--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Why keep in touch with them? That's what…" description: "\"Why keep in touch with them? That's what I want to know,' asked Larry despairingly. 'What satisfaction does it give you? They're all either fossilized ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c5b/gerald-durrell-9611_aunt_why-keep-in-touch-with-them-that-s-what_1408871.jpg" --- # Why keep in touch with them? That's what I want to know,'… ![“Why keep in touch with them? That's what I want to know,' asked Larry despairingly. 'What satisfaction does it give you? They're all either fossilized or mental.' 'Indeed, they're not mental,' said Mother indignantly. 'Nonsense, Mother... Look at Aunt Bertha, keeping flocks of imaginary cats…” quote by Gerald Durrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c5b/gerald-durrell-9611_aunt_why-keep-in-touch-with-them-that-s-what_1408871.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c5b/gerald-durrell-9611_aunt_why-keep-in-touch-with-them-that-s-what_1408871.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c5b/gerald-durrell-9611_aunt_why-keep-in-touch-with-them-that-s-what_1408871.jpg) > “Why keep in touch with them? That's what I want to know,' asked Larry despairingly. 'What satisfaction does it give you? They're all either fossilized or mental.' 'Indeed, they're not mental,' said Mother indignantly. 'Nonsense, Mother... Look at Aunt Bertha, keeping flocks of imaginary cats... and there's Great-Uncle Patrick, who wanders about nude and tells complete strangers how he killed whales with a penknife...They're all bats.” [Gerald Durrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-durrell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The passage sat the absurdity of clinging to relationships that offer no genuine fulfillment, highlighting how people can become detached or bizarre. **In simple terms:** Clinging to empty ties is pointless. Key Takeaway Seek authentic connections. Themes relationships absurdity fulfillment Mood reflective skeptical Type literary observational When to use this quote - family gatherings - social media - old friendships - new acquaintances Key Concepts existentialism social critique Questions to Reflect On - What relationships in your life feel empty? - How do you discern genuine connection? A Different Perspective Not all relationships are worth maintaining; some may be harmful. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Asked Larry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asked-larry-4959548/) [Aunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aunt/) [Bats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bats/) [Bertha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bertha-18584/) [Cat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cat/) [Doe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doe/) [Flocks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flocks/) [Fossilized Mental](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fossilized-mental-4959547/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Imaginary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/imaginary/) [Look Aunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/look-aunt-3078646/) [Looks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/looks/) [Mother](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mother/) [Nonsense](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nonsense/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said/) [Satisfaction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/satisfaction/) [Stranger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stranger/) [Uncles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/uncles/) [Wander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wander/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) [Whales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/whales/) ## Related quotes > [There are a lot of kids out there that look at me as their mother, and I have my two biological children, and there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-visage/there-are-a-lot-of-kids-out-there-that-look-at-me-as-their-mother-and/) [Michelle Visage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-visage/) > [“I was waiting at table tonight, on account of it being such a big party, and just as I was coming round with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daisy-goodwin/i-was-waiting-at-table-tonight-on-account-of-it-being-such-a-big/) [Daisy Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daisy-goodwin/) > [I had hundreds of books under my skin already. Not selected reading, all of it. Some of it could be called trashy. I had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zora-neale-hurston/i-had-hundreds-of-books-under-my-skin-already-not-selected-reading/) [Zora Neale Hurston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zora-neale-hurston/) > [Socrates: So even our walks are dangerous here. But you seem to have avoided the most dangerous thing of all. Bertha: What's that? Socrates:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-kreeft/socrates-so-even-our-walks-are-dangerous-here-but-you-seem-to-have/) [Peter Kreeft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-kreeft/) > [Be sure your sins will find you out, especially if you're married and her name's Bertha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/be-sure-your-sins-will-find-you-out-especially-if-you-re-married-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [This was something you had to work through on you own," Jason said. "Besides, I knew you'd do the right thing." "Oh, right," I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-cabot/this-was-something-you-had-to-work-through-on-you-own-jason-said/) [Meg Cabot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-cabot/) > [“Bertha kept things interesting, always shaky and a little unstable”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bambi-sparkles/bertha-kept-things-interesting-always-shaky-and-a-little-unstable/) [Bambi Sparkles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bambi-sparkles/) > [We stared at the odd garment and wondered what it was for. 'What is it?' asked Larry at length. 'It's a bathing costume, of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-durrell/we-stared-at-the-odd-garment-and-wondered-what-it-was-for-what-is-it/) [Gerald Durrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-durrell/) > [The American people intuitively understand this, which is why the majority of Catholics practice birth control and some of those opposed to gay marriage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/the-american-people-intuitively-understand-this-which-is-why-the/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [“Without this flock, I would be worthless. Without the people in this flock, I'd be empty. Without the people who started this flock, I'd…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-a-thompson/without-this-flock-i-would-be-worthless-without-the-people-in-this/) [Shannon A. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-a-thompson/) > [Remember the band, Flock of Seagulls? They had their van stolen. I was like, They still have a van?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/remember-the-band-flock-of-seagulls-they-had-their-van-stolen-i-was/) [Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) > [The holy heaven yearns to wound the earth, and yearning layeth hold on the earth to join in wedlock; the rain, fallen from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aeschylus/the-holy-heaven-yearns-to-wound-the-earth-and-yearning-layeth-hold-on/) [Aeschylus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aeschylus/) > [As a leader... I have always endeavored to listen to what each and every person in a discussion had to say before venturing my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/as-a-leader-i-have-always-endeavored-to-listen-to-what-each-and-every/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) > [It is important to meet people where they are. It reminds me of yoga, to which people may flock for the physical benefits, often…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-dawn/it-is-important-to-meet-people-where-they-are-it-reminds-me-of-yoga/) [Karen Dawn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-dawn/) > [Max—you have a bigger mission than finding the flock's parents. Focus on helping the whole world, not just your friends. I held my wings…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/max-you-have-a-bigger-mission-than-finding-the-flock-s-parents-focus/) [James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/) ## More by Gerald Durrell > [I do wish you wouldn't argue with me when I'm knitting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-durrell/i-do-wish-you-wouldn-t-argue-with-me-when-i-m-knitting/) [Gerald Durrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-durrell/) > [ Gradually the magic of the island \[Corfu\] settled over us as gently and clingingly as pollen. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-durrell/gradually-the-magic-of-the-island-corfu-settled-over-us-as-gently-and/) [Gerald Durrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-durrell/) > [They were maps that lived, maps that one could study, frown over, and add to; maps, in short, that really meant something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-durrell/they-were-maps-that-lived-maps-that-one-could-study-frown-over-and/) [Gerald Durrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-durrell/) > [“It's all your fault, Mother,' said Larry austerely; 'you shouldn't have brought us up to be so selfish.' 'I like that!' exclaimed Mother. 'I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-durrell/it-s-all-your-fault-mother-said-larry-austerely-you-shouldn-t-have/) [Gerald Durrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-durrell/) > [As I watched the pulsing fire among the trees and heard the beat of the drum merge and tremble with the voices, forming an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-durrell/as-i-watched-the-pulsing-fire-among-the-trees-and-heard-the-beat-of/) [Gerald Durrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-durrell/) > [Each day had a tranquility a timelessness about it so that you wished it would never end. But then the dark skin of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-durrell/each-day-had-a-tranquility-a-timelessness-about-it-so-that-you-wished/) [Gerald Durrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-durrell/) > [We stared at the odd garment and wondered what it was for. 'What is it?' asked Larry at length. 'It's a bathing costume, of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-durrell/we-stared-at-the-odd-garment-and-wondered-what-it-was-for-what-is-it/) [Gerald Durrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-durrell/) > [“Lying spread-eagled in the silky water, gazing into the sky, only moving my hands and feet slightly to keep afloat, I was looking at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-durrell/lying-spread-eagled-in-the-silky-water-gazing-into-the-sky-only/) [Gerald Durrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-durrell/) > [“Larry was always full of ideas about things of which he had no experience.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-durrell/larry-was-always-full-of-ideas-about-things-of-which-he-had-no/) [Gerald Durrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-durrell/) > [“No sooner were they drowsing pleasantly than the Magenpies would start the food call, one doing the hiccoughs while the other did the piping.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-durrell/no-sooner-were-they-drowsing-pleasantly-than-the-magenpies-would/) [Gerald Durrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-durrell/) > [“The noise of drinking was exhilarating. Champagne corks popped and the pale, chrysanthemum-coloured liquid, whispering gleefully with bubbles, hissed into the glasses; heavy red…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-durrell/the-noise-of-drinking-was-exhilarating-champagne-corks-popped-and-the/) [Gerald Durrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-durrell/) > [My childhood in Corfu shaped my life. If I had the craft of Merlin, I would give every child the gift of my childhood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-durrell/my-childhood-in-corfu-shaped-my-life-if-i-had-the-craft-of-merlin-i/) [Gerald Durrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-durrell/) > [The great ecosystems are like complex tapestries - a million complicated threads, interwoven, make up the whole picture. Nature can cope with small rents…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-durrell/the-great-ecosystems-are-like-complex-tapestries-a-million/) [Gerald Durrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-durrell/) > [There is no first world and third world. There is only one world, for all of us to live and delight in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-durrell/there-is-no-first-world-and-third-world-there-is-only-one-world-for/) [Gerald Durrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-durrell/) > [Until we consider animal life to be worthy of the consideration and reverence we bestow upon old books and pictures and historic monuments, there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-durrell/until-we-consider-animal-life-to-be-worthy-of-the-consideration-and/) [Gerald Durrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-durrell/) [Explore