--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Policeman: \"A hermit eh? Then why's your…" description: "\"Policeman: \"A hermit eh? Then why's your table set for four?\" Groucho: \"That's nothing. My alarm clock is set for eight.\" — Groucho Marx" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c9/groucho-marx-788_alarm-clock_policeman-a-hermit-eh-then-why-s-your-ta_1944338.jpg" --- # Policeman: "A hermit eh? Then why's your table set for… ![“Policeman: "A hermit eh? Then why's your table set for four?" Groucho: "That's nothing. My alarm clock is set for eight.” quote by Groucho Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c9/groucho-marx-788_alarm-clock_policeman-a-hermit-eh-then-why-s-your-ta_1944338.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c9/groucho-marx-788_alarm-clock_policeman-a-hermit-eh-then-why-s-your-ta_1944338.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c9/groucho-marx-788_alarm-clock_policeman-a-hermit-eh-then-why-s-your-ta_1944338.jpg) > “Policeman: "A hermit eh? Then why's your table set for four?" Groucho: "That's nothing. My alarm clock is set for eight.” [Groucho Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/groucho-marx/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A joke about a hermit’s table and alarm clock highlights absurd expectations. **In simple terms:** Absurd expectations are funny. Key Takeaway Question assumptions humorously. Themes absurdity humor expectations Mood playful witty Type satirical humorous When to use this quote - dinner parties - daily routines - social gatherings Key Concepts comedy timing social norms Questions to Reflect On - Why do we accept odd norms? - When does absurdity become critique? A Different Perspective Humor may miss deeper issues. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Alarm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alarm/) [Alarm clock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alarm-clock/) [Alarm clocks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alarm-clocks/) [Alarms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alarms/) [Clock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clock/) [Eight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eight/) [Four](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/four/) [Groucho Alarm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/groucho-alarm-3117838/) [Hermits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hermits/) [Policeman Hermit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/policeman-hermit-3117839/) [Policemen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/policemen/) [Set Groucho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/set-groucho-3117840/) [Tables](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tables/) ## Related quotes > [That's nothing. My alarm clock is set for eight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/groucho-marx/that-s-nothing-my-alarm-clock-is-set-for-eight/) [Groucho Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/groucho-marx/) > [“Neil McNair has become my alarm clock, if alarm clocks had freckles and knew all your insecurities.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-lynn-solomon/neil-mcnair-has-become-my-alarm-clock-if-alarm-clocks-had-freckles/) [Rachel Lynn Solomon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-lynn-solomon/) > [I don't need an alarm clock, for habit is the best alarm there is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-stanton-hitchcock/i-don-t-need-an-alarm-clock-for-habit-is-the-best-alarm-there-is/) [Jane Stanton Hitchcock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-stanton-hitchcock/) > [Come here and take off your clothes and with them every single worry you have ever carried. My fingertips on your back will be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyler-knott-gregson/come-here-and-take-off-your-clothes-and-with-them-every-single-worry/) [Tyler Knott Gregson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyler-knott-gregson/) > [Sleep is harder to reach and thinner, and sleeping is no longer the Drop into the black pit all oblivion until the alarm clock,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-lessing/sleep-is-harder-to-reach-and-thinner-and-sleeping-is-no-longer-the/) [Doris Lessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-lessing/) > [By the Reagan era, the 'culture of poverty' had become a cornerstone of conservative ideology: poverty was caused not by low wages or a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-ehrenreich/by-the-reagan-era-the-culture-of-poverty-had-become-a-cornerstone-of/) [Barbara Ehrenreich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-ehrenreich/) > [“For some reason, falling asleep is a lot easier After the rest of the world has been jerked awake by their alarm clocks”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-alene/for-some-reason-falling-asleep-is-a-lot-easier-after-the-rest-of-the/) [Catherine Alene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-alene/) > [I wake up at about the same time every day. I sleep well and wake without an alarm clock.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donatella-versace/i-wake-up-at-about-the-same-time-every-day-i-sleep-well-and-wake/) [Donatella Versace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donatella-versace/) > [It is easy to be swept away by some overwhelming feeling, so it's helpful to remember that any stressful feeling is like a compassionate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/byron-katie/it-is-easy-to-be-swept-away-by-some-overwhelming-feeling-so-it-s/) [Byron Katie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/byron-katie/) > [Disturbers are never popular - nobody ever really loved an alarm clock in action, no matter how grateful he may have been afterwards for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nellie-l-mcclung/disturbers-are-never-popular-nobody-ever-really-loved-an-alarm-clock/) [Nellie L. McClung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nellie-l-mcclung/) > [Stress is an alarm clock that