--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Miss Strange?” said the receptionist…" description: "\"“Miss Strange?” said the receptionist. “The King’s Useless Brother has become bored and will see you early.”\" — Jasper Fforde" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bbe/jasper-fforde-797_receptionist_miss-strange-said-the-receptionist-the-k_2685735.png" --- # Miss Strange?” said the receptionist. “The King’s Useless… ![“Miss Strange?” said the receptionist. “The King’s Useless Brother has become bored and will see you early.” quote by Jasper Fforde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bbe/jasper-fforde-797_receptionist_miss-strange-said-the-receptionist-the-k_2685735.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bbe/jasper-fforde-797_receptionist_miss-strange-said-the-receptionist-the-k_2685735.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bbe/jasper-fforde-797_receptionist_miss-strange-said-the-receptionist-the-k_2685735.png) > ““Miss Strange?” said the receptionist. “The King’s Useless Brother has become bored and will see you early.”” [Jasper Fforde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasper-fforde/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A receptionist informs a visitor that the King’s useless brother is bored and will see them early. **In simple terms:** The King’s brother is idle and will meet you soon. Key Takeaway Expect unexpected delays from indifferent authority figures. Themes bureaucracy authority humor fantasy Mood witty critical Type satire philosophical When to use this quote - office settings - government - fantasy worlds Key Concepts satire power dynamics narrative twist Questions to Reflect On - How does boredom affect decision‑making? - What does “useless brother” imply about hierarchy? A Different Perspective Humor may mask deeper critique of power. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bored Early](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bored-early-2617264/) [King Useless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/king-useless-2617265/) [Receptionist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/receptionist-250048/) [Receptionist King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/receptionist-king-2617263/) [Said Receptionist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said-receptionist-2617262/) ## Related quotes > [“But he might have had a bang on the head!" said Joan. "Poor little boy, he thinks he was a rat!" "Hmm," said the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-pullman/but-he-might-have-had-a-bang-on-the-head-said-joan-poor-little-boy-he/) [Philip Pullman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-pullman/) > [Be good, kind, and friendly to the receptionist. She's had a hard day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-pidgeon/be-good-kind-and-friendly-to-the-receptionist-she-s-had-a-hard-day/) [Rebecca Pidgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-pidgeon/) > [“Receptionist also added super-breath when I offered her twenty bucks.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-millar/receptionist-also-added-super-breath-when-i-offered-her-twenty-bucks/) [Mark Millar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-millar/) > [I worked as a receptionist in England for a couple of years whilst I was building up my business. I decided to take a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tan-france/i-worked-as-a-receptionist-in-england-for-a-couple-of-years-whilst-i/) [Tan France](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tan-france/) > [I wonder if a receptionist at a sperm bank has ever used the phrase: 'Thanks for coming.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-wonder-if-a-receptionist-at-a-sperm-bank-has-ever-used-the-phrase/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You only get one chance to make a good first impression, and yours may be in the hands of the receptionist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-mackay/you-only-get-one-chance-to-make-a-good-first-impression-and-yours-may/) [Harvey Mackay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-mackay/) > [I knew I wasn't going to make money in the beginning, so I found another way to support myself - I was a receptionist.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-mcgrath/i-knew-i-wasn-t-going-to-make-money-in-the-beginning-so-i-found/) [Pat McGrath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-mcgrath/) > [“RECEPTIONIST LOOKED RIGHT through me as I crossed the carpeted lobby between glass-cased tanker models and clipper ship prints. I winked at her, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-hjortsberg/receptionist-looked-right-through-me-as-i-crossed-the-carpeted-lobby/) [William Hjortsberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-hjortsberg/) > [The receptionist looked us over, then went back to typing something incredibly urgent—like her résumé́ for another job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/the-receptionist-looked-us-over-then-went-back-to-typing-something/) [James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/) > [“rude, but the girl was a receptionist”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-reed/rude-but-the-girl-was-a-receptionist/) [J.C. Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-reed/) > [“The same beautiful receptionist greeted Christian who had met him before and she extended the same lush invitation as she had the last time.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amalie-howard/the-same-beautiful-receptionist-greeted-christian-who-had-met-him/) [Amalie Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amalie-howard/) > [“Is this a torture chamber?" Puck asked eagerly. "Listen to all the suffering! Isn't it cool?" "This is a dental office," the receptionist explained.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-buckley/is-this-a-torture-chamber-puck-asked-eagerly-listen-to-all-the/) [Michael Buckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-buckley/) > [“Christ, he had GI Jane as his receptionist.