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Why do we want people to like us, even if we don't really…

“Why do we want people to like us, even if we don't really care about them all that much? I don't know why, but it's true, and I found myself standing there and smelling all those smells, and hoping a lot that Shackie and Croze thought I was pretty.” quote by Margaret Atwood
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““Why do we want people to like us, even if we don't really care about them all that much? I don't know why, but it's true, and I found myself standing there and smelling all those smells, and hoping a lot that Shackie and Croze thought I was pretty.””

Margaret Atwood

About This Quote

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

The narrator questions why we seek approval from others we barely care about, revealing social insecurity.

In simple terms: We crave approval even from distant people.

Key Takeaway

Reflect on the need for external validation.

Themes

social anxiety approval seeking self-worth human connection identity

Mood

introspective empathetic

Type

literary philosophical

When to use this quote

  • dating
  • workplace interactions
  • public speaking

Key Concepts

psychology of belonging social media influence interpersonal dynamics

Questions to Reflect On

  • Why do we seek approval?
  • What replaces external validation?
A Different Perspective

Validation can become unhealthy if obsessive.

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