--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Anyway,\" continued Mr. Miller, \"when I…" description: "\"“Anyway,\" continued Mr. Miller, \"when I was a kid, people used to sit under the stars at night and look up into the sky and talk about things. They got..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/493/k-martin-beckner-15699_divorce_anyway-continued-mr-miller-when-i-was-a_73524.jpg" --- # Anyway," continued Mr. Miller, "when I was a kid, people… ![“Anyway," continued Mr. Miller, "when I was a kid, people used to sit under the stars at night and look up into the sky and talk about things. They got to know each other. People Today is too busy staring at the television, what I call the idiot box, to talk about anything. That's why there are so…” quote by K. Martin Beckner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/493/k-martin-beckner-15699_divorce_anyway-continued-mr-miller-when-i-was-a_73524.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/493/k-martin-beckner-15699_divorce_anyway-continued-mr-miller-when-i-was-a_73524.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/493/k-martin-beckner-15699_divorce_anyway-continued-mr-miller-when-i-was-a_73524.jpg) > ““Anyway," continued Mr. Miller, "when I was a kid, people used to sit under the stars at night and look up into the sky and talk about things. They got to know each other. People Today is too busy staring at the television, what I call the idiot box, to talk about anything. That's why there are so many divorces these days. People don't talk”” [K. Martin Beckner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-martin-beckner/) ## 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 laments modern distraction, arguing that constant media consumption erodes deep, face‑to‑face conversation, leading to relational breakdowns. **In simple terms:** Technology replaces genuine dialogue. Key Takeaway Loss of meaningful conversation fuels social decay. Themes Technology impact Social isolation Communication breakdown Cultural change Family dynamics Mood nostalgic critical reflective Type observation social commentary When to use this quote - family dinner, - online streaming binge - social media scrolling - late‑night TV watching - community gatherings Key Concepts media consumption interpersonal connection social cohesion divorce rates Practical Applications - encourage screen‑free family time - promote community dialogue initiatives Questions to Reflect On - How might we balance screen time with real conversation? - What alternatives to TV could foster deeper connections? A Different Perspective Some argue that media can also connect people across distances, offering new forms of interaction. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Divorce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/divorce/) [Marriage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marriage/) [Stars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stars/) [Television](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/television/) ## Related quotes > [“Sure, the Lightcap makes you a little docile, more open to guidance. Who says that's a bad thing? Look at those people out there.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-marshall/sure-the-lightcap-makes-you-a-little-docile-more-open-to-guidance-who/) [Dan Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-marshall/) > [“There aren't many kids today as good as you are. Kids today are selfish; they don't think of others. They're too busy listening to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-martin-beckner/there-aren-t-many-kids-today-as-good-as-you-are-kids-today-are/) [K. Martin Beckner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-martin-beckner/) > [“These days people seemed to suggest that you should talk about everything, even those things that people never talked about in the past, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-mccall-smith/these-days-people-seemed-to-suggest-that-you-should-talk-about/) [Alexander McCall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-mccall-smith/) > [I'm not usually comfortable to talk about things I haven't done yet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-garrel/i-m-not-usually-comfortable-to-talk-about-things-i-haven-t-done-yet/) [Louis Garrel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-garrel/) > [“It is better to purposefully spend time with people talking about things that could improve them or talk about things that could improve me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/it-is-better-to-purposefully-spend-time-with-people-talking-about/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [The time has come, the Walrus said, To talk of many things: Of shoesand shipsand sealing-wax Of cabbagesand kings And why the sea is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-carroll/the-time-has-come-the-walrus-said-to-talk-of-many-things-of-shoesand/) [Lewis Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-carroll/) > [I don't like to talk about things until I'm on set shooting them because it doesn't feel real.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ry-russo-young/i-don-t-like-to-talk-about-things-until-i-m-on-set-shooting-them/) Ry Russo-Young > [But I will add, there's one thing I will not do, ever: I will never talk to you about things you cannot change. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-gunn/but-i-will-add-there-s-one-thing-i-will-not-do-ever-i-will-never-talk/) [Tim Gunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-gunn/) > [When I present, I cheat. I only talk about things I care about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-sinek/when-i-present-i-cheat-i-only-talk-about-things-i-care-about/) [Simon Sinek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-sinek/) > [I talk about things that are front page news.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nipsey-russell/i-talk-about-things-that-are-front-page-news/) [Nipsey Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nipsey-russell/) > [ I liked the idea of using this mega-star \[Beyoncé \] to talk about all those things on the tiny scale of my life. