--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: People spend thousands of dollars on…" description: "\"People spend thousands of dollars on stereos. Sometimes tens of thousands. There is a specialist industry right here in the States which builds stereo ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/14a/lee-child-980_army_people-spend-thousands-of-dollars-on-ste_2072752.jpg" --- # People spend thousands of dollars on stereos. Sometimes… ![“People spend thousands of dollars on stereos. Sometimes tens of thousands. There is a specialist industry right here in the States which builds stereo gear to a standard you wouldn't believe. Tubed amplifiers which cost more than a house. Speakers taller than me. Cables thicker than a garden hose…” quote by Lee Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/14a/lee-child-980_army_people-spend-thousands-of-dollars-on-ste_2072752.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/14a/lee-child-980_army_people-spend-thousands-of-dollars-on-ste_2072752.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/14a/lee-child-980_army_people-spend-thousands-of-dollars-on-ste_2072752.jpg) > “People spend thousands of dollars on stereos. Sometimes tens of thousands. There is a specialist industry right here in the States which builds stereo gear to a standard you wouldn't believe. Tubed amplifiers which cost more than a house. Speakers taller than me. Cables thicker than a garden hose. Some army guys had that stuff. I'd heard it on bases around the world. Wonderful. But they were wasting their money. Because the best stereo in the world is free. Inside your head. It sounds as good as you want it to. As loud as you want it to be.” [Lee Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-child/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The best music experience is internal; expensive gear is unnecessary when the mind can create any sound desired. **In simple terms:** Your mind provides the ultimate free stereo. Key Takeaway Value imagination over material excess. Themes music perception consumerism mindfulness value Mood contemplative inspirational critical Type philosophical reflective When to use this quote - listening habits - budget decisions - creative visualization - personal satisfaction Key Concepts psychology of perception minimalism subjective experience Questions to Reflect On - What does sound mean to you? - How can you enhance internal listening? A Different Perspective May dismiss the joy some find in high-fidelity external sound. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Army](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/army/) [Around the world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/around-the-world/) [Dollars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dollars/) [Garden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/garden/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Sound](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sound/) [Stereo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stereo/) [Wonderful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wonderful/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [When he feels the world is closing in, he turns his stereo way up high. He just spends his life, living in a rock…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-davies/when-he-feels-the-world-is-closing-in-he-turns-his-stereo-way-up-high/) [Ray Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-davies/) > [The radio is just a stereo like a house ain't a home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-electronica/the-radio-is-just-a-stereo-like-a-house-ain-t-a-home/) [Jay Electronica](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-electronica/) > [“I am dressed as the loudness of your stereo.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/i-am-dressed-as-the-loudness-of-your-stereo/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [This was a very typical time. I was single. All you needed was a cup of tea, a light, and your stereo, you know,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/this-was-a-very-typical-time-i-was-single-all-you-needed-was-a-cup-of/) [Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/) > [After the release of 'Ashta Chemm,' several producers and directors came with similar roles in their films. But I doesn't want to do stereo…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nani/after-the-release-of-ashta-chemm-several-producers-and-directors-came/) [Nani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nani/) > [I think movies lost a lot when they went to stereo and five-track sound,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-raimi/i-think-movies-lost-a-lot-when-they-went-to-stereo-and-five-track/) [Sam Raimi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-raimi/) > [You wonder why you're called the destroyer-stroyer Stereo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/static-x/you-wonder-why-you-re-called-the-destroyer-stroyer-stereo/) [Static-X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/static-x/) > [This is not the first time in my life where you know going into a job that you're going to hear in stereo what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-bartlett-giamatti/this-is-not-the-first-time-in-my-life-where-you-know-going-into-a-job/) [A. Bartlett Giamatti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-bartlett-giamatti/) > [One question that's never been answered to my satisfaction by the "Playboy Advisor" is "What kind of stereo system works best in hell?"](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-handey/one-question-that-s-never-been-answered-to-my-satisfaction-by-the/) [Jack Handey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-handey/) > [My hearts a stereo, its beats for you so listen close~~](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/my-hearts-a-stereo-its-beats-for-you-so-listen-close/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Why all these years have I been agreeably turning down the stereo every time the phone rings?