What I like best about the telephone is that it keeps you… ![“What I like best about the telephone is that it keeps you in touch with people, particularly people who want to sell you magazine subscriptions in the middle of the night.” quote by Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb2/dave-barry-222_answering-machines_what-i-like-best-about-the-telephone-is_573678.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb2/dave-barry-222_answering-machines_what-i-like-best-about-the-telephone-is_573678.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb2/dave-barry-222_answering-machines_what-i-like-best-about-the-telephone-is_573678.png) > “What I like best about the telephone is that it keeps you in touch with people, particularly people who want to sell you magazine subscriptions in the middle of the night.” [Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The humor highlights the absurdity of being contacted by late-night sales calls, emphasizing inconvenience and annoyance. **In simple terms:** Late-night sales calls are annoying and absurd. Key Takeaway Set boundaries to avoid unwanted interruptions. Themes annoyance humor technology communication Mood lighthearted ironic Type humorous observational When to use this quote - personal phone use - customer service - digital etiquette Key Concepts consumer culture nighttime sales tactics Questions to Reflect On - How do you manage unwanted calls? - What boundaries improve your peace? A Different Perspective Not all calls are intrusive; some may be useful. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Answering machines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/answering-machines/) [Best Telephone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/best-telephone-4729697/) [Humorous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humorous/) [Keeps Touch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/keeps-touch-717450/) [Magazines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/magazines/) [Middle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/middle/) [Middle of the night](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/middle-of-the-night/) [Night](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/night/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Phones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/phones/) [Sell Magazine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sell-magazine-1155692/) [Sells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sells/) [Subscription](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/subscription/) [Telephone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/telephone/) [Telephone Keeps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/telephone-keeps-4729696/) [Telephones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/telephones/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) ## Related quotes > [The market for short stories is hard to break into, but a magazine editor isn't always looking for big names with which to sell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-brown/the-market-for-short-stories-is-hard-to-break-into-but-a-magazine/) [Eric Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-brown/) > [9 saw the first direct-dialed long-distance telephone call, between New York and San Francisco. Of course, back in that primitive era the parties had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/9-saw-the-first-direct-dialed-long-distance-telephone-call-between/) [Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/) > [I am absolutely sick unto death of hearing people say - they all say this; it must be Item One on the curriculum in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/i-am-absolutely-sick-unto-death-of-hearing-people-say-they-all-say/) [Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/) > [Standup keeps me grounded and keeps me in touch. I get to go from small towns to big cities, across Canada and the U.S.,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howie-mandel/standup-keeps-me-grounded-and-keeps-me-in-touch-i-get-to-go-from/) [Howie Mandel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howie-mandel/) > [It's vital that the monarchy keeps in touch with the people. It's what I try and do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/princess-diana/it-s-vital-that-the-monarchy-keeps-in-touch-with-the-people-it-s-what/) [Princess Diana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/princess-diana/) > [You see, money's not everything in life is it? but it keeps you in touch with your children...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnnie-casson/you-see-money-s-not-everything-in-life-is-it-but-it-keeps-you-in/) [Johnnie Casson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnnie-casson/) > [It keeps me in touch with younger musicians who are constantly saying, 'Have you heard this new artist, or this new guitar player?' It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-burton/it-keeps-me-in-touch-with-younger-musicians-who-are-constantly-saying/) [Gary Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-burton/) > [My faith kind of keeps me in touch with the idea that I'm not in control of things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-gaffigan/my-faith-kind-of-keeps-me-in-touch-with-the-idea-that-i-m-not-in/) [Jim Gaffigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-gaffigan/) > [Money isn't everything but it sure keeps you in touch with your children.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-paul-getty/money-isn-t-everything-but-it-sure-keeps-you-in-touch-with-your/) [J. Paul Getty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-paul-getty/) > [I think people who aren't in film experience that when they hear their voice on an answering machine or something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-portman/i-think-people-who-aren-t-in-film-experience-that-when-they-hear/) [Natalie Portman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-portman/) > [The dead have no ears, no answering machines that we know of, still we call.