---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You walk into a restaurant these days…"
description: "\"You walk into a restaurant these days, and what you see is everyone with their phone next to them. That is terrible. Instead of concentrating on the re..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/741/ruth-westheimer-3544_person_you-walk-into-a-restaurant-these-days-an_912902.png"
---

#  You walk into a restaurant these days, and what you see is…

![“You walk into a restaurant these days, and what you see is everyone with their phone next to them. That is terrible. Instead of concentrating on the relationship, on the needs and activities and interests of the other person, they are constantly looking at their phone.” quote by Ruth Westheimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/741/ruth-westheimer-3544_person_you-walk-into-a-restaurant-these-days-an_912902.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/741/ruth-westheimer-3544_person_you-walk-into-a-restaurant-these-days-an_912902.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/741/ruth-westheimer-3544_person_you-walk-into-a-restaurant-these-days-an_912902.png)

> “You walk into a restaurant these days, and what you see is everyone with their phone next to them. That is terrible. Instead of concentrating on the relationship, on the needs and activities and interests of the other person, they are constantly looking at their phone.”

[Ruth Westheimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-westheimer/)

## About This Quote

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

Observes that pervasive phone use erodes genuine human connection, urging present‑focused interaction.

**In simple terms:** Phones distract from real conversation.

Key Takeaway

Put the phone away and engage fully.

Themes

technology relationships attention

Mood

concerned thoughtful

Type

observational advice

When to use this quote

- dining out
- family gatherings
- dates
- networking events

Key Concepts

social distraction mindfulness

Questions to Reflect On

- How often do you prioritize screen time over people?
- What steps can you take to foster deeper connections?

A Different Perspective

Digital habits are hard to break; social pressure persists.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Relationship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/relationship/) [Restaurant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/restaurant/) [Technology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/technology/)

## Related quotes

> [Im constantly looking at my phone like it has the answers to all lifes problems.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/im-constantly-looking-at-my-phone-like-it-has-the-answers-to-all/)

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

> [That awkward moment when your outside of your car looking for your phone underneath the seat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/that-awkward-moment-when-your-outside-of-your-car-looking-for-your/)

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

> [Any kind of technology, anything that leads to people looking at their phone and using their phone. If you can give them that product...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raj-kundra/any-kind-of-technology-anything-that-leads-to-people-looking-at-their/)

[Raj Kundra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raj-kundra/)

> [No, I dont have anything to hide. I just dont like people looking through my phone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/no-i-dont-have-anything-to-hide-i-just-dont-like-people-looking/)

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

> [If you look at people out on the street, if you look at people at restaurants, nobody's having conversations anymore. They're sitting at dinner…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-kabat-zinn/if-you-look-at-people-out-on-the-street-if-you-look-at-people-at/)

[Jon Kabat-Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-kabat-zinn/)

> [Stop looking at your phone, he hasn't texted or called. But that's okay because he doesn't deserve a girl like you anyways.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-carter/stop-looking-at-your-phone-he-hasn-t-texted-or-called-but-that-s-okay/)

[Matt Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-carter/)

> [You're in another reality when you're looking down at your phone, walking across the street, and almost getting hit by a car.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-anne-moss/you-re-in-another-reality-when-you-re-looking-down-at-your-phone/)

[Carrie-Anne Moss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-anne-moss/)

> [All the best bits of a film happen when I'm looking down at my phone. Life, is similar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-stone/all-the-best-bits-of-a-film-happen-when-i-m-looking-down-at-my-phone/)

[Craig Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-stone/)

> [No, I don't have anything to hide. I just don't like people looking through my phone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/no-i-don-t-have-anything-to-hide-i-just-don-t-like-people-looking/)

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

> [That awkward moment when your looking for your phone and you nearly cried cause you can't find it, and then realize that it's in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/that-awkward-moment-when-your-looking-for-your-phone-and-you-nearly/)

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

> [“Everyone has their own calling, but not everyone is looking for the phone, or either they missed the call, or just not answered it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-liccione/everyone-has-their-own-calling-but-not-everyone-is-looking-for-the/)

[Anthony Liccione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-liccione/)

> [Yeah, I wonder if I should call you but then again you never call me. And Im just looking at my phone girl and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drake/yeah-i-wonder-if-i-should-call-you-but-then-again-you-never-call-me/)

[Drake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drake/)

