--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We know what you are thinking. It is not…" description: "\"“We know what you are thinking. It is not girls who need lessons in how to talk on the telephone. We are experts at it. Some of us could even medal in ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e96/e-lockhart-1636_boyfriend_we-know-what-you-are-thinking-it-is-not_2057351.jpg" --- # We know what you are thinking. It is not girls who need… ![“We know what you are thinking. It is not girls who need lessons in how to talk on the telephone. We are experts at it. Some of us could even medal in it. The problem is the boys. And they need to shape up. True, true, true. However. The boys are not going to shape up. They are not going to read…” quote by E. Lockhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e96/e-lockhart-1636_boyfriend_we-know-what-you-are-thinking-it-is-not_2057351.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e96/e-lockhart-1636_boyfriend_we-know-what-you-are-thinking-it-is-not_2057351.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e96/e-lockhart-1636_boyfriend_we-know-what-you-are-thinking-it-is-not_2057351.jpg) > ““We know what you are thinking. It is not girls who need lessons in how to talk on the telephone. We are experts at it. Some of us could even medal in it. The problem is the boys. And they need to shape up. True, true, true. However. The boys are not going to shape up. They are not going to read magazines or informational textbooks such as this one that tell them how to talk to girls on the telephone. And they are not going to magically figure out how to converse either. It is a demonstrated fact that even bona fide boyfriends such as Finn and Jackson and Kaleb are hit with paralyzing stupidity and boringness on the telephone, and you, my girlfriends, you are the only ones who can do anything about it. Some tried-and-true tips 1. No feelings. Not if you can possibly avoid it. Feelings in person only. 2. No long silences. The male of the species hates long silences. If he is silent, say, “I gotta go, I’ll see you later.” And hang up. This is mysterious and alluring. And if it is not, at least you don’t have any more awkwardness. 3. Some people will tell you that you shouldn’t call guys, you should wait for them to call you. Hello? This is the twenty-first century. We can call them. 4. But have a reason. Don’t call “just to talk,” because they have nothing to talk about. Have a story to tell them, or ask if they watched some TV show just now, or ask about homework, or make a plan for the weekend.”” [E. Lockhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-lockhart/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker humorously critiques male telephone communication, offering blunt, gender‑stereotyped advice for women to manage conversations with men. **In simple terms:** Women are advised to control phone talks with men using practical, often dismissive tactics. Key Takeaway Apply clear, purposeful strategies when navigating awkward calls. Themes communication gender dynamics relationships Mood frustrated amused critical Type advice humorous relationship When to use this quote - dating - phone etiquette - conflict avoidance - assertiveness Key Concepts social expectations stereotypes relationship advice Questions to Reflect On - How can you adapt these tips without reinforcing stereotypes? - What alternative approaches foster mutual respect? A Different Perspective The advice relies on broad stereotypes and may not reflect individual differences. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Long silence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long-silence/) ## Related quotes > [“Some people talk in a telephone And some people talk in a hall; Some people talk in a whisper, And some people talk in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-r-brooks/some-people-talk-in-a-telephone-and-some-people-talk-in-a-hall-some/) Walter R. Brooks > [Every person has a story to tell, which is why I never talk to people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikhil-saluja/every-person-has-a-story-to-tell-which-is-why-i-never-talk-to-people/) [Nikhil Saluja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikhil-saluja/) > [No one is going to tell me how I need to think. No one is going to tell me who I can, and cannot,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leah-remini/no-one-is-going-to-tell-me-how-i-need-to-think-no-one-is-going-to/) [Leah Remini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leah-remini/) > [We'll tell fear it can come along with us in our minivan, okay? But we'll just tell fear it can't drive. Sometimes we'll tell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glennon-doyle-melton/we-ll-tell-fear-it-can-come-along-with-us-in-our-minivan-okay-but-we/) [Glennon Doyle Melton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glennon-doyle-melton/) > [You can tell me anything, you can talk to me about everything. I'm not gonna budge, my heart remains whole, its upright. 