--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When the waitress puts the dinner on the…" description: "\"When the waitress puts the dinner on the table, the old men look at the dinner. The young men look at the waitress.\" — Gelett Burgess" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5aa/gelett-burgess-12916_cooking_when-the-waitress-puts-the-dinner-on-the_221601.jpg" --- # When the waitress puts the dinner on the table, the old… ![“When the waitress puts the dinner on the table, the old men look at the dinner. The young men look at the waitress.” quote by Gelett Burgess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5aa/gelett-burgess-12916_cooking_when-the-waitress-puts-the-dinner-on-the_221601.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5aa/gelett-burgess-12916_cooking_when-the-waitress-puts-the-dinner-on-the_221601.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5aa/gelett-burgess-12916_cooking_when-the-waitress-puts-the-dinner-on-the_221601.jpg) > “When the waitress puts the dinner on the table, the old men look at the dinner. The young men look at the waitress.” [Gelett Burgess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gelett-burgess/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People focus on different aspects of a scene based on age and interest, highlighting perspective differences. **In simple terms:** Old men watch food; young men watch server. Key Takeaway Recognize varied perspectives. Themes perspective age attention Mood humorous insightful Type observational philosophical When to use this quote - restaurant settings - intergenerational interactions - marketing focus Key Concepts Human perception social observation Questions to Reflect On - What does your focus reveal about you? - How can we broaden our view? A Different Perspective May overlook important details if too narrow. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cooking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cooking/) [Culinary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/culinary/) [Dinner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dinner/) [Dinner table](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dinner-table/) [Food](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/food/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Old man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/old-man/) [Old men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/old-men/) [Waitress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/waitress/) [Young men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/young-men/) ## Related quotes > [When dressing a table take out your old pieces of silver, hand-me-down linens and old candelabras, it will make your meal that much more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-farr/when-dressing-a-table-take-out-your-old-pieces-of-silver-hand-me-down/) [Hilary Farr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-farr/) > [I'm thinking waiters and waitresses are going to be bracing for more customers coming in going, not just kind of where is that beef…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-moss/i-m-thinking-waiters-and-waitresses-are-going-to-be-bracing-for-more/) [Michael Moss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-moss/) > [My first waitress job was at Johnny Rockets in New Jersey, and then I waited tables at a sports bar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-rauch/my-first-waitress-job-was-at-johnny-rockets-in-new-jersey-and-then-i/) [Melissa Rauch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-rauch/) > [ Cheryl \[Hines\] and I sat through two screenings at the Sundance Film Festival and during the second one, we said to each other: "You… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keri-russell/cheryl-hines-and-i-sat-through-two-screenings-at-the-sundance-film/) [Keri Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keri-russell/) > [Auditioning for television shows - to find a guy who has a lot of experience as a laborer is a bit of an anomaly.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-offerman/auditioning-for-television-shows-to-find-a-guy-who-has-a-lot-of/) [Nick Offerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-offerman/) > [Television, I love it, everything that happened before television lumped together, never caused folks to turn on a street to stare at me, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bennett-cerf/television-i-love-it-everything-that-happened-before-television/) [Bennett Cerf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bennett-cerf/) > [ The whole acting and Hollywood \[thing\], it's just work to me. Stand-up comedy ruins you so badly for doing television. I don't really need… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-stanhope/the-whole-acting-and-hollywood-thing-it-s-just-work-to-me-stand-up/) [Doug Stanhope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-stanhope/) > [ I just thought that Adrienne \[Shelly\] wrote a great character \[for Waitress\]. It really was all on the page. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keri-russell/i-just-thought-that-adrienne-shelly-wrote-a-great-character-for/) [Keri Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keri-russell/) > [I have been a waitress, and I was a damn fine waitress too, let me tell you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-lange/i-have-been-a-waitress-and-i-was-a-damn-fine-waitress-too-let-me-tell/) [Jessica Lange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-lange/) > [When I was about 17, I had a row with my mother and left home for six months, renting a flat and working as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-robinson/when-i-was-about-17-i-had-a-row-with-my-mother-and-left-home-for-six/) [Anne Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-robinson/) > [When I was growing up I always wanted to be a waitress. My sister opened a restaurant in Mississippi, and I went down there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lacey-chabert/when-i-was-growing-up-i-always-wanted-to-be-a-waitress-my-sister/) [Lacey Chabert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lacey-chabert/) > [If I was a waitress, I was too tired at the end of the day when I came home to try to write.