--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: This was before voice mail, recorded…" description: "\"This was before voice mail, recorded phone messages you can't escape. Life was easier then. You just didn't pick up the phone.\" — Joyce Carol Oates" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/072/joyce-carol-oates-344_easier_this-was-before-voice-mail-recorded-phon_2077672.png" --- # This was before voice mail, recorded phone messages you… ![“This was before voice mail, recorded phone messages you can't escape. Life was easier then. You just didn't pick up the phone.” quote by Joyce Carol Oates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/072/joyce-carol-oates-344_easier_this-was-before-voice-mail-recorded-phon_2077672.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/072/joyce-carol-oates-344_easier_this-was-before-voice-mail-recorded-phon_2077672.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/072/joyce-carol-oates-344_easier_this-was-before-voice-mail-recorded-phon_2077672.png) > “This was before voice mail, recorded phone messages you can't escape. Life was easier then. You just didn't pick up the phone.” [Joyce Carol Oates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-carol-oates/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Before voicemail, people avoided calls, making life simpler; now constant connectivity adds stress. **In simple terms:** Life was simpler before voicemail. Key Takeaway Embrace mindful communication habits. Themes technology communication stress privacy change Mood reflective nostalgic concerned Type philosophical observational When to use this quote - modern work - family life - social media Key Concepts digital overload social expectations personal boundaries Questions to Reflect On - How does technology affect our attention? - What boundaries help manage calls? A Different Perspective Constant connectivity can increase anxiety. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Messages](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/messages/) [Phones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/phones/) [Technology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/technology/) [Voice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/voice/) ## Related quotes > [I'll call you," he repeated. "If you call me, I won't pick up the phone." "You will wait by the phone for my call,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilona-andrews/i-ll-call-you-he-repeated-if-you-call-me-i-won-t-pick-up-the-phone/) [Ilona Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilona-andrews/) > [As a customer service representative; it is hard to deal with people who has an attitude when I pick up the phone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-jones/as-a-customer-service-representative-it-is-hard-to-deal-with-people/) [Jon Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-jones/) > [It's hard to be natural in a scene when you pick up the phone and no one is there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adele-exarchopoulos/it-s-hard-to-be-natural-in-a-scene-when-you-pick-up-the-phone-and-no/) [Adele Exarchopoulos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adele-exarchopoulos/) > [We all use texting as a crutch because it's so easy and it doesn't really stop our day for the most part but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-b-jordan/we-all-use-texting-as-a-crutch-because-it-s-so-easy-and-it-doesn-t/) [Michael B. Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-b-jordan/) > [Most people, when they want to see their mothers, they can pick up the phone and dial it. I've got to go see mine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keyshia-cole/most-people-when-they-want-to-see-their-mothers-they-can-pick-up-the/) [Keyshia Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keyshia-cole/) > [Every time you pick up the phone, dial a number, write an e-mail, make a purchase, travel on the bus carrying a cell phone,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/every-time-you-pick-up-the-phone-dial-a-number-write-an-e-mail-make-a/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [People will call you anything. It's up to you either to pick up the phone or not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chaz-guest/people-will-call-you-anything-it-s-up-to-you-either-to-pick-up-the/) Chaz Guest > [Remember to connect with people now and then. In fact, pick up the phone, right now, and call a friend for no other reason…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-sinek/remember-to-connect-with-people-now-and-then-in-fact-pick-up-the/) [Simon Sinek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-sinek/) > [I found that whatever interested me in life, I could pretty much pick up the phone, call somebody, and all of a sudden be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bo-derek/i-found-that-whatever-interested-me-in-life-i-could-pretty-much-pick/) [Bo Derek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bo-derek/) > [“No one is too busy to pick up the phone, to make a one-minute phone call. No matter how busy they say they are.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/candace-bushnell/no-one-is-too-busy-to-pick-up-the-phone-to-make-a-one-minute-phone/) [Candace Bushnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/candace-bushnell/) > [Everything that ever happened to me in my career, Trump was the first guy to pick up the phone and reach out to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-white/everything-that-ever-happened-to-me-in-my-career-trump-was-the-first/) [Dana White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-white/) > [When you're Judy Garland and you want something, you just pick up the phone and call somebody. Anybody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorna-luft/when-you-re-judy-garland-and-you-want-something-you-just-pick-up-the/) [Lorna Luft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorna-luft/) > [I pick up the phone just to find Im alone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james/i-pick-up-the-phone-just-to-find-im-alone/) [James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james/) > [A lot of people have asked me to do answer phone messages for them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-serkis/a-lot-of-people-have-asked-me-to-do-answer-phone-messages-for-them/) [Andy Serkis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-serkis/) > [I checked my phone messages. Three in all. The first was from Joe. “Hey, Cupcake.” That was it. That was the whole message. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-evanovich/i-checked-my-phone-messages-three-in-all-the-first-was-from-joe-hey/) [Janet Evanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-evanovich/) ## More by Joyce Carol Oates > [“A woman who has lost her husband is invalid, thus an invalid. In”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-carol-oates/a-woman-who-has-lost-her-husband-is-invalid-thus-an-invalid-in/) [Joyce Carol Oates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-carol-oates/) > [Running! If there's any activity happier, more exhilarating, more nourishing to the imagination, I can't think of what it might be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-carol-oates/running-if-there-s-any-activity-happier-more-exhilarating-more/) [Joyce Carol Oates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-carol-oates/) > [You need so much energy and encouragement to write that if someone says something negative, some of that energy goes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-carol-oates/you-need-so-much-energy-and-encouragement-to-write-that-if-someone/) [Joyce Carol Oates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-carol-oates/) > [I learned long ago that being Lewis Carroll was infinitely more exciting than being Alice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-carol-oates/i-learned-long-ago-that-being-lewis-carroll-was-infinitely-more/) [Joyce Carol Oates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-carol-oates/) > [Paradox: how do we know what we have failed to see because we have no language to express it, thus we cannot know that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-carol-oates/paradox-how-do-we-know-what-we-have-failed-to-see-because-we-have-no/) [Joyce Carol Oates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-carol-oates/) > [At all crucial moments in our lives we want to speak without knowing what to say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-carol-oates/at-all-crucial-moments-in-our-lives-we-want-to-speak-without-knowing/) [Joyce Carol Oates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-carol-oates/) > [A writer’s life is in his work, and that is the place to find him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-carol-oates/a-writer-s-life-is-in-his-work-and-that-is-the-place-to-find-him/) [Joyce Carol Oates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-carol-oates/) > [The challenge is to resist circumstances. Any idiot can be happy in a happy place, but moral courage is required to be happy in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-carol-oates/the-challenge-is-to-resist-circumstances-any-idiot-can-be-happy-in-a/) [Joyce Carol Oates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-carol-oates/) > [The first sentence cant be written until the final sentence is written.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-carol-oates/the-first-sentence-cant-be-written-until-the-final-sentence-is-written/) [Joyce Carol Oates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-carol-oates/) > [“Did you know, Marianne: how by breaking the code that day, you broke it forever? For us all?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-carol-oates/did-you-know-marianne-how-by-breaking-the-code-that-day-you-broke-it/) [Joyce Carol Oates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-carol-oates/) > ['The Accursed' is very much a novel about social injustice as the consequence of the terrible, tragic division of classes - the exploitation not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-carol-oates/the-accursed-is-very-much-a-novel-about-social-injustice-as-the/) [Joyce Carol Oates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-carol-oates/) > [Keep a light, hopeful heart. But expect the worst.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-carol-oates/keep-a-light-hopeful-heart-but-expect-the-worst/) [Joyce Carol Oates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-carol-oates/) > [And this is the forbidden truth, the unspeakable taboo - that evil is not always repellent but frequently attractive; that it has the power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-carol-oates/and-this-is-the-forbidden-truth-the-unspeakable-taboo-that-evil-is/) [Joyce Carol Oates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-carol-oates/) > [I don't think that writer's block exists really. I think that when you're trying to do something prematurely, it just won't come. Certain subjects…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-carol-oates/i-don-t-think-that-writer-s-block-exists-really-i-think-that-when-you/) [Joyce Carol Oates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-carol-oates/) > [... such speculation is like staring into the hot white sun. you know the sun is there but you can't see a thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-carol-oates/such-speculation-is-like-staring-into-the-hot-white-sun-you-know-the/) [Joyce Carol Oates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-carol-oates/) [Explore all 658 Joyce Carol Oates quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-carol-oates/) ## More Easier quotes > [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. 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But if we take a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dacia-maraini/it-s-easier-to-change-a-law-than-an-age-old-mentality-deep-down-many/) [Dacia Maraini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dacia-maraini/) > [I think hair gel was invented to make it easier to identify assholes from a distance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demetri-martin/i-think-hair-gel-was-invented-to-make-it-easier-to-identify-assholes/) [Demetri Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demetri-martin/) > [It is easier to say you're mad, rather than admitting you're hurt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-easier-to-say-you-re-mad-rather-than-admitting-you-re-hurt/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Nothing is easier than yesterday's solutions.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-sperry/nothing-is-easier-than-yesterday-s-solutions/) Roger Sperry > [When you have a cavity in your tooth and you let it get worse, eventually you have to get a root canal. If you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivia-newton-john/when-you-have-a-cavity-in-your-tooth-and-you-let-it-get-worse/) [Olivia Newton-John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivia-newton-john/) > [Generally, I like all islands. There, it is easier to rule.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/generally-i-like-all-islands-there-it-is-easier-to-rule/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [It's funny, everything is so much easier when you do it yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carine-roitfeld/it-s-funny-everything-is-so-much-easier-when-you-do-it-yourself/) [Carine Roitfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carine-roitfeld/) > [It is easier to perceive error than to find truth, for the former lies on the surface and is easily seen, while the latter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/it-is-easier-to-perceive-error-than-to-find-truth-for-the-former-lies/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [I'm truly, 100% guided by the characters and my Muse. If one of the characters suddenly decided to do something very different, I'd just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lori-foster/i-m-truly-100-guided-by-the-characters-and-my-muse-if-one-of-the/) [Lori Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lori-foster/) > [The easier it is to quantify, the less it's worth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/the-easier-it-is-to-quantify-the-less-it-s-worth/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [“it is easier to do a job right than to explain why you didnt”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-van-buren/it-is-easier-to-do-a-job-right-than-to-explain-why-you-didnt/) [Martin Van Buren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-van-buren/) > [“Often we find it easier to think our way around things rather than to feel our way through them:”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-nepo/often-we-find-it-easier-to-think-our-way-around-things-rather-than-to/) [Mark Nepo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-nepo/) > [I know it is easier said than done, but you have to find a way to surround yourself with positivity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michaela-deprince/i-know-it-is-easier-said-than-done-but-you-have-to-find-a-way-to/) [Michaela DePrince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michaela-deprince/) > [God puts you where God needs you. 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