--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: He answered the phone to his daughter…" description: "\"“He answered the phone to his daughter with a broken but joyous heart, ready to speak with her of astonishment and wonder.”\" — Patrick Ness" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3db/patrick-ness-449_children_he-answered-the-phone-to-his-daughter-wi_1030046.jpg" --- # He answered the phone to his daughter with a broken but… ![“He answered the phone to his daughter with a broken but joyous heart, ready to speak with her of astonishment and wonder.” quote by Patrick Ness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3db/patrick-ness-449_children_he-answered-the-phone-to-his-daughter-wi_1030046.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3db/patrick-ness-449_children_he-answered-the-phone-to-his-daughter-wi_1030046.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3db/patrick-ness-449_children_he-answered-the-phone-to-his-daughter-wi_1030046.jpg) > ““He answered the phone to his daughter with a broken but joyous heart, ready to speak with her of astonishment and wonder.”” [Patrick Ness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-ness/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A parent, despite personal pain, embraces the chance to share wonder and awe with a child. **In simple terms:** Even when hurting, we can share joy with loved ones. Key Takeaway Listen and share wonder despite your own sorrow. Themes family compassion wonder communication Mood tender reflective Type narrative emotional When to use this quote - parent-child conversation - comforting a grieving family - sharing awe after loss Key Concepts emotional resilience parenting storytelling Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance personal pain with supporting a child’s curiosity? - What does “broken but joyous heart” teach about emotional complexity? A Different Perspective The quote may romanticize emotional sharing without acknowledging deeper grief work needed. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Astonishment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/astonishment/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Grief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grief/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Recovery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/recovery/) [Wonder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wonder/) ## Related quotes > [Anthropology demands the open-mindedness with which one must look and listen, record in astonishment and wonder that which one would not have been able…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mead/anthropology-demands-the-open-mindedness-with-which-one-must-look-and/) [Margaret Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mead/) > [Just like that, with one phone call, she was a daughter again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/just-like-that-with-one-phone-call-she-was-a-daughter-again/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [“We have been lost to each other for so long. My name means nothing to you. My memory is dust. This is not your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anita-diamant/we-have-been-lost-to-each-other-for-so-long-my-name-means-nothing-to/) [Anita Diamant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anita-diamant/) > [“It was near midnight when his cell phone finally rang. Thank God, it was her. He answered the phone, short and sharp. “Jesus, Taylor,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-t-ellison/it-was-near-midnight-when-his-cell-phone-finally-rang-thank-god-it/) [J.T. Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-t-ellison/) > [“I sometimes wondered why I even answered the phone, but I guess I always had the hope that it would be someone else, some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-lacey/i-sometimes-wondered-why-i-even-answered-the-phone-but-i-guess-i/) [Catherine Lacey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-lacey/) > [“Hello?” I answered the phone. “Hello…Ree?” The strong male voice on the other end said. “Hey, Walrus!” I shrieked enthusiastically. There was a long,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ree-drummond/hello-i-answered-the-phone-hello-ree-the-strong-male-voice-on-the/) [Ree Drummond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ree-drummond/) > [“She and Fitz had just started to compare notes when Taylor’s cell phone rang. She took it off her hip and looked at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-t-ellison/she-and-fitz-had-just-started-to-compare-notes-when-taylor-s-cell/) [J.T. Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-t-ellison/) > [“He answered the phone," she hissed, "before he was done. He answered the fucking phone and started talking about an inspection at one of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-day/he-answered-the-phone-she-hissed-before-he-was-done-he-answered-the/) [Sylvia Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-day/) > [“Well,' Rydell said, trying to pick up his end, 'I was watching this one old movie last night-' Sublett perked up. 'Which one?' Dunno,'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-gibson/well-rydell-said-trying-to-pick-up-his-end-i-was-watching-this-one/) [William Gibson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-gibson/) > [I heard my brother's voice even though we were apart. I then answered the phone and found him on the line.