> [In the morning, I can not be without looking at my phone to see the IM's or any missed calls that I missed and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vanessa-hudgens/in-the-morning-i-can-not-be-without-looking-at-my-phone-to-see-the-im/)

[Vanessa Hudgens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vanessa-hudgens/)

> [That awkward moment when you're looking for your phone and going so crazy searchin for it and didn't even noticed it was in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joann-layno/that-awkward-moment-when-you-re-looking-for-your-phone-and-going-so/)

Joann Layno

> [I generally waver between not looking at my phone for long periods of time and then becoming obsessed with it. So I've had years…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-hechinger/i-generally-waver-between-not-looking-at-my-phone-for-long-periods-of/)

[Fred Hechinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-hechinger/)

## More by Ruth Westheimer

> [I am fortunate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-westheimer/i-am-fortunate/)

[Ruth Westheimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-westheimer/)

> [Boredom is the biggest problem. The same position. Same day of the week. It becomes boring when you don't bring any added flowers home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-westheimer/boredom-is-the-biggest-problem-the-same-position-same-day-of-the-week/)

[Ruth Westheimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-westheimer/)

> [For some people, 'ten feet tall' is just a metaphor. For me, it's more than twice my height!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-westheimer/for-some-people-ten-feet-tall-is-just-a-metaphor-for-me-it-s-more/)

[Ruth Westheimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-westheimer/)

> [Never to forget the Holocaust was not only against Jews. It was mostly against Jews but it was also against homosexuals, gypsies and, let's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-westheimer/never-to-forget-the-holocaust-was-not-only-against-jews-it-was-mostly/)

[Ruth Westheimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-westheimer/)

> [I read the horoscope, and when I like it I smile and when I don't like it, I say, 'Dr. Ruth Westheimer, what's the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-westheimer/i-read-the-horoscope-and-when-i-like-it-i-smile-and-when-i-don-t-like/)

[Ruth Westheimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-westheimer/)

> [It is a catastrophe, all of this virtual being together. I think there are people who get hooked on the internet. If they need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-westheimer/it-is-a-catastrophe-all-of-this-virtual-being-together-i-think-there/)

[Ruth Westheimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-westheimer/)

> [I'm not a type of grandmother sitting in a rocking chair. I'm a lot in the theater. I'm a lot at concerts. I'm a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-westheimer/i-m-not-a-type-of-grandmother-sitting-in-a-rocking-chair-i-m-a-lot-in/)

[Ruth Westheimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-westheimer/)

> [I don't want people to be lonely. I would like them to find partners.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-westheimer/i-don-t-want-people-to-be-lonely-i-would-like-them-to-find-partners/)

[Ruth Westheimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-westheimer/)

> [When the first armies were formed, combat took courage, which women share equally with men, and strength, which we do not. But though I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-westheimer/when-the-first-armies-were-formed-combat-took-courage-which-women/)

[Ruth Westheimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-westheimer/)

> [If Congress wants to get involved in the business of morality by allowing a moment of silence in our schools, I support that. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-westheimer/if-congress-wants-to-get-involved-in-the-business-of-morality-by/)

[Ruth Westheimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-westheimer/)

> [I think I was fortunate that even in the children's home I had a boyfriend. How important it was, as an orphan at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-westheimer/i-think-i-was-fortunate-that-even-in-the-children-s-home-i-had-a/)

[Ruth Westheimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-westheimer/)

> [I lived, while 1 1/2 million Jewish children died. So I have an obligation to repair the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-westheimer/i-lived-while-1-1-2-million-jewish-children-died-so-i-have-an/)

[Ruth Westheimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-westheimer/)

> [For some strange reason I can put five bullets into that red thing in the middle of the target.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-westheimer/for-some-strange-reason-i-can-put-five-bullets-into-that-red-thing-in/)

[Ruth Westheimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-westheimer/)

> [I certainly believe in equal rights.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-westheimer/i-certainly-believe-in-equal-rights/)

[Ruth Westheimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-westheimer/)

> [If someone has gone through a lot of emotional pain, including the loss of loved ones, that person may try to build a shell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-westheimer/if-someone-has-gone-through-a-lot-of-emotional-pain-including-the/)

[Ruth Westheimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-westheimer/)

[Explore all 128 Ruth Westheimer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-westheimer/)

## More Person quotes

> [“Always resemble yourself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-white/always-resemble-yourself/)

