"Never thank anybody for anything, except a drink of water in the desert - and then make it brief"

This quote by Gene Fowler is a suggestion to be conscious of how we express our thankfulness. It recommends that we ought to not thank people for things that are anticipated of them, such as doing their task or providing a service. Instead, we must reserve our thanks for those moments when someone exceeds and beyond what is anticipated of them. For example, if somebody were to offer us a drink of water in the middle of a desert, we ought to express our gratitude briefly and seriously. This quote motivates us to be mindful of how we express our thanks and to schedule it for those moments when it is genuinely deserved. It also functions as a suggestion to be humble and to acknowledge the generosity of others.