---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A bore is a vacuum cleaner of society…"
description: "\"A bore is a vacuum cleaner of society, sucking up everything and giving nothing. Bores are always eager to be seen talking to you.\" — Elsa Maxwell"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b5/elsa-maxwell-18439_bores_a-bore-is-a-vacuum-cleaner-of-society-su_1201578.jpg"
---

#  A bore is a vacuum cleaner of society, sucking up…

![“A bore is a vacuum cleaner of society, sucking up everything and giving nothing. Bores are always eager to be seen talking to you.” quote by Elsa Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b5/elsa-maxwell-18439_bores_a-bore-is-a-vacuum-cleaner-of-society-su_1201578.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b5/elsa-maxwell-18439_bores_a-bore-is-a-vacuum-cleaner-of-society-su_1201578.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b5/elsa-maxwell-18439_bores_a-bore-is-a-vacuum-cleaner-of-society-su_1201578.jpg)

> “A bore is a vacuum cleaner of society, sucking up everything and giving nothing. Bores are always eager to be seen talking to you.”

[Elsa Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elsa-maxwell/)

## About This Quote

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

Bores consume social energy without contributing value.

**In simple terms:** Bores drain conversation.

Key Takeaway

Avoid being a bore.

Themes

social dynamics conversation energy

Mood

wry critical

Type

satirical observational

When to use this quote

- Networking events
- family gatherings
- online forums

Key Concepts

Social interaction psychology cultural critique

Questions to Reflect On

- How can you politely disengage from a bore?
- What signs indicate a conversation is unproductive?

A Different Perspective

Some may view criticism as harsh.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Nothing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nothing/) [Society](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/society/)

## Related quotes

> [It's a bore - B-O-R-E - when you find you've begun to rot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katharine-hepburn/it-s-a-bore-b-o-r-e-when-you-find-you-ve-begun-to-rot/)

[Katharine Hepburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katharine-hepburn/)

> [No one ever did anything worth doing unless they were prepared to go on with it long after it became something of a bore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-v-steere/no-one-ever-did-anything-worth-doing-unless-they-were-prepared-to-go/)

[Douglas V. Steere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-v-steere/)

> [A stupid disgusting bore is a guy who has nothing to say, and nonetheless says it anyway.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-c-brown/a-stupid-disgusting-bore-is-a-guy-who-has-nothing-to-say-and/)

[William C. Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-c-brown/)

> [The bore is good for promoting sleep; but though he causeth sleep in others, it is uncertain whether he ever sleeps himself; as few…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-edgeworth/the-bore-is-good-for-promoting-sleep-but-though-he-causeth-sleep-in/)

[Maria Edgeworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-edgeworth/)

> [It's the easiest thing in the world to do that, to make successful photographs. It's a bore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garry-winogrand/it-s-the-easiest-thing-in-the-world-to-do-that-to-make-successful/)

[Garry Winogrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garry-winogrand/)

> [He never bore a grudge against anyone he wronged.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-signoret/he-never-bore-a-grudge-against-anyone-he-wronged/)

[Simone Signoret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-signoret/)

> [I love not knowing what's going to happen next. With work, you never know. You rehearse and strive and get it right sometimes, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/celia-imrie/i-love-not-knowing-what-s-going-to-happen-next-with-work-you-never/)

[Celia Imrie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/celia-imrie/)

> [I've met you many times Lucinda, and most of the time, you're a downright bore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-kate/i-ve-met-you-many-times-lucinda-and-most-of-the-time-you-re-a/)

[Lauren Kate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-kate/)

> [War? War is an organized bore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr/war-war-is-an-organized-bore/)

[Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr/)

> [Bore children, and they stop reading. There's no room for self-indulgence or showing off or setting the scene.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-haddon/bore-children-and-they-stop-reading-there-s-no-room-for-self/)

[Mark Haddon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-haddon/)

> [We all denounce bores, but while we do so, let us remember that there is nobody who isn't a bore to somebody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-a-spender/we-all-denounce-bores-but-while-we-do-so-let-us-remember-that-there/)

[J. A. Spender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-a-spender/)

> [Bore : A fellow who can change the subject back to his topic of conversation faster than you can change it back to yours.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-j-peter/bore-a-fellow-who-can-change-the-subject-back-to-his-topic-of/)

[Laurence J. Peter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-j-peter/)

> [The way to be a bore is to say everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/the-way-to-be-a-bore-is-to-say-everything/)

[Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/)

> [A bore is someone who takes away my solitude and doesn't give me companionship in return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/a-bore-is-someone-who-takes-away-my-solitude-and-doesn-t-give-me/)

[Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/)

> [More is more and less is a bore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iris-apfel/more-is-more-and-less-is-a-bore/)

[Iris Apfel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iris-apfel/)

## More by Elsa Maxwell

> [I don't hate anyone. I dislike. But my dislike is the equivalent of anyone else's hate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elsa-maxwell/i-don-t-hate-anyone-i-dislike-but-my-dislike-is-the-equivalent-of/)

[Elsa Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elsa-maxwell/)

> [Fight fire with fire. If you must have bores, always put them together or at the same table ... bores have an effervescent chemical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elsa-maxwell/fight-fire-with-fire-if-you-must-have-bores-always-put-them-together/)

[Elsa Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elsa-maxwell/)

> [Serve the dinner backward, do anything - but for goodness sake, do something weird.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elsa-maxwell/serve-the-dinner-backward-do-anything-but-for-goodness-sake-do/)

[Elsa Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elsa-maxwell/)

> [Giving parties is a trivial avocation, but it pays the dues for my union card in humanity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elsa-maxwell/giving-parties-is-a-trivial-avocation-but-it-pays-the-dues-for-my/)

