--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Talking to you is like -- like talking to…" description: "\"Talking to you is like -- like talking to an eel!\" \"No, is it? I've never tried to talk to an eel. Isn't it as waste of time?\" \"Not such a waste of tim..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e6/georgette-heyer-1080_eels_talking-to-you-is-like-like-talking-to-a_2509381.jpg" --- # Talking to you is like -- like talking to an eel!" "No, is… ![“Talking to you is like -- like talking to an eel!" "No, is it? I've never tried to talk to an eel. Isn't it as waste of time?" "Not such a waste of time as talking to you!” quote by Georgette Heyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e6/georgette-heyer-1080_eels_talking-to-you-is-like-like-talking-to-a_2509381.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e6/georgette-heyer-1080_eels_talking-to-you-is-like-like-talking-to-a_2509381.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e6/georgette-heyer-1080_eels_talking-to-you-is-like-like-talking-to-a_2509381.jpg) > “Talking to you is like -- like talking to an eel!" "No, is it? I've never tried to talk to an eel. Isn't it as waste of time?" "Not such a waste of time as talking to you!” [Georgette Heyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georgette-heyer/) ## 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 compares conversing with the listener to an absurd, futile act, highlighting frustration and perceived pointlessness. **In simple terms:** Talking feels pointless like an eel. Key Takeaway Recognize when dialogue is unproductive. Themes communication frustration absurdity relationships Mood wry critical Type literary conversational When to use this quote - marriage counseling - team meetings - friendship disputes Key Concepts dialogue dynamics misunderstanding interpersonal conflict Questions to Reflect On - When is silence better than speech? - How to navigate futile dialogues? A Different Perspective Not all conversations are wasteful; context matters. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Eels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eels/) [Like Talking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-talking/) [Talk Eel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talk-eel-1140717/) [Talking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talking/) [Talking Eel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talking-eel-1140718/) [Talking Like](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talking-like/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Tried Talk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tried-talk-1140719/) [Waste](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/waste/) [Waste of time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/waste-of-time/) [Wasting time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wasting-time/) ## Related quotes > [“Talking to him is rather like talking to a school play.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zo-heller/talking-to-him-is-rather-like-talking-to-a-school-play/) [Zoë Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zo-heller/) > [“I love you.' 'I'm a little stuck for words here,' she said. 'I'm just trying to get my head around it, trying to find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-landy/i-love-you-i-m-a-little-stuck-for-words-here-she-said-i-m-just-trying/) [Derek Landy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-landy/) > [Sometimes talking to you is like talking to myself: pretty damned annoying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/sometimes-talking-to-you-is-like-talking-to-myself-pretty-damned/) [Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/) > [I like talking but on my terms. I don't like people talking to me, but I like talking to people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-martin/i-like-talking-but-on-my-terms-i-don-t-like-people-talking-to-me-but/) [Guy Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-martin/) > [I swear, talking to you is like talking to a really good-looking and mildly stupid brick wall.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-landy/i-swear-talking-to-you-is-like-talking-to-a-really-good-looking-and/) [Derek Landy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-landy/) > [You see people on the street, talking to themselves, and you're like, 'What are they talking about?' I'm interested in that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/silas-weir-mitchell/you-see-people-on-the-street-talking-to-themselves-and-you-re-like/) [Silas Weir Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/silas-weir-mitchell/) > [I like talking. I like acting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-like-talking-i-like-acting/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [“ Listen for somebody trying to talk to you… (Silence) This from that very pit of night, naked in the wasteland, the ice-wind moaning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iain-m-banks/listen-for-somebody-trying-to-talk-to-you-silence-this-from-that-very/) [Iain M. Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iain-m-banks/) > [I tried to talk to Annabeth, but she was acting like I'd just punched her grandmother.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/i-tried-to-talk-to-annabeth-but-she-was-acting-like-i-d-just-punched/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [I remember going up to bands I've loved and tried to talk to them and been cold-shouldered.