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But girls have an eye for detail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-winehouse/girls-talk-to-each-other-like-men-talk-to-each-other-but-girls-have/) [Amy Winehouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-winehouse/) > [“Gus and I talk about girls a lot, but we can't figure them out. They are so confusing. Like, if you look at them,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-yee/gus-and-i-talk-about-girls-a-lot-but-we-can-t-figure-them-out-they/) [Lisa Yee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-yee/) > [I didn't really get the chance to talk to girls. I was a straight boy with hormones kicking in, and I wanted to talk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-biersack/i-didn-t-really-get-the-chance-to-talk-to-girls-i-was-a-straight-boy/) [Andy Biersack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-biersack/) > [“After the day when someone special broke my heart , I Love to talk more with girls because i know now that girls can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zain-rafiqi/after-the-day-when-someone-special-broke-my-heart-i-love-to-talk-more/) Zain Rafiqi > [And I also have a camera, a Web cam, and I have one at home, so I can hook up and talk to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-ann-womack/and-i-also-have-a-camera-a-web-cam-and-i-have-one-at-home-so-i-can/) [Lee Ann Womack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-ann-womack/) > [If she get mad at you, when you talk to other girls, Marry her!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-she-get-mad-at-you-when-you-talk-to-other-girls-marry-her/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by E. Lockhart > [“She makes the world seem shiny and sunlit. -Noel”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-lockhart/she-makes-the-world-seem-shiny-and-sunlit-noel/) [E. Lockhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-lockhart/) > [“And then he's grabbing my hand, and pulling me into a storage room they use for art supplies. And he puts his finger to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-lockhart/and-then-he-s-grabbing-my-hand-and-pulling-me-into-a-storage-room/) [E. Lockhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-lockhart/) > [“Noel shook his head. "You think better of this scene than I do, Ruby. Don't you see how fake those girls are? Let it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-lockhart/noel-shook-his-head-you-think-better-of-this-scene-than-i-do-ruby-don/) [E. Lockhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-lockhart/) > [“the best way to avoid having your heart broken was to pretend you don’t have one.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-lockhart/the-best-way-to-avoid-having-your-heart-broken-was-to-pretend-you-don/) [E. Lockhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-lockhart/) > [Secrets are more powerful when people know you've got them," said Mr. Sutton. "You show them the tiniest edge of your secret, but the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-lockhart/secrets-are-more-powerful-when-people-know-you-ve-got-them-said-mr/) [E. Lockhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-lockhart/) > [“Also, I was living in the middle of my parents' marriage. No one ever says this about families, and maybe people who aren't only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-lockhart/also-i-was-living-in-the-middle-of-my-parents-marriage-no-one-ever/) [E. Lockhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-lockhart/) > [“At least, these guys were looking. And seeing something. A milkshake.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-lockhart/at-least-these-guys-were-looking-and-seeing-something-a-milkshake/) [E. Lockhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-lockhart/) > [...Mr. Wodehouse is a prose stylist of such startling talent that Frankie nearly skipped around with glee when she first read some of his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-lockhart/mr-wodehouse-is-a-prose-stylist-of-such-startling-talent-that-frankie/) [E. Lockhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-lockhart/) > [“Why is it a good idea for you and not a good idea for me?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-lockhart/why-is-it-a-good-idea-for-you-and-not-a-good-idea-for-me/) [E. Lockhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-lockhart/) > [“Now, he was free to go forth and make a name for himself in the wide, wide world. And maybe, just maybe, he'd come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-lockhart/now-he-was-free-to-go-forth-and-make-a-name-for-himself-in-the-wide/) [E. Lockhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-lockhart/) > [“It doesn't matter if one of us is desperately, desperately in love. So much in love, that equally desperate measures must be taken”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-lockhart/it-doesn-t-matter-if-one-of-us-is-desperately-desperately-in-love-so/) [E. Lockhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-lockhart/) > [“The presentation of self in everyday life. This guy Goffman had the idea that in different situations, you perform yourself differently. Your character isn’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-lockhart/the-presentation-of-self-in-everyday-life-this-guy-goffman-had-the/) [E. Lockhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-lockhart/) > [“She made me act normal. Because I was. Because I could. She told me to breathe and sit up. And”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-lockhart/she-made-me-act-normal-because-i-was-because-i-could-she-told-me-to/) [E. Lockhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-lockhart/) > [“And now, she was walking down the hall with her books clutched to her chest, looking down at the floor while guys called, "Don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-lockhart/and-now-she-was-walking-down-the-hall-with-her-books-clutched-to-her/) [E. Lockhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-lockhart/) > [“Please, that is so antiquated. The institutions of male supremacy only have real power over you if you buy into that notion. Go found…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-lockhart/please-that-is-so-antiquated-the-institutions-of-male-supremacy-only/) [E. Lockhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-lockhart/) [Explore