--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I wanted information, it was silent…" description: "\"When I wanted information, it was silent; when I didn't want to hear from it, it got chatty. It was alost as irritating as Fang.\" — James Patterson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/095/james-patterson-171_information_when-i-wanted-information-it-was-silent_2489219.png" --- # When I wanted information, it was silent; when I didn't… ![“When I wanted information, it was silent; when I didn't want to hear from it, it got chatty. It was alost as irritating as Fang.” quote by James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/095/james-patterson-171_information_when-i-wanted-information-it-was-silent_2489219.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/095/james-patterson-171_information_when-i-wanted-information-it-was-silent_2489219.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/095/james-patterson-171_information_when-i-wanted-information-it-was-silent_2489219.png) > “When I wanted information, it was silent; when I didn't want to hear from it, it got chatty. It was alost as irritating as Fang.” [James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote contrasts the quietness of desired information with the noisy, unwanted chatter, highlighting how preference shapes perception of communication. **In simple terms:** Preferred info feels quiet; unwanted feels noisy. Key Takeaway Recognize how expectations affect your experience of information. Themes communication perception expectations Mood frustrated irritated Type observational reflective When to use this quote - research - customer service - media consumption - personal boundaries Key Concepts information overload selective attention Questions to Reflect On - Do you notice how your expectations change your perception of noise? - How can you manage unwanted information? A Different Perspective If you ignore the source, it may become more intrusive. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Chatty Alost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chatty-alost-947371/) [Got Chatty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/got-chatty-838563/) [Information](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/information/) [Information Silent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/information-silent-947368/) [Irritating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/irritating/) [Irritating Fang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/irritating-fang-947369/) [Silent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/silent/) [Silent Didn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/silent-didn-947370/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) [Wanted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wanted/) ## Related quotes > [I come by writing dialogue fairly naturally, I've got a chatty family; I'm a bit of a voyeur, and if I'm ever in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-dewitt/i-come-by-writing-dialogue-fairly-naturally-i-ve-got-a-chatty-family/) [Patrick deWitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-dewitt/) > [“At least when you were silent, you didn’t make any new enemies.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/v-c-andrews/at-least-when-you-were-silent-you-didn-t-make-any-new-enemies/) [V.C. Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/v-c-andrews/) > [I had the right to remain silent... but I didn't have the ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-white/i-had-the-right-to-remain-silent-but-i-didn-t-have-the-ability/) [Ron White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-white/) > [Enjoy most: the prospect of having an impact on the public debate. Irritating liberals is a close second.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-coulter/enjoy-most-the-prospect-of-having-an-impact-on-the-public-debate/) [Ann Coulter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-coulter/) > [Irritating people are really victims themselves; they tempt you in order to retrieve something they have lost to those who aggravated the life out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/irritating-people-are-really-victims-themselves-they-tempt-you-in/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You would do well to know, Marcus, that irritating a better swordsman than yourself is a good way to end up dead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-e-feist/you-would-do-well-to-know-marcus-that-irritating-a-better-swordsman/) [Raymond E. Feist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-e-feist/) > [Anything which is troubling you, anything which is irritating you, THAT is your teacher.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ajahn-chah/anything-which-is-troubling-you-anything-which-is-irritating-you-that/) [Ajahn Chah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ajahn-chah/) > [So much in L.A. is waiting. It's so irritating. That's what's good about stand-up. You can go away, and you don't have to sit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-macdonald/so-much-in-l-a-is-waiting-it-s-so-irritating-that-s-what-s-good-about/) [Norm MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norm-macdonald/) > [I wanted to do action, and it was a bit irritating when people called me a chocolate boy. I can do other films, too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naga-chaitanya/i-wanted-to-do-action-and-it-was-a-bit-irritating-when-people-called/) [Naga Chaitanya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naga-chaitanya/) > [I've never been the kind of guy who finds attention irritating.