--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I wanted it to remain, that he might…" description: "\"“I wanted it to remain, that he might actually like me, and that he liked me in just the way I liked him.”\" — André Aciman" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3be/andre-aciman-459_liked_i-wanted-it-to-remain-that-he-might-actu_1440588.png" --- # I wanted it to remain, that he might actually like me, and… ![“I wanted it to remain, that he might actually like me, and that he liked me in just the way I liked him.” quote by André Aciman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3be/andre-aciman-459_liked_i-wanted-it-to-remain-that-he-might-actu_1440588.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3be/andre-aciman-459_liked_i-wanted-it-to-remain-that-he-might-actu_1440588.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3be/andre-aciman-459_liked_i-wanted-it-to-remain-that-he-might-actu_1440588.png) > ““I wanted it to remain, that he might actually like me, and that he liked me in just the way I liked him.”” [André Aciman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-aciman/) ## 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 wishes to preserve a relationship by being liked and matching the other's affection. **In simple terms:** Desire to be liked and reciprocate love. Key Takeaway Seek mutual understanding. Themes love identity validation Mood introspective hopeful Type romantic philosophical When to use this quote - confessing feelings - maintaining friendships - balancing self‑esteem Key Concepts authenticity self‑acceptance Questions to Reflect On - Do you value being liked over being true to yourself? - How can you balance self‑love with seeking others’ approval? A Different Perspective May overlook the need for personal boundaries. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Like Liked](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-liked-997637/) [Liked](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liked/) [Liked Just](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liked-just-285386/) [Remain Actually](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/remain-actually-5153425/) [Way Liked](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way-liked-3195607/) ## Related quotes > [By the way, I never liked your face.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-smiths/by-the-way-i-never-liked-your-face/) [The Smiths](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-smiths/) > [I want to be liked; I just haven't lost sleep over it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bisping/i-want-to-be-liked-i-just-haven-t-lost-sleep-over-it/) [Michael Bisping](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bisping/) > [It's okay not to be liked by everyone. -Just Saying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ephrem-hardin/it-s-okay-not-to-be-liked-by-everyone-just-saying/) [Ephrem Hardin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ephrem-hardin/) > [“Back then, they’d liked their cars the way they’d liked their men. 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I thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cristina-orante/i-love-how-you-just-made-it-seem-like-you-really-liked-me-then-you/) [Cristina Orante](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cristina-orante/) > [I liked what we had, I just didn't like having it with you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rock-cowles/i-liked-what-we-had-i-just-didn-t-like-having-it-with-you/) [Rock Cowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rock-cowles/) > [I liked just being with you. I liked the way you breathed when you were asleep. 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And why did I know it, and why didn't you?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-aciman/when-had-they-separated-us-you-and-me-oliver-and-why-did-i-know-it/) [André Aciman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-aciman/) > [“As we were swimming back, he asked as though it were an afterthought, “Are you going to hold last night against me?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-aciman/as-we-were-swimming-back-he-asked-as-though-it-were-an-afterthought/) [André Aciman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-aciman/) > [“To be with you. To be with you, Oliver. With or without my bathing suit. To be with you on my bed. In your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-aciman/to-be-with-you-to-be-with-you-oliver-with-or-without-my-bathing-suit/) [André Aciman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-aciman/) > [“I thought I could ever want another living soul, gently, softly, and, with the kindness one Jew extends to another, work his way into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-aciman/i-thought-i-could-ever-want-another-living-soul-gently-softly-and/) [André Aciman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-aciman/) > [“Oliver: But there's the catch: you're still twenty years younger than those gathered around you, which is why I can be twenty-four in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-aciman/oliver-but-there-s-the-catch-you-re-still-twenty-years-younger-than/) [André Aciman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-aciman/) > [I cannot write if there is a sense of plenitude. I have to hypothesize that there is a loss.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-aciman/i-cannot-write-if-there-is-a-sense-of-plenitude-i-have-to-hypothesize/) [Andre Aciman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-aciman/) [Explore all 527 André Aciman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-aciman/) ## More Liked quotes > [I would have done well as a gypsy child, I think. A circus baby. I coulda played a great street urchin or ragamuffin. Or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-lyonne/i-would-have-done-well-as-a-gypsy-child-i-think-a-circus-baby-i/) [Natasha Lyonne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-lyonne/) > [I was a very good student. Procrastinating gives me anxiety, and getting a B really ticked me off. Sure, I didn't always want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josie-loren/i-was-a-very-good-student-procrastinating-gives-me-anxiety-and/) [Josie Loren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josie-loren/) > [I liked Cats as a kid, now its hard to say. 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