---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I don't think you can call it stalking…"
description: "\"I don't think you can call it stalking when it's just phone calls and letters and emails and knocking on the door.\" — Nick Hornby"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b72/nick-hornby-325_doors_i-don-t-think-you-can-call-it-stalking-w_160631.png"
---

#  I don't think you can call it stalking when it's just…

![“I don't think you can call it stalking when it's just phone calls and letters and emails and knocking on the door.” quote by Nick Hornby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b72/nick-hornby-325_doors_i-don-t-think-you-can-call-it-stalking-w_160631.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b72/nick-hornby-325_doors_i-don-t-think-you-can-call-it-stalking-w_160631.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b72/nick-hornby-325_doors_i-don-t-think-you-can-call-it-stalking-w_160631.png)

> “I don't think you can call it stalking when it's just phone calls and letters and emails and knocking on the door.”

[Nick Hornby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-hornby/)

## About This Quote

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

The speaker argues that repeated unwanted contact, even if not violent, still constitutes stalking.

**In simple terms:** Repeated unwanted contact can be stalking.

Key Takeaway

Recognize and respect personal boundaries.

Themes

privacy boundaries stalking communication harassment

Mood

cautious serious

Type

legal ethical

When to use this quote

- relationships
- digital communication
- legal contexts

Key Concepts

Consent personal space legal definitions

Questions to Reflect On

- When does persistent contact become harassment?
- How should laws address non‑violent stalking?

A Different Perspective

Stalking definitions vary by jurisdiction and context.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Doors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doors/) [Email](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/email/) [Emails Knocking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emails-knocking-1763155/) [Knocking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knocking/) [Knocking Door](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knocking-door/) [Letters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/letters/) [Phone calls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/phone-calls/) [Phones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/phones/) [Stalking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stalking/) [Stalking Just](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stalking-just-1763154/) [Think Stalking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-stalking-1763153/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/)

## Related quotes

> [“I don’t think it’s stalking if I get an invitation, but yes, I’d love to accompany you to the store.” “I don’t know if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mia-sheridan/i-don-t-think-it-s-stalking-if-i-get-an-invitation-but-yes-i-d-love/)

[Mia Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mia-sheridan/)

> [“When someone is stalking you because they think you are stalking them, it makes you wonder who really is the true stalker?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder/when-someone-is-stalking-you-because-they-think-you-are-stalking-them/)

[Shannon L. Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder/)

> [“I feel a bit apprehensive as I see that he's looking directly at me. But I'm not doing anything wrong, am I? I mean,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-kinsella/i-feel-a-bit-apprehensive-as-i-see-that-he-s-looking-directly-at-me/)

[Sophie Kinsella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-kinsella/)

> [In real life I do a lot of reconnaissance and then kind of choose the guy I'm going to go after. Not like stalking,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-coffee/in-real-life-i-do-a-lot-of-reconnaissance-and-then-kind-of-choose-the/)

[Claire Coffee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-coffee/)

> [You may call it stalking. But it's just admiring someone without their knowledge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-may-call-it-stalking-but-it-s-just-admiring-someone-without-their/)

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

> [Im not stalking I'm just proving a point. Deal with yourself being wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/im-not-stalking-i-m-just-proving-a-point-deal-with-yourself-being/)

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

> [The person who walks-in without knocking the door, always lefts behind the reason to miss for..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raj-singh/the-person-who-walks-in-without-knocking-the-door-always-lefts-behind/)

[Raj Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raj-singh/)

> [I believe that I am only at a beginning, only knocking at a door, and I believe that the best is yet to come.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-buckley/i-believe-that-i-am-only-at-a-beginning-only-knocking-at-a-door-and-i/)

[Pat Buckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-buckley/)

> [Before I can finish one song, another is knocking on my door in my head.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-kelly/before-i-can-finish-one-song-another-is-knocking-on-my-door-in-my-head/)

[R. Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-kelly/)

> [Negatively was knocking at my door but I will not let it come in I'am to bless to be stress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/earlene-michelle-robateau/negatively-was-knocking-at-my-door-but-i-will-not-let-it-come-in-i-am/)

[Earlene Michelle Robateau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/earlene-michelle-robateau/)

> [It is quite useless knocking at the door of heaven for earthly comfort. It's not the sort of comfort they supply there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/it-is-quite-useless-knocking-at-the-door-of-heaven-for-earthly/)

[C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/)

