--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I meet the answering machine’s small…" description: "\"“I meet the answering machine’s small, steady stare. “What do you do when God tells you no?” I ask. But it doesn’t answer me, so I undress for bed”\" — ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e7/skyler-white-48009_answering_i-meet-the-answering-machine-s-small-ste_2393258.jpg" --- # I meet the answering machine’s small, steady stare. “What… ![“I meet the answering machine’s small, steady stare. “What do you do when God tells you no?” I ask. But it doesn’t answer me, so I undress for bed” quote by Skyler White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e7/skyler-white-48009_answering_i-meet-the-answering-machine-s-small-ste_2393258.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e7/skyler-white-48009_answering_i-meet-the-answering-machine-s-small-ste_2393258.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e7/skyler-white-48009_answering_i-meet-the-answering-machine-s-small-ste_2393258.jpg) > ““I meet the answering machine’s small, steady stare. “What do you do when God tells you no?” I ask. But it doesn’t answer me, so I undress for bed”” [Skyler White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/skyler-white/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Questioning divine denial and turning to intimacy reflects coping with existential uncertainty through physical comfort. **In simple terms:** When God says no, seek comfort elsewhere. Key Takeaway Find healthy ways to cope with uncertainty. Themes faith existential doubt comfort seeking Mood introspective conflicted Type philosophical advice When to use this quote - prayer - therapy - intimate connection Key Concepts theology psychology of coping Questions to Reflect On - How do you interpret “God says no”? - What non‑physical coping strategies help you? A Different Perspective Relying solely on physical comfort may avoid deeper reflection. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Computers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/computers/) ## Related quotes > [The crucial legacy of the personal computer is that anyone can write code for it and give or sell that code to you -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-zittrain/the-crucial-legacy-of-the-personal-computer-is-that-anyone-can-write/) [Jonathan Zittrain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-zittrain/) > [We've come a long way from having one land line that was forbidden to be answered during dinner. We had no answering machine, just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/regina-brett/we-ve-come-a-long-way-from-having-one-land-line-that-was-forbidden-to/) [Regina Brett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/regina-brett/) > [I'm not an answering machine, I'm a questioning machine. If we have all the answers, how come we're in such as mess?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-cardinal/i-m-not-an-answering-machine-i-m-a-questioning-machine-if-we-have-all/) Douglas Cardinal > [Texting is a lot like an answering machine. If you don't want to talk to somebody, it's like screening your calls. To me, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-gillick/texting-is-a-lot-like-an-answering-machine-if-you-don-t-want-to-talk/) [Pat Gillick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-gillick/) > [I have a friend of mine who does me on his answering machine, and when I call him, I answer. It's pretty strange.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-walken/i-have-a-friend-of-mine-who-does-me-on-his-answering-machine-and-when/) [Christopher Walken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-walken/) > [“She had started driving past his apartment to see whether or not his car was out front. She had looked up his phone number,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francine-pascal/she-had-started-driving-past-his-apartment-to-see-whether-or-not-his/) [Francine Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francine-pascal/) > [For me a photograph is most successful when it doesn't answer all the questions and it leaves something to be desired.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-gorman/for-me-a-photograph-is-most-successful-when-it-doesn-t-answer-all-the/) Greg Gorman > [The Truth doesn't answer anything. The Truth IS everything!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-truth-doesn-t-answer-anything-the-truth-is-everything/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When God doesn't answer your prayer, it means God has another plan for you. Just be patient.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-god-doesn-t-answer-your-prayer-it-means-god-has-another-plan-for/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm kind of old-fashioned, so I think the guy should always be the one to call. The girl just answers... Or doesn't answer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-scott/i-m-kind-of-old-fashioned-so-i-think-the-guy-should-always-be-the-one/) [Hillary Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-scott/) > [“There are big questions science doesn’t answer, such as why is there something rather than nothing? There can’t be a scientific answer to that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-scruton/there-are-big-questions-science-doesn-t-answer-such-as-why-is-there/) [Roger Scruton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-scruton/) > [God answers prayers, but he doesn't always answer it your way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-holtz/god-answers-prayers-but-he-doesn-t-always-answer-it-your-way/) [Lou Holtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-holtz/) > [“In the end, I don't answer her question. She doesn't answer mine. Instead, we sit without words, watching the city, the river, the desert…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sabaa-tahir/in-the-end-i-don-t-answer-her-question-she-doesn-t-answer-mine/) [Sabaa Tahir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sabaa-tahir/) > [We will never know what anyone is really like, until everyone has economic security and doesn't have to answer to anyone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacque-fresco/we-will-never-know-what-anyone-is-really-like-until-everyone-has/) [Jacque Fresco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacque-fresco/) > [“Christianity doesn't answer all my questions or make me comfortable and happy. What it does do is give me a context for living.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-bryan-smith/christianity-doesn-t-answer-all-my-questions-or-make-me-comfortable/) [James Bryan Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-bryan-smith/) ## More by Skyler White > [“Tattooists are the new priests for the fucked-up and the thrown away. They speak the language of symbol, and administer penance in tiny metallic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/skyler-white/tattooists-are-the-new-priests-for-the-fucked-up-and-the-thrown-away/) [Skyler White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/skyler-white/) > [“He shoved the curtains back and looked into the yard like it’d better not have anything to say about it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/skyler-white/he-shoved-the-curtains-back-and-looked-into-the-yard-like-it-d-better/) [Skyler White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/skyler-white/) > [“But he’s genuine twenty-first-century and only faking patience.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/skyler-white/but-he-s-genuine-twenty-first-century-and-only-faking-patience/) [Skyler White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/skyler-white/) > [“Beliefs are what you know without choosing to. Just believe.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/skyler-white/beliefs-are-what-you-know-without-choosing-to-just-believe/) [Skyler White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/skyler-white/) > [“The whole island is spotted with derelict cottages and abandoned churches like this one. They sit in pastures as invisible to the Irish as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/skyler-white/the-whole-island-is-spotted-with-derelict-cottages-and-abandoned/) [Skyler White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/skyler-white/) > [“You’ll have to excuse Harry. He has what I call ‘chauffeured child syndrome.’ ” “He’s been driven all his life?” “That is correct. He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/skyler-white/you-ll-have-to-excuse-harry-he-has-what-i-call-chauffeured-child/) [Skyler White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/skyler-white/) > [“Desire denied consumes”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/skyler-white/desire-denied-consumes/) [Skyler White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/skyler-white/) [Explore all 8 Skyler White quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/skyler-white/) ## More Answering quotes > [I follow a simple formula when I compose. I ask myself, 'What would the audience want to hear?' and 'Why would they buy my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-r-rahman/i-follow-a-simple-formula-when-i-compose-i-ask-myself-what-would-the/) [A. R. Rahman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-r-rahman/) > [“The wrong approaches to faith and to skepticism are equally detrimental to the path. For the former declares its answers too soon and is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/criss-jami/the-wrong-approaches-to-faith-and-to-skepticism-are-equally/) [Criss Jami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/criss-jami/) > [Life is a question paper. who answering correctly, he or she will never born again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diyasena/life-is-a-question-paper-who-answering-correctly-he-or-she-will-never/) Diyasena > [All the charges you enumerate have been made with one purpose in mind-to place our office on the defensive and make us waste valuable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-garrison/all-the-charges-you-enumerate-have-been-made-with-one-purpose-in-mind/) [Jim Garrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-garrison/) > [At first I'm sort of answering everything the way you're 'supposed to' answer, and I lost a bunch of followers... I was like, 'What…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-hoffman/at-first-i-m-sort-of-answering-everything-the-way-you-re-supposed-to/) [Rick Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-hoffman/) > [I don't mind doing interviews. I don't mind answering thoughtful questions. But I'm not thrilled about answering questions like, 'If you were being mugged,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harrison-ford/i-don-t-mind-doing-interviews-i-don-t-mind-answering-thoughtful/) [Harrison Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harrison-ford/) > [When I heard his first songs, Dylan was answering certain questions that I had all my life been asking myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nana-mouskouri/when-i-heard-his-first-songs-dylan-was-answering-certain-questions/) [Nana Mouskouri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nana-mouskouri/) > [I have a friend of mine who does me on his answering machine, and when I call him, I answer. It's pretty strange.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-walken/i-have-a-friend-of-mine-who-does-me-on-his-answering-machine-and-when/) [Christopher Walken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-walken/) > [Question only make some sense; but Answering will making some friends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/question-only-make-some-sense-but-answering-will-making-some-friends/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I think communication is key, too. You're answering all the questions. Thank you. I'll just sit back here.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-moore/i-think-communication-is-key-too-you-re-answering-all-the-questions/) [Mandy Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-moore/) > [I interact with my fans mostly through Twitter, and I like to do livestreams about every two weeks, where I say, 'Ask me anything!'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becky-g/i-interact-with-my-fans-mostly-through-twitter-and-i-like-to-do/) [Becky G](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becky-g/) > [“She never answers during the day," Max explained. "She lets her machine pick up." People like you are the reason other people get answering…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-russo/she-never-answers-during-the-day-max-explained-she-lets-her-machine/) [Richard Russo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-russo/) > [- With respect, Professor McGonagall, I'm not quite sure you understand what I'm trying to do here. - With respect, Mr. Potter, I'm quite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliezer-yudkowsky/with-respect-professor-mcgonagall-i-m-not-quite-sure-you-understand/) [Eliezer Yudkowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliezer-yudkowsky/) > [Science is increasingly answering questions that used to be the province of religion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hawking/science-is-increasingly-answering-questions-that-used-to-be-the/) [Stephen Hawking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hawking/) > [A dream is the mind's way of answering a question it hasn't yet figured out how to ask.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-duchovny/a-dream-is-the-mind-s-way-of-answering-a-question-it-hasn-t-yet/) [David Duchovny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-duchovny/) Browse all 99 Answering quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I meet the answering machine’s small, steady stare. “What do you do when God tells you no?” I ask. But it doesn’t answer me, so I undress for bed”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Skyler White" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/skyler-white/i-meet-the-answering-machine-s-small-steady-stare-what-do-you-do-when/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Answering" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/skyler-white/i-meet-the-answering-machine-s-small-steady-stare-what-do-you-do-when/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e7/skyler-white-48009_answering_i-meet-the-answering-machine-s-small-ste_2393258.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e7/skyler-white-48009_answering_i-meet-the-answering-machine-s-small-ste_2393258.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e7/skyler-white-48009_answering_i-meet-the-answering-machine-s-small-ste_2393258.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I meet the answering machine’s small, steady stare. “What do you do when God tells you no?” I ask. But it…” — Skyler White", "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": "Skyler White", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/skyler-white/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“I meet the answering machine’s small,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/skyler-white/i-meet-the-answering-machine-s-small-steady-stare-what-do-you-do-when/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/skyler-white/i-meet-the-answering-machine-s-small-steady-stare-what-do-you-do-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 } } ] } ```