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-patchett/if-i-was-a-waitress-i-was-too-tired-at-the-end-of-the-day-when-i-came/) [Ann Patchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-patchett/) > [A poet could write volumes about diners, because they're so beautiful. They're brightly lit, with chrome and booths and Naugahyde and great waitresses. Now,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lynch/a-poet-could-write-volumes-about-diners-because-they-re-so-beautiful/) [David Lynch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lynch/) > [Slap the waitress on the booty, tell her get another round (another round) and when I make it rain, money all over the ground…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yung-joc/slap-the-waitress-on-the-booty-tell-her-get-another-round-another/) [Yung Joc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yung-joc/) > [“Carol, a swing-shift cocktail waitress in the Bird of Paradise's show lounge had gotten home (guesswork, here) around 2:15 - 2:30, poured herself a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-rice/carol-a-swing-shift-cocktail-waitress-in-the-bird-of-paradise-s-show/) [Jeff Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-rice/) ## More by Gelett Burgess > [No man knoweth how another man maketh his love, for women tell not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gelett-burgess/no-man-knoweth-how-another-man-maketh-his-love-for-women-tell-not/) [Gelett Burgess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gelett-burgess/) > [Son, heed my instruction, and apply thyself to know women; let thine eyes observe her when she is with another, for what she doeth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gelett-burgess/son-heed-my-instruction-and-apply-thyself-to-know-women-let-thine/) [Gelett Burgess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gelett-burgess/) > [A maiden's first kiss cometh hard, yea, it is as the first olive out of a bottle, requiring much skill; but the rest are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gelett-burgess/a-maiden-s-first-kiss-cometh-hard-yea-it-is-as-the-first-olive-out-of/) [Gelett Burgess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gelett-burgess/) > [A woman findeth in her last lover much of her first love; but a man seeth his next-to-the-last love, alway.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gelett-burgess/a-woman-findeth-in-her-last-lover-much-of-her-first-love-but-a-man/) [Gelett Burgess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gelett-burgess/) > [Many a maid have I won by a quarrel, when flattery was in no wise helpful; but take heed that thou art in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gelett-burgess/many-a-maid-have-i-won-by-a-quarrel-when-flattery-was-in-no-wise/) [Gelett Burgess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gelett-burgess/) > [It is in the blood of genius to love play for its own sake, and whether one uses one's skill on thrones or women,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gelett-burgess/it-is-in-the-blood-of-genius-to-love-play-for-its-own-sake-and/) [Gelett Burgess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gelett-burgess/) > [There are no roads in all Bohemia !](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gelett-burgess/there-are-no-roads-in-all-bohemia/) [Gelett Burgess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gelett-burgess/) > [Hurry not a woman's favor; neither forcer her hastily to surrender to thee. For she goeth into love as she goeth into the waters…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gelett-burgess/hurry-not-a-woman-s-favor-neither-forcer-her-hastily-to-surrender-to/) [Gelett Burgess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gelett-burgess/) > [A woman and a mouse, they carry a tale wherever they go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gelett-burgess/a-woman-and-a-mouse-they-carry-a-tale-wherever-they-go/) [Gelett Burgess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gelett-burgess/) > [Count no matron happy until she hath passed thirty, and hath not waxed fat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gelett-burgess/count-no-matron-happy-until-she-hath-passed-thirty-and-hath-not-waxed/) [Gelett Burgess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gelett-burgess/) > [Son, if a maiden love thee, thou shalt appear handsome in her sight; she shall praise thine eyes, and the corners of thy mouth,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gelett-burgess/son-if-a-maiden-love-thee-thou-shalt-appear-handsome-in-her-sight-she/) [Gelett Burgess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gelett-burgess/) > [There is indeed no such thing in life as absolute darkness; one's eyes revolt and hasten to fill the vacuum by floating in sparks,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gelett-burgess/there-is-indeed-no-such-thing-in-life-as-absolute-darkness-one-s-eyes/) [Gelett Burgess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gelett-burgess/) > [Can a woman entertain a man and a pet at the same time? I say unto thee, one of the twain shall suffer jealousy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gelett-burgess/can-a-woman-entertain-a-man-and-a-pet-at-the-same-time-i-say-unto/) [Gelett Burgess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gelett-burgess/) > [Imagination is like a lofty building reared to meet the sky; whereas fancy is a balloon that soars at the wind's will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gelett-burgess/imagination-is-like-a-lofty-building-reared-to-meet-the-sky-whereas/) [Gelett Burgess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gelett-burgess/) > [Verily, men do foolish things thoughtlessly, knowing not why; but no woman doeth aught without a reason.