--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I didn’t know about the Purell. I don’t…" description: "\"“I didn’t know about the Purell. I don’t think I would have wanted to vacation with someone who brought Purell along. I even fantasized later that if I..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ced/delia-ephron-17863_dirty-hands_i-didn-t-know-about-the-purell-i-don-t-t_858948.png" --- # I didn’t know about the Purell. I don’t think I would have… ![“I didn’t know about the Purell. I don’t think I would have wanted to vacation with someone who brought Purell along. I even fantasized later that if I’d known about the Purell, maybe the vacation wouldn’t have happened. I didn’t remember Purell in London, perhaps it was a new fetish. Purell is a…” quote by Delia Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ced/delia-ephron-17863_dirty-hands_i-didn-t-know-about-the-purell-i-don-t-t_858948.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ced/delia-ephron-17863_dirty-hands_i-didn-t-know-about-the-purell-i-don-t-t_858948.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ced/delia-ephron-17863_dirty-hands_i-didn-t-know-about-the-purell-i-don-t-t_858948.png) > ““I didn’t know about the Purell. I don’t think I would have wanted to vacation with someone who brought Purell along. I even fantasized later that if I’d known about the Purell, maybe the vacation wouldn’t have happened. I didn’t remember Purell in London, perhaps it was a new fetish. Purell is a fetish. Once one carries it—I have noticed from those who do—it seems necessary throughout the day to cleanse. It reflects a constant awareness that the world is awash with bacteria and you, going about your innocent carefree way, are all the while collecting microbes that can murder you or at least give you the twenty-four-hour flu. It’s awkward to turn down Purell, so I didn’t. That struck almost as powerfully as the Pantheon, I’m ashamed to admit. It’s as if one is saying, I prefer germs, I prefer to eat with dirty hands, I have poor hygiene. I am a pig.”” [Delia Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/delia-ephron/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Obsessive use of hand sanitizer reflects deeper anxieties about contamination, hygiene, and control, turning a simple product into a symbolic ritual. **In simple terms:** Hand sanitizer becomes a habit driven by fear of germs. Key Takeaway Recognize and manage hygiene anxieties. Themes anxiety hygiene obsession social behavior Mood reflective concerned Type analytical personal When to use this quote - travel - public transport - healthcare settings - daily routines Key Concepts psychology public health consumer habits Questions to Reflect On - How does fear of germs affect your daily life? - When is hygiene excessive? A Different Perspective Excessive sanitizing can harm skin health and social interaction. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dirty hands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dirty-hands/) ## Related quotes > [I never desire to know anything of the detail of political measures, lest even those which I think best should lose anything of their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fanny-kemble/i-never-desire-to-know-anything-of-the-detail-of-political-measures/) [Fanny Kemble](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fanny-kemble/) > [Poetry and music I have banished, But the stupidity Of root, shoot, blossom or clay Makes no demand. I bend my body to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-butler-yeats/poetry-and-music-i-have-banished-but-the-stupidity-of-root-shoot/) [William Butler Yeats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-butler-yeats/) > [“She saw him as a boy, standing in the kitchen, his clothes tattered and torn, his dark hair in need of a cut and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-featherstone/she-saw-him-as-a-boy-standing-in-the-kitchen-his-clothes-tattered-and/) [Charlotte Featherstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-featherstone/) > [\*dirty hands, no napkins around\* Wellll, my jeans are dark anyways...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/dirty-hands-no-napkins-around-wellll-my-jeans-are-dark-anyways/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Provoking separatist hatreds is an aggressive weed. We all have dirty hands and a broken heart. Put down your flag before you put down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhayla-gracey/provoking-separatist-hatreds-is-an-aggressive-weed-we-all-have-dirty/) Mikhayla Gracey > [“Dirty hands can no longer redeem in the hour of truth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sir-kristian-goldmund-aumann/dirty-hands-can-no-longer-redeem-in-the-hour-of-truth/) sir kristian goldmund aumann > [“If a peasant offers you a beautiful fruit with his dirty hands, take it with endless gratitude because his hands became dirty for your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/if-a-peasant-offers-you-a-beautiful-fruit-with-his-dirty-hands-take/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [You know, it's hard to be 32nd in the league in anything. And generally there are a lot of dirty hands that are involved…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-payton/you-know-it-s-hard-to-be-32nd-in-the-league-in-anything-and-generally/) [Sean Payton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-payton/) > [Dirty hands aint made for shakin', aint a rule that aint worth breakin'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miranda-lambert/dirty-hands-aint-made-for-shakin-aint-a-rule-that-aint-worth-breakin/) [Miranda Lambert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miranda-lambert/) > [“You cannot clean a dirty wall with dirty hands.