--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You’re joining us for dinner, I hope?”…" description: "\"You’re joining us for dinner, I hope?” asked his mom. She was small and brunette and vaguely mousy. “I guess?” I said. “I have to be home by ten. Also ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/87f/john-green-12_animal_you-re-joining-us-for-dinner-i-hope-aske_1858312.jpg" --- # You’re joining us for dinner, I hope?” asked his mom. She… ![“You’re joining us for dinner, I hope?” asked his mom. She was small and brunette and vaguely mousy. “I guess?” I said. “I have to be home by ten. Also I don’t, um, eat meat?” “No problem. We’ll vegetarianize some,” she said. “Animals are just too cute?” Gus asked. “I want to minimize the number of…” quote by John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/87f/john-green-12_animal_you-re-joining-us-for-dinner-i-hope-aske_1858312.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/87f/john-green-12_animal_you-re-joining-us-for-dinner-i-hope-aske_1858312.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/87f/john-green-12_animal_you-re-joining-us-for-dinner-i-hope-aske_1858312.jpg) > “You’re joining us for dinner, I hope?” asked his mom. She was small and brunette and vaguely mousy. “I guess?” I said. “I have to be home by ten. Also I don’t, um, eat meat?” “No problem. We’ll vegetarianize some,” she said. “Animals are just too cute?” Gus asked. “I want to minimize the number of deaths I am responsible for,” I said. Gus opened his mouth to respond but then stopped himself.” [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A dialogue about ethical choices, personal responsibility, and the desire to reduce harm to animals. **In simple terms:** Choosing a lifestyle that aligns with one’s moral values. Key Takeaway Consider the impact of your choices. Themes ethics family diet responsibility Mood thoughtful reflective Type conversational ethical When to use this quote - family dinner - dietary decisions - activism - conflict resolution Key Concepts moral philosophy personal values Questions to Reflect On - How do you reconcile personal ethics with family traditions? - What compromises are acceptable? A Different Perspective Balancing personal beliefs with social expectations can be challenging. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Animal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animal/) [Asked Mom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asked-mom-548291/) [Brunette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brunette/) [Cute](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cute/) [Dinner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dinner/) [Gus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gus/) [Gus Asked](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gus-asked-428319/) [Home](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/home/) [Joining](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/joining/) [Joining Dinner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/joining-dinner-2486206/) [Meat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meat/) [Mom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mom/) [Mouths](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mouths/) [No problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/no-problem/) [Numbers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/numbers/) [Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem/) [Responsible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/responsible/) [Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said/) [Said Gus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said-gus-2486205/) [Too cute](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/too-cute/) [Vegetarianize Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vegetarianize-said-428318/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) ## Related quotes > [“Also I don't, um, eat meat?" "No problem. We'll vegetarianize some," she said. "Animals are just too cute?" Gus asked. "I want to minimize…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/also-i-don-t-um-eat-meat-no-problem-we-ll-vegetarianize-some-she-said/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [“The stewardess was flummoxed for only a moment. “Well, that metaphor is prohibited on today’s flight,” she said. Gus nodded and rejoined the cigarette…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/the-stewardess-was-flummoxed-for-only-a-moment-well-that-metaphor-is/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [“How did you even get in here?” I asked him. “Would you believe they leave the door open all night?” Gus asked. “Um, no,”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/how-did-you-even-get-in-here-i-asked-him-would-you-believe-they-leave/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [“Apparently nice Horse would be joining me for dinner instead of his evil twin.