--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Here’s an interesting little notion. Did…" description: "\"“Here’s an interesting little notion. Did you realize that most people’s lives are governed by telephone numbers?”\" — Douglas Adams" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/89e/douglas-adams-122_phone-number_here-s-an-interesting-little-notion-did_1738954.png" --- # Here’s an interesting little notion. Did you realize that… ![“Here’s an interesting little notion. Did you realize that most people’s lives are governed by telephone numbers?” quote by Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/89e/douglas-adams-122_phone-number_here-s-an-interesting-little-notion-did_1738954.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/89e/douglas-adams-122_phone-number_here-s-an-interesting-little-notion-did_1738954.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/89e/douglas-adams-122_phone-number_here-s-an-interesting-little-notion-did_1738954.png) > ““Here’s an interesting little notion. Did you realize that most people’s lives are governed by telephone numbers?”” [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Many lives are subtly controlled by seemingly trivial identifiers like phone numbers **In simple terms:** Phone numbers often dictate social connections and opportunities Key Takeaway Recognize and question hidden influences on life choices Themes control identity technology Mood curious skeptical Type philosophical humorous When to use this quote - marketing - social media - personal data management Key Concepts social engineering network theory Questions to Reflect On - What “numbers” shape your decisions? - How can you reclaim agency beyond identifiers? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on numbers may overlook deeper personal values ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Technology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/technology/) ## Related quotes > [Interesting little game we play with each other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-clark/interesting-little-game-we-play-with-each-other/) [Guy Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-clark/) > [Tell me about yourself - your struggles, your dreams, your telephone number.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-arno/tell-me-about-yourself-your-struggles-your-dreams-your-telephone/) Peter Arno > [A telephone number shouldn't represent a home or a car or a restaurant, but instead a person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-cooper/a-telephone-number-shouldn-t-represent-a-home-or-a-car-or-a/) [Martin Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-cooper/) > [Your insurance broker has your telephone number, but your insurance broker doesn't have your Facebook ID. I think they are very different modes of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-acton/your-insurance-broker-has-your-telephone-number-but-your-insurance/) [Brian Acton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-acton/) > [Growing up in the days when you still had to punch buttons to make a telephone call, I could recall the numbers of all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-foer/growing-up-in-the-days-when-you-still-had-to-punch-buttons-to-make-a/) [Joshua Foer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-foer/) > [Garbage can provide important details for hackers: names, telephone numbers, a company's internal jargon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-mitnick/garbage-can-provide-important-details-for-hackers-names-telephone/) [Kevin Mitnick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-mitnick/) > [I don't know my telephone number or anything like that, but when I do have to make a call, I just pull my body…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-sedaris/i-don-t-know-my-telephone-number-or-anything-like-that-but-when-i-do/) [Amy Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-sedaris/) > [I will take questions from the guys, but from the girls I want telephone numbers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/silvio-berlusconi/i-will-take-questions-from-the-guys-but-from-the-girls-i-want/) [Silvio Berlusconi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/silvio-berlusconi/) > [“The phone wavered in Richard's hand. He was holding it about half an inch away from his ear anyway because it seemed that somebody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/the-phone-wavered-in-richard-s-hand-he-was-holding-it-about-half-an/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [A nerd is someone who uses a telephone to talk to other people about telephones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/a-nerd-is-someone-who-uses-a-telephone-to-talk-to-other-people-about/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [“You just let the machines get on with the adding up,” warned Majikthise, “and we’ll take care of the eternal verities, thank you very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/you-just-let-the-machines-get-on-with-the-adding-up-warned-majikthise/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [“How to Leave the Planet 1. Phone NASA. Their phone number is (713) 483-3111. Explain that it’s very important that you get away as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/how-to-leave-the-planet-1-phone-nasa-their-phone-number-is-713-483-2/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [“I certainly don’t like the idea of missionaries. In fact, the whole business fills me with fear and alarm. I don’t believe in God,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/i-certainly-don-t-like-the-idea-of-missionaries-in-fact-the-whole/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [“How to Leave