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-ashley/christ-he-had-gi-jane-as-his-receptionist/) [Kristen Ashley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-ashley/) > [I started out as a receptionist. I typed, I filed, I answered the phones for a little nine-person company.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carly-fiorina/i-started-out-as-a-receptionist-i-typed-i-filed-i-answered-the-phones/) [Carly Fiorina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carly-fiorina/) > [“We’re here to deliver preemie hats to Sharon Jennings,” Libby explained. The receptionist”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debbie-macomber/we-re-here-to-deliver-preemie-hats-to-sharon-jennings-libby-explained/) [Debbie Macomber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debbie-macomber/) ## More by Jasper Fforde > [Palindrome as well. My sister's name is Hannah. Father liked word games. He was fourteen times World Scrabble Champion. When he died, we buried…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasper-fforde/palindrome-as-well-my-sister-s-name-is-hannah-father-liked-word-games/) [Jasper Fforde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasper-fforde/) > [Ill-fitting grammar are like ill-fitting shoes. You can get used to it for a bit, but then one day your toes fall off and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasper-fforde/ill-fitting-grammar-are-like-ill-fitting-shoes-you-can-get-used-to-it/) [Jasper Fforde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasper-fforde/) > [Agents and publishers only want one thing - good writing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasper-fforde/agents-and-publishers-only-want-one-thing-good-writing/) [Jasper Fforde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasper-fforde/) > [Take no heed of her… She reads a lot of books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasper-fforde/take-no-heed-of-her-she-reads-a-lot-of-books/) [Jasper Fforde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasper-fforde/) > [“Our own dimension was coded ID-11 and was the only League member with diphtheria, David Hasselhoff and the French, which amused the rest of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasper-fforde/our-own-dimension-was-coded-id-11-and-was-the-only-league-member-with/) [Jasper Fforde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasper-fforde/) > [Don't ever call me mad, Mycroft. I'm not mad. I'm just ... well, differently moraled, that's all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasper-fforde/don-t-ever-call-me-mad-mycroft-i-m-not-mad-i-m-just-well-differently/) [Jasper Fforde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasper-fforde/) > [“They had just digested a recent meal of prepositions and were happily farting out apostrophes and ampersands; the air was heav'y with th'em&.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasper-fforde/they-had-just-digested-a-recent-meal-of-prepositions-and-were-happily/) [Jasper Fforde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasper-fforde/) > [After all, reading is arguably a far more creative and imaginative process than writing; when the reader creates emotion in their head, or the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasper-fforde/after-all-reading-is-arguably-a-far-more-creative-and-imaginative/) [Jasper Fforde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasper-fforde/) > [“Sometimes your destiny takes you to dark places where you'd rather not be, but destiny, as they say, is destiny.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasper-fforde/sometimes-your-destiny-takes-you-to-dark-places-where-you-d-rather/) [Jasper Fforde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasper-fforde/) > [“Whoever controls the supply of metaphor controls fiction! . . . Metaphor should be controlled. A glut on the market would make fiction overtly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasper-fforde/whoever-controls-the-supply-of-metaphor-controls-fiction-metaphor/) [Jasper Fforde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasper-fforde/) > [“A sloppy half-Windsor is the first symptom of serial indolence' she replied in the patronizing voice that Yellows reserved for Rule-breakers, 'and ignoring the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasper-fforde/a-sloppy-half-windsor-is-the-first-symptom-of-serial-indolence-she/) [Jasper Fforde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasper-fforde/) > [The universe always moves from an ordered state to a disordered one; that a glass may fall to the ground and shatter yet you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasper-fforde/the-universe-always-moves-from-an-ordered-state-to-a-disordered-one/) [Jasper Fforde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasper-fforde/) > [To espresso or to latte, that is the question...whether 'tis tastier on the palate to choose white mocha over plain...or to take a cup…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasper-fforde/to-espresso-or-to-latte-that-is-the-question-whether-tis-tastier-on/) [Jasper Fforde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasper-fforde/) > [I've got six months to sort out the hackers, get the Japanese knotweed under control and find an acceptable form of narcissus.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasper-fforde/i-ve-got-six-months-to-sort-out-the-hackers-get-the-japanese-knotweed/) [Jasper Fforde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasper-fforde/) > [“They keep an eye on forgery, illegal dealing and overtly free thespian interpretations. The actor in with them was Graham Huxtable. He was putting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasper-fforde/they-keep-an-eye-on-forgery-illegal-dealing-and-overtly-free-thespian/) [Jasper Fforde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasper-fforde/) [Explore all 356 Jasper Fforde quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasper-fforde/) ## More Receptionist quotes > [“RECEPTIONIST LOOKED RIGHT through me as I crossed the carpeted lobby between glass-cased tanker models and clipper ship prints. I winked at her, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-hjortsberg/receptionist-looked-right-through-me-as-i-crossed-the-carpeted-lobby/) [William Hjortsberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-hjortsberg/) > [I started out as a receptionist. I typed, I filed, I answered the phones for a little nine-person company.