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-gibb/i-heard-my-brother-s-voice-even-though-we-were-apart-i-then-answered/) [Maurice Gibb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-gibb/) > [“He didn’t spend time on niceties like saying hello. He answered the phone with, “Have you changed your mind about Thor?” “Um … no,”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-hearne/he-didn-t-spend-time-on-niceties-like-saying-hello-he-answered-the/) [Kevin Hearne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-hearne/) > [If there be a skeptical star I was born under it. Yet I have lived all my days in complete astonishment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-macneile-dixon/if-there-be-a-skeptical-star-i-was-born-under-it-yet-i-have-lived-all/) [William Macneile Dixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-macneile-dixon/) > [A lot of what I am looking for is a moment of astonishment, he says. Those moments of pure consciousness when you involuntarily inhale…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-meyerowitz/a-lot-of-what-i-am-looking-for-is-a-moment-of-astonishment-he-says/) [Joel Meyerowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-meyerowitz/) > [Rich men are resolved to be astonished at nothing. When they see a masterpiece, they must needs at one glance recognize some flaw to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/rich-men-are-resolved-to-be-astonished-at-nothing-when-they-see-a/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [“A writer lives, at least, in a state of astonishment. Beneath any feeling he has of the good or evil of the world lies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-sansom/a-writer-lives-at-least-in-a-state-of-astonishment-beneath-any/) [William Sansom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-sansom/) ## More by Patrick Ness > [“I rub the ears of my dog, my stupid goddam ruddy great dog that I never wanted but who hung around anyway and who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-ness/i-rub-the-ears-of-my-dog-my-stupid-goddam-ruddy-great-dog-that-i/) [Patrick Ness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-ness/) > [“The Prince had fallen in love. She was only a farmer's daughter, but she was was beautiful, and also smart, as the daughters of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-ness/the-prince-had-fallen-in-love-she-was-only-a-farmer-s-daughter-but/) [Patrick Ness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-ness/) > [Time goes on, even when yer not looking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-ness/time-goes-on-even-when-yer-not-looking/) [Patrick Ness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-ness/) > [Here is the boy, drowning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-ness/here-is-the-boy-drowning/) [Patrick Ness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-ness/) > [“This is it. This is goodbye. A goodbye I wasn't even looking for.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-ness/this-is-it-this-is-goodbye-a-goodbye-i-wasn-t-even-looking-for/) [Patrick Ness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-ness/) > [“ But what is a dream, Conor O'Malley? the monster said, bending down so it's face was close to Conor's. Who is to say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-ness/but-what-is-a-dream-conor-o-malley-the-monster-said-bending-down-so/) [Patrick Ness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-ness/) > [“And I feel her against me - And I think Viola - I think VIOLA! - I think VIOLA!!!! ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-ness/and-i-feel-her-against-me-and-i-think-viola-i-think-viola-i-think/) [Patrick Ness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-ness/) > [“But I'm still thinking about being born on a spaceship, an honest to badness spaceship. Growing up while flying along the stars, able to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-ness/but-i-m-still-thinking-about-being-born-on-a-spaceship-an-honest-to/) [Patrick Ness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-ness/) > [“When luck ain't with you, it's against you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-ness/when-luck-ain-t-with-you-it-s-against-you/) [Patrick Ness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-ness/) > [“You starting to feel hope yet?" Viola asks, her voice curious. "No," I say, fuddling my noise. "You?" Her eyebrows are up but she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-ness/you-starting-to-feel-hope-yet-viola-asks-her-voice-curious-no-i-say/) [Patrick Ness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-ness/) > [“I have two maxims that I believe, dear girl. One, if you can control yourself, you can control others. Two, if you can control…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-ness/i-have-two-maxims-that-i-believe-dear-girl-one-if-you-can-control/) [Patrick Ness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-ness/) > [To live is to fight, to preserve life is to fight everything that man stands for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-ness/to-live-is-to-fight-to-preserve-life-is-to-fight-everything-that-man/) [Patrick Ness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-ness/) > [Because he KNEW he was doing wrong. He felt the PAIN of his actions'-- 'But he did not amen them,' shows the Sky. 'The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-ness/because-he-knew-he-was-doing-wrong-he-felt-the-pain-of-his-actions/) [Patrick Ness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-ness/) > [“This was a kingdom. (“What?” Conor said, looking around his backyard. “Here?”) (The monster cocked its head at him curiously. You have not heard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-ness/this-was-a-kingdom-what-conor-said-looking-around-his-backyard-here/) [Patrick Ness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-ness/) > [If you ever see a war," she says, not looking up from her clipboard, "you'll learn that war only destroys. No one escapes from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-ness/if-you-ever-see-a-war-she-says-not-looking-up-from-her-clipboard-you/) [Patrick Ness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-ness/) [Explore all 527 Patrick Ness quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-ness/) ## More Astonishment quotes > [“A writer lives, at least, in a state of astonishment. Beneath any feeling he has of the good or evil of the world lies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-sansom/a-writer-lives-at-least-in-a-state-of-astonishment-beneath-any/) [William Sansom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-sansom/) > [Rich men are resolved to be astonished at