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-genn/why-all-these-years-have-i-been-agreeably-turning-down-the-stereo/) [Sara Genn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-genn/) > [Headphone aren't big enough these days. Why not just throw a couple of stereo speakers in a full face motorcycle helmet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dov-davidoff/headphone-aren-t-big-enough-these-days-why-not-just-throw-a-couple-of/) [Dov Davidoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dov-davidoff/) > [When you listen to stereo on your home system, your both ears hear both speakers. Turn on the left speaker sometime and notice you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-norris/when-you-listen-to-stereo-on-your-home-system-your-both-ears-hear/) [Woody Norris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-norris/) > [Rock your body, come on everybody. Somebody stop me when I dance I'm losing control. You see me yo, this is stereo. I wanna…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/inna/rock-your-body-come-on-everybody-somebody-stop-me-when-i-dance-i-m/) [Inna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/inna/) > [Film has lost something in the translation to high tech. It's become so super-real. It's with digital this and stereo that, and everything's like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-cage/film-has-lost-something-in-the-translation-to-high-tech-it-s-become/) [Nicolas Cage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-cage/) ## More by Lee Child > [“Reacher got to them on the plane. He put them out of action and stole their wallets.” “On the plane?” “He broke Lozano’s fingers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-child/reacher-got-to-them-on-the-plane-he-put-them-out-of-action-and-stole/) [Lee Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-child/) > [“A maintenance dose. It would keep her asleep all night. It would keep her warm, and gentle, and relaxed, and at peace, and cradled,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-child/a-maintenance-dose-it-would-keep-her-asleep-all-night-it-would-keep/) [Lee Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-child/) > [“It had maroon paint and exposed brick and scarred wood, and a chalkboard menu about ninety percent full of things that don’t really belong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-child/it-had-maroon-paint-and-exposed-brick-and-scarred-wood-and-a/) [Lee Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-child/) > [Spread love and understanding,” Reacher said. “Use force if necessary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-child/spread-love-and-understanding-reacher-said-use-force-if-necessary/) [Lee Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-child/) > [“or especially fragile.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-child/or-especially-fragile/) [Lee Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-child/) > [Now they broke my toothbrush, I don't own anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-child/now-they-broke-my-toothbrush-i-don-t-own-anything/) [Lee Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-child/) > [“The Zip Code is about the size of Chicago. With five people. But hey, welcome to Wyoming.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-child/the-zip-code-is-about-the-size-of-chicago-with-five-people-but-hey/) [Lee Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-child/) > [“You got to imagine your memory is like an old bucket, you know? Once it’s filled up with old stuff there ain’t no way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-child/you-got-to-imagine-your-memory-is-like-an-old-bucket-you-know-once-it/) [Lee Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-child/) > [“foreign legal systems. So I made”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-child/foreign-legal-systems-so-i-made/) [Lee Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-child/) > [That should be your town motto. It's all I ever hear. Like: New Hampshire, Live Free or Die. It should be: Despair, You Need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-child/that-should-be-your-town-motto-it-s-all-i-ever-hear-like-new/) [Lee Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-child/) > [Writing is showbusiness for shy people. That's how I see it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-child/writing-is-showbusiness-for-shy-people-that-s-how-i-see-it/) [Lee Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-child/) > [“OK, Finlay, let’s get it done,” I said. “I don’t have an address because I don’t live anywhere. Maybe one day I’ll live somewhere…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-child/ok-finlay-let-s-get-it-done-i-said-i-don-t-have-an-address-because-i/) [Lee Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-child/) > [“He changed his final wad up at the train station. Which was a sad place now. There were homeless people and disturbed people hanging…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-child/he-changed-his-final-wad-up-at-the-train-station-which-was-a-sad/) [Lee Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-child/) > [“They had come for us in the night. Hey had come expecting a lot of blood. They had come with all their gear. Their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-child/they-had-come-for-us-in-the-night-hey-had-come-expecting-a-lot-of/) [Lee Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-child/) > [“He hauled the right-hand guy next to the left-hand guy, close together, shoulder to shoulder, and he picked up the heavy box like a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-child/he-hauled-the-right-hand-guy-next-to-the-left-hand-guy-close-together/) [Lee Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-child/) [Explore all 306 Lee Child quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-child/) ## More Army quotes > [There are no more worlds to conquer!