---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Then the flight attendants, garbage bags…"
description: "\"“Then the flight attendants, garbage bags in hand, glided down the aisle, looking each one of us square in the face and whispering, without discriminat..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0bf/david-sedaris-333_flight-attendants_then-the-flight-attendants-garbage-bags_2285307.png"
---

#  Then the flight attendants, garbage bags in hand, glided…

![“Then the flight attendants, garbage bags in hand, glided down the aisle, looking each one of us square in the face and whispering, without discrimination, “Your trash. You’re trash. Your family’s trash.” quote by David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0bf/david-sedaris-333_flight-attendants_then-the-flight-attendants-garbage-bags_2285307.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0bf/david-sedaris-333_flight-attendants_then-the-flight-attendants-garbage-bags_2285307.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0bf/david-sedaris-333_flight-attendants_then-the-flight-attendants-garbage-bags_2285307.png)

> ““Then the flight attendants, garbage bags in hand, glided down the aisle, looking each one of us square in the face and whispering, without discrimination, “Your trash. You’re trash. Your family’s trash.””

[David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/)

## About This Quote

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

The narrator describes flight attendants delivering harsh, dehumanizing remarks, highlighting how systemic contempt can be delivered in mundane settings.

**In simple terms:** Flight attendants harshly label passengers as trash, reflecting societal contempt.

Key Takeaway

Recognize and challenge dehumanizing language.

Themes

dehumanization social critique power dynamics

Mood

discomfort critical analytical

Type

satirical observational critical

When to use this quote

- airport experience
- customer service
- public transport
- social observation

Key Concepts

psychology social stigma language authority

Questions to Reflect On

- How does language shape our perception of others?
- What can we do when faced with dehumanizing remarks?

A Different Perspective

Such remarks may be satirical, not literal, limiting direct applicability.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Attendants Garbage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attendants-garbage-5349337/) [Discrimination Trash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discrimination-trash-5349338/) [Family Trash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/family-trash-5349339/) [Flight Attendants](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flight-attendants-273568/) [Trash Family](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trash-family-4020624/)

## Related quotes

> [“A month ago, John and I discovered two abandoned boys named Pete and Frank. One is white, and the other is a Negro. Apparently,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-johnson/a-month-ago-john-and-i-discovered-two-abandoned-boys-named-pete-and/)

[David Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-johnson/)

> [A lot of people think I'm a chick. It happens the most at airports. The flight attendants will always say, 'Have a nice flight,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/borns/a-lot-of-people-think-i-m-a-chick-it-happens-the-most-at-airports-the/)

[Borns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/borns/)

> [Flight attendants all over the world saw 'Sex and the City.' Doesn't matter what country you are in. The flight attendants know Jack Berger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-livingston/flight-attendants-all-over-the-world-saw-sex-and-the-city-doesn-t/)

[Ron Livingston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-livingston/)

> [“That I’ve horrified many flight attendants across the globe with my oft-thought morbid ritual of listening to Tuesday’s Gone as we fly through the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-ayers/that-i-ve-horrified-many-flight-attendants-across-the-globe-with-my/)

[Ava Ayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-ayers/)

> [Passengers prefer old captains and young flight attendants.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/passengers-prefer-old-captains-and-young-flight-attendants/)

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

> [“Once I reached the gate, a wave of relief swept over me. It was obvious the whole thing was being stage-managed. The Chinese government…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masaji-ishikawa/once-i-reached-the-gate-a-wave-of-relief-swept-over-me-it-was-obvious/)

[Masaji Ishikawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masaji-ishikawa/)

> [Flight attendants need to think on their feet and walk on their toes. An emergency landing can't be steered by a pot-bellied cabin crew…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barkha-dutt/flight-attendants-need-to-think-on-their-feet-and-walk-on-their-toes/)

[Barkha Dutt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barkha-dutt/)

> [I've spent many a long flight talking to flight attendants, trying to understand what kind of employment experience underlies such a consistent lack of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-lencioni/i-ve-spent-many-a-long-flight-talking-to-flight-attendants-trying-to/)

[Patrick Lencioni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-lencioni/)