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzy-kassem/you-cannot-clean-a-dirty-wall-with-dirty-hands/) [Suzy Kassem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzy-kassem/) > [“Never had we ever kissed as lovers; if we touched lips it was as brother and sister. In one moment of emotion, our lips…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roman-payne/never-had-we-ever-kissed-as-lovers-if-we-touched-lips-it-was-as/) [Roman Payne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roman-payne/) > [“No country can police corruption in other countries when it itself is not free from corruption. You cannot clean a dirty wall with dirty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzy-kassem/no-country-can-police-corruption-in-other-countries-when-it-itself-is/) [Suzy Kassem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzy-kassem/) > [What's distinctively shocking about Machiavelli is that he didn't care. He believed not only that politicians must do evil in the name of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ignatieff/what-s-distinctively-shocking-about-machiavelli-is-that-he-didn-t/) [Michael Ignatieff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ignatieff/) > [“And I read something else," Jacob goes on. "There was this discussion of the story of Cain and Abel, from the Bible. After Cain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-gidwitz/and-i-read-something-else-jacob-goes-on-there-was-this-discussion-of/) [Adam Gidwitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-gidwitz/) > [“He tunneled his dirty hands through her hair and kissed her breathless. Her neck, her eyes, the corners of her mouth. He kissed her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-elizabeth-phillips/he-tunneled-his-dirty-hands-through-her-hair-and-kissed-her/) [Susan Elizabeth Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-elizabeth-phillips/) ## More by Delia Ephron > [“And why do most of us want marriage? Crave it for status or for stability that is an illusion. Marriage can’t protect you from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/delia-ephron/and-why-do-most-of-us-want-marriage-crave-it-for-status-or-for/) [Delia Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/delia-ephron/) > [There is something fantastic about getting divorced. Everyone should do it to experience the extraordinary sense of freedom after being in marriage jail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/delia-ephron/there-is-something-fantastic-about-getting-divorced-everyone-should/) [Delia Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/delia-ephron/) > [As complicated as joint custody is, it allows the delicious contradiction of having children and maintaining the intimacy of life-before-kid s.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/delia-ephron/as-complicated-as-joint-custody-is-it-allows-the-delicious/) [Delia Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/delia-ephron/) > [“Maybe the truth can't be buried. Or maybe it can't stay buried. Maybe the very nature of truth is that it will ultimately reveal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/delia-ephron/maybe-the-truth-can-t-be-buried-or-maybe-it-can-t-stay-buried-maybe/) [Delia Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/delia-ephron/) > [writing is how I understand everything that happens. 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With luck, their children would take after her.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/delia-ephron/who-cared-that-he-couldn-t-spell-she-was-a-good-enough-speller-for/) [Delia Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/delia-ephron/) > [“God, secrets could simply do you in.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/delia-ephron/god-secrets-could-simply-do-you-in/) [Delia Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/delia-ephron/) > [“She has bitten into a crisp juicy apple and wondered if the bite and the thought were connected-- one never knew what went together,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/delia-ephron/she-has-bitten-into-a-crisp-juicy-apple-and-wondered-if-the-bite-and/) [Delia Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/delia-ephron/) > [I'm planning to give up worrying. I want to, but I'm worried I won't be able to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/delia-ephron/i-m-planning-to-give-up-worrying-i-want-to-but-i-m-worried-i-won-t-be/) [Delia Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/delia-ephron/) > [I have one rule I live by: Only do what you can do. That neans you're never looking outside for what's popular; you're always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/delia-ephron/i-have-one-rule-i-live-by-only-do-what-you-can-do-that-neans-you-re/) [Delia Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/delia-ephron/) > [in the family I grew up in, being called boring was like being called an ax murderer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/delia-ephron/in-the-family-i-grew-up-in-being-called-boring-was-like-being-called/) [Delia Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/delia-ephron/) > [if you are a stepparent, rush right out and get yourself a dog. Because it's very nice to have someone in the house that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/delia-ephron/if-you-are-a-stepparent-rush-right-out-and-get-yourself-a-dog-because/) [Delia Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/delia-ephron/) > [Your basic extended family today includes your ex-husband or -wife, your ex's new mate, your new mate, possibly your new mate's ex and any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/delia-ephron/your-basic-extended-family-today-includes-your-ex-husband-or-wife/) [Delia Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/delia-ephron/) [Explore all 