nothing. When they see a masterpiece, they must needs at one glance recognize some flaw to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/rich-men-are-resolved-to-be-astonished-at-nothing-when-they-see-a/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [A lot of what I am looking for is a moment of astonishment, he says. Those moments of pure consciousness when you involuntarily inhale…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-meyerowitz/a-lot-of-what-i-am-looking-for-is-a-moment-of-astonishment-he-says/) [Joel Meyerowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-meyerowitz/) > [If there be a skeptical star I was born under it. Yet I have lived all my days in complete astonishment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-macneile-dixon/if-there-be-a-skeptical-star-i-was-born-under-it-yet-i-have-lived-all/) [William Macneile Dixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-macneile-dixon/) > [If you aren't constantly astonished at God's grace in your solitude, there's no way it can happen in public.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/if-you-aren-t-constantly-astonished-at-god-s-grace-in-your-solitude/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [“Witness each moment in astounded jubilation. Take every holy breath in gratitude. Rejoice in life!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/witness-each-moment-in-astounded-jubilation-take-every-holy-breath-in/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [Those who have past much of their lives in this great city, look upon its opulence and its multitudes, its extent and variety, with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/those-who-have-past-much-of-their-lives-in-this-great-city-look-upon/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [“See? Nothing to it." "I see all right," Carly said, her tone full of awe. She gaped at him. "What?" "Um..." "Jesus, Carly, what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lissa-bryan/see-nothing-to-it-i-see-all-right-carly-said-her-tone-full-of-awe-she/) [Lissa Bryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lissa-bryan/) > [For a moment Clary thought she might fall; she felt as if something essential had been torn away from her, an arm or a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/for-a-moment-clary-thought-she-might-fall-she-felt-as-if-something/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [Both of you’ll just have to believe me. Emma’s one of those women who was born with… The thing is, the minute a heterosexual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-elizabeth-phillips/both-of-you-ll-just-have-to-believe-me-emma-s-one-of-those-women-who/) [Susan Elizabeth Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-elizabeth-phillips/) > [“For the analyst it is a source of never-ending astonishment how comparatively well a person can function with the core of himself not participating.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-horney/for-the-analyst-it-is-a-source-of-never-ending-astonishment-how/) [Karen Horney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-horney/) > [It was only when I lay there on the rotting prison straw that I sensed within myself the first stirrings of good. Gradually it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aleksandr-solzhenitsyn/it-was-only-when-i-lay-there-on-the-rotting-prison-straw-that-i/) [Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aleksandr-solzhenitsyn/) > [Sometimes, people trying to commit suicide manage it in a manner that leaves them breathless with astonishment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/sometimes-people-trying-to-commit-suicide-manage-it-in-a-manner-that/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) > [When I wake up, I wake to something worse. It’s the astonishment of being myself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/when-i-wake-up-i-wake-to-something-worse-it-s-the-astonishment-of/) [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) > [What shall I say! And how shall I describe this Birth to you? For this wonder fills me with astonishment. The Ancient of Days…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-john-chrysostom/what-shall-i-say-and-how-shall-i-describe-this-birth-to-you-for-this/) [Saint John Chrysostom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-john-chrysostom/) [Browse all 227 Astonishment quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/astonishment/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“He answered the phone to his daughter with a broken but joyous heart, ready to speak with her of astonishment and wonder.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Patrick Ness" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-ness/he-answered-the-phone-to-his-daughter-with-a-broken-but-joyous-heart/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Astonishment" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-ness/he-answered-the-phone-to-his-daughter-with-a-broken-but-joyous-heart/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3db/patrick-ness-449_children_he-answered-the-phone-to-his-daughter-wi_1030046.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3db/patrick-ness-449_children_he-answered-the-phone-to-his-daughter-wi_1030046.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3db/patrick-ness-449_children_he-answered-the-phone-to-his-daughter-wi_1030046.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“He answered the phone to his daughter with a broken but joyous heart, ready to speak with her of…” — Patrick Ness", "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": "Patrick Ness", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-ness/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“He answered the phone to his...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-ness/he-answered-the-phone-to-his-daughter-with-a-broken-but-joyous-heart/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-ness/he-answered-the-phone-to-his-daughter-with-a-broken-but-joyous-heart/#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 } } ] } ```