> [“There is a reason flight attendants tell you to put your mask on first in an emergency...you cannot be important to anyone else if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelley-k-wall-2/there-is-a-reason-flight-attendants-tell-you-to-put-your-mask-on/)

[Shelley K Wall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelley-k-wall-2/)

> [Most of us have jobs that require some handling of other peoples' feelings and our own, and in that sense, we are all partly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arlie-russell-hochschild/most-of-us-have-jobs-that-require-some-handling-of-other-peoples/)

[Arlie Russell Hochschild](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arlie-russell-hochschild/)

> [“So, what’s up with you two? You’re really flight attendants?” Marna’s eyes danced. “I prefer sky muffins.” She giggled.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-higgins/so-what-s-up-with-you-two-you-re-really-flight-attendants-marna-s/)

[Wendy Higgins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-higgins/)

> [Hillary Clinton flew with President Bush to New York City on Tuesday. She was amazed at the changes aboard Air Force One. For eight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/argus-hamilton/hillary-clinton-flew-with-president-bush-to-new-york-city-on-tuesday/)

[Argus Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/argus-hamilton/)

## More by David Sedaris

> [“Plenty of animals had pets, but few were more devoted than the mouse, who owned a baby corn snake—“A rescue snake, she’d be quick…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/plenty-of-animals-had-pets-but-few-were-more-devoted-than-the-mouse/)

[David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/)

> [“never fall asleep in a Dumpster, never underestimate a bee, never drive a convertible behind a flatbed truck, never get old, never get drunk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/never-fall-asleep-in-a-dumpster-never-underestimate-a-bee-never-drive/)

[David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/)

> [“It was a father, one hand resting teapot-style on his hip, and the other - what would be the spout - formed into a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/it-was-a-father-one-hand-resting-teapot-style-on-his-hip-and-the/)

[David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/)

> [“A Japanese woman we’d met in Paris came to the apartment yesterday and spent several hours explaining our appliances. The microwave, the water kettle,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/a-japanese-woman-we-d-met-in-paris-came-to-the-apartment-yesterday/)

[David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/)

> [One thing I like about the United States, and I kind of miss about the United States, is there's an election coming up here…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/one-thing-i-like-about-the-united-states-and-i-kind-of-miss-about-the/)

[David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/)

> [When you read comic material and people aren't laughing how do you know they're listening.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/when-you-read-comic-material-and-people-aren-t-laughing-how-do-you/)

[David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/)

> [“You have how many children in your family?" the teacher would ask. "I'm guessing you must be Catholic, am I right?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/you-have-how-many-children-in-your-family-the-teacher-would-ask-i-m/)

[David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/)

> [“Like most seasoned phonies, I roundly suspect that everyone is as disingenuous as I am.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/like-most-seasoned-phonies-i-roundly-suspect-that-everyone-is-as/)

[David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/)

> [As a child I assumed that when I reached adulthood, I would have grown-up thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/as-a-child-i-assumed-that-when-i-reached-adulthood-i-would-have-grown/)

[David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/)

> [“You just take and take don´t you? Out there with your thumb in the air—not a care in the world, just grabbing whatever you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/you-just-take-and-take-don-t-you-out-there-with-your-thumb-in-the-air/)

[David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/)

> [In other parts of the country people tried to stay together for the sake of the children. In New York they tried to work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/in-other-parts-of-the-country-people-tried-to-stay-together-for-the/)

[David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/)

> [My boyfriend got me a computer three years ago. I'll admit it does make things a lot easier. When I was working on a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/my-boyfriend-got-me-a-computer-three-years-ago-i-ll-admit-it-does/)

[David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/)

> [I spent months searching for some secret code before I realized that common sense has nothing to do with it. Hysteria, psychosis, torture, depression:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/i-spent-months-searching-for-some-secret-code-before-i-realized-that/)

[David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/)

> [I hated leaving a hole in the smoking world, and so I recruited someone to take my place. People have given me a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/i-hated-leaving-a-hole-in-the-smoking-world-and-so-i-recruited/)

[David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/)

> [Write relentlessly, until you find your voice. Then, use it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/write-relentlessly-until-you-find-your-voice-then-use-it/)

[David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/)

