"If you can't hear me, it's because I'm in parentheses"

This quote by Steven Wright is an amusing way of explaining the value of being heard. It implies that when someone is speaking, they need to be taken seriously and listened to. The parentheses in the quote represent the idea that when somebody is speaking, they can be quickly ignored or neglected. The quote is likewise a suggestion that interaction is a two-way street which both parties must be heard and respected. It is a tip that we need to make the effort to listen to each other and not just talk over one another. It is also a suggestion that we must not consider given the power of communication and the significance of being heard.