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanna-wylde/apparently-nice-horse-would-be-joining-me-for-dinner-instead-of-his/) [Joanna Wylde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanna-wylde/) > [“The Park?" Gus asked skeptically, following him out of Kali's building and across the empty street. "The place with the homicidal poodle pack and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tui-t-sutherland/the-park-gus-asked-skeptically-following-him-out-of-kali-s-building/) [Tui T. Sutherland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tui-t-sutherland/) > [So how’s it going?” “Okay. Glad to be home, I guess. Gus told me you were in the ICU?” “Yeah,” I said. “Sucks,” he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/so-how-s-it-going-okay-glad-to-be-home-i-guess-gus-told-me-you-were/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [“So afterward, while I was getting eviscerated by chemo, for some reason I decided to feel really hopeful. Not about survival but I felt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/so-afterward-while-i-was-getting-eviscerated-by-chemo-for-some-reason/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [“People always get used to beauty, though.” “I haven’t gotten used to you just yet,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/people-always-get-used-to-beauty-though-i-haven-t-gotten-used-to-you-4/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [“Augustus Waters was sitting on the front step as we pulled into the driveway. He was holding a bouquet of bright orange tulips just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/augustus-waters-was-sitting-on-the-front-step-as-we-pulled-into-the/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [“Omnia Cellula e Cellula”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/omnia-cellula-e-cellula/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [I want more numbers than I’m likely to get, and God, I want more numbers for Augustus Waters than he got. But, Gus, my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/i-want-more-numbers-than-i-m-likely-to-get-and-god-i-want-more/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [Anyway, that was the last good day I had with Gus until the Last Good Day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/anyway-that-was-the-last-good-day-i-had-with-gus-until-the-last-good/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [Dad had a sign of his own. MY BEAUTIFUL FAMILY, it read, and then underneath that (AND GUS).](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/dad-had-a-sign-of-his-own-my-beautiful-family-it-read-and-then/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [“Ma'am,' Augustus said, nodding toward her, 'your daughter's car has just been deservedly egged by a blind man. Please close the door and go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/ma-am-augustus-said-nodding-toward-her-your-daughter-s-car-has-just-2/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [When surprised and excited and innocent Gus emerged from Grand Gesture Metaphorically Inclined Augustus, I literally could not resist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/when-surprised-and-excited-and-innocent-gus-emerged-from-grand/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) ## More by John Green > [Issac:"I dislike living in a world without Augustus Waters." Computer: "I don't understand-" Issac: "Me neither. Pause](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/issac-i-dislike-living-in-a-world-without-augustus-waters-computer-i/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [“I just want to stay away from people and read books and think”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/i-just-want-to-stay-away-from-people-and-read-books-and-think/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [She smiled with all the delight of a kid on Christmas morning and said, "Y'all smoke to enjoy it. I smoke to die." -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/she-smiled-with-all-the-delight-of-a-kid-on-christmas-morning-and/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [A Margo for each of us--and each more mirror than window.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/a-margo-for-each-of-us-and-each-more-mirror-than-window/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [“No one ever says good-bye unless they want to see you again.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/no-one-ever-says-good-bye-unless-they-want-to-see-you-again/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [Neither novels or their readers benefit from any attempts to divine whether any facts hide inside a story. Such efforts attack the very idea…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/neither-novels-or-their-readers-benefit-from-any-attempts-to-divine/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [“Traffic's not too bad on Sheridan, and I'm cornering the car like it's the Indy 500, and we're listening to my favorite NMH song,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/traffic-s-not-too-bad-on-sheridan-and-i-m-cornering-the-car-like-it-s/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [“Praise God for good nurses.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/praise-god-for-good-nurses/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [So I was ugly. I was never fat, really, and I never wore headgear or had zits or anything. But I was ugly. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/so-i-was-ugly-i-was-never-fat-really-and-i-never-wore-headgear-or-had/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [Nothing has ever looked like that ever in all of human history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/nothing-has-ever-looked-like-that-ever-in-all-of-human-history/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [“said to him quietly, as if I couldn’t hear or something. Dad was about to respond but I interrupted.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/said-to-him-quietly-as-if-i-couldn-t-hear-or-something-dad-was-about/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [I believe humans have souls, and I believe in the conservation of souls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/i-believe-humans-have-souls-and-i-believe-in-the-conservation-of-souls/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [“He was hot. A nonhotboy stares at you relentlessly and it is, at best, awkward and, at worst, a form of assault. But a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/he-was-hot-a-nonhotboy-stares-at-you-relentlessly-and-it-is-at-best/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [I think if you keep the box closed long enough you do kill the cat, actually.