Cynthia White

> [“They're threatened by you,' she said. 'You chose to do something they'd never have the gumption to choose for themselves. Being their own person.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-chamberlain/they-re-threatened-by-you-she-said-you-chose-to-do-something-they-d/)

[Diane Chamberlain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-chamberlain/)

> [I think a person has to just be herself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-nixon/i-think-a-person-has-to-just-be-herself/)

[Pat Nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-nixon/)

> [I always say if you put someone from a small town into a big city for ten years, then when they go back, they'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-colter/i-always-say-if-you-put-someone-from-a-small-town-into-a-big-city-for/)

[Mike Colter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-colter/)

> [I am not a depressive person at all, but I reflect a lot on my life, and life in general, from the perspective of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/i-am-not-a-depressive-person-at-all-but-i-reflect-a-lot-on-my-life/)

[Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/)

> [If you’re a person struggling to eat and stay healthy you might have heard about Michael Jordan or Muhammad Ali, but you’ll never have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/if-you-re-a-person-struggling-to-eat-and-stay-healthy-you-might-have/)

[Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/)

> [Sometimes, the person you trust most is the one who trusts you the least.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-mark/sometimes-the-person-you-trust-most-is-the-one-who-trusts-you-the/)

[Terry Mark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-mark/)

> [I sound New York. I sound East Coast much more than a blonde person from L.A.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-kavner/i-sound-new-york-i-sound-east-coast-much-more-than-a-blonde-person/)

[Julie Kavner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-kavner/)

> [If you expect the worst from a person you can never be disappointed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-burgess/if-you-expect-the-worst-from-a-person-you-can-never-be-disappointed/)

[Anthony Burgess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-burgess/)

> [I always wanted to make sure that within my unit that I was never the weak person. So I made sure that my physical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-carmouche/i-always-wanted-to-make-sure-that-within-my-unit-that-i-was-never-the/)

[Liz Carmouche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-carmouche/)

> [I'd love to talk to myself at 40 and see what I've achieved and what I feel... but I will just be the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matty-healy/i-d-love-to-talk-to-myself-at-40-and-see-what-i-ve-achieved-and-what/)

[Matty Healy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matty-healy/)

> [I'm not the sort of person who would want to just lie on the sofa watching TV.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/petra-kvitova/i-m-not-the-sort-of-person-who-would-want-to-just-lie-on-the-sofa/)

[Petra Kvitova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/petra-kvitova/)

> [Just be what it is that you are, and that is just fine. You don't have to be what you're not in any way.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-walker/just-be-what-it-is-that-you-are-and-that-is-just-fine-you-don-t-have/)

[Alice Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-walker/)

> [Be proud of who you are &amp; who you represent.You are unique, there is no other exactly like you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhishek-tiwari/be-proud-of-who-you-are-who-you-represent-you-are-unique-there-is-no/)

[Abhishek Tiwari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhishek-tiwari/)

> [“if you act (and dress) as if you have a fascinating inner life, you may soon find that you actually do—and that you feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pamela-druckerman/if-you-act-and-dress-as-if-you-have-a-fascinating-inner-life-you-may/)

[Pamela Druckerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pamela-druckerman/)

Browse all 19,722 Person quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "You walk into a restaurant these days, and what you see is everyone with their phone next to them. That is terrible. Instead of concentrating on the relationship, on the needs and activities and interests of the other person, they are constantly looking at their phone.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Ruth Westheimer"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-westheimer/you-walk-into-a-restaurant-these-days-and-what-you-see-is-everyone/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Person"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-westheimer/you-walk-into-a-restaurant-these-days-and-what-you-see-is-everyone/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/741/ruth-westheimer-3544_person_you-walk-into-a-restaurant-these-days-an_912902.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/741/ruth-westheimer-3544_person_you-walk-into-a-restaurant-these-days-an_912902.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/741/ruth-westheimer-3544_person_you-walk-into-a-restaurant-these-days-an_912902.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“You walk into a restaurant these days, and what you see is everyone with their phone next to them. That is…” — Ruth Westheimer",
                "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": "Ruth Westheimer",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-westheimer/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "You walk into a restaurant these...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-westheimer/you-walk-into-a-restaurant-these-days-and-what-you-see-is-everyone/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-westheimer/you-walk-into-a-restaurant-these-days-and-what-you-see-is-everyone/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