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chad-gilbert/i-remember-going-up-to-bands-i-ve-loved-and-tried-to-talk-to-them-and/) [Chad Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chad-gilbert/) > [I Tried To Talk, But you Didn't Listen. I Tried To Show You, But You Didn't Pay Attention. I Tried To Be Ther, But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/latest/i-tried-to-talk-but-you-didn-t-listen-i-tried-to-show-you-but-you/) [Latest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/latest/) > [We tried to talk it over but the words got in the way. We're lost inside this lonely game we play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-benson/we-tried-to-talk-it-over-but-the-words-got-in-the-way-we-re-lost/) [George Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-benson/) > [Have you tried to talk to her?" "What would you like me to say Bastian? OH, I'M SORRY, INEZ. I DIDN'T MEAN TO BITE…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynsay-sands/have-you-tried-to-talk-to-her-what-would-you-like-me-to-say-bastian/) [Lynsay Sands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynsay-sands/) > [ “I tried to talk about it to Lily, to make her see that for once, I'd earned a feeling. \[p. 174\]” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-miller/i-tried-to-talk-about-it-to-lily-to-make-her-see-that-for-once-i-d/) [Sue Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-miller/) > [“..when I tried to talk to him I realized that, though ties of blood made us kin, though I could see a shadow of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-wright/when-i-tried-to-talk-to-him-i-realized-that-though-ties-of-blood-made/) [Richard Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-wright/) ## More by Georgette Heyer > [“Upon her butler’s announcing the arrival of Mr Ravenscar, Lady Mablethorpe, who had been dozing over a novel from the Circulating Library, sat up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georgette-heyer/upon-her-butler-s-announcing-the-arrival-of-mr-ravenscar-lady/) [Georgette Heyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georgette-heyer/) > [“I may have said that I wanted to have an adventure," replied Miss Thane. "But I never said that I wanted to be murdered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georgette-heyer/i-may-have-said-that-i-wanted-to-have-an-adventure-replied-miss-thane/) [Georgette Heyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georgette-heyer/) > [Will you marry me, vile and abominable girl that you are? Yes, but, mind, it only to save my neck from being wrung!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georgette-heyer/will-you-marry-me-vile-and-abominable-girl-that-you-are-yes-but-mind/) [Georgette Heyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georgette-heyer/) > [“Lady Winwood being denied, the morning caller inquired with some anxiety for Miss Winwood, or, in fact, for any of the young ladies.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georgette-heyer/lady-winwood-being-denied-the-morning-caller-inquired-with-some/) [Georgette Heyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georgette-heyer/) > [I have seen what comes of being patient," Amanda said with a boding look. "And I have no opinion of it." "What does come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georgette-heyer/i-have-seen-what-comes-of-being-patient-amanda-said-with-a-boding/) [Georgette Heyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georgette-heyer/) > [“Goodbye!" "Oh, not goodbye!" he protested. "I mean to know you better, Miss Lanyon of Undershaw!" "To be sure, it does seem a pity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georgette-heyer/goodbye-oh-not-goodbye-he-protested-i-mean-to-know-you-better-miss/) [Georgette Heyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georgette-heyer/) > [“he disclosed that he had been set upon by two Bedlamites, both of whom had jumped out from behind a bush, roaring at him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georgette-heyer/he-disclosed-that-he-had-been-set-upon-by-two-bedlamites-both-of-whom/) [Georgette Heyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georgette-heyer/) > [Randall laid his hand on Stella's, but only to remove it from his sleeve. "My precious, you really must have some regard for my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georgette-heyer/randall-laid-his-hand-on-stella-s-but-only-to-remove-it-from-his/) [Georgette Heyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georgette-heyer/) > [She stretched out her hand, saying, “Vernon! My dear, what a delightful surprise!” “What’s surprising about it?” he enquired, lifting his black brows. “Didn’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georgette-heyer/she-stretched-out-her-hand-saying-vernon-my-dear-what-a-delightful/) [Georgette Heyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georgette-heyer/) > [“Nothing more likely,"said Hannasyde. "I've got to try and rattle him." "It's him that'll do the rattling,"said the Sergeant darkly. "he's the nearest thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georgette-heyer/nothing-more-likely-said-hannasyde-i-ve-got-to-try-and-rattle-him-it/) [Georgette Heyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georgette-heyer/) > [“Yes, darling, that is quite a nice frock, but the hankerchief is not only the wrong shade of grey, but quite damnably tied. Let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georgette-heyer/yes-darling-that-is-quite-a-nice-frock-but-the-hankerchief-is-not/) [Georgette Heyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georgette-heyer/) > [“The Viscount stepped into the room. "Came to see if you was dead," he said. "Laid Pom odds you weren't." Lethbridge passed his hand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georgette-heyer/the-viscount-stepped-into-the-room-came-to-see-if-you-was-dead-he/) [Georgette Heyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georgette-heyer/) > [“If you imagine that I have the smallest desire to receive your hand as a reward for having performed a difficult task to your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georgette-heyer/if-you-imagine-that-i-have-the-smallest-desire-to-receive-your-hand/) [Georgette Heyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georgette-heyer/) > [ \[...