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-hicok/the-dead-have-no-ears-no-answering-machines-that-we-know-of-still-we/) [Bob Hicok](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-hicok/) > [Everyone I talked to was a recording-the bank, the elevator, your office, the school, a wrong number. You used to be able to call…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erma-bombeck/everyone-i-talked-to-was-a-recording-the-bank-the-elevator-your/) [Erma Bombeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erma-bombeck/) > [I'm definitely a child of the 21st century and I prefer texting to phone calls, but I would prefer an answering machine over all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brendan-dooling/i-m-definitely-a-child-of-the-21st-century-and-i-prefer-texting-to/) [Brendan Dooling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brendan-dooling/) > [Fax me a fact and I'll telegram a hologram or telephone the son of man and tell him he is done. Leave a message…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-williams/fax-me-a-fact-and-i-ll-telegram-a-hologram-or-telephone-the-son-of/) [Saul Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-williams/) > [ \[Answering the phone\] Hello, this is a recording, you've dialed the right number, now hang up and don't do it again. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-sinatra/answering-the-phone-hello-this-is-a-recording-you-ve-dialed-the-right/) [Frank Sinatra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-sinatra/) ## More by Dave Barry > [This is true; virtually all edible substances, and many automotive products, are now marketed as being low-fat or fat-free. Americans are obsessed with fat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/this-is-true-virtually-all-edible-substances-and-many-automotive/) [Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/) > [This ball was so crowded that it took me - a trained professional journalist with vast experience in this area - forty five minutes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/this-ball-was-so-crowded-that-it-took-me-a-trained-professional/) [Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/) > [The hardest thing about being a guy is that women don't accept that you really are just a simple, pathetic, labrador retriever-like creature. That…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/the-hardest-thing-about-being-a-guy-is-that-women-don-t-accept-that/) [Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/) > [The ultimate camping trip was the Lewis and Clark expedition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/the-ultimate-camping-trip-was-the-lewis-and-clark-expedition/) [Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/) > [Although golf was originally restricted to wealthy, overweight Protestants, today it's open to anybody who owns hideous clothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/although-golf-was-originally-restricted-to-wealthy-overweight/) [Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/) > [Entire new continent can emerge from the ocean in the time it takes for a Web page to show up on your screen. Contrary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/entire-new-continent-can-emerge-from-the-ocean-in-the-time-it-takes/) [Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/) > [He was distracted by a giggle, and turned to see a rare sight: a girl.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/he-was-distracted-by-a-giggle-and-turned-to-see-a-rare-sight-a-girl/) [Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/) > [The major parties could conduct live human sacrifices on their podiums during prime time, and I doubt that anybody would notice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/the-major-parties-could-conduct-live-human-sacrifices-on-their/) [Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/) > [If you look at any list of great modern writers such as Ernest Hemingway, William Faulkner, and F. Scott Fitzgerald, you'll notice two things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/if-you-look-at-any-list-of-great-modern-writers-such-as-ernest/) [Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/) > [Don't you wish you had a job like mine? All you have to do is think up a certain number of words! Plus, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/don-t-you-wish-you-had-a-job-like-mine-all-you-have-to-do-is-think-up/) [Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/) > [“Despite the gulf, physical and cultural, between the United States and Japan, both societies are, in the end, made up of people, and people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/despite-the-gulf-physical-and-cultural-between-the-united-states-and/) [Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/) > [Before going on a diet you should consult your doctor, or at least send him some money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/before-going-on-a-diet-you-should-consult-your-doctor-or-at-least/) [Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/) > [Never trust anything you read in a travel article.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/never-trust-anything-you-read-in-a-travel-article/) [Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/) > [In the old days, it was not called the Holiday Season; the Christians called it "Christmas" and went to church; the Jews called it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/in-the-old-days-it-was-not-called-the-holiday-season-the-christians/) [Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/) > [Always remember that if editors were so damned smart, they would know how to dress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/always-remember-that-if-editors-were-so-damned-smart-they-would-know/) [Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/) [Explore all 867 Dave Barry quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/) ## More Answering machines quotes > [ \[Answering the phone\] Hello, this is a recording, you've dialed the right number, now hang up and don't do it again. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-sinatra/answering-the-phone-hello-this-is-a-recording-you-ve-dialed-the-right/) [Frank Sinatra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-sinatra/) > [Fax me a fact and I'll telegram a hologram or telephone the son of man and tell him he is done. Leave a message…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-williams/fax-me-a-fact-and-i-ll-telegram-a-hologram-or-telephone-the-son-of/) [Saul Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-williams/) > [I'm definitely a child of the 21st century and I prefer texting to phone calls, but I would prefer an answering machine over all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brendan-dooling/i-m-definitely-a-child-of-the-21st-century-and-i-prefer-texting-to/) [Brendan Dooling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brendan-dooling/) > [Everyone I talked to was a recording-the bank, the elevator, your office, the school, a wrong number. You used to be able to call…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erma-bombeck/everyone-i-talked-to-was-a-recording-the-bank-the-elevator-your/) [Erma Bombeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erma-bombeck/) > [The dead have no ears, no answering machines that we know of, still we call.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-hicok/the-dead-have-no-ears-no-answering-machines-that-we-know-of-still-we/) [Bob Hicok](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-hicok/) > [I think people who aren't in film experience that when they hear their voice on an answering machine or something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-portman/i-think-people-who-aren-t-in-film-experience-that-when-they-hear/) [Natalie Portman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-portman/) > [“She never answers during the day," Max explained. "She lets her machine pick up." People like you are the reason other people get answering…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-russo/she-never-answers-during-the-day-max-explained-she-lets-her-machine/) [Richard Russo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-russo/) > [Like most people, you listen to yourself on the phone or an answering machine and you're like, 'Ugh.' So to do something with just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angelina-jolie/like-most-people-you-listen-to-yourself-on-the-phone-or-an-answering/) [Angelina Jolie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angelina-jolie/) > [People ask me to record their answering machines all the time. I love it. It's a miracle to me that people want to hear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-myers/people-ask-me-to-record-their-answering-machines-all-the-time-i-love/) [Mike Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-myers/) > [I remember a few years ago I was sitting at home with my wife watching the Oscars. I was sitting on the couch and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-walken/i-remember-a-few-years-ago-i-was-sitting-at-home-with-my-wife/) [Christopher Walken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-walken/) > [You wonder if God doesn't have an answering machine to screen out the prayers of the venal and the boring? And in which category…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/you-wonder-if-god-doesn-t-have-an-answering-machine-to-screen-out-the/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [“She never opened her mail in the middle of the day. Sometimes she forgot about it for a week or more until people rang…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicci-french/she-never-opened-her-mail-in-the-middle-of-the-day-sometimes-she/) [Nicci French](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicci-french/) > [I'm not good at texting because I'm an older generation, old school. And nobody ever listens to the answering machine anymore. It's terrible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/igor-levit/i-m-not-good-at-texting-because-i-m-an-older-generation-old-school/) [Igor Levit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/igor-levit/) > [Telephone message on his manager's answering machine shortly before dying of heroin overdose: I need help bad, man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimi-hendrix/telephone-message-on-his-manager-s-answering-machine-shortly-before/) [Jimi Hendrix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimi-hendrix/) > [The breakup of Bell laid the foundation for every important communications revolution since the 1980s onward. There was no way of knowing that thirty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-wu/the-breakup-of-bell-laid-the-foundation-for-every-important/) [Tim Wu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-wu/) [Browse all 44 Answering machines quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/answering-machines/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "What I like best about the telephone is that it keeps you in touch with people, particularly people who want to sell you magazine subscriptions in the middle of the night.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Dave Barry" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/what-i-like-best-about-the-telephone-is-that-it-keeps-you-in-touch/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Answering machines" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/what-i-like-best-about-the-telephone-is-that-it-keeps-you-in-touch/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb2/dave-barry-222_answering-machines_what-i-like-best-about-the-telephone-is_573678.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb2/dave-barry-222_answering-machines_what-i-like-best-about-the-telephone-is_573678.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb2/dave-barry-222_answering-machines_what-i-like-best-about-the-telephone-is_573678.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“What I like best about the telephone is that it keeps you in touch with people, particularly people who want…” — Dave Barry", "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": "Dave Barry", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "What I like best about the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/what-i-like-best-about-the-telephone-is-that-it-keeps-you-in-touch/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/what-i-like-best-about-the-telephone-is-that-it-keeps-you-in-touch/#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 } } ] } ```