--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: He knew who I was, at that time, because…" description: "\"He knew who I was, at that time, because I had a reputation as a writer. I knew he was part of the Bush dynasty. But he was nothing, he offered nothing..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6b3/hunter-s-thompson-278_attention_he-knew-who-i-was-at-that-time-because-i_1937662.jpg" --- # He knew who I was, at that time, because I had a… ![“He knew who I was, at that time, because I had a reputation as a writer. I knew he was part of the Bush dynasty. But he was nothing, he offered nothing, and he promised nothing. He had no humor. He was insignificant in every way and consequently I didn't pay much attention to him. But when he…” quote by Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6b3/hunter-s-thompson-278_attention_he-knew-who-i-was-at-that-time-because-i_1937662.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6b3/hunter-s-thompson-278_attention_he-knew-who-i-was-at-that-time-because-i_1937662.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6b3/hunter-s-thompson-278_attention_he-knew-who-i-was-at-that-time-because-i_1937662.jpg) > “He knew who I was, at that time, because I had a reputation as a writer. I knew he was part of the Bush dynasty. But he was nothing, he offered nothing, and he promised nothing. He had no humor. He was insignificant in every way and consequently I didn't pay much attention to him. But when he passed out in my bathtub, then I noticed him. I'd been in another room, talking to the bright people. I had to have him taken away.” [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The narrator dismisses a man as insignificant until a shocking event forces him to confront the man's presence. **In simple terms:** We often ignore people until something dramatic makes us notice. Key Takeaway Pay attention before crisis forces awareness. Themes neglect perception crisis attention Mood cynical reflective Type observational critical When to use this quote - political gatherings - personal encounters - unexpected emergencies Key Concepts existentialism social hierarchy human dignity Questions to Reflect On - What biases cause us to overlook others? - How can we stay present to those around us? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on reputation can blind us to immediate reality. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Attention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attention/) [Bathtubs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bathtubs/) [Dynasty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dynasty/) [Humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humor/) [Humor Insignificant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humor-insignificant-3068854/) [Insignificant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/insignificant/) [Knew Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knew-bush-3068852/) [Nfl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nfl/) [Passed Bathtub](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/passed-bathtub-3068855/) [Pay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pay/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Reputation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reputation/) [Reputation Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reputation-writer-3068853/) [Rooms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rooms/) [Taken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taken/) [Talking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talking/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [“I'm pretty much awake now." (P) "The last time I said that, I passed out in the bathtub." (I) "I remember that. Neil covered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bailey-cunningham/i-m-pretty-much-awake-now-p-the-last-time-i-said-that-i-passed-out-in/) [Bailey Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bailey-cunningham/) > [Want to hear a sad story about the Dukakis campaign? The governor of Massachusetts, he lost his top naval advisor last week. His rubber…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-quayle/want-to-hear-a-sad-story-about-the-dukakis-campaign-the-governor-of/) [Dan Quayle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-quayle/) > [“We're not dealing with Isaac Newton here. She likes what she calls 'romance.' To her that means candles, rose petals, and a bathtub. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-helprin/we-re-not-dealing-with-isaac-newton-here-she-likes-what-she-calls/) [Mark Helprin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-helprin/) > [I was the last one of nine kids - eight girls and me last - and my sisters were going out. They were teenagers.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/riccardo-tisci/i-was-the-last-one-of-nine-kids-eight-girls-and-me-last-and-my/) [Riccardo Tisci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/riccardo-tisci/) > [You might be a redneck if you can tell your age by the number of rings in the bathtub.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-foxworthy/you-might-be-a-redneck-if-you-can-tell-your-age-by-the-number-of/) [Jeff Foxworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-foxworthy/) > [I remember being a bathtub singer. You know, the type that sings and everybodys like, Shut up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-paul/i-remember-being-a-bathtub-singer-you-know-the-type-that-sings-and-2/) [Sean Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-paul/) > [At the millennium we partied like it was 1999. And then we had a 10 year bathtub tequila hangover, man. Just hugging the metaphorical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-titus/at-the-millennium-we-partied-like-it-was-1999-and-then-we-had-a-10/) [Christopher Titus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-titus/) > [Being a mother is the perfect experience for any writer. You learn how to not waste time. The writing hours become incredibly precious and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chiara-barzini/being-a-mother-is-the-perfect-experience-for-any-writer-you-learn-how/) [Chiara Barzini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chiara-barzini/) > [Being in a bathtub with Jackie Chan, I don't know, it has a way of bonding you I'll tell you that. I don't know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/owen-wilson/being-in-a-bathtub-with-jackie-chan-i-don-t-know-it-has-a-way-of/) [Owen Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/owen-wilson/) > [I'm very attached to movie theaters and I love going to them. Nothing will ever replace that. It's very romantic and beautiful. I