the Planet 1. Phone NASA. Their phone number is (713) 483-3111. Explain that it’s very important that you get away as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/how-to-leave-the-planet-1-phone-nasa-their-phone-number-is-713-483/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [Though there may be people in your life that support you and encourage you we have to realize that people are only human, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anurag-prakash-ray/though-there-may-be-people-in-your-life-that-support-you-and/) [Anurag Prakash Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anurag-prakash-ray/) ## More by Douglas Adams > [2,000 years ago one man got nailed to a tree for saying how great it would be if everyone was nice to each other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/2-000-years-ago-one-man-got-nailed-to-a-tree-for-saying-how-great-it/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [What a wonderfully exciting cough,' said the little man, quite startled by it, 'do you mind if I join you?' And with that he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/what-a-wonderfully-exciting-cough-said-the-little-man-quite-startled/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [The technology involved in making anything invisible is so infinitely complex that nine hundred and ninety-nine billion, nine hundred and ninety-nine million, nine hundred…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/the-technology-involved-in-making-anything-invisible-is-so-infinitely/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [One is never alone with a rubber duck.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/one-is-never-alone-with-a-rubber-duck/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [This must be Thursday. I never could get the hang of Thursdays.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/this-must-be-thursday-i-never-could-get-the-hang-of-thursdays/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [There are some oddities in the perspective with which we see the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/there-are-some-oddities-in-the-perspective-with-which-we-see-the-world/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [“Eight hours West sat a man alone on a beach mourning an inexplicable loss. He could only think of his loss in little packets…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/eight-hours-west-sat-a-man-alone-on-a-beach-mourning-an-inexplicable/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [“The Universe, the whole infinite Universe. The infinite suns, the infinite distances between them, and yourself an invisible dot on an invisible dot, infinitely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/the-universe-the-whole-infinite-universe-the-infinite-suns-the/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [People always make this totally artificial distinction between what is commercial and what is good. They quote that maxim "Nobody ever lost money underestimating…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/people-always-make-this-totally-artificial-distinction-between-what/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [Any man who can hitch the length and breadth of the galaxy, rough it, slum it, struggle against terrible odds, win through, and still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/any-man-who-can-hitch-the-length-and-breadth-of-the-galaxy-rough-it/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [ Does God know he \[exists\]?" "Of course he does. Otherwise, you could not have asked the question, and I could not have answered. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/does-god-know-he-exists-of-course-he-does-otherwise-you-could-not/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [“When we told our guide that we didn't want to go to all the tourist places he took us instead to the places where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/when-we-told-our-guide-that-we-didn-t-want-to-go-to-all-the-tourist/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [“But Douglas was a genius, because he saw the world differently, and more importantly, he could communicate the world he saw.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/but-douglas-was-a-genius-because-he-saw-the-world-differently-and/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [“The bits which did mean anything were often so wonderfully buried that no one could ever spot them slipping past in the avalanche of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/the-bits-which-did-mean-anything-were-often-so-wonderfully-buried/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [You come to me for advice, but you can't cope with anything you don't recognize. Hmmm. So we'll have to tell you something you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/you-come-to-me-for-advice-but-you-can-t-cope-with-anything-you-don-t/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) [Explore all 1,168 Douglas Adams quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) ## More Phone number quotes > [“I’m not sure how the ponies happened, though I have an inkling: “Can I get you anything?” I’ll say, getting up from a dinner…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sloane-crosley/i-m-not-sure-how-the-ponies-happened-though-i-have-an-inkling-can-i/) [Sloane Crosley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sloane-crosley/) > [“Unfortunately, he still hadn’t asked for my number, or a date, or my hand in marriage, and my drink was getting low.