> [When the devil comes knocking on your door simply say "Jesus, it's for you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-jones-gunn/when-the-devil-comes-knocking-on-your-door-simply-say-jesus-it-s-for/)

[Robin Jones Gunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-jones-gunn/)

> [Opportunity could be knocking at your door very softly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/opportunity-could-be-knocking-at-your-door-very-softly/)

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

> [Youre all locked up in that little world of yours, and when I try knocking on the door, you just sort of look up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/youre-all-locked-up-in-that-little-world-of-yours-and-when-i-try/)

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

> [Why are you knocking at every door ? Go, knock at the door of your own heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/why-are-you-knocking-at-every-door-go-knock-at-the-door-of-your-own/)

[Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/)

## More by Nick Hornby

> [You can wait forever for the muse to sit on your shoulder, but most of the time you know what has to be done…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-hornby/you-can-wait-forever-for-the-muse-to-sit-on-your-shoulder-but-most-of/)

[Nick Hornby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-hornby/)

> […I've had a bad week." What's happened?" Nothing's happened. I've had a bad week in my head, is all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-hornby/i-ve-had-a-bad-week-what-s-happened-nothing-s-happened-i-ve-had-a-bad/)

[Nick Hornby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-hornby/)

> [“When they – I cannot bring myself to use the first-person plural in this instance.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-hornby/when-they-i-cannot-bring-myself-to-use-the-first-person-plural-in/)

[Nick Hornby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-hornby/)

> [“What you don't ever catch a glimpse of on your wedding day - because how could you? - is that some days you will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-hornby/what-you-don-t-ever-catch-a-glimpse-of-on-your-wedding-day-because/)

[Nick Hornby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-hornby/)

> [A good compilation tape, like breaking up, is hard to do and takes ages longer than it might seem. You've got to kick off…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-hornby/a-good-compilation-tape-like-breaking-up-is-hard-to-do-and-takes-ages/)

[Nick Hornby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-hornby/)

> [I'm still not a very good white wine, but I'm drinkable - you could put me in a punch, anyway.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-hornby/i-m-still-not-a-very-good-white-wine-but-i-m-drinkable-you-could-put/)

[Nick Hornby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-hornby/)

> [I never mind the accusations of domesticity, as long as people recognise that all of us, even the luckiest, will live lives in which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-hornby/i-never-mind-the-accusations-of-domesticity-as-long-as-people/)

[Nick Hornby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-hornby/)

> [I wasted the 1980s. I wasted every minute at Cambridge talking to people who knew more about music than I did.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-hornby/i-wasted-the-1980s-i-wasted-every-minute-at-cambridge-talking-to/)

[Nick Hornby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-hornby/)

> [“I took her outside on to a little roof terrace that looked like it never got the sun at nay time of the day…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-hornby/i-took-her-outside-on-to-a-little-roof-terrace-that-looked-like-it/)

[Nick Hornby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-hornby/)

> [“I feel as though I have been having conversations like this all my life. None of us is young anymore, but what has just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-hornby/i-feel-as-though-i-have-been-having-conversations-like-this-all-my/)

[Nick Hornby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-hornby/)

> [“I'm OK. Really. I can find people. I'll be all right.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-hornby/i-m-ok-really-i-can-find-people-i-ll-be-all-right/)

[Nick Hornby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-hornby/)

> [“Read any women's magazine and you'll see the same complaint over and over again: men - those little boys ten or twenty or thirty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-hornby/read-any-women-s-magazine-and-you-ll-see-the-same-complaint-over-and/)

[Nick Hornby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-hornby/)

> [“Defansçılar her zaman forvetçilerden daha iyi analizcilerdir.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-hornby/defans-lar-her-zaman-forvet-ilerden-daha-iyi-analizcilerdir/)

[Nick Hornby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-hornby/)

> [On New Year's Eve he ould make a resolution to recover some his previous scepticism, but until then he would do as the Romans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-hornby/on-new-year-s-eve-he-ould-make-a-resolution-to-recover-some-his/)

[Nick Hornby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-hornby/)

> [It's no good looking to writers for definitions of what constitutes proper writing, because you will drive yourself crazy, and you won't find anything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-hornby/it-s-no-good-looking-to-writers-for-definitions-of-what-constitutes/)

[Nick Hornby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-hornby/)

[Explore all 645 Nick Hornby quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-hornby/)