all 67 Gerald Durrell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-durrell/) ## More Aunt quotes > [“My aunt Carol hasn’t heard her say a word in the whole six years and three months of Grace’s life—not a single syllable. Carol…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-oliver/my-aunt-carol-hasn-t-heard-her-say-a-word-in-the-whole-six-years-and/) [Lauren Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-oliver/) > [Your aunt and uncle will be proud, though, won't they?" said Hermione as they got off the train and joined the crowd thronging toward…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/your-aunt-and-uncle-will-be-proud-though-won-t-they-said-hermione-as/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I was painfully shy, so my aunt suggested to my mum that me and my brother go to Stage 84, a performing arts school…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-cooke/i-was-painfully-shy-so-my-aunt-suggested-to-my-mum-that-me-and-my/) [Christian Cooke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-cooke/) > [“Quin took on the air of someone who has just realized it's time for the yearly visit to the spinster great-aunt in a desperate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-fecteau/quin-took-on-the-air-of-someone-who-has-just-realized-it-s-time-for/) [Amy Fecteau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-fecteau/) > [My aunt and uncle are clearly civilians.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-kimmel/my-aunt-and-uncle-are-clearly-civilians/) [Jimmy Kimmel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-kimmel/) > [“Aunt Helen Beck had many intentions about her death. She was about being dead the way some people are about being British - she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-mccracken/aunt-helen-beck-had-many-intentions-about-her-death-she-was-about/) [Elizabeth McCracken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-mccracken/) > [I'll just do a round around of the house and make sure the rest of the family are fast asleep. We don't want that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerstin-gier/i-ll-just-do-a-round-around-of-the-house-and-make-sure-the-rest-of/) [Kerstin Gier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerstin-gier/) > [In the summer of 1964, my sister and I went to South Ballston, Virginia, to stay with my aunt and her kids. They passed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-p-jones/in-the-summer-of-1964-my-sister-and-i-went-to-south-ballston-virginia/) [Edward P. Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-p-jones/) > [“I look like Barbara Bush in drag." Aunt Jettie”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-harper/i-look-like-barbara-bush-in-drag-aunt-jettie/) [Molly Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-harper/) > [I only wanted Uncle Vernon standing by his own car (a Hudson) on a clear day, I got him and the car. Ialso got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-friedlander/i-only-wanted-uncle-vernon-standing-by-his-own-car-a-hudson-on-a/) [Lee Friedlander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-friedlander/) > [Both the five-year-olds looked at me with bewilderment and a bit of fearful uncertainty. I had a sudden horrifying image of the woman I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/both-the-five-year-olds-looked-at-me-with-bewilderment-and-a-bit-of/) [Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) > [My aunt got me interested in journalism - she found an old typewriter, had it worked over, put it on the dining room table,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-jenkins/my-aunt-got-me-interested-in-journalism-she-found-an-old-typewriter/) [Dan Jenkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-jenkins/) > [This kind of thing always amazed Ginny--people who just walked away from institutions. People who left school when they didn't see the point. Aunt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-johnson/this-kind-of-thing-always-amazed-ginny-people-who-just-walked-away/) [Maureen Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-johnson/) > [“You will not be able to shelter her forever,” my aunt insists. “What will happen when you are gone someday, and all the suitable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-forest/you-will-not-be-able-to-shelter-her-forever-my-aunt-insists-what-will/) [Laurie Forest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-forest/) > [my sweet old etcetera aunt lucy during the recent war could and what is more did tell you just what everybody was fighting for,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/my-sweet-old-etcetera-aunt-lucy-during-the-recent-war-could-and-what/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 720 Aunt quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aunt/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Why keep in touch with them? That's what I want to know,' asked Larry despairingly. 'What satisfaction does it give you? They're all either fossilized or mental.' 'Indeed, they're not mental,' said Mother indignantly. 'Nonsense, Mother... Look at Aunt Bertha, keeping flocks of imaginary cats... and there's Great-Uncle Patrick, who wanders about nude and tells complete strangers how he killed whales with a penknife...They're all bats.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Gerald Durrell" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-durrell/why-keep-in-touch-with-them-that-s-what-i-want-to-know-asked-larry/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Aunt" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-durrell/why-keep-in-touch-with-them-that-s-what-i-want-to-know-asked-larry/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c5b/gerald-durrell-9611_aunt_why-keep-in-touch-with-them-that-s-what_1408871.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c5b/gerald-durrell-9611_aunt_why-keep-in-touch-with-them-that-s-what_1408871.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c5b/gerald-durrell-9611_aunt_why-keep-in-touch-with-them-that-s-what_1408871.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Why keep in touch with them? That's what I want to know,' asked Larry despairingly. 'What satisfaction does…” — Gerald Durrell", "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": "Gerald Durrell", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-durrell/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Why keep in touch with them?...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-durrell/why-keep-in-touch-with-them-that-s-what-i-want-to-know-asked-larry/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-durrell/why-keep-in-touch-with-them-that-s-what-i-want-to-know-asked-larry/#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 } } ] } ```