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberly-novosel/unfortunately-he-still-hadn-t-asked-for-my-number-or-a-date-or-my/) [Kimberly Novosel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimberly-novosel/) > [I will take questions from the guys, but from the girls I want telephone numbers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/silvio-berlusconi/i-will-take-questions-from-the-guys-but-from-the-girls-i-want/) [Silvio Berlusconi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/silvio-berlusconi/) > [“I am a mathematician and I can confidently say that the best figure ever produced is your phone number.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/i-am-a-mathematician-and-i-can-confidently-say-that-the-best-figure/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [“Hipster Chick personally brings it to the table, and there’s a phone number written in ketchup on his plate. He looks at her. Looks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kellen-burden/hipster-chick-personally-brings-it-to-the-table-and-there-s-a-phone/) Kellen Burden > [I can't even dial one phone number right away. But you strained your own body to go and see them. I was surprised. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arina-tanemura/i-can-t-even-dial-one-phone-number-right-away-but-you-strained-your/) [Arina Tanemura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arina-tanemura/) > [“She had started driving past his apartment to see whether or not his car was out front. She had looked up his phone number,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francine-pascal/she-had-started-driving-past-his-apartment-to-see-whether-or-not-his/) [Francine Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francine-pascal/) > [I do have a really good memory. I mean, like, I can remember all the phone numbers of everybody on the street I grew…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-karr/i-do-have-a-really-good-memory-i-mean-like-i-can-remember-all-the/) [Mary Karr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-karr/) > [I said, 'Okay, it's the year 2000, I'm getting a computer and a Palm Pilot.' I know how to check my e-mail, and I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-jacobs/i-said-okay-it-s-the-year-2000-i-m-getting-a-computer-and-a-palm/) [Marc Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-jacobs/) > [After Donald Trump wrote Lindsey Graham's cellphone number on a piece of paper and showed it to everybody, Graham said he's getting a new…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-fallon/after-donald-trump-wrote-lindsey-graham-s-cellphone-number-on-a-piece/) [Jimmy Fallon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-fallon/) > [“I'm no one important or famous, no matter. It is better to be loved by one person who knows your soul than millions who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-paul-evans/i-m-no-one-important-or-famous-no-matter-it-is-better-to-be-loved-by/) [Richard Paul Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-paul-evans/) > [I have an 800 freephone number now that I call if I get the urge to buy an airline stock. I call at two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/i-have-an-800-freephone-number-now-that-i-call-if-i-get-the-urge-to/) [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) > [“The zero in the telephone number he pronounced "naught." The number was: "2 B R 0 2 B.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut-jr/the-zero-in-the-telephone-number-he-pronounced-naught-the-number-was/) [Kurt Vonnegut Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut-jr/) > [I have a permanent moustache so I can be a 'Movator:' I take random telephone numbers and ring people up and 'movate' them to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charley-boorman/i-have-a-permanent-moustache-so-i-can-be-a-movator-i-take-random/) [Charley Boorman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charley-boorman/) > [“I'm a Skeptic. And I'm a Journalist. I look up things in the library—a lot! I believe in the motto of Missouri, the 'Show-me,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/earl-lee/i-m-a-skeptic-and-i-m-a-journalist-i-look-up-things-in-the-library-a/) [Earl Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/earl-lee/) Browse all 337 Phone number quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Here’s an interesting little notion. Did you realize that most people’s lives are governed by telephone numbers?”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Douglas Adams" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/here-s-an-interesting-little-notion-did-you-realize-that-most-people/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Phone number" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/here-s-an-interesting-little-notion-did-you-realize-that-most-people/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/89e/douglas-adams-122_phone-number_here-s-an-interesting-little-notion-did_1738954.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/89e/douglas-adams-122_phone-number_here-s-an-interesting-little-notion-did_1738954.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/89e/douglas-adams-122_phone-number_here-s-an-interesting-little-notion-did_1738954.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Here’s an interesting little notion. Did you realize that most people’s lives are governed by telephone…” — Douglas Adams", "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": "Douglas Adams", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Here’s an interesting little notion. Did...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/here-s-an-interesting-little-notion-did-you-realize-that-most-people/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/here-s-an-interesting-little-notion-did-you-realize-that-most-people/#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 } } ] } ```