--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's not much of a compliment if you're…" description: "\"It's not much of a compliment if you're that surprised.\" — Anonymous" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f9/anonymous-1_compliments_it-s-not-much-of-a-compliment-if-you-re_1456575.jpg" --- # It's not much of a compliment if you're that surprised. ![“It's not much of a compliment if you're that surprised.” quote by Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f9/anonymous-1_compliments_it-s-not-much-of-a-compliment-if-you-re_1456575.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f9/anonymous-1_compliments_it-s-not-much-of-a-compliment-if-you-re_1456575.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f9/anonymous-1_compliments_it-s-not-much-of-a-compliment-if-you-re_1456575.jpg) > “It's not much of a compliment if you're that surprised.” [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. Being surprised isn’t a genuine compliment; it suggests a lack of insight. **In simple terms:** Surprise isn’t a compliment. Key Takeaway Seek understanding over surprise. Themes communication humility perception Mood critical thoughtful Type professional social When to use this quote - performance reviews - networking events - team collaborations Key Concepts social dynamics ego feedback Questions to Reflect On - Why do we use surprise as praise? - How can we give more constructive feedback? A Different Perspective Surprise can be a polite way to mask criticism. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Compliments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compliments/) [Surprised](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surprised/) ## Related quotes > [“He leaned back in his chair. “Detective Gillian, what I want to say at this moment would no doubt be considered extremely inappropriate and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-rowland/he-leaned-back-in-his-chair-detective-gillian-what-i-want-to-say-at/) [Diana Rowland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-rowland/) > [“The intensity of her pleasure at this compliment surprised her, and she dropped her eyes. "I but wear the only dress I own, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/werner-a-lind/the-intensity-of-her-pleasure-at-this-compliment-surprised-her-and/) Werner A. Lind > [People talking behind your back is a compliment really. It means they have enough sense to not act up in your face!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/people-talking-behind-your-back-is-a-compliment-really-it-means-they/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [One small compliment can mean the world, one small comment can break a heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/one-small-compliment-can-mean-the-world-one-small-comment-can-break-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The awkward moment when you accept a compliment that wasn't meant for you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-awkward-moment-when-you-accept-a-compliment-that-wasn-t-meant-for/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It feels a lot better when strangers randomly compliment you than when one of your friends does.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-feels-a-lot-better-when-strangers-randomly-compliment-you-than/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I trust you is a better compliment than I love you](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/credulous-guy/i-trust-you-is-a-better-compliment-than-i-love-you/) Credulous Guy > [I'm not very good at taking compliments. It's better than getting slapped in the face, I suppose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-renner/i-m-not-very-good-at-taking-compliments-it-s-better-than-getting/) [Jeremy Renner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-renner/) > [“...For like a rugged tree you are hard and sound at the core.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-rider-haggard/for-like-a-rugged-tree-you-are-hard-and-sound-at-the-core/) [H. Rider Haggard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-rider-haggard/) > [Don't waste your time on jealousy; sometimes you're ahead, sometimes you're behind. The race is long, and in the end, it's only with yourself.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-schmich/don-t-waste-your-time-on-jealousy-sometimes-you-re-ahead-sometimes/) [Mary Schmich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-schmich/) > [Become abundant with your compliments to others. We're all so fragile, especially when we put on a brave face. A sincere compliment can penetrate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-ban-breathnach/become-abundant-with-your-compliments-to-others-we-re-all-so-fragile/) [Sarah Ban Breathnach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-ban-breathnach/) > [I love your bracelet!’ I said to the brunette next to me, because, while most girls are onto the whole stranger-with-candy thing, the strangers-with-compliments…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ally-carter/i-love-your-bracelet-i-said-to-the-brunette-next-to-me-because-while/) [Ally Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ally-carter/) > [I just think it's silly to be stingy with compliments. If you see someone and they strike you as beautiful in any way, why…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-scott/i-just-think-it-s-silly-to-be-stingy-with-compliments-if-you-see/) [Jill Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-scott/) > [Compliments of congratulation are always kindly taken, and cost nothing but pen, ink and paper. I consider them as draughts upon good breeding, where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-chesterfield/compliments-of-congratulation-are-always-kindly-taken-and-cost/) [Lord Chesterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-chesterfield/) > [I've got the public. I don't care about the critics. I did at one time. I don't any more. I did when I needed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-neiman/i-ve-got-the-public-i-don-t-care-about-the-critics-i-did-at-one-time/) [LeRoy Neiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-neiman/) ## 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 Compliment quotes > [Hot legs, bring your Mother, too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-stewart/hot-legs-bring-your-mother-too/) [Rod Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-stewart/) > [I see the joy in life and I see the joy in simple things. I over-compliment. I over-praise. I over-express my feelings toward people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherry-lansing/i-see-the-joy-in-life-and-i-see-the-joy-in-simple-things-i-over/) [Sherry Lansing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherry-lansing/) > [The words I LOVE YOU, sometimes fooled us... But when someone says I TRUST YOU.. That's a better compliment, a true care with faith...