---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: People from New York have been calling…"
description: "\"People from New York have been calling, to see if I'm still alive. When I answer the phone, you can hear the disappointment in their voice.\" — Maurice ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/436/maurice-sendak-1273_alive_people-from-new-york-have-been-calling-t_2769407.jpg"
---

#  People from New York have been calling, to see if I'm…

![“People from New York have been calling, to see if I'm still alive. When I answer the phone, you can hear the disappointment in their voice.” quote by Maurice Sendak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/436/maurice-sendak-1273_alive_people-from-new-york-have-been-calling-t_2769407.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/436/maurice-sendak-1273_alive_people-from-new-york-have-been-calling-t_2769407.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/436/maurice-sendak-1273_alive_people-from-new-york-have-been-calling-t_2769407.jpg)

> “People from New York have been calling, to see if I'm still alive. When I answer the phone, you can hear the disappointment in their voice.”

[Maurice Sendak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-sendak/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

New Yorkers’ concern for your wellbeing is evident in their persistent check‑ins.

**In simple terms:** Friends show care through calls.

Key Takeaway

Appreciate their concern.

Themes

friendship concern communication

Mood

empathetic thoughtful

Type

personal reflective

When to use this quote

- phone calls
- community
- emotional health

Key Concepts

social support loneliness

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you balance gratitude and privacy?

A Different Perspective

May feel intrusive.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Alive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alive/) [Disappointment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disappointment/) [New york](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new-york/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Voice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/voice/)

## Related quotes

> [“It would be awesome. And sick. And sad. And uplifting. And necessary. After all, the greatest truths in life are usually the most unpleasant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-manson/it-would-be-awesome-and-sick-and-sad-and-uplifting-and-necessary/)

[Mark Manson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-manson/)

> [“And I told you to bring nine toys," she said. "You brought eight. Next time try to pay more attention." And the disappointment in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-hill/and-i-told-you-to-bring-nine-toys-she-said-you-brought-eight-next/)

[Nathan Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-hill/)

> [“We’re going bowling?’ I can’t keep the disappointment of of my voice. Bowling is not badass.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leanne-hall/we-re-going-bowling-i-can-t-keep-the-disappointment-of-of-my-voice/)

[Leanne Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leanne-hall/)

> [My stepdad makes me laugh constantly reading things out from the paper or getting worked up about a lady from a local group who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-sanders/my-stepdad-makes-me-laugh-constantly-reading-things-out-from-the/)

[Lou Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-sanders/)

> [Well, if I called the wrong number, why did you answer the phone?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-thurber/well-if-i-called-the-wrong-number-why-did-you-answer-the-phone/)

[James Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-thurber/)

> [“Sometimes when you read a book or watch a TV show, you see the people and you think, Don’t do that. Don’t open that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-h-herlong/sometimes-when-you-read-a-book-or-watch-a-tv-show-you-see-the-people/)

[M.H. Herlong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-h-herlong/)

> [I don't answer the phone or do my email; I don't do anything until I've got the day's writing done. I have a word…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lanchester/i-don-t-answer-the-phone-or-do-my-email-i-don-t-do-anything-until-i/)

[John Lanchester](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lanchester/)

> [Every time you answer the phone, someone is crying, someone is raging, someone is begging you to solve their problems.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aryn-kyle/every-time-you-answer-the-phone-someone-is-crying-someone-is-raging/)

[Aryn Kyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aryn-kyle/)

> [“Yes?” he said impatiently. There was a pause. “You wouldn’t believe how many people I had to bribe to get this new number of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-palmer/yes-he-said-impatiently-there-was-a-pause-you-wouldn-t-believe-how/)

[Diana Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-palmer/)

> [“He buys Playboy magazines and looks through them once, then gives them to me. That’s what it’s like to be rich. Here’s what it’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-franklin/he-buys-playboy-magazines-and-looks-through-them-once-then-gives-them/)

[Tom Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-franklin/)

> [ “Ringo: \[On the 'Two Virgins' cover\] 'The cover was the mind-blower - I remember to this day the moment when they came in and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ringo-starr/ringo-on-the-two-virgins-cover-the-cover-was-the-mind-blower-i/)

[Ringo Starr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ringo-starr/)