lets you know you're attached to something not true for you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/byron-katie/stress-is-an-alarm-clock-that-lets-you-know-you-re-attached-to/) [Byron Katie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/byron-katie/) > [As a performer, I wanted to be the loudest, most persistent alarm clock I could be, because there didn’t seem like any other way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-manson/as-a-performer-i-wanted-to-be-the-loudest-most-persistent-alarm-clock/) [Marilyn Manson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-manson/) > [“Tip #2: No more alarm clocks”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-helen-conroy/tip-2-no-more-alarm-clocks/) [Mary Helen Conroy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-helen-conroy/) > [The beloved may be treacherous, greasy-headed and given to evil habits, or else it can be a man in his late forties who works…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-link/the-beloved-may-be-treacherous-greasy-headed-and-given-to-evil-habits/) [Kelly Link](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-link/) > [Here in the UK the audience immediately reacts and they get the fact that: "What would be the most annoying thing in the world?"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/duncan-jones/here-in-the-uk-the-audience-immediately-reacts-and-they-get-the-fact/) [Duncan Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/duncan-jones/) ## More by Groucho Marx > [No one is completely unhappy at the failure of his best friend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/groucho-marx/no-one-is-completely-unhappy-at-the-failure-of-his-best-friend/) [Groucho Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/groucho-marx/) > [There is no sweeter sound than the crumbling of one's fellow man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/groucho-marx/there-is-no-sweeter-sound-than-the-crumbling-of-one-s-fellow-man/) [Groucho Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/groucho-marx/) > [Television is where you watch people in your living room that you would not want near your house.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/groucho-marx/television-is-where-you-watch-people-in-your-living-room-that-you/) [Groucho Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/groucho-marx/) > [ He \[Groucho's father\] had absolutely no training, and if you had ever seen one of his suits, you'd realize what an accurate statement that… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/groucho-marx/he-groucho-s-father-had-absolutely-no-training-and-if-you-had-ever/) [Groucho Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/groucho-marx/) > [Women should be obscene and not heard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/groucho-marx/women-should-be-obscene-and-not-heard/) [Groucho Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/groucho-marx/) > [Why would I want to join an organization that would encourage people like myself to become members.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/groucho-marx/why-would-i-want-to-join-an-organization-that-would-encourage-people/) [Groucho Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/groucho-marx/) > [You're the most beautiful woman I've ever seen, and that's not saying much for you](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/groucho-marx/you-re-the-most-beautiful-woman-i-ve-ever-seen-and-that-s-not-saying/) [Groucho Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/groucho-marx/) > [The only game I like to play is "Old Maid", providing she's not too old](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/groucho-marx/the-only-game-i-like-to-play-is-old-maid-providing-she-s-not-too-old/) [Groucho Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/groucho-marx/) > [Who are you going to believe, me or your own eyes?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/groucho-marx/who-are-you-going-to-believe-me-or-your-own-eyes/) [Groucho Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/groucho-marx/) > [My favourite poem is the one that starts 'Thirty days hath September' because it actually tells you something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/groucho-marx/my-favourite-poem-is-the-one-that-starts-thirty-days-hath-september/) [Groucho Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/groucho-marx/) > [Afraid? Me? A man who's licked his weight in wild caterpillars?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/groucho-marx/afraid-me-a-man-who-s-licked-his-weight-in-wild-caterpillars/) [Groucho Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/groucho-marx/) > [I hate London when it's not raining.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/groucho-marx/i-hate-london-when-it-s-not-raining/) [Groucho Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/groucho-marx/) > [I never forget a face, but in your case I'll be glad to make an exception.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/groucho-marx/i-never-forget-a-face-but-in-your-case-i-ll-be-glad-to-make-an/) [Groucho Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/groucho-marx/) > [Let there be dancing in the streets, drinking in the saloons, and necking in the parlor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/groucho-marx/let-there-be-dancing-in-the-streets-drinking-in-the-saloons-and/) [Groucho Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/groucho-marx/) > [If women dressed for men, the stores wouldn't sell much - just an occasional sun visor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/groucho-marx/if-women-dressed-for-men-the-stores-wouldn-t-sell-much-just-an/) [Groucho Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/groucho-marx/) [Explore all 366 Groucho Marx quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/groucho-marx/) ## More Alarm quotes > [“We kiss until the alarm sounds off on my phone.