\]my memory is reasonably good—unlike yours, dear sir!” “Mine is erratic,” he said imperturbably. “I remember only what interests me. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georgette-heyer/my-memory-is-reasonably-good-unlike-yours-dear-sir-mine-is-erratic-he/) [Georgette Heyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georgette-heyer/) > [Do you recall Fred Merriville?” She stared at him. “Fred Merriville? Pray, what has he to say to anything?” “The poor fellow has nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georgette-heyer/do-you-recall-fred-merriville-she-stared-at-him-fred-merriville-pray/) [Georgette Heyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georgette-heyer/) [Explore all 296 Georgette Heyer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georgette-heyer/) ## More Eels quotes > [ “You \[demagogues\] are like the fishers for eels; in still waters they catch nothing, but if they thoroughly stir up the slime, their fishing… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristophanes/you-demagogues-are-like-the-fishers-for-eels-in-still-waters-they/) [Aristophanes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristophanes/) > [The apartments are made for eels.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cary-fukunaga/the-apartments-are-made-for-eels/) [Cary Fukunaga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cary-fukunaga/) > [I am not eccentric. It's just that I am more alive than most people. I am an unpopular electric eel set in a pond…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-sitwell/i-am-not-eccentric-it-s-just-that-i-am-more-alive-than-most-people-i/) [Edith Sitwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-sitwell/) > [Life isn't all fricasseed frogs and eel pie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-isn-t-all-fricasseed-frogs-and-eel-pie/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I have caught some big eels in New Zealand, where the climate is very similar to Scotland. But they grow to around five feet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-wade/i-have-caught-some-big-eels-in-new-zealand-where-the-climate-is-very/) [Jeremy Wade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-wade/) > [Take every gain without showing remorse about missed profits, because an eel may escape sooner than you think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/take-every-gain-without-showing-remorse-about-missed-profits-because/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Doubt is not a pleasant condition, but certainty is an absurd one. What is most repellent in the System of Nature - after the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baron-d-holbach/doubt-is-not-a-pleasant-condition-but-certainty-is-an-absurd-one-what/) [Baron d'Holbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baron-d-holbach/) > [Love is a slippery eel that bites like hell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/love-is-a-slippery-eel-that-bites-like-hell/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [If God did not exist, he would have to be invented.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-god-did-not-exist-he-would-have-to-be-invented/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“He leans over and puts the radio on. It’s Jason Donovan’s ‘Sealed With A Kiss’. ‘I love the music they play up here in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gemma-burgess/he-leans-over-and-puts-the-radio-on-it-s-jason-donovan-s-sealed-with/) [Gemma Burgess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gemma-burgess/) > [How index-learning turns no student pale, Yet holds the eel of science by the tail!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/how-index-learning-turns-no-student-pale-yet-holds-the-eel-of-science/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [To stand at the edge of the sea, to sense the ebb and flow of the tides, to feel the breath of a mist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-carson/to-stand-at-the-edge-of-the-sea-to-sense-the-ebb-and-flow-of-the/) [Rachel Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-carson/) > [It is very strange that men should deny a Creator and yet attribute to themselves the power of creating eels.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baron-d-holbach/it-is-very-strange-that-men-should-deny-a-creator-and-yet-attribute/) [Baron d'Holbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baron-d-holbach/) > [I gotta go home and feed my eels. They're not electric, but I have a plan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavia-spencer/i-gotta-go-home-and-feed-my-eels-they-re-not-electric-but-i-have-a/) [Octavia Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavia-spencer/) > [Be an electric eel in a goldfish pond!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sark/be-an-electric-eel-in-a-goldfish-pond/) [Sark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sark/) [Browse all 48 Eels quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eels/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Talking to you is like -- like talking to an eel!\" \"No, is it? I've never tried to talk to an eel. 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