[Explore all 667 David Sedaris quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/)

## More Flight Attendants quotes

> [A lot of people think I'm a chick. It happens the most at airports. The flight attendants will always say, 'Have a nice flight,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/borns/a-lot-of-people-think-i-m-a-chick-it-happens-the-most-at-airports-the/)

[Borns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/borns/)

> [“So, what’s up with you two? You’re really flight attendants?” Marna’s eyes danced. “I prefer sky muffins.” She giggled.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-higgins/so-what-s-up-with-you-two-you-re-really-flight-attendants-marna-s/)

[Wendy Higgins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-higgins/)

> [Most of us have jobs that require some handling of other peoples' feelings and our own, and in that sense, we are all partly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arlie-russell-hochschild/most-of-us-have-jobs-that-require-some-handling-of-other-peoples/)

[Arlie Russell Hochschild](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arlie-russell-hochschild/)

> [“There is a reason flight attendants tell you to put your mask on first in an emergency...you cannot be important to anyone else if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelley-k-wall-2/there-is-a-reason-flight-attendants-tell-you-to-put-your-mask-on/)

[Shelley K Wall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelley-k-wall-2/)

> [I've spent many a long flight talking to flight attendants, trying to understand what kind of employment experience underlies such a consistent lack of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-lencioni/i-ve-spent-many-a-long-flight-talking-to-flight-attendants-trying-to/)

[Patrick Lencioni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-lencioni/)

> [Flight attendants need to think on their feet and walk on their toes. An emergency landing can't be steered by a pot-bellied cabin crew…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barkha-dutt/flight-attendants-need-to-think-on-their-feet-and-walk-on-their-toes/)

[Barkha Dutt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barkha-dutt/)

> [“Once I reached the gate, a wave of relief swept over me. It was obvious the whole thing was being stage-managed. The Chinese government…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masaji-ishikawa/once-i-reached-the-gate-a-wave-of-relief-swept-over-me-it-was-obvious/)

[Masaji Ishikawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masaji-ishikawa/)

> [Passengers prefer old captains and young flight attendants.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/passengers-prefer-old-captains-and-young-flight-attendants/)

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

> [“That I’ve horrified many flight attendants across the globe with my oft-thought morbid ritual of listening to Tuesday’s Gone as we fly through the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-ayers/that-i-ve-horrified-many-flight-attendants-across-the-globe-with-my/)

[Ava Ayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-ayers/)

> [Flight attendants all over the world saw 'Sex and the City.' Doesn't matter what country you are in. The flight attendants know Jack Berger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-livingston/flight-attendants-all-over-the-world-saw-sex-and-the-city-doesn-t/)

[Ron Livingston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-livingston/)

> [Hillary Clinton flew with President Bush to New York City on Tuesday. She was amazed at the changes aboard Air Force One. For eight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/argus-hamilton/hillary-clinton-flew-with-president-bush-to-new-york-city-on-tuesday/)

[Argus Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/argus-hamilton/)

[Browse all 12 Flight Attendants quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flight-attendants-273568/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“Then the flight attendants, garbage bags in hand, glided down the aisle, looking each one of us square in the face and whispering, without discrimination, “Your trash. You’re trash. Your family’s trash.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "David Sedaris"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/then-the-flight-attendants-garbage-bags-in-hand-glided-down-the-aisle/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Flight Attendants"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/then-the-flight-attendants-garbage-bags-in-hand-glided-down-the-aisle/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0bf/david-sedaris-333_flight-attendants_then-the-flight-attendants-garbage-bags_2285307.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0bf/david-sedaris-333_flight-attendants_then-the-flight-attendants-garbage-bags_2285307.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0bf/david-sedaris-333_flight-attendants_then-the-flight-attendants-garbage-bags_2285307.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Then the flight attendants, garbage bags in hand, glided down the aisle, looking each one of us square in…” — David Sedaris",
                "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": "David Sedaris",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“Then the flight attendants, garbage bags...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/then-the-flight-attendants-garbage-bags-in-hand-glided-down-the-aisle/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/then-the-flight-attendants-garbage-bags-in-hand-glided-down-the-aisle/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