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-hoover/we-kiss-until-the-alarm-sounds-off-on-my-phone/) [Colleen Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-hoover/) > [I don't use an alarm, though sometimes Alexa wakes me, especially if I have to get up at a certain time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-rainbow/i-don-t-use-an-alarm-though-sometimes-alexa-wakes-me-especially-if-i/) [Randy Rainbow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-rainbow/) > [The fire alarm definitely just went off...I think I'll stick to microwaveable popcorn from now on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/candace-bailey/the-fire-alarm-definitely-just-went-off-i-think-i-ll-stick-to/) [Candace Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/candace-bailey/) > [There's gonna be a lot of slow singin' and flower bringin' if my burgalar alarm starts ringin'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/biggie-smalls/there-s-gonna-be-a-lot-of-slow-singin-and-flower-bringin-if-my/) [Biggie Smalls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/biggie-smalls/) > [I have slight attention-span issues, so I will often wander off, and then I will be alerted - in inverted commas - when the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-perkins/i-have-slight-attention-span-issues-so-i-will-often-wander-off-and/) [Sue Perkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-perkins/) > [As Secretary of Housing, I do have to express alarm, signal the alarm if you will, that the potential for homelessness to grow is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-cisneros/as-secretary-of-housing-i-do-have-to-express-alarm-signal-the-alarm/) [Henry Cisneros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-cisneros/) > [To-night I am going to take a party to the headquarters of the fire department, where I have a cinch on the captain, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-h-davis/to-night-i-am-going-to-take-a-party-to-the-headquarters-of-the-fire/) [Richard H. Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-h-davis/) > [We've already seen digital picture frames pre-loaded with viruses; I'm not eager to have my refrigerator hacked or my alarm clock turned against me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamais-cascio/we-ve-already-seen-digital-picture-frames-pre-loaded-with-viruses-i-m/) [Jamais Cascio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamais-cascio/) > [You lock your windows before you leave. You put on an alarm if you live in the country because you know that there are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-sheindlin/you-lock-your-windows-before-you-leave-you-put-on-an-alarm-if-you/) [Judy Sheindlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-sheindlin/) > [Waking up naturally to light is way better. It feels way better than waking up to an alarm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mat-fraser/waking-up-naturally-to-light-is-way-better-it-feels-way-better-than/) [Mat Fraser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mat-fraser/) > [It's gonna be awesome! A suspected pedophile dunks my kids head in a bucket so when she dies she can live in an invisible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-gould/it-s-gonna-be-awesome-a-suspected-pedophile-dunks-my-kids-head-in-a/) [Dana Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-gould/) > [I'm like a fire hose when the alarm goes off in a battle against a woman. Don't ever count me out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-riggs/i-m-like-a-fire-hose-when-the-alarm-goes-off-in-a-battle-against-a/) [Bobby Riggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-riggs/) > [Sleeping is my drug, my bed is the dealer, and my alarm clock is the police..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitchell-sakundiak/sleeping-is-my-drug-my-bed-is-the-dealer-and-my-alarm-clock-is-the/) [Mitchell Sakundiak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitchell-sakundiak/) > [“Tip #2: No more alarm clocks”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-helen-conroy/tip-2-no-more-alarm-clocks/) [Mary Helen Conroy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-helen-conroy/) > [I don't set the alarm to get up. I get up when I feel like it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-highsmith/i-don-t-set-the-alarm-to-get-up-i-get-up-when-i-feel-like-it/) [Patricia Highsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-highsmith/) [Browse all 272 Alarm quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alarm/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Policeman: \"A hermit eh? Then why's your table set for four?\" Groucho: \"That's nothing. My alarm clock is set for eight.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Groucho Marx" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/groucho-marx/policeman-a-hermit-eh-then-why-s-your-table-set-for-four-groucho-that/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Alarm" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/groucho-marx/policeman-a-hermit-eh-then-why-s-your-table-set-for-four-groucho-that/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c9/groucho-marx-788_alarm-clock_policeman-a-hermit-eh-then-why-s-your-ta_1944338.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c9/groucho-marx-788_alarm-clock_policeman-a-hermit-eh-then-why-s-your-ta_1944338.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c9/groucho-marx-788_alarm-clock_policeman-a-hermit-eh-then-why-s-your-ta_1944338.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Policeman: \"A hermit eh? Then why's your table set for four?\" Groucho: \"That's nothing. My alarm clock is…” — Groucho Marx", "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": "Groucho Marx", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/groucho-marx/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Policeman: \"A hermit eh? Then why's...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/groucho-marx/policeman-a-hermit-eh-then-why-s-your-table-set-for-four-groucho-that/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/groucho-marx/policeman-a-hermit-eh-then-why-s-your-table-set-for-four-groucho-that/#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 } } ] } ```