## More Doors quotes

> [I need a bath." He chuckled. "You smell of smoke, as do I." The duke turned, leaning heavily on his cane. "Jameson, open the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-hawkins/i-need-a-bath-he-chuckled-you-smell-of-smoke-as-do-i-the-duke-turned/)

[Karen Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-hawkins/)

> [When you have counted eighty years and more, Time and Fate will batter at your door; But if you should survive to be a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khushwant-singh/when-you-have-counted-eighty-years-and-more-time-and-fate-will-batter/)

[Khushwant Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khushwant-singh/)

> [“The universe contains any amount of horrible ways to be woken up, such as the noise of the mob breaking down the front door,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/the-universe-contains-any-amount-of-horrible-ways-to-be-woken-up-such/)

[Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/)

> [We can't love a place or a person if we always have one foot out the door.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-weiner/we-can-t-love-a-place-or-a-person-if-we-always-have-one-foot-out-the/)

[Eric Weiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-weiner/)

> [Kindness unlocks doors that were thought to be closed forever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/unkown/kindness-unlocks-doors-that-were-thought-to-be-closed-forever/)

[Unkown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/unkown/)

> [I haven't shut any doors, and I'm really open to anything, so I think it's just about the material and what is going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-panabaker/i-haven-t-shut-any-doors-and-i-m-really-open-to-anything-so-i-think/)

[Danielle Panabaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-panabaker/)

> [There are times when we can feel destiny close around us like a fist around a doorknob. Sure, we can resist. But a knob…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/there-are-times-when-we-can-feel-destiny-close-around-us-like-a-fist/)

[Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/)

> [I won't be managing the Mets. I am closing the door on managing the Mets and probably everybody else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-torre/i-won-t-be-managing-the-mets-i-am-closing-the-door-on-managing-the/)

[Joe Torre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-torre/)

> [The odor of bowel wind is known to every human, but the fragrance of book glue has crossed only a fraction of mortal nostrils.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-odor-of-bowel-wind-is-known-to-every-human-but-the-fragrance-of/)

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

> [I had always assumed that the right way to do it was to these engineers, put them in offices by themselves with doors that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-schmidt/i-had-always-assumed-that-the-right-way-to-do-it-was-to-these/)

[Eric Schmidt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-schmidt/)

> [A home isn't just a roof over our heads. A home is a place where we feel loved and where we love others. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/a-home-isn-t-just-a-roof-over-our-heads-a-home-is-a-place-where-we/)

[Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/)

> [I think that's the beauty of the current setup, is that Legends is meant to be a bit of a revolving door.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wentworth-miller/i-think-that-s-the-beauty-of-the-current-setup-is-that-legends-is/)

[Wentworth Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wentworth-miller/)

> [In the beginning I was just a makeup artist and I never really pictured myself doing anything else. But now that I have so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffree-star/in-the-beginning-i-was-just-a-makeup-artist-and-i-never-really/)

[Jeffree Star](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffree-star/)

> [I do not chase after anyone if you wanna walk out my life then I will hold the fu\*\*\*\*g door open for you](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wiz-khalifa/i-do-not-chase-after-anyone-if-you-wanna-walk-out-my-life-then-i-will/)

[Wiz Khalifa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wiz-khalifa/)

> [Do you know what it is sir? Do you know what the Dance Dance Revolution is? It's not an actual revolution, so you don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-peters/do-you-know-what-it-is-sir-do-you-know-what-the-dance-dance/)

[Russell Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-peters/)

[Browse all 5,899 Doors quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doors/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I don't think you can call it stalking when it's just phone calls and letters and emails and knocking on the door.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Nick Hornby"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-hornby/i-don-t-think-you-can-call-it-stalking-when-it-s-just-phone-calls-and/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Doors"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-hornby/i-don-t-think-you-can-call-it-stalking-when-it-s-just-phone-calls-and/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b72/nick-hornby-325_doors_i-don-t-think-you-can-call-it-stalking-w_160631.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b72/nick-hornby-325_doors_i-don-t-think-you-can-call-it-stalking-w_160631.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b72/nick-hornby-325_doors_i-don-t-think-you-can-call-it-stalking-w_160631.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I don't think you can call it stalking when it's just phone calls and letters and emails and knocking on the…” — Nick Hornby",
                "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": "Nick Hornby",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-hornby/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I don't think you can call...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-hornby/i-don-t-think-you-can-call-it-stalking-when-it-s-just-phone-calls-and/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-hornby/i-don-t-think-you-can-call-it-stalking-when-it-s-just-phone-calls-and/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