> [“Minutes later, we were back at the sliding glass door that led inside the house--me, leaning against the glass, Marlboro Man anchoring me there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ree-drummond/minutes-later-we-were-back-at-the-sliding-glass-door-that-led-inside/)

[Ree Drummond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ree-drummond/)

> [ I simply constructed a project to try to snap Kurt \[Cobain\] out of a frame of mind. I sent him a plane ticket and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-stipe/i-simply-constructed-a-project-to-try-to-snap-kurt-cobain-out-of-a/)

[Michael Stipe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-stipe/)

> [“I want to work where I am excited to answer the phone.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyler-wagner/i-want-to-work-where-i-am-excited-to-answer-the-phone/)

[Tyler Wagner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyler-wagner/)

> [Hi there," squeaked a precocious little voice, "you are speaking to Chloe Fusakawa, and I have just learned how to answer the phone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-zevin/hi-there-squeaked-a-precocious-little-voice-you-are-speaking-to-chloe/)

[Gabrielle Zevin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-zevin/)

## More by Maurice Sendak

> [I never thought of Bumble-Ardy in that way. But I still have that same deep feeling for children who are in dire trouble. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-sendak/i-never-thought-of-bumble-ardy-in-that-way-but-i-still-have-that-same/)

[Maurice Sendak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-sendak/)

> [I was a very sickly child. My parents were immigrants. They were not decorous. They were not discreet. They always thought I was gonna…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-sendak/i-was-a-very-sickly-child-my-parents-were-immigrants-they-were-not/)

[Maurice Sendak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-sendak/)

> [The distinctions of fine art bore me to death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-sendak/the-distinctions-of-fine-art-bore-me-to-death/)

[Maurice Sendak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-sendak/)

> [The fan mail I get from kids are asking me questions which they do not ask their mothers and fathers. Because if they had,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-sendak/the-fan-mail-i-get-from-kids-are-asking-me-questions-which-they-do/)

[Maurice Sendak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-sendak/)

> [“May I ask what you have in your black leather bag with gold buckles?" "Everything." They were climbing a narrow staircase. Rhoda stopped to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-sendak/may-i-ask-what-you-have-in-your-black-leather-bag-with-gold-buckles/)

[Maurice Sendak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-sendak/)

> [I grew up in a house that was in a constant state of mourning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-sendak/i-grew-up-in-a-house-that-was-in-a-constant-state-of-mourning/)

[Maurice Sendak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-sendak/)

> [Illustrations have as much to say as the text. The trick is to say the same thing, but in a different way. It's no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-sendak/illustrations-have-as-much-to-say-as-the-text-the-trick-is-to-say-the/)

[Maurice Sendak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-sendak/)

> [I'm a lucky buck.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-sendak/i-m-a-lucky-buck/)

[Maurice Sendak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-sendak/)

> [I've convinced myself - I hope I'm right - that children despair of you if you don't tell them the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-sendak/i-ve-convinced-myself-i-hope-i-m-right-that-children-despair-of-you/)

[Maurice Sendak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-sendak/)

> [It's no fun being lonely.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-sendak/it-s-no-fun-being-lonely/)

[Maurice Sendak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-sendak/)

> [It dawned on me that art was the way I could survive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-sendak/it-dawned-on-me-that-art-was-the-way-i-could-survive/)

[Maurice Sendak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-sendak/)

> [I cry a lot because I miss people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-sendak/i-cry-a-lot-because-i-miss-people/)

[Maurice Sendak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-sendak/)

> [You cannot write for children They're much too complicated. You can only write books that are of interest to them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-sendak/you-cannot-write-for-children-they-re-much-too-complicated-you-can/)

[Maurice Sendak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-sendak/)

> [All I liked to do when I was a kid was draw.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-sendak/all-i-liked-to-do-when-i-was-a-kid-was-draw/)

[Maurice Sendak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-sendak/)

> [I'm still as enamored and turned on by work as I was when I was young.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-sendak/i-m-still-as-enamored-and-turned-on-by-work-as-i-was-when-i-was-young/)

[Maurice Sendak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-sendak/)

[Explore all 262 Maurice Sendak quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-sendak/)

## More Alive quotes

> [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/)

[Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/)