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gelett-burgess/verily-men-do-foolish-things-thoughtlessly-knowing-not-why-but-no/) [Gelett Burgess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gelett-burgess/) [Explore all 52 Gelett Burgess quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gelett-burgess/) ## More Cooking quotes > [Before Noah, men having only water to drink, could not find the truth. Accordingly...they became abominably wicked, and they were justly exterminated by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/before-noah-men-having-only-water-to-drink-could-not-find-the-truth/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [The more perfect the sight is the more delightful the beautiful object. The more perfect the appetite, the sweeter the food. The more musical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-baxter/the-more-perfect-the-sight-is-the-more-delightful-the-beautiful/) [Richard Baxter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-baxter/) > [I enjoy cooking, but stick to modern dishes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-starkey/i-enjoy-cooking-but-stick-to-modern-dishes/) [David Starkey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-starkey/) > [Give me a platter of choice finnan haddie, freshly cooked in its bath of water and milk, add melted butter, a slice or two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-claiborne/give-me-a-platter-of-choice-finnan-haddie-freshly-cooked-in-its-bath/) [Craig Claiborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-claiborne/) > [A man accustomed to American food and American domestic cookery would not starve to death suddenly in Europe, but I think he would gradually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/a-man-accustomed-to-american-food-and-american-domestic-cookery-would/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [“In the back of the fridge I checked out some stewed apples destined to fester. I examined them closely and reckoned they had only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-brown/in-the-back-of-the-fridge-i-checked-out-some-stewed-apples-destined/) [Helen Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-brown/) > [My Mom always cooked healthy. Greek food lends itself to cooking healthy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cat-cora/my-mom-always-cooked-healthy-greek-food-lends-itself-to-cooking/) [Cat Cora](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cat-cora/) > [Cooking brings me so much joy. I love everything, down to the execution of the plate to picking out fresh ingredients at the market.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-budig/cooking-brings-me-so-much-joy-i-love-everything-down-to-the-execution/) [Kathryn Budig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-budig/) > [Recipes don't work unless you use your heart!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-jones/recipes-don-t-work-unless-you-use-your-heart/) Dylan Jones > [Cooking is 80 percent confidence, a skill best acquired starting from when the apron strings wrap around you twice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-kingsolver/cooking-is-80-percent-confidence-a-skill-best-acquired-starting-from/) [Barbara Kingsolver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-kingsolver/) > [I have a great time cooking and eating Thai green chicken curry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akshay-kumar/i-have-a-great-time-cooking-and-eating-thai-green-chicken-curry/) [Akshay Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akshay-kumar/) > [There are times when born hollandaise heads, as well as nouveaux turbot freaks and recherche escargotphiles alike crave the saignet abundance of a New…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gael-greene/there-are-times-when-born-hollandaise-heads-as-well-as-nouveaux/) [Gael Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gael-greene/) > [Speaking of trust, ever since I wrote this book, 'Liespotting,' no one wants to meet me in person anymore - no, no, no, no,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pamela-meyer/speaking-of-trust-ever-since-i-wrote-this-book-liespotting-no-one/) [Pamela Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pamela-meyer/) > [Balance is key in cooking - you want a little acid, a little sweet, a little savory - the flavors should be harmonious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-simmons/balance-is-key-in-cooking-you-want-a-little-acid-a-little-sweet-a/) [Gail Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-simmons/) > [A combination of the qualities of the scholar, the master cook, the painter, the gastronomer, the sportsman and the pantologist, assisted by the skill…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-ellwanger/a-combination-of-the-qualities-of-the-scholar-the-master-cook-the/) [George Ellwanger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-ellwanger/) [Browse all 2,937 Cooking quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cooking/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When the waitress puts the dinner on the table, the old men look at the dinner. 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