--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I put the plate down, you don't hear…" description: "\"When I put the plate down, you don't hear a sound. When I pick up a glass, I want it to be just right. When someone says, \"How come you're just a waitr..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/259/studs-terkel-3020_deserve_when-i-put-the-plate-down-you-don-t-hear_1926746.jpg" --- # When I put the plate down, you don't hear a sound. When I… ![“When I put the plate down, you don't hear a sound. When I pick up a glass, I want it to be just right. When someone says, "How come you're just a waitress?" I say, "Don't you think you deserve being served by me?"” quote by Studs Terkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/259/studs-terkel-3020_deserve_when-i-put-the-plate-down-you-don-t-hear_1926746.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/259/studs-terkel-3020_deserve_when-i-put-the-plate-down-you-don-t-hear_1926746.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/259/studs-terkel-3020_deserve_when-i-put-the-plate-down-you-don-t-hear_1926746.jpg) > “When I put the plate down, you don't hear a sound. When I pick up a glass, I want it to be just right. When someone says, "How come you're just a waitress?" I say, "Don't you think you deserve being served by me?"” [Studs Terkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/studs-terkel/) ## 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 contrasts the quietness of a plate with the desired sound of a glass, then flips a gendered insult into a claim of deserving respect. **In simple terms:** Quiet objects differ from those we want to hear; respond to disrespect with confidence. Key Takeaway Notice sound cues and assert your worth. Themes gender dynamics respect communication Mood assertive thoughtful Type conversational empowering When to use this quote - restaurant work - everyday interactions - self‑advocacy Key Concepts sociology assertiveness Questions to Reflect On - How can you turn a slight into empowerment? A Different Perspective Responses can be misinterpreted; tone matters. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Deserve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deserve/) [Deserve Served](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deserve-served-697821/) [Food](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/food/) [Glasses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/glasses/) [Hear Sound](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hear-sound/) [Just Waitress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/just-waitress-2991310/) [Picks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/picks/) [Plates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plates/) [Sound](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sound/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Waitress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/waitress/) [Waitress Say](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/waitress-say-2709510/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) ## Related quotes > [Don't move to L.A to become an actress - you'll just be a waitress. Don't drive to Nashville to become a country music star…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-randolph/don-t-move-to-l-a-to-become-an-actress-you-ll-just-be-a-waitress-don/) [Marc Randolph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-randolph/) > [“From there we’d go over to the Friendly Lounge at Tenth and Washington, owned by a guy named John who went by the nickname…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-brandt/from-there-we-d-go-over-to-the-friendly-lounge-at-tenth-and/) [Charles Brandt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-brandt/) > [I want to be that President who serves the American people the way they deserve to be served.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-sestak/i-want-to-be-that-president-who-serves-the-american-people-the-way/) [Joe Sestak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-sestak/) > [“Let's hear the sound of the baby pianny.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louisa-may-alcott/let-s-hear-the-sound-of-the-baby-pianny/) [Louisa May Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louisa-may-alcott/) > [“They live life out loud. Can you hear their sound?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/innocent-mwatsikesimbe/they-live-life-out-loud-can-you-hear-their-sound/) [Innocent Mwatsikesimbe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/innocent-mwatsikesimbe/) > [“Did you hear that? The sound That was my heart asking you to stay For ever”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ismaaciil-c-ubax/did-you-hear-that-the-sound-that-was-my-heart-asking-you-to-stay-for/) [Ismaaciil C. Ubax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ismaaciil-c-ubax/) > [You know when glass falls, because you hear the sound. You know when a bulb burns out, because you see only darkness. But...how do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-know-when-glass-falls-because-you-hear-the-sound-you-know-when-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You do your work as fully as you can, and the ones who hear the sound join in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lance-henriksen/you-do-your-work-as-fully-as-you-can-and-the-ones-who-hear-the-sound/) [Lance Henriksen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lance-henriksen/) > [“The Music blows wherever Music pleases, you hear it’s sound, but you cannot tell where the Music comes from or where the Music is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-paul-kirkpatrick/the-music-blows-wherever-music-pleases-you-hear-it-s-sound-but-you/) [David Paul Kirkpatrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-paul-kirkpatrick/) > [If you really listen...you can hear the sound of no one caring.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-walters/if-you-really-listen-you-can-hear-the-sound-of-no-one-caring/) [Tim Walters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-walters/) > [Now I will do nothing but listen to accrue what I hear into this song. To let sounds contribute toward it. I hear the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-whitman/now-i-will-do-nothing-but-listen-to-accrue-what-i-hear-into-this-song/) [Walt Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-whitman/) > [And if there are no cars or planes, and if no one’s Uncle John is out in the wood lot west of town banging…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/and-if-there-are-no-cars-or-planes-and-if-no-one-s-uncle-john-is-out/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [I like to hear the sound of form, and I like to hear the sound of it breaking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-seidel/i-like-to-hear-the-sound-of-form-and-i-like-to-hear-the-sound-of-it/) [Frederick Seidel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-seidel/) > [Let them talk all they want behind your back, you know they'll eventually shut up the moment they hear the sound of your footsteps.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/let-them-talk-all-they-want-behind-your-back-you-know-they-ll/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It's sometimes better to pretend I don't hear the sound of somebody in the nearby woods with a shotgun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dashiell-hammett/it-s-sometimes-better-to-pretend-i-don-t-hear-the-sound-of-somebody/) [Dashiell Hammett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dashiell-hammett/) ## More by Studs Terkel > [My epitaph? My epitaph will be, 'Curiosity did not kill this cat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/studs-terkel/my-epitaph-my-epitaph-will-be-curiosity-did-not-kill-this-cat/) [Studs Terkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/studs-terkel/) > [“It was in ’35—we had this campaign to raise a million tax dollars. In the town of Phillips, one evening, during a blizzard, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/studs-terkel/it-was-in-35-we-had-this-campaign-to-raise-a-million-tax-dollars-in/) [Studs Terkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/studs-terkel/) > [I read somewhere that when a person takes part in community action, his health improves. Something happens to him or to her biologically. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/studs-terkel/i-read-somewhere-that-when-a-person-takes-part-in-community-action/) [Studs Terkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/studs-terkel/) > [Don't be an examiner, be the interested inquirer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/studs-terkel/don-t-be-an-examiner-be-the-interested-inquirer/) [Studs Terkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/studs-terkel/) > [Hope never trickles down. It always springs up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/studs-terkel/hope-never-trickles-down-it-always-springs-up/) [Studs Terkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/studs-terkel/) > [I never drove a car. I'm hopeless that way. I press the wrong buttons on the tape recorder. But if the person I'm interviewing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/studs-terkel/i-never-drove-a-car-i-m-hopeless-that-way-i-press-the-wrong-buttons/) [Studs Terkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/studs-terkel/) > [To survive the day is triumph enough for the walking wounded among the great many of us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/studs-terkel/to-survive-the-day-is-triumph-enough-for-the-walking-wounded-among/) [Studs Terkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/studs-terkel/) > [“I’ll never forget that Depression Easter Sunday. Our son was four years old. I bought ten or fifteen cents’ worth of eggs. You didn’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/studs-terkel/i-ll-never-forget-that-depression-easter-sunday-our-son-was-four/) [Studs Terkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/studs-terkel/) > [All you need in life is truth and beauty and you can find both at the Public Library.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/studs-terkel/all-you-need-in-life-is-truth-and-beauty-and-you-can-find-both-at-the/) [Studs Terkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/studs-terkel/) > [Reading a book should not be a passive exercise, but rather a raucous conversation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/studs-terkel/reading-a-book-should-not-be-a-passive-exercise-but-rather-a-raucous/) [Studs Terkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/studs-terkel/) > [I hope for peace and sanity - it's the same thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/studs-terkel/i-hope-for-peace-and-sanity-it-s-the-same-thing/) [Studs Terkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/studs-terkel/) > [“The total cost of the Federal Arts Project was only $23 million. Many of these paintings, sculptures and prints were given to museums, courthouses,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/studs-terkel/the-total-cost-of-the-federal-arts-project-was-only-23-million-many/) [Studs Terkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/studs-terkel/) > [I find labels "liberal" and "conservative" of little meaning. Our language has become perverted along with the thoughts of many of us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/studs-terkel/i-find-labels-liberal-and-conservative-of-little-meaning-our-language/) [Studs Terkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/studs-terkel/) > [“Who knows Bob’s name in this outfit—let alone his lame child’s? (“The last place I worked for, I was let go,” recalls the bank…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/studs-terkel/who-knows-bob-s-name-in-this-outfit-let-alone-his-lame-child-s-the/) [Studs Terkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/studs-terkel/) > [The trouble with censorship is that once it starts it is hard to stop. Just about every book contains something that someone objects to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/studs-terkel/the-trouble-with-censorship-is-that-once-it-starts-it-is-hard-to-stop/) [Studs Terkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/studs-terkel/) [Explore all 142 Studs Terkel quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/studs-terkel/) ## More Deserve quotes > [If you are well-mannered towards those whose views are similar to yours, you may be said to exhibit a fairly good character. But, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-are-well-mannered-towards-those-whose-views-are-similar-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [ Vote for Donald Trump. You're going to see something and you'll be so happy, you'll be so thrilled. This \[presidential\] election is about every… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/vote-for-donald-trump-you-re-going-to-see-something-and-you-ll-be-so/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [I am a millionaire today and my wife deserves all of the credit. Before I met her I was a multi-millionaire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chi-chi-rodriguez/i-am-a-millionaire-today-and-my-wife-deserves-all-of-the-credit/) [Chi Chi Rodriguez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chi-chi-rodriguez/) > [There is a way to be a woman, ask for what we deserve and be able to negotiate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracee-ellis-ross/there-is-a-way-to-be-a-woman-ask-for-what-we-deserve-and-be-able-to/) [Tracee Ellis Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracee-ellis-ross/) > [If every nation gets the government it deserves, every generation writes the history which corresponds with its view of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-janeway/if-every-nation-gets-the-government-it-deserves-every-generation/) [Elizabeth Janeway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-janeway/) > [I used to hurt so badly that I'd ask God why, what have I done to deserve any of this? I feel now He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eden-phillpotts/i-used-to-hurt-so-badly-that-i-d-ask-god-why-what-have-i-done-to/) [Eden Phillpotts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eden-phillpotts/) > [I am encouraged President Obama now says he will fulfill his constitutional obligation to seek authorization for any potential military action in Syria. This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/i-am-encouraged-president-obama-now-says-he-will-fulfill-his/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [My prayer to the Lord every day, is this-I have been a great sinner. I do not deserve Heaven. Let me stay here.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andres-segovia/my-prayer-to-the-lord-every-day-is-this-i-have-been-a-great-sinner-i/) [Andres Segovia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andres-segovia/) > [Every girl deserves a guy who'll prove to her that not all guys are the same, a guy who'll love her just the way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lil-wayne/every-girl-deserves-a-guy-who-ll-prove-to-her-that-not-all-guys-are/) [Lil Wayne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lil-wayne/) > [If you are a white male, you don't deserve to live. You are a cancer, you're a disease, white males have never contributed anything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noel-ignatiev/if-you-are-a-white-male-you-don-t-deserve-to-live-you-are-a-cancer/) [Noel Ignatiev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noel-ignatiev/) > [Singaporeans like Mr. Alfian Sa'at do not deserve to be admonished in Parliament on the basis of a selective reading of their works.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pritam-singh/singaporeans-like-mr-alfian-sa-at-do-not-deserve-to-be-admonished-in/) [Pritam Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pritam-singh/) > [Use every man according to his desert and who should 'scape whipping? Use them after your own honor and dignity, the less they deserve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/use-every-man-according-to-his-desert-and-who-should-scape-whipping/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“We should not elevate anyone higher than our own heart. 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Sometimes they don't deserve it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rylan-clark-neal/i-am-constantly-nice-to-people-sometimes-they-don-t-deserve-it/) [Rylan Clark-Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rylan-clark-neal/) [Browse all 4,764 Deserve quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deserve/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When I put the plate down, you don't hear a sound. When I pick up a glass, I want it to be just right. 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