> [I feel very grateful to be alive and well enough to make music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-ant/i-feel-very-grateful-to-be-alive-and-well-enough-to-make-music/)

Adam Ant

> [I don't crave applause. I'm not one of those guys who comes alive on stage. I'm much more alive at home, I think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bowie/i-don-t-crave-applause-i-m-not-one-of-those-guys-who-comes-alive-on/)

[David Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bowie/)

> [We must master our egoism, and through this mastery, step outside ourselves and educate ourselves in giving. Fasting requires that we rediscover all that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tariq-ramadan/we-must-master-our-egoism-and-through-this-mastery-step-outside/)

[Tariq Ramadan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tariq-ramadan/)

> [I can't say that there are 'things' that make me come alive. There are thoughts that make me come alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/i-can-t-say-that-there-are-things-that-make-me-come-alive-there-are/)

[Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/)

> [We're like the wicked witch. We promise gingerbread, then eat the little brats alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/we-re-like-the-wicked-witch-we-promise-gingerbread-then-eat-the/)

[Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/)

> [If Jovan Belcher didn't possess a gun, he and Kasandra Perkins would both be alive today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-costas/if-jovan-belcher-didn-t-possess-a-gun-he-and-kasandra-perkins-would/)

[Bob Costas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-costas/)

> [Peace is an ongoing process. It begins with the first step and it does not end. We, all of us alive today, are the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-krieger/peace-is-an-ongoing-process-it-begins-with-the-first-step-and-it-does/)

[David Krieger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-krieger/)

> [I think adoption becomes complicated whenever the biological parents are alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-haven/i-think-adoption-becomes-complicated-whenever-the-biological-parents/)

[James Haven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-haven/)

> [The pain of love is the pain of being alive. It is a perpetual wound.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-duffy/the-pain-of-love-is-the-pain-of-being-alive-it-is-a-perpetual-wound/)

[Maureen Duffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-duffy/)

> [I have tried to resign myself, and to console myself; and that, I hope, I may have done imperfectly; but what I cannot firmly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/i-have-tried-to-resign-myself-and-to-console-myself-and-that-i-hope-i/)

[Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/)

> [If Melanchthon were alive today, he might not weep because of controversies that surround the Lord's Supper, but he might well sorrow because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erwin-w-lutzer/if-melanchthon-were-alive-today-he-might-not-weep-because-of/)

[Erwin W. Lutzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erwin-w-lutzer/)

> [If you’re alive, don’t move, if you’re dead, don’t worry about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/if-you-re-alive-don-t-move-if-you-re-dead-don-t-worry-about-it/)

[Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/)

> [Here Greek and Roman find themselves alive along these crowded shelves; and Shakespeare treads again his stage, and Chaucer paints anew his age.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-greenleaf-whittier/here-greek-and-roman-find-themselves-alive-along-these-crowded/)

[John Greenleaf Whittier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-greenleaf-whittier/)

> [You're alive!" Fezzik cried. The man in black sat immobile, like a ventriloquist's dummy, just his mouth moving. "That is perhaps the most childishly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-goldman/you-re-alive-fezzik-cried-the-man-in-black-sat-immobile-like-a/)

[William Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-goldman/)

[Browse all 7,282 Alive quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alive/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "People from New York have been calling, to see if I'm still alive. When I answer the phone, you can hear the disappointment in their voice.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Maurice Sendak"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-sendak/people-from-new-york-have-been-calling-to-see-if-i-m-still-alive-when/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Alive"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-sendak/people-from-new-york-have-been-calling-to-see-if-i-m-still-alive-when/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/436/maurice-sendak-1273_alive_people-from-new-york-have-been-calling-t_2769407.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/436/maurice-sendak-1273_alive_people-from-new-york-have-been-calling-t_2769407.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/436/maurice-sendak-1273_alive_people-from-new-york-have-been-calling-t_2769407.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“People from New York have been calling, to see if I'm still alive. When I answer the phone, you can hear the…” — Maurice Sendak",
                "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": "Maurice Sendak",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-sendak/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "People from New York have been...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-sendak/people-from-new-york-have-been-calling-to-see-if-i-m-still-alive-when/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-sendak/people-from-new-york-have-been-calling-to-see-if-i-m-still-alive-when/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