36 Delia Ephron quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/delia-ephron/) ## More Dirty hands quotes > [I never desire to know anything of the detail of political measures, lest even those which I think best should lose anything of their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fanny-kemble/i-never-desire-to-know-anything-of-the-detail-of-political-measures/) [Fanny Kemble](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fanny-kemble/) > [“And I read something else," Jacob goes on. "There was this discussion of the story of Cain and Abel, from the Bible. After Cain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-gidwitz/and-i-read-something-else-jacob-goes-on-there-was-this-discussion-of/) [Adam Gidwitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-gidwitz/) > [What's distinctively shocking about Machiavelli is that he didn't care. He believed not only that politicians must do evil in the name of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ignatieff/what-s-distinctively-shocking-about-machiavelli-is-that-he-didn-t/) [Michael Ignatieff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ignatieff/) > [“No country can police corruption in other countries when it itself is not free from corruption. You cannot clean a dirty wall with dirty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzy-kassem/no-country-can-police-corruption-in-other-countries-when-it-itself-is/) [Suzy Kassem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzy-kassem/) > [“Never had we ever kissed as lovers; if we touched lips it was as brother and sister. In one moment of emotion, our lips…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roman-payne/never-had-we-ever-kissed-as-lovers-if-we-touched-lips-it-was-as/) [Roman Payne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roman-payne/) > [“You cannot clean a dirty wall with dirty hands.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzy-kassem/you-cannot-clean-a-dirty-wall-with-dirty-hands/) [Suzy Kassem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzy-kassem/) > [Dirty hands aint made for shakin', aint a rule that aint worth breakin'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miranda-lambert/dirty-hands-aint-made-for-shakin-aint-a-rule-that-aint-worth-breakin/) [Miranda Lambert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miranda-lambert/) > [You know, it's hard to be 32nd in the league in anything. And generally there are a lot of dirty hands that are involved…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-payton/you-know-it-s-hard-to-be-32nd-in-the-league-in-anything-and-generally/) [Sean Payton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-payton/) > [“If a peasant offers you a beautiful fruit with his dirty hands, take it with endless gratitude because his hands became dirty for your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/if-a-peasant-offers-you-a-beautiful-fruit-with-his-dirty-hands-take/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [“Dirty hands can no longer redeem in the hour of truth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sir-kristian-goldmund-aumann/dirty-hands-can-no-longer-redeem-in-the-hour-of-truth/) sir kristian goldmund aumann > [“Provoking separatist hatreds is an aggressive weed. We all have dirty hands and a broken heart. Put down your flag before you put down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhayla-gracey/provoking-separatist-hatreds-is-an-aggressive-weed-we-all-have-dirty/) Mikhayla Gracey > [\*dirty hands, no napkins around\* Wellll, my jeans are dark anyways...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/dirty-hands-no-napkins-around-wellll-my-jeans-are-dark-anyways/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“She saw him as a boy, standing in the kitchen, his clothes tattered and torn, his dark hair in need of a cut and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-featherstone/she-saw-him-as-a-boy-standing-in-the-kitchen-his-clothes-tattered-and/) [Charlotte Featherstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-featherstone/) > [Poetry and music I have banished, But the stupidity Of root, shoot, blossom or clay Makes no demand. I bend my body to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-butler-yeats/poetry-and-music-i-have-banished-but-the-stupidity-of-root-shoot/) [William Butler Yeats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-butler-yeats/) > [“He tunneled his dirty hands through her hair and kissed her breathless. Her neck, her eyes, the corners of her mouth. He kissed her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-elizabeth-phillips/he-tunneled-his-dirty-hands-through-her-hair-and-kissed-her/) [Susan Elizabeth Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-elizabeth-phillips/) [Browse all 29 Dirty hands quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dirty-hands/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I didn’t know about the Purell. I don’t think I would have wanted to vacation with someone who brought Purell along. I even fantasized later that if I’d known about the Purell, maybe the vacation wouldn’t have happened. I didn’t remember Purell in London, perhaps it was a new fetish. Purell is a fetish. Once one carries it—I have noticed from those who do—it seems necessary throughout the day to cleanse. It reflects a constant awareness that the world is awash with bacteria and you, going about your innocent carefree way, are all the while collecting microbes that can murder you or at least give you the twenty-four-hour flu. It’s awkward to turn down Purell, so I didn’t. That struck almost as powerfully as the Pantheon, I’m ashamed to admit. It’s as if one is saying, I prefer germs, I prefer to eat with dirty hands, I have poor hygiene. 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