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morgan-parker/i-liked-the-idea-of-using-this-mega-star-beyonc-to-talk-about-all/) [Morgan Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-parker/) > [What good is talking if neither of you are really committed? If one of you had an affair or got addicted to drugs or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/what-good-is-talking-if-neither-of-you-are-really-committed-if-one-of/) [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) > [Gr8 people talk about things. Small people talk about other people. and legends never talk they send sms ;)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/babloo/gr8-people-talk-about-things-small-people-talk-about-other-people-and/) [Babloo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/babloo/) > [I am frail like everyone else, and I take that into account when I talk about things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-mencia/i-am-frail-like-everyone-else-and-i-take-that-into-account-when-i/) [Carlos Mencia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-mencia/) > [You have to talk about why things happened the way they did. You can't actually explain my political life except by a series of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lange/you-have-to-talk-about-why-things-happened-the-way-they-did-you-can-t/) [David Lange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lange/) ## More by K. Martin Beckner > [“Like a car that's old enough to be old but not old enough to be a classic, it would be years before people would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-martin-beckner/like-a-car-that-s-old-enough-to-be-old-but-not-old-enough-to-be-a/) [K. Martin Beckner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-martin-beckner/) > [“I've tucked those negative thoughts in a drawer, and for the most part, though I know the drawer still exists, it never gets opened.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-martin-beckner/i-ve-tucked-those-negative-thoughts-in-a-drawer-and-for-the-most-part/) [K. Martin Beckner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-martin-beckner/) > [“I want you to learn that if you don't keep picking at old wounds, over time they will eventually heal. Oh sure, sometimes they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-martin-beckner/i-want-you-to-learn-that-if-you-don-t-keep-picking-at-old-wounds-over/) [K. Martin Beckner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-martin-beckner/) > [“Stephanie took another puff from her candy cigarette, reached into her purse, brought out the rest of the pack, and said, "Want one of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-martin-beckner/stephanie-took-another-puff-from-her-candy-cigarette-reached-into-her/) [K. Martin Beckner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-martin-beckner/) > [“don’t think he ever did feel right living on this earth without Sarah. Now he can be with Sarah in Heaven forever and ever.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-martin-beckner/don-t-think-he-ever-did-feel-right-living-on-this-earth-without-sarah/) [K. Martin Beckner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-martin-beckner/) > [“I guess we're all composed of a lot of mistakes; we just have to figure out how to take our mistakes and make something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-martin-beckner/i-guess-we-re-all-composed-of-a-lot-of-mistakes-we-just-have-to/) [K. Martin Beckner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-martin-beckner/) > [“Sometimes you may think you're doing the right thing, but it turns out to be the wrong thing. And you just have to live…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-martin-beckner/sometimes-you-may-think-you-re-doing-the-right-thing-but-it-turns-out/) [K. Martin Beckner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-martin-beckner/) > [“Initially they waited with hope, but as each hour passed, hope slipped away like the wind, the wind that as a small boy Ethan…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-martin-beckner/initially-they-waited-with-hope-but-as-each-hour-passed-hope-slipped/) [K. Martin Beckner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-martin-beckner/) > [“I feel better now that we decided not to worry. I think most people spend too much time worrying about stuff that never happens.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-martin-beckner/i-feel-better-now-that-we-decided-not-to-worry-i-think-most-people/) [K. Martin Beckner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-martin-beckner/) > [“There aren't many kids today as good as you are. Kids today are selfish; they don't think of others. They're too busy listening to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-martin-beckner/there-aren-t-many-kids-today-as-good-as-you-are-kids-today-are/) [K. Martin Beckner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-martin-beckner/) > [“I felt a pang of guilt at these words. I knew that it would probably be a long time before he got to go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-martin-beckner/i-felt-a-pang-of-guilt-at-these-words-i-knew-that-it-would-probably/) [K. Martin Beckner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-martin-beckner/) > [“I wanted to go in and tell them that, but George thought it would just be stirring up some trouble, you know, stirring up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-martin-beckner/i-wanted-to-go-in-and-tell-them-that-but-george-thought-it-would-just/) [K. Martin Beckner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-martin-beckner/) > [“I've left behind so many unfinished quilts in my life, beautiful pieces of dreams and intentions never fully assembled.