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spencer-matthews/i-ve-never-been-the-kind-of-guy-who-finds-attention-irritating/) [Spencer Matthews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spencer-matthews/) > [I know how irritating it is when a producer puts his hand in everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautham-menon/i-know-how-irritating-it-is-when-a-producer-puts-his-hand-in/) [Gautham Menon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautham-menon/) > [WikiLeaks is irritating and annoying for Germany, but not a threat. From an international perspective, I see their actions as totally irresponsible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-de-maiziere/wikileaks-is-irritating-and-annoying-for-germany-but-not-a-threat/) [Thomas de Maiziere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-de-maiziere/) > [“When two humans have lived together for many years it usually happens that each has tones of voice and expressions of face which are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis-2/when-two-humans-have-lived-together-for-many-years-it-usually-happens/) [C.S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis-2/) > [I know what you are known as . . . but to me, you will always be Tom Riddle. It is one of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-know-what-you-are-known-as-but-to-me-you-will-always-be-tom-riddle/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The most irritating people are those without a sense of humor, amirite?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-most-irritating-people-are-those-without-a-sense-of-humor-amirite/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by James Patterson > [It was a little weird that they were friends. But then, maybe freaks just tended to find each other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/it-was-a-little-weird-that-they-were-friends-but-then-maybe-freaks/) [James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/) > [“The next forty-five minutes in that office was about as much fun as a day at Disney World—when it’s pouring rain. And all there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/the-next-forty-five-minutes-in-that-office-was-about-as-much-fun-as-a/) [James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/) > [As we go through this transition where a lot more people will be reading on devices, nobody is paying enough attention to make sure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/as-we-go-through-this-transition-where-a-lot-more-people-will-be/) [James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/) > [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/) > [You're lying through your fangs," Iggy accused. Fang tried to play innocent--but "innocent Fang" is an oxymoron, so it didn't work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/you-re-lying-through-your-fangs-iggy-accused-fang-tried-to-play/) [James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/) > [There are reasons people seek escape in books, and one of those reasons is that the boundary of what can happen is beyond what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/there-are-reasons-people-seek-escape-in-books-and-one-of-those/) [James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/) > [I shot him the bird. (Get it? I shot him the—never mind.)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/i-shot-him-the-bird-get-it-i-shot-him-the-never-mind/) [James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/) > [I get up every morning and chop wood, and I pretty much do it seven days a week, and I like to do it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/i-get-up-every-morning-and-chop-wood-and-i-pretty-much-do-it-seven/) [James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/) > [Witihin seconds the headhunter had lost control of his car and it squealed, sliding sideways right into several other cars. Cool!' said the Gasman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/witihin-seconds-the-headhunter-had-lost-control-of-his-car-and-it/) [James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/) > [“It was scary. More than Sara could possibly know. More than anybody ought to know, or ever would. History wasn't for the general public--it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/it-was-scary-more-than-sara-could-possibly-know-more-than-anybody/) [James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/) > [Did I want a dog? No. Did I need a dog? Also no. We were six kids running for our lives, not knowing where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/did-i-want-a-dog-no-did-i-need-a-dog-also-no-we-were-six-kids-running/) [James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/) > [I'm a girl who has been tamping down her emotions and keeping them tightly guarded her whole life. And that works really well for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/i-m-a-girl-who-has-been-tamping-down-her-emotions-and-keeping-them/) [James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/) > [When my son, Jack, was four, I had to make a trip to Los Angeles. I asked him if he was going to miss…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/when-my-son-jack-was-four-i-had-to-make-a-trip-to-los-angeles-i-asked/) [James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/) > [“that kid’s nothing but a little hoodlum.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/that-kid-s-nothing-but-a-little-hoodlum/) [James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/) > [Jeezum—humans were like eggshells.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/jeezum-humans-were-like-eggshells/) [James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/) [Explore all 983 James Patterson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/) ## More Information quotes > [Intel has a very complete process that I go through any time I want to sell that ensures I have no insider information.