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carly-fiorina/i-started-out-as-a-receptionist-i-typed-i-filed-i-answered-the-phones/) [Carly Fiorina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carly-fiorina/) > [“Christ, he had GI Jane as his receptionist.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-ashley/christ-he-had-gi-jane-as-his-receptionist/) [Kristen Ashley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-ashley/) > [“Is this a torture chamber?" Puck asked eagerly. "Listen to all the suffering! Isn't it cool?" "This is a dental office," the receptionist explained.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-buckley/is-this-a-torture-chamber-puck-asked-eagerly-listen-to-all-the/) [Michael Buckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-buckley/) > [“The same beautiful receptionist greeted Christian who had met him before and she extended the same lush invitation as she had the last time.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amalie-howard/the-same-beautiful-receptionist-greeted-christian-who-had-met-him/) [Amalie Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amalie-howard/) > [“rude, but the girl was a receptionist”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-reed/rude-but-the-girl-was-a-receptionist/) [J.C. Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-reed/) > [The receptionist looked us over, then went back to typing something incredibly urgent—like her résumé́ for another job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/the-receptionist-looked-us-over-then-went-back-to-typing-something/) [James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/) > [I knew I wasn't going to make money in the beginning, so I found another way to support myself - I was a receptionist.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-mcgrath/i-knew-i-wasn-t-going-to-make-money-in-the-beginning-so-i-found/) [Pat McGrath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-mcgrath/) > [You only get one chance to make a good first impression, and yours may be in the hands of the receptionist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-mackay/you-only-get-one-chance-to-make-a-good-first-impression-and-yours-may/) [Harvey Mackay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-mackay/) > [I wonder if a receptionist at a sperm bank has ever used the phrase: 'Thanks for coming.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-wonder-if-a-receptionist-at-a-sperm-bank-has-ever-used-the-phrase/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I worked as a receptionist in England for a couple of years whilst I was building up my business. I decided to take a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tan-france/i-worked-as-a-receptionist-in-england-for-a-couple-of-years-whilst-i/) [Tan France](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tan-france/) > [“Receptionist also added super-breath when I offered her twenty bucks.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-millar/receptionist-also-added-super-breath-when-i-offered-her-twenty-bucks/) [Mark Millar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-millar/) > [Be good, kind, and friendly to the receptionist. She's had a hard day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-pidgeon/be-good-kind-and-friendly-to-the-receptionist-she-s-had-a-hard-day/) [Rebecca Pidgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-pidgeon/) > [“We’re here to deliver preemie hats to Sharon Jennings,” Libby explained. The receptionist”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debbie-macomber/we-re-here-to-deliver-preemie-hats-to-sharon-jennings-libby-explained/) [Debbie Macomber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debbie-macomber/) > [Do the models get mad that the receptionist is hotter?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrina-patridge/do-the-models-get-mad-that-the-receptionist-is-hotter/) [Audrina Patridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrina-patridge/) [Browse all 17 Receptionist quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/receptionist-250048/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Miss Strange?” said the receptionist. “The King’s Useless Brother has become bored and will see you early.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jasper Fforde" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasper-fforde/miss-strange-said-the-receptionist-the-king-s-useless-brother-has/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Receptionist" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasper-fforde/miss-strange-said-the-receptionist-the-king-s-useless-brother-has/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bbe/jasper-fforde-797_receptionist_miss-strange-said-the-receptionist-the-k_2685735.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bbe/jasper-fforde-797_receptionist_miss-strange-said-the-receptionist-the-k_2685735.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bbe/jasper-fforde-797_receptionist_miss-strange-said-the-receptionist-the-k_2685735.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Miss Strange?” said the receptionist. “The King’s Useless Brother has become bored and will see you early.” — Jasper Fforde", "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": "Jasper Fforde", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasper-fforde/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Miss Strange?” said the receptionist. “The...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasper-fforde/miss-strange-said-the-receptionist-the-king-s-useless-brother-has/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasper-fforde/miss-strange-said-the-receptionist-the-king-s-useless-brother-has/#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 } } ] } ```