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-reolope/the-words-i-love-you-sometimes-fooled-us-but-when-someone-says-i/) [Janet Reolope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-reolope/) > [Sometimes after a compliment about my characterization skills, I'm asked if I model my characters on real people. Emphatically, no. And sort of, yes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brent-weeks/sometimes-after-a-compliment-about-my-characterization-skills-i-m/) [Brent Weeks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brent-weeks/) > [I've got the public. I don't care about the critics. I did at one time. I don't any more. I did when I needed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-neiman/i-ve-got-the-public-i-don-t-care-about-the-critics-i-did-at-one-time/) [LeRoy Neiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-neiman/) > [When one is frank, one's very presence is a compliment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-moore/when-one-is-frank-one-s-very-presence-is-a-compliment/) [Marianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-moore/) > [Well, I think every now and again, some people deserve to get their butts chewed. Every now and again some people deserve a pat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/well-i-think-every-now-and-again-some-people-deserve-to-get-their/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [We are searching for the same thing,” Stripey said. “How do you know?” Janco asked. “I read his mind.” The Sitian pointed to Ari.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-v-snyder/we-are-searching-for-the-same-thing-stripey-said-how-do-you-know/) [Maria V. Snyder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-v-snyder/) > [“Even if you are a pompous ass with no respect for authority, you're worth fifty men, and I mean to see you in my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-mcclellan/even-if-you-are-a-pompous-ass-with-no-respect-for-authority-you-re/) [Brian McClellan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-mcclellan/) > [You're better off owning 30 percent and having two amazing partners who compliment you and are equally as driven as you are than having…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-dyrdek/you-re-better-off-owning-30-percent-and-having-two-amazing-partners/) [Rob Dyrdek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-dyrdek/) > [The three of us just try put our heads down and stay creative. The awards truly are just cake. It's one of those things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-scott/the-three-of-us-just-try-put-our-heads-down-and-stay-creative-the/) [Hillary Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-scott/) > [Your eyes are like two jewels in the sky.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dylan/your-eyes-are-like-two-jewels-in-the-sky/) [Bob Dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dylan/) > [I've made this conscious decision to tell people on the street when I think they're wearing something great. If more people did that, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-jensen/i-ve-made-this-conscious-decision-to-tell-people-on-the-street-when-i/) [Ashley Jensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-jensen/) > [“Why did you decide to be an architect?" "I didn't know it then. But it's because I've never believed in God." "Come on, talk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/why-did-you-decide-to-be-an-architect-i-didn-t-know-it-then-but-it-s/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [When two people compliment each other with the choice of anything, each of them generally gets that which he likes least.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/when-two-people-compliment-each-other-with-the-choice-of-anything/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) Browse all 1,338 Compliment quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It's not much of a compliment if you're that surprised.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Anonymous" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-s-not-much-of-a-compliment-if-you-re-that-surprised/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Compliment" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-s-not-much-of-a-compliment-if-you-re-that-surprised/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f9/anonymous-1_compliments_it-s-not-much-of-a-compliment-if-you-re_1456575.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f9/anonymous-1_compliments_it-s-not-much-of-a-compliment-if-you-re_1456575.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f9/anonymous-1_compliments_it-s-not-much-of-a-compliment-if-you-re_1456575.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It's not much of a compliment if you're that surprised.” — Anonymous", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Anonymous", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It's not much of a compliment...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-s-not-much-of-a-compliment-if-you-re-that-surprised/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-s-not-much-of-a-compliment-if-you-re-that-surprised/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```