[Elsa Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elsa-maxwell/)

> [People who have escaped from poverty are like old soldiers. In later years they recount the little, amusing incidents that happened infrequently, and conveniently…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elsa-maxwell/people-who-have-escaped-from-poverty-are-like-old-soldiers-in-later/)

[Elsa Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elsa-maxwell/)

> [Seeing unhappiness in the marriage of friends, I was content to have chosen music and laughter as a substitute for a husband.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elsa-maxwell/seeing-unhappiness-in-the-marriage-of-friends-i-was-content-to-have/)

[Elsa Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elsa-maxwell/)

> [Good manners - the longer I live the more convinced I am of it - are a priceless insurance against failure and loneliness. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elsa-maxwell/good-manners-the-longer-i-live-the-more-convinced-i-am-of-it-are-a/)

[Elsa Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elsa-maxwell/)

> [don't try for wit. Settle for humor. You'll last longer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elsa-maxwell/don-t-try-for-wit-settle-for-humor-you-ll-last-longer/)

[Elsa Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elsa-maxwell/)

> [Protocol may be defined as the code of etiquette which protects royalty from the competition of intellectual and social superiors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elsa-maxwell/protocol-may-be-defined-as-the-code-of-etiquette-which-protects/)

[Elsa Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elsa-maxwell/)

> [Keep your talent in the dark and you'll never be insulted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elsa-maxwell/keep-your-talent-in-the-dark-and-you-ll-never-be-insulted/)

[Elsa Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elsa-maxwell/)

> [Someone said that life is a party. You join in after it's started and leave before it's finished.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elsa-maxwell/someone-said-that-life-is-a-party-you-join-in-after-it-s-started-and/)

[Elsa Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elsa-maxwell/)

> [the wealthy ... live in marble mausoleums surrounded by the suspicions and neuroses that have replaced the medieval moats which once isolated so-called aristocrats…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elsa-maxwell/the-wealthy-live-in-marble-mausoleums-surrounded-by-the-suspicions/)

[Elsa Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elsa-maxwell/)

> [Existence is a party. You join after its started and you leave before its finished.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elsa-maxwell/existence-is-a-party-you-join-after-its-started-and-you-leave-before/)

[Elsa Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elsa-maxwell/)

> [The loudest psalm singer in the congregation always is a reformed sinner.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elsa-maxwell/the-loudest-psalm-singer-in-the-congregation-always-is-a-reformed/)

[Elsa Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elsa-maxwell/)

> [Good manners spring from just one thing - kind impulses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elsa-maxwell/good-manners-spring-from-just-one-thing-kind-impulses/)

[Elsa Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elsa-maxwell/)

[Explore all 35 Elsa Maxwell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elsa-maxwell/)

## More Bore quotes

> [It's a bore - B-O-R-E - when you find you've begun to rot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katharine-hepburn/it-s-a-bore-b-o-r-e-when-you-find-you-ve-begun-to-rot/)

[Katharine Hepburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katharine-hepburn/)

> [The distinctions of fine art bore me to death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-sendak/the-distinctions-of-fine-art-bore-me-to-death/)

[Maurice Sendak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-sendak/)

> [He was not only a bore; he bored for England.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-muggeridge/he-was-not-only-a-bore-he-bored-for-england/)

[Malcolm Muggeridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-muggeridge/)

> [A bore is someone who takes away my solitude and doesn't give me companionship in return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/a-bore-is-someone-who-takes-away-my-solitude-and-doesn-t-give-me/)

[Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/)

> [The way to be a bore is to say everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/the-way-to-be-a-bore-is-to-say-everything/)

[Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/)

> [“We all bore scars, whether on the outside or in.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tillie-cole/we-all-bore-scars-whether-on-the-outside-or-in/)

[Tillie Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tillie-cole/)

> [Bore : A fellow who can change the subject back to his topic of conversation faster than you can change it back to yours.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-j-peter/bore-a-fellow-who-can-change-the-subject-back-to-his-topic-of/)

[Laurence J. Peter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-j-peter/)

> [One of the advantages of appearing in such a play is that you begin to understand it properly, I feel Ophelia's tragedy was that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lalla-ward/one-of-the-advantages-of-appearing-in-such-a-play-is-that-you-begin/)

[Lalla Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lalla-ward/)

> [Characters develop as the book progresses, but any that start to bore me end up in the wastepaper basket. In real life, we may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-graham/characters-develop-as-the-book-progresses-but-any-that-start-to-bore/)

[Laurie Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-graham/)

> [We all denounce bores, but while we do so, let us remember that there is nobody who isn't a bore to somebody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-a-spender/we-all-denounce-bores-but-while-we-do-so-let-us-remember-that-there/)

[J. A. Spender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-a-spender/)

> [“The young will never know how recklessly we went from bed to bed, from body to body, from night to night. it all, at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/the-young-will-never-know-how-recklessly-we-went-from-bed-to-bed-from/)

[Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/)

> [He is an old bore. Even the grave yawns for him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-beerbohm-tree/he-is-an-old-bore-even-the-grave-yawns-for-him/)

[Herbert Beerbohm Tree](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-beerbohm-tree/)

> [People like Ian McEwan and Jonathan Franzen completely bore me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-shields/people-like-ian-mcewan-and-jonathan-franzen-completely-bore-me/)

[David Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-shields/)

> [Bore: a person who talks when you wish him to listen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/bore-a-person-who-talks-when-you-wish-him-to-listen/)

[Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/)

> [“Be bold, don't be boring.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/be-bold-don-t-be-boring/)

[Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/)

Browse all 169 Bore quotes

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