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-martin-beckner/i-ve-left-behind-so-many-unfinished-quilts-in-my-life-beautiful/) [K. Martin Beckner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-martin-beckner/) > [“Life’s journey does not take place down an easy roadway, as some might imagine. It takes place inside a giant house with a million…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-martin-beckner/life-s-journey-does-not-take-place-down-an-easy-roadway-as-some-might/) [K. Martin Beckner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-martin-beckner/) > [“That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard of. I think I would have more fun chopping thistles with a butter knife.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-martin-beckner/that-s-the-dumbest-thing-i-ve-ever-heard-of-i-think-i-would-have-more/) [K. Martin Beckner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-martin-beckner/) [Explore all 42 K. Martin Beckner quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-martin-beckner/) ## More Divorce quotes > [Every woman I have ever loved has left her print upon me, where I loved some invaluable piece of myself apart from me-so different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audre-lorde/every-woman-i-have-ever-loved-has-left-her-print-upon-me-where-i/) [Audre Lorde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audre-lorde/) > [I had a pretty public divorce. They're not easy - divorces - and it took me a long time to really get through.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-had-a-pretty-public-divorce-they-re-not-easy-divorces-and-it-took/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) > [Divorce isn't such a tragedy. A tragedy's staying in an unhappy marriage, teaching your children the wrong things about love. Nobody ever died of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-weiner/divorce-isn-t-such-a-tragedy-a-tragedy-s-staying-in-an-unhappy/) [Jennifer Weiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-weiner/) > [If I told my wife I was going to become a manager she'd say 'sign this then. Don't worry it's only a divorce. Au…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ginola/if-i-told-my-wife-i-was-going-to-become-a-manager-she-d-say-sign-this/) [David Ginola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ginola/) > [It is a sad fact that 50 percent of marriages in this country end in divorce. But hey, the other half end in death.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-jeni/it-is-a-sad-fact-that-50-percent-of-marriages-in-this-country-end-in/) [Richard Jeni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-jeni/) > [“Jesus and Paul knew the Old Testament completely. Their comments about divorce were meant to add to, not replace or change, what was already…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-abbott/jesus-and-paul-knew-the-old-testament-completely-their-comments-about/) Caroline Abbott > [Everyone knows that when you go through a divorce, it's a really difficult time for both parties and you've all - you believe, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-mills/everyone-knows-that-when-you-go-through-a-divorce-it-s-a-really/) [Heather Mills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-mills/) > [Those who divorce aren't necessarily the most unhappy, just those neatly able to believe their misery is caused by one other person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alain-de-botton/those-who-divorce-aren-t-necessarily-the-most-unhappy-just-those/) [Alain de Botton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alain-de-botton/) > [I've been through hell. It's hard to think you have this life, and then all of a sudden - was it a lie? You're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elin-nordegren/i-ve-been-through-hell-it-s-hard-to-think-you-have-this-life-and-then/) [Elin Nordegren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elin-nordegren/) > [Divorce is so common and accepted in America that beating myself up over it may sound ridiculous. But I was raised to believe that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trisha-yearwood/divorce-is-so-common-and-accepted-in-america-that-beating-myself-up/) [Trisha Yearwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trisha-yearwood/) > [“Separation isn’t time or distance it’s the bridge between us finer than silk thread sharper than swords”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naz-m-hikmet/separation-isn-t-time-or-distance-it-s-the-bridge-between-us-finer/) [Nazım Hikmet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naz-m-hikmet/) > [“It’s a fallacy that this generation does not know how to love as its predecessor did. Truth of the matter is, modern love is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lebo-grand/it-s-a-fallacy-that-this-generation-does-not-know-how-to-love-as-its/) [Lebo Grand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lebo-grand/) > [“To keep myself from harming or calling N and to stave off the rage and despair, I focus on my extraordinary son, drink midrange…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-finnamore/to-keep-myself-from-harming-or-calling-n-and-to-stave-off-the-rage/) [Suzanne Finnamore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-finnamore/) > [“There are some who said I should have fought harder or longer than I did for my marriage, but in the end fighting for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-mclain/there-are-some-who-said-i-should-have-fought-harder-or-longer-than-i/) [Paula McLain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-mclain/) > [“For me, it´s sloth," I say. "Hedonistic sloth and escapism.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-finnamore/for-me-it-s-sloth-i-say-hedonistic-sloth-and-escapism/) [Suzanne Finnamore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-finnamore/) [Browse all 2,051 Divorce quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/divorce/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Anyway,\" continued Mr. Miller, \"when I was a kid, people used to sit under the stars at night and look up into the sky and talk about things. They got to know each other. People Today is too busy staring at the television, what I call the idiot box, to talk about anything. That's why there are so many divorces these days. People don't talk”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "K. 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