used…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winona-ryder/i-m-very-attached-to-movie-theaters-and-i-love-going-to-them-nothing/) [Winona Ryder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winona-ryder/) > [There are many mysteries in old age but the greatest, surely, is this: in those adverts for walk-in bathtubs, why doesn't all the water…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-coren/there-are-many-mysteries-in-old-age-but-the-greatest-surely-is-this/) [Alan Coren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-coren/) > [It's like, are you kidding me? I'd sell way more if I just put a picture of my face. That's the fact. I'd sell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sky-ferreira/it-s-like-are-you-kidding-me-i-d-sell-way-more-if-i-just-put-a/) [Sky Ferreira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sky-ferreira/) > [I wake up around noon, light a cigarette, get a cup of coffee, sit in the bathtub for an hour and daydream, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-zimmer/i-wake-up-around-noon-light-a-cigarette-get-a-cup-of-coffee-sit-in/) [Hans Zimmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-zimmer/) > [All that the Y.M.C.A.'s horse and rings really accomplished was to fill me with an ineradicable distaste, not only for Christian endeavor in all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken/all-that-the-y-m-c-a-s-horse-and-rings-really-accomplished-was-to/) [H. L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken/) > [We were so poor as kids. I didn't even see a bathtub, running water, hot water, commode - we didn't have any of that.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-robertson/we-were-so-poor-as-kids-i-didn-t-even-see-a-bathtub-running-water-hot/) [Phil Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-robertson/) ## More by Hunter S. Thompson > [“There was also the fact that sending a penniless writer to get $135 worth of beer was — as Khrushchev said of Nixon —…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/there-was-also-the-fact-that-sending-a-penniless-writer-to-get-135/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [“Cases of champagne and scotch lay broken in the street, and everyone I saw had a bottle. They were screaming and dancing, and in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/cases-of-champagne-and-scotch-lay-broken-in-the-street-and-everyone-i/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [No music + Bad TV = Bad mood & no pages.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/no-music-bad-tv-bad-mood-no-pages/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [By disgracing and degrading the presidency of the United States, by fleeing the White House like a diseased cur, Richard Nixon broke the heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/by-disgracing-and-degrading-the-presidency-of-the-united-states-by/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [No one holds command over me. No man. No god. No Prince. What is a claim of age for ones who are immortal? What…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/no-one-holds-command-over-me-no-man-no-god-no-prince-what-is-a-claim/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [“The person who doesn't scatter the morning dew will not comb grey hairs”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/the-person-who-doesn-t-scatter-the-morning-dew-will-not-comb-grey/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [Hope rises and dreams flicker and die. Love plans for tomorrow and loneliness thinks of yesterday. Life is beautiful and living is pain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/hope-rises-and-dreams-flicker-and-die-love-plans-for-tomorrow-and/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [If we get chased out of Iraq with our tail between our legs, that will be the fifth consecutive Third-world country with no hint…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/if-we-get-chased-out-of-iraq-with-our-tail-between-our-legs-that-will/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [At age 22 I set what I insist is an all-time record for distance hitchhiking in Bermuda shorts: 3,700 miles in three weeks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/at-age-22-i-set-what-i-insist-is-an-all-time-record-for-distance/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [Paranoia is just another mask for ignorance. The truth, when you finally chase it down is almost always far worse than your darkest visions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/paranoia-is-just-another-mask-for-ignorance-the-truth-when-you/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [“No doubt they all Got What Was Coming To Them. All those pathetically eager acid freaks who thought they could buy Peace and Understanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/no-doubt-they-all-got-what-was-coming-to-them-all-those-pathetically/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [“For several months they'd been drifting toward political involvement, but the picture was hazy and one of the most confusing elements was their geographical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/for-several-months-they-d-been-drifting-toward-political-involvement/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [He wandered into the Newsroom and asked for a job the same way he’d walk into a barbershop and ask for a haircut, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/he-wandered-into-the-newsroom-and-asked-for-a-job-the-same-way-he-d/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [There's no point in getting into politics at all unless you plan to lash things around.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/there-s-no-point-in-getting-into-politics-at-all-unless-you-plan-to/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [There’s a lot of things wrong with this country, but one of the few things still right with it is that a man can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/there-s-a-lot-of-things-wrong-with-this-country-but-one-of-the-few/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) [Explore all 765 Hunter S. Thompson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) ## More Attention quotes > [It appears to me that one great cause of our difference in opinion on subjects which we often discuss is that you have always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ricardo/it-appears-to-me-that-one-great-cause-of-our-difference-in-opinion-on/) [David Ricardo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ricardo/) > [People pay far too much attention to the television and they're quite literal in some ways. 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