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-the-great/there-are-no-more-worlds-to-conquer/) [Alexander the Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-the-great/) > [“In American terms, the accomplishment of Genghis Khan might be understood if the United States, instead of being created by a group of educated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-weatherford/in-american-terms-the-accomplishment-of-genghis-khan-might-be/) [Jack Weatherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-weatherford/) > [Every army in the history of the world has always had some deserters, usually much greater than we have today, because once again every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-hilferty/every-army-in-the-history-of-the-world-has-always-had-some-deserters/) [Bryan Hilferty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-hilferty/) > [It is the rule in war, if our forces are ten to the enemy's one, to surround him; if five to one, to attack…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/it-is-the-rule-in-war-if-our-forces-are-ten-to-the-enemy-s-one-to/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [The surprise of an army is now next to an impossibility. ... Prearranged surprises are rare and difficult because in order to plan one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-henri-jomini/the-surprise-of-an-army-is-now-next-to-an-impossibility-prearranged/) [Antoine-Henri Jomini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-henri-jomini/) > [I just read an article about how young American males feel uncomfortable appearing naked in front of each other in locker rooms. That was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-ivory/i-just-read-an-article-about-how-young-american-males-feel/) [James Ivory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-ivory/) > [ I can't imagine that I would be asked that by the president-elect \[Donald Trump\], or then-president \[Barack Obama\]. But it's - I'm very clear.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mattis/i-can-t-imagine-that-i-would-be-asked-that-by-the-president-elect/) [James Mattis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mattis/) > [Holy shadows of the dead, I'm not to blame for your cruel and bitter fate, but the accursed rivalry which brought sister nations and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-the-great/holy-shadows-of-the-dead-i-m-not-to-blame-for-your-cruel-and-bitter/) [Alexander the Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-the-great/) > [“The most important lesson that came out of Vietnam for me was that Marines take care of Marines.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-clancy/the-most-important-lesson-that-came-out-of-vietnam-for-me-was-that/) [Tom Clancy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-clancy/) > [One of our great allies at present is the Church itself. Do not misunderstand me. I do not mean the Church as we see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/one-of-our-great-allies-at-present-is-the-church-itself-do-not/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [I have real strong feelings about our troops and support them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-fichtner/i-have-real-strong-feelings-about-our-troops-and-support-them/) [William Fichtner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-fichtner/) > [Personally, I don't really have a set style or look. It's pretty much what I feel like wearing that day, from a floral-print dress…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shay-mitchell/personally-i-don-t-really-have-a-set-style-or-look-it-s-pretty-much/) [Shay Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shay-mitchell/) > [Growing up with a parent in the army, I saw firsthand the challenges our service members face when transitioning to new jobs after time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharice-davids/growing-up-with-a-parent-in-the-army-i-saw-firsthand-the-challenges/) [Sharice Davids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharice-davids/) > [Don't fire until you see the whites of their eyes!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-h-prescott/don-t-fire-until-you-see-the-whites-of-their-eyes/) [William H. Prescott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-h-prescott/) > [Thanks to all members of the military around the world for giving me the ultimate motivation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalya-neidhart/thanks-to-all-members-of-the-military-around-the-world-for-giving-me/) [Natalya Neidhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalya-neidhart/) [Browse all 3,919 Army quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/army/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "People spend thousands of dollars on stereos. Sometimes tens of thousands. There is a specialist industry right here in the States which builds stereo gear to a standard you wouldn't believe. Tubed amplifiers which cost more than a house. Speakers taller than me. Cables thicker than a garden hose. Some army guys had that stuff. I'd heard it on bases around the world. Wonderful. But they were wasting their money. Because the best stereo in the world is free. Inside your head. 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