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-krzanich/intel-has-a-very-complete-process-that-i-go-through-any-time-i-want/) [Brian Krzanich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-krzanich/) > [Some books are not read in the right way because they have skipped a stage of opinion, assume a crystallization of information in society…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-lessing/some-books-are-not-read-in-the-right-way-because-they-have-skipped-a/) [Doris Lessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-lessing/) > [You feed yourself. Make sure you have all the information, whether it's aesthetic, scientific, mathematical, I don't care what it is. Then you walk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/you-feed-yourself-make-sure-you-have-all-the-information-whether-it-s/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [“We know that children with autism like order, that they are often very visual and that they can be quite literal. They deserve beautiful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adele-devine/we-know-that-children-with-autism-like-order-that-they-are-often-very/) [Adele Devine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adele-devine/) > [I'm not going to be part of looking at information only partially. I'm not going to be part of just coming to quick conclusions.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-cleland/i-m-not-going-to-be-part-of-looking-at-information-only-partially-i-m/) [Max Cleland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-cleland/) > [If, as I anticipate, a wide array of personal, portable information/communication devices becomes increasingly important and widespread for information-intensive users, it will be a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-peters/if-as-i-anticipate-a-wide-array-of-personal-portable-information/) [Tom Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-peters/) > [I didn't expect to be so comfortable handing my child off to a nanny without getting any of her information. As soon as she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ali-wong/i-didn-t-expect-to-be-so-comfortable-handing-my-child-off-to-a-nanny/) [Ali Wong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ali-wong/) > [It is proposed that a form of free dialogue may well be one of the most effective ways of investigating the crisis which faces…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bohm/it-is-proposed-that-a-form-of-free-dialogue-may-well-be-one-of-the/) [David Bohm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bohm/) > [Small businesses are the backbone of the American economy and employ almost half of the working population. Yet because of their size, they rarely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-lipinski/small-businesses-are-the-backbone-of-the-american-economy-and-employ/) [Dan Lipinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-lipinski/) > [Information is money, but data is squat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-llama-butler/information-is-money-but-data-is-squat/) [Angela Llama-Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-llama-butler/) > [In essence, I see the value of journalism as resting in a twofold mission: informing the public of accurate and vital information, and its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-greenwald/in-essence-i-see-the-value-of-journalism-as-resting-in-a-twofold/) [Glenn Greenwald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-greenwald/) > [There's nothing more special than intellect and labour that makes painting work. There's no magic there; it's information, and it's work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-james-marshall/there-s-nothing-more-special-than-intellect-and-labour-that-makes/) [Kerry James Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-james-marshall/) > [That's what makes a human a human, if we store information outside our bodies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-nye/that-s-what-makes-a-human-a-human-if-we-store-information-outside-our/) [Bill Nye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-nye/) > [My hope is that if people have the knowledge, and if they actually see where their food comes from and have access to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-pollan/my-hope-is-that-if-people-have-the-knowledge-and-if-they-actually-see/) [Michael Pollan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-pollan/) > [The mere imparting of information is not education.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carter-g-woodson/the-mere-imparting-of-information-is-not-education/) [Carter G. Woodson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carter-g-woodson/) [Browse all 6,395 Information quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/information/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When I wanted information, it was silent; when I didn't want to hear from it, it got chatty. It was alost as irritating as Fang.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "James Patterson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/when-i-wanted-information-it-was-silent-when-i-didn-t-want-to-hear/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Information" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/when-i-wanted-information-it-was-silent-when-i-didn-t-want-to-hear/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/095/james-patterson-171_information_when-i-wanted-information-it-was-silent_2489219.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/095/james-patterson-171_information_when-i-wanted-information-it-was-silent_2489219.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/095/james-patterson-171_information_when-i-wanted-information-it-was-silent_2489219.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When I wanted information, it was silent; when I didn't want to hear from it, it got chatty. It was alost as…” — James Patterson", "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": "James Patterson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "When I wanted information, it was...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/when-i-wanted-information-it-was-silent-when-i-didn-t-want-to-hear/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/when-i-wanted-information-it-was-silent-when-i-didn-t-want-to-hear/#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 } } ] } ```