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/i-think-if-you-keep-the-box-closed-long-enough-you-do-kill-the-cat/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [Imagining the future is a kind of nostalgia. (...) You spend your whole life stuck in the labyrinth, thinking about how you'll escape it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/imagining-the-future-is-a-kind-of-nostalgia-you-spend-your-whole-life/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) [Explore all 3,614 John Green quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) ## More Animal quotes > [I was 3-years-old - to this day it is a vivid memory. My family and I were on a boat, catching fish. As one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joaquin-phoenix/i-was-3-years-old-to-this-day-it-is-a-vivid-memory-my-family-and-i/) [Joaquin Phoenix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joaquin-phoenix/) > [Animals know nothing of themselves, and they also know nothing of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/animals-know-nothing-of-themselves-and-they-also-know-nothing-of-the/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [Humans are animals too, but some do not like to work from expectations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/humans-are-animals-too-but-some-do-not-like-to-work-from-expectations/) [Mak\_786](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mak-786/) > [When grubbing for necessities man is still an animal. He becomes uniquely human when he reaches out for the superfluous and extravagant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/when-grubbing-for-necessities-man-is-still-an-animal-he-becomes/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [I'm 38 and I'm single, and I'm having my most intense and gratifying relationship with a dog. But we all learn about love in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-knapp/i-m-38-and-i-m-single-and-i-m-having-my-most-intense-and-gratifying/) [Caroline Knapp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-knapp/) > [Practically all animals which move fast in a homogeneous medium have found means of giving their body a streamlined shape, thereby reducing friction to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/konrad-lorenz/practically-all-animals-which-move-fast-in-a-homogeneous-medium-have/) [Konrad Lorenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/konrad-lorenz/) > [A horse, a horse, my kingdom for a horse!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/a-horse-a-horse-my-kingdom-for-a-horse/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“it is a federal system of sadistic torture, vivisection, and animal genocide, which has been carried on for decades under the fraudulent guise of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-tobias/it-is-a-federal-system-of-sadistic-torture-vivisection-and-animal/) [Michael Tobias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-tobias/) > [“What does it mean to be a self-conscious animal? The idea is ludicrous, if it is not monstrous. It means to know that one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-becker/what-does-it-mean-to-be-a-self-conscious-animal-the-idea-is-ludicrous/) [Ernest Becker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-becker/) > [We must love animals in such a powerful way that we should reject to eat them!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/we-must-love-animals-in-such-a-powerful-way-that-we-should-reject-to/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [“The universe contains any amount of horrible ways to be woken up, such as the noise of the mob breaking down the front door,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/the-universe-contains-any-amount-of-horrible-ways-to-be-woken-up-such/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [This brings me back to the image of Kafka standing before a fish in the Berlin aquarium, a fish on which his gaze fell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-safran-foer/this-brings-me-back-to-the-image-of-kafka-standing-before-a-fish-in/) [Jonathan Safran Foer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-safran-foer/) > [That dog, I say that dog is lower than a snake full of buckshot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/foghorn-leghorn/that-dog-i-say-that-dog-is-lower-than-a-snake-full-of-buckshot/) [Foghorn Leghorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/foghorn-leghorn/) > [I bet plants go like 'Weeeeeeeee!' whenever they're swallowed by a giraffe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-bet-plants-go-like-weeeeeeeee-whenever-they-re-swallowed-by-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Animal rights without veganism is like human rights with slavery. It makes no sense. None whatsoever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-l-francione/animal-rights-without-veganism-is-like-human-rights-with-slavery-it/) [Gary L. Francione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-l-francione/) [Browse all 13,456 Animal quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animal/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "You’re joining us for dinner, I hope?” asked his mom. She was small and brunette and vaguely mousy. “I guess?” I said. “I have to be home by ten. Also I don’t, um, eat meat?” “No problem. We’ll vegetarianize some,” she said. “Animals are just too cute?” Gus asked. “I want to minimize the number of deaths I am responsible for,” I said. 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