--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I hadn’t meant to embarrass him. “Harry…" description: "\"“I hadn’t meant to embarrass him. “Harry, I only ask because, when you’re young, you sometimes think you can have it both ways. If you’re just having f..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af4/barry-eisler-1009_having-fun_i-hadn-t-meant-to-embarrass-him-harry-i_1373961.jpg" --- # I hadn’t meant to embarrass him. “Harry, I only ask… ![“I hadn’t meant to embarrass him. “Harry, I only ask because, when you’re young, you sometimes think you can have it both ways. If you’re just having fun, you don’t need to tell her anything. You shouldn’t tell her anything. But if the attachment gets deeper, you’ll need to do some hard thinking…” quote by Barry Eisler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af4/barry-eisler-1009_having-fun_i-hadn-t-meant-to-embarrass-him-harry-i_1373961.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af4/barry-eisler-1009_having-fun_i-hadn-t-meant-to-embarrass-him-harry-i_1373961.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af4/barry-eisler-1009_having-fun_i-hadn-t-meant-to-embarrass-him-harry-i_1373961.jpg) > ““I hadn’t meant to embarrass him. “Harry, I only ask because, when you’re young, you sometimes think you can have it both ways. If you’re just having fun, you don’t need to tell her anything. You shouldn’t tell her anything. But if the attachment gets deeper, you’ll need to do some hard thinking. About how close you want to get with her, about how important your hobbies are. Because you can’t live with one foot in daylight and the other in shadows. Believe me on this. It can’t be done. Not long-term.” “I’m not stupid, you know.” “Everybody in love is stupid. It’s part of the condition.”” [Barry Eisler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-eisler/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Love demands honest self‑assessment; balancing intimacy with personal autonomy is essential. **In simple terms:** Love needs honesty. Key Takeaway Align actions with true desires. Themes love honesty balance Mood reflective serious Type literary psychological When to use this quote - dating - career planning - friendship - personal growth Key Concepts psychology relationships Questions to Reflect On - What compromises are you willing to make? - How do you maintain individuality in relationships? A Different Perspective Balancing love and self‑interest is complex. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Having fun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/having-fun/) ## Related quotes > [“Harry, I only ask because, when you’re young, you sometimes think you can have it both ways. If you’re just having fun, you don’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-eisler/harry-i-only-ask-because-when-you-re-young-you-sometimes-think-you/) [Barry Eisler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-eisler/) > [I shouldn't tell anyone that I can't drive or cook.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-harrison/i-shouldn-t-tell-anyone-that-i-can-t-drive-or-cook/) [Patti Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-harrison/) > [ When you hire somebody, you shouldn't have to tell them \[a lot of what\] to do; you hire them because you like their work… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scoot-mcnairy/when-you-hire-somebody-you-shouldn-t-have-to-tell-them-a-lot-of-what/) [Scoot McNairy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scoot-mcnairy/) > [“If I were wise, I shouldn't tell you. But I won't be wise, Harry, not for this time. I'll be just the opposite. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/if-i-were-wise-i-shouldn-t-tell-you-but-i-won-t-be-wise-harry-not-for/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [A president shouldn't tell the judiciary what to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-temer/a-president-shouldn-t-tell-the-judiciary-what-to-do/) [Michel Temer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-temer/) > [When you've found the perfect girl and know that she's the one but you feel you shouldn't tell her yet and wait for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-bevan-riddiford/when-you-ve-found-the-perfect-girl-and-know-that-she-s-the-one-but/) James Bevan-Riddiford > [“—I probably shouldn’t tell you this, I said. —Kay-Kay, those are my six favorite words in the English language.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amor-towles/i-probably-shouldn-t-tell-you-this-i-said-kay-kay-those-are-my-six/) [Amor Towles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amor-towles/) > [People love to tell you what you should and shouldn't want, regardless of what you have to say about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jen-sincero/people-love-to-tell-you-what-you-should-and-shouldn-t-want-regardless/) [Jen Sincero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jen-sincero/) > [Nobody has the right to tell to you where you should be by now or where you shouldn't, but credit yourself for how far…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaze-olamiday/nobody-has-the-right-to-tell-to-you-where-you-should-be-by-now-or/) [Blaze Olamiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaze-olamiday/) > [Shouldn't have to tell you how I feel. You know my loving is real.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freddie-mcgregor/shouldn-t-have-to-tell-you-how-i-feel-you-know-my-loving-is-real/) [Freddie Mcgregor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freddie-mcgregor/) > [I love to dance, but my children tell me I shouldn't. Can't see why.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/i-love-to-dance-but-my-children-tell-me-i-shouldn-t-can-t-see-why/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [Everytime I trust somebody, they tell me why I shouldn't !!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/senoraroy/everