--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It occurs to me,Jim,that you spend too…" description: "\"It occurs to me,Jim,that you spend too much time trying to be interesting. Why don't you invest more time being interested?\" Collin's advice from John ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b32/anonymous-1_advice_it-occurs-to-me-jim-that-you-spend-too-m_2770611.jpg" --- # It occurs to me,Jim,that you spend too much time trying to… ![“It occurs to me,Jim,that you spend too much time trying to be interesting. Why don't you invest more time being interested?" Collin's advice from John Gardner that he took to heart.” quote by Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b32/anonymous-1_advice_it-occurs-to-me-jim-that-you-spend-too-m_2770611.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b32/anonymous-1_advice_it-occurs-to-me-jim-that-you-spend-too-m_2770611.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b32/anonymous-1_advice_it-occurs-to-me-jim-that-you-spend-too-m_2770611.jpg) > “It occurs to me,Jim,that you spend too much time trying to be interesting. Why don't you invest more time being interested?" Collin's advice from John Gardner that he took to heart.” [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Spending time trying to be interesting can distract from genuine curiosity; being interested yields deeper connections. **In simple terms:** Be curious, not showy. Key Takeaway Listen more, ask questions. Themes curiosity communication humility growth Mood thoughtful inquisitive encouraging Type advice philosophical practical When to use this quote - social interactions - learning environments - personal development Key Concepts active listening self-awareness relationship building Questions to Reflect On - How can you become more interested? - What does being interesting cost you? A Different Perspective May not apply to all contexts, like performance art. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Advice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/advice/) [Advice John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/advice-john-3238477/) [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) [Interested Collin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interested-collin-3238476/) [Interesting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interesting/) [Invest Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/invest-time/) [More time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/more-time/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Time Interested](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time-interested-596189/) [Too much](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/too-much/) [Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying/) [Trying Interesting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying-interesting-656762/) ## Related quotes > [If you wish to be more influential, spend more time being interested than you do trying to be interesting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-hinds/if-you-wish-to-be-more-influential-spend-more-time-being-interested/) [Josh Hinds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-hinds/) > [I'm not trying necessarily to become a movie star; that wouldn't be bad but that's not the aim. I'm just trying to do interesting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-collins/i-m-not-trying-necessarily-to-become-a-movie-star-that-wouldn-t-be/) [Phil Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-collins/) > [So, as opposed to getting people in to read the script and read scenes with me, what I wanted to do was sit down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-mazer/so-as-opposed-to-getting-people-in-to-read-the-script-and-read-scenes/) [Dan Mazer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-mazer/) > [The things that are correct for me will come to me at the time that I am interested in them and have the capacity,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-roberts/the-things-that-are-correct-for-me-will-come-to-me-at-the-time-that-i/) [Julia Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-roberts/) > [Anything that someone's interested in should be very, very easy to call up onto the screen. And in fact the computer over time will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/anything-that-someone-s-interested-in-should-be-very-very-easy-to/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) > [I would never be innovative enough to "blaze my own trail," I'm just trying to be interesting. So I don't look to anyone else…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/i-would-never-be-innovative-enough-to-blaze-my-own-trail-i-m-just/) [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) > [So much of what I am doing in my fiction is just trying to get into interesting places in terms of language or form,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/so-much-of-what-i-am-doing-in-my-fiction-is-just-trying-to-get-into/) [George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/) > [I have learned through time that not everyone is interested in the kinds of things that fascinate me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-braxton/i-have-learned-through-time-that-not-everyone-is-interested-in-the/) [Anthony Braxton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-braxton/) > [I'll talk about these things, but it's just, you know, you only get so much time and I'm much more interested in what I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-hill/i-ll-talk-about-these-things-but-it-s-just-you-know-you-only-get-so/) [Walter Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-hill/) > [What ever you do choose life, don't neglect your dream invest time to make it happen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/what-ever-you-do-choose-life-don-t-neglect-your-dream-invest-time-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Be picky with who you invest your time in...wasted time is worse than wasted money.!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/be-picky-with-who-you-invest-your-time-in-wasted-time-is-worse-than/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Why waste your time getting mad at people, When it's better to invest your time moving on with your life?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/why-waste-your-time-getting-mad-at-people-when-it-s-better-to-invest/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Between friend and money, where you wish invest your time?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/between-friend-and-money-where-you-wish-invest-your-time/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Life's too short to invest time in those who can't find time for you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-s-too-short-to-invest-time-in-those-who-can-t-find-time-for-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Be careful who you invest your time in. Nothing is worst than wasted time. It's the one thing you can't get back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/be-careful-who-you-invest-your-time-in-nothing-is-worst-than-wasted/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Anonymous > [And a tear rolled down her cheek, as she said goodbye; because she's walking away, and she's never looking back](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/and-a-tear-rolled-down-her-cheek-as-she-said-goodbye-because-she-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You'll seldom experience regret for anything that you've done. It is what you haven't done that will torment you. The message, therefore, is clear.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-ll-seldom-experience-regret-for-anything-that-you-ve-done-it-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Scrabble - The game is available in Braille. That’s a nice fact. This makes me feel better about humanity for some reason. I can’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/scrabble-the-game-is-available-in-braille-that-s-a-nice-fact-this/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Everyone needs someone to love, and I choose you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/everyone-needs-someone-to-love-and-i-choose-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“THIS tale of my sore-troubled life I write,    To thank the God of nature, who conveyed    My soul to me, and with such care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/this-tale-of-my-sore-troubled-life-i-write-to-thank-the-god-of-nature/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Put on my J's and dance the whole night away Im naughty by nature like Im hip-hop hooray With my hands in the sky,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/put-on-my-j-s-and-dance-the-whole-night-away-im-naughty-by-nature/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Me.. I have been through a lot, but I still manage to have a smile on my face. Im not worried about the past…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/me-i-have-been-through-a-lot-but-i-still-manage-to-have-a-smile-on-my/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Distance is a test of love. many will fail for those who can't withstand it, but for those who can, theres only one answer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/distance-is-a-test-of-love-many-will-fail-for-those-who-can-t/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Im sorry I ever tried...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/im-sorry-i-ever-tried/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Being betrayed by the one you love is the worst feeling in the world...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-betrayed-by-the-one-you-love-is-the-worst-feeling-in-the-world/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Let children support their parents or be imprisoned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/let-children-support-their-parents-or-be-imprisoned/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The only person I've ever purposely caused pain here is myself...By simply sharing, caring too much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-only-person-i-ve-ever-purposely-caused-pain-here-is-myself-by/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Start a business, not a startup”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/start-a-business-not-a-startup/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The truth is, of course, that the curtness of the Ten Commandments is an evidence, not of the gloom and narrowness of a religion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-truth-is-of-course-that-the-curtness-of-the-ten-commandments-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Explore all 162,899 Anonymous quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More Advice quotes > [The sensible person is always serious about sensible advice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/the-sensible-person-is-always-serious-about-sensible-advice/) [Mak\_786](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mak-786/) > [I ask for tips, for advice. 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And once it's gone, there's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/time-is-priceless-you-have-it-but-you-don-t-own-it-you-spend-it-but/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You don't need to take a persons advice to make him feel good, just ask him for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-j-peter/you-don-t-need-to-take-a-persons-advice-to-make-him-feel-good-just/) [Laurence J. Peter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-j-peter/) > [Some of the things that we hold onto the most, are the things that we need to let go of.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryaj-ablando-catayas/some-of-the-things-that-we-hold-onto-the-most-are-the-things-that-we/) [Ryaj Ablando Catayas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryaj-ablando-catayas/) > [“If your clothes are enough to drive would-be friends away, they're not the kind of friends you want." Typical mother advice. 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