---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The people talking on their cell phone…"
description: "\"The people talking on their cell phone and following GPS instructions to where grandma's house is saying I don't need space - excuse me, that's how you..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/255/neil-degrasse-tyson-143_cell-phone_the-people-talking-on-their-cell-phone-a_835713.png"
---

#  The people talking on their cell phone and following GPS…

![“The people talking on their cell phone and following GPS instructions to where grandma's house is saying I don't need space - excuse me, that's how you know where grandma lives, and when to make the left turn.” quote by Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/255/neil-degrasse-tyson-143_cell-phone_the-people-talking-on-their-cell-phone-a_835713.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/255/neil-degrasse-tyson-143_cell-phone_the-people-talking-on-their-cell-phone-a_835713.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/255/neil-degrasse-tyson-143_cell-phone_the-people-talking-on-their-cell-phone-a_835713.png)

> “The people talking on their cell phone and following GPS instructions to where grandma's house is saying I don't need space - excuse me, that's how you know where grandma lives, and when to make the left turn.”

[Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/)

## 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 humorously critiques over‑reliance on technology for simple navigation, suggesting it erodes personal spatial awareness.

**In simple terms:** Tech can make us lose basic navigation skills.

Key Takeaway

Balance tech use with mental mapping.

Themes

technology navigation independence attention human cognition

Mood

reflective lighthearted critical

Type

humorous observational cautionary

When to use this quote

- driving
- walking in unfamiliar neighborhoods
- learning to read maps
- teaching children navigation skills

Key Concepts

cognitive offloading spatial memory automation dependence

Questions to Reflect On

- How often do you rely on GPS for short trips?
- What are the benefits of navigating without digital aids?

A Different Perspective

Over‑reliance may reduce confidence in self‑direction and increase vulnerability when tech fails.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Cell phone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cell-phone/) [Grandma's house](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grandma-s-house/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Phones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/phones/) [Space](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/space/)

## Related quotes

> [I would stay at my grandma's house on my birthday every year and I remember she had a bookshelf of murder mystery books along…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-bollen/i-would-stay-at-my-grandma-s-house-on-my-birthday-every-year-and-i/)

[Christopher Bollen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-bollen/)

> [“The idea of staying is new to me, you know. I spent the last decade trying to convince myself that things I remembered here…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-coryell/the-idea-of-staying-is-new-to-me-you-know-i-spent-the-last-decade/)

[Christina Coryell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-coryell/)

> [My parents always talk about Puerto Rico. My dad's whole family lives in Puerto Rico. My great grandma lives in Puerto Rico and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-garcia/my-parents-always-talk-about-puerto-rico-my-dad-s-whole-family-lives/)

[Danny Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-garcia/)

> [“We were both at my house, but she was still acting like she was fucking crazy. She wasn’t sleeping in the bed with me.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toy/we-were-both-at-my-house-but-she-was-still-acting-like-she-was/)

[Toy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toy/)

> [“You know", Grandma says, "you could learn a lot from Dr.Quinn. She knows how to make soap from a sheep's guts. And she had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-cabot/you-know-grandma-says-you-could-learn-a-lot-from-dr-quinn-she-knows/)

[Meg Cabot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-cabot/)

> [This is where my grandma lives : esplanade salvador allende &lt;3](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shmoopy/this-is-where-my-grandma-lives-esplanade-salvador-allende-3/)

Shmoopy

> [“Her grandmother had a life, a life Claire hadn't known about or even imagined. She had tried so hard to know everything about Grandma…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-addison-allen/her-grandmother-had-a-life-a-life-claire-hadn-t-known-about-or-even/)

[Sarah Addison Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-addison-allen/)

> [I have a black Grandma and white Grandma. My white Grandma lives in Fort Lauderdale, paints, and teaches bridge. She's wonderful. My black Grandma,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/davy-rothbart/i-have-a-black-grandma-and-white-grandma-my-white-grandma-lives-in/)

[Davy Rothbart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/davy-rothbart/)

> [Grandma, how old is she?" "Oh I don't know." Grandma said. "You'd have to cut off her head and count the rings in her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-peck/grandma-how-old-is-she-oh-i-don-t-know-grandma-said-you-d-have-to-cut/)

[Richard Peck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-peck/)

> ['Dirty Dancing', 'Grease', those were the movies that I used to watch over and over and over at my grandma's house when I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-mccormick/dirty-dancing-grease-those-were-the-movies-that-i-used-to-watch-over/)

[Kathryn McCormick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-mccormick/)

> [“My big awakening happened when I was fourteen. I'd been trying to get into this older girl's pants for a while, and she finally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/slash/my-big-awakening-happened-when-i-was-fourteen-i-d-been-trying-to-get/)

[Slash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/slash/)

> [Mom, I know I let you down And though you say the days are happy Why is the power off, and I'm fucked up?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/mom-i-know-i-let-you-down-and-though-you-say-the-days-are-happy-why/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [My parents were out of town and sent me to stay at my grandma's house. That's where I learned how to make pancakes. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-rancic/my-parents-were-out-of-town-and-sent-me-to-stay-at-my-grandma-s-house/)

[Bill Rancic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-rancic/)

> [My earliest memory was going to my grandma's house, milking the cows, and collecting the eggs from the chickens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gisele-bundchen/my-earliest-memory-was-going-to-my-grandma-s-house-milking-the-cows/)

[Gisele Bundchen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gisele-bundchen/)

> [Our life before moving to Washington was filled with simple joys ... Saturdays at soccer games, Sundays at grandma's house ... and a date…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-obama/our-life-before-moving-to-washington-was-filled-with-simple-joys/)

[Michelle Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-obama/)

## More by Neil deGrasse Tyson

> [I don't want to go into space because of war. I think we would if it was triggered. If China said they want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/i-don-t-want-to-go-into-space-because-of-war-i-think-we-would-if-it/)

[Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/)

> [Quantum physics fluctuates all the time. But now the fluctuations are not just particles coming into and out of existence, which happens all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/quantum-physics-fluctuates-all-the-time-but-now-the-fluctuations-are/)

[Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/)

> [In the movie, the stars above the ship bear no correspondence to any constellations in a real sky. Worse yet, while the heroine bobs...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/in-the-movie-the-stars-above-the-ship-bear-no-correspondence-to-any/)

[Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/)

> [The Pacific is the best toilet for satellites.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/the-pacific-is-the-best-toilet-for-satellites/)

[Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/)

> [... informed ignorance provides the natural state of mind for research scientists at the ever-shifting frontiers of knowledge. People who believe themselves ignorant of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/informed-ignorance-provides-the-natural-state-of-mind-for-research/)

[Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/)

> [If you seek only easy problems to solve, then ultimately, there'll be nothing about you to distinguish yourself from others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/if-you-seek-only-easy-problems-to-solve-then-ultimately-there-ll-be/)

[Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/)

> [The caricature of science is that we hold tight to the theories we have, and shun challenges to them. That's just not true. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/the-caricature-of-science-is-that-we-hold-tight-to-the-theories-we/)

[Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/)

> [New generations of humans inherit the acquired discoveries of generations past, allowing cosmic insight to accumulate without limit. Each discovery of science therefore adds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/new-generations-of-humans-inherit-the-acquired-discoveries-of/)

[Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/)

> [I've said multiple times that the world's first trillionaire is going to be the person who exploits the resources of asteroids, the natural resources…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/i-ve-said-multiple-times-that-the-world-s-first-trillionaire-is-going/)

[Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/)

> [ They \[scientists of centuries past\] call on God only from the lonely and precarious edge of incomprehension. Where they feel certain about their explanations,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/they-scientists-of-centuries-past-call-on-god-only-from-the-lonely/)

[Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/)

> [We explore our environment, more than we are compelled to utter poetry, when we're toddlers. We start doing that later. Before that happens, every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/we-explore-our-environment-more-than-we-are-compelled-to-utter-poetry/)

[Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/)

> [You can't have people making decisions about the future of the world who are scientifically illiterate. That's a recipe for disaster. And I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/you-can-t-have-people-making-decisions-about-the-future-of-the-world/)

[Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/)

> [Science surrounds you. It's not something that you can step aside, step over or push out of your way because you were never good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/science-surrounds-you-it-s-not-something-that-you-can-step-aside-step/)

[Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/)

> [The idea that God resides in the unknown is what philosophers call the God of the gaps. And we have this thing called science,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/the-idea-that-god-resides-in-the-unknown-is-what-philosophers-call/)

[Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/)

> [Everybody's got money for vacation time. Look at how much we all spend just to get - well, I get sick on the loop-the-loop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/everybody-s-got-money-for-vacation-time-look-at-how-much-we-all-spend/)

[Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/)

[Explore all 1,143 Neil deGrasse Tyson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/)

## More Cell phone quotes

> [“What you’re holding in your hands is a BookShots Flames story. It’s part of a revolution in reading. Hand-picked by James Patterson, BookShots Flames…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-ciotta/what-you-re-holding-in-your-hands-is-a-bookshots-flames-story-it-s/)

Beth Ciotta

> [“Kindle Paperwhite 3G models use the same technology as cell phones, so they are dependent on cellular coverage areas. By default, a 3G device…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amazon/kindle-paperwhite-3g-models-use-the-same-technology-as-cell-phones-so/)

amazon

> [“I’m not sure how the ponies happened, though I have an inkling: “Can I get you anything?” I’ll say, getting up from a dinner…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sloane-crosley/i-m-not-sure-how-the-ponies-happened-though-i-have-an-inkling-can-i/)

[Sloane Crosley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sloane-crosley/)

> [I like everything with a heaping dose of feminitity, including my cell phone. I created this phone for the classic woman, who like me,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimora-lee-simmons/i-like-everything-with-a-heaping-dose-of-feminitity-including-my-cell/)

[Kimora Lee Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimora-lee-simmons/)

> [“People were sitting together, talking and telling stories face-to-face again, instead of staring at a cell phone screens while texting or chatting with someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-foster/people-were-sitting-together-talking-and-telling-stories-face-to-face/)

[Mike Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-foster/)

> [“To me, at least in retrospect, the really interesting question is why dullness proves to be such a powerful impediment to attention. Why we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-foster-wallace/to-me-at-least-in-retrospect-the-really-interesting-question-is-why/)

[David Foster Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-foster-wallace/)

> [“Another night then,' Mom said. 'Maybe on the weekend we can have a barbecue and invite your sister.' 'Or,' I said turning to Rafe,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/another-night-then-mom-said-maybe-on-the-weekend-we-can-have-a/)

[Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/)

> [Girls are like cell phones they love to be held and talked to but whewn you press the wrong buttons you will be disconnected](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/superman/girls-are-like-cell-phones-they-love-to-be-held-and-talked-to-but/)

Superman

> [Sometimes life really sucks. Then I see your name pop up on my cell phone and I cant help but smile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sometimes-life-really-sucks-then-i-see-your-name-pop-up-on-my-cell/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I remember one point seeing I had like 60-some different cell phones. I know I only use one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-kosar/i-remember-one-point-seeing-i-had-like-60-some-different-cell-phones/)

Bernie Kosar

> [Cell phones are so convenient that they're an inconvenience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/cell-phones-are-so-convenient-that-they-re-an-inconvenience/)

[Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/)

> [“The history of the sexual vanguard in America was a long list of people who had been ridiculed, imprisoned, or subjected to violence. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-witt/the-history-of-the-sexual-vanguard-in-america-was-a-long-list-of/)

Emily Witt

> [The increase in chemicals and the increase in technology, like wi-fi and cell phone use that's going through our bodies all of the time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-jennings/the-increase-in-chemicals-and-the-increase-in-technology-like-wi-fi/)

[Mason Jennings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-jennings/)

> [But I'm acutely aware that the possibility of fraud is even more prevalent in today's world because of the Internet and cell phones and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/armistead-maupin/but-i-m-acutely-aware-that-the-possibility-of-fraud-is-even-more/)

[Armistead Maupin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/armistead-maupin/)

> [“was my first indication that the policies of Mamaw’s “party of the working man”—the Democrats—weren’t all they were cracked up to be. Political scientists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-vance/was-my-first-indication-that-the-policies-of-mamaw-s-party-of-the/)

[J.D. Vance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-vance/)

[Browse all 982 Cell phone quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cell-phone/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "The people talking on their cell phone and following GPS instructions to where grandma's house is saying I don't need space - excuse me, that's how you know where grandma lives, and when to make the left turn.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Neil deGrasse Tyson"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/the-people-talking-on-their-cell-phone-and-following-gps-instructions/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Cell phone"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/the-people-talking-on-their-cell-phone-and-following-gps-instructions/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/255/neil-degrasse-tyson-143_cell-phone_the-people-talking-on-their-cell-phone-a_835713.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/255/neil-degrasse-tyson-143_cell-phone_the-people-talking-on-their-cell-phone-a_835713.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/255/neil-degrasse-tyson-143_cell-phone_the-people-talking-on-their-cell-phone-a_835713.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“The people talking on their cell phone and following GPS instructions to where grandma's house is saying I…” — Neil deGrasse Tyson",
                "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": "Neil deGrasse Tyson",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "The people talking on their cell...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/the-people-talking-on-their-cell-phone-and-following-gps-instructions/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/the-people-talking-on-their-cell-phone-and-following-gps-instructions/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