all 218 E. Lockhart quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-lockhart/) ## More Boyfriend quotes > [I want a man that when I come running up to him with tears running down my face, the first thing he says is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-want-a-man-that-when-i-come-running-up-to-him-with-tears-running/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Dear boyfriend, Those 800 miles, I can feel them. They arent just 800 miles of tar on this earth, theyre the cruel and manipulating…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/dear-boyfriend-those-800-miles-i-can-feel-them-they-arent-just-800/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [A Real Boyfriend does the sweetest things randomly because he never wants her to feel unappreciated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enhance-dreams/a-real-boyfriend-does-the-sweetest-things-randomly-because-he-never/) Enhance Dreams > [A real boyfriend can see the pain behind a girls smile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patience/a-real-boyfriend-can-see-the-pain-behind-a-girls-smile/) Patience > [When I was in my twenties and just so sexually prolific, the first time I went to Machu Picchu, this guy, a spiritual teacher,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-harrelson/when-i-was-in-my-twenties-and-just-so-sexually-prolific-the-first/) [Woody Harrelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-harrelson/) > [I look for someone who has confidence. Also someone whose energetic, cause I'm NOT that energetic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-jonas/i-look-for-someone-who-has-confidence-also-someone-whose-energetic/) [Nick Jonas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-jonas/) > [While youre on the other line Ill keep thinking about, Ways that I can make you mine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emanuel-sebastiao/while-youre-on-the-other-line-ill-keep-thinking-about-ways-that-i-can/) [Emanuel Sebastiao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emanuel-sebastiao/) > [Dad taught me everything I know. Unfortunately, he didn't teach me everything he knows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-unser/dad-taught-me-everything-i-know-unfortunately-he-didn-t-teach-me/) [Al Unser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-unser/) > [You arent the only one sitting home alone on a Saturday night. Wonder if your future boyfriend/girlfriend is doing the same thing you are](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-arent-the-only-one-sitting-home-alone-on-a-saturday-night-wonder/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [In the night all I think about is you](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-ramkran/in-the-night-all-i-think-about-is-you/) [Christine Ramkran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-ramkran/) > [Don't punish your next boyfriend for what an ex did. Not all men are the same.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/don-t-punish-your-next-boyfriend-for-what-an-ex-did-not-all-men-are/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I want a man who will give me the strength and saupport to fight...a real man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-want-a-man-who-will-give-me-the-strength-and-saupport-to-fight-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [My boyfriend does this really cute thing where he forgets to exsist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/unkown/my-boyfriend-does-this-really-cute-thing-where-he-forgets-to-exsist/) Unkown > [I need this<3](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-need-this-3/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Niggas be wanting a girl who plays video games, watch sports, have tattoos & wear jordans. Sounds like you want a boyfriend nigga.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/2-chainz/niggas-be-wanting-a-girl-who-plays-video-games-watch-sports-have/) [2 Chainz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/2-chainz/) Browse all 2,377 Boyfriend quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“We know what you are thinking. It is not girls who need lessons in how to talk on the telephone. We are experts at it. Some of us could even medal in it. The problem is the boys. And they need to shape up. True, true, true. However. The boys are not going to shape up. They are not going to read magazines or informational textbooks such as this one that tell them how to talk to girls on the telephone. And they are not going to magically figure out how to converse either. It is a demonstrated fact that even bona fide boyfriends such as Finn and Jackson and Kaleb are hit with paralyzing stupidity and boringness on the telephone, and you, my girlfriends, you are the only ones who can do anything about it. Some tried-and-true tips 1. No feelings. Not if you can possibly avoid it. Feelings in person only. 2. No long silences. The male of the species hates long silences. If he is silent, say, “I gotta go, I’ll see you later.” And hang up. This is mysterious and alluring. And if it is not, at least you don’t have any more awkwardness. 3. Some people will tell you that you shouldn’t call guys, you should wait for them to call you. Hello? This is the twenty-first century. We can call them. 4. But have a reason. Don’t call “just to talk,” because they have nothing to talk about. Have a story to tell them, or ask if they watched some TV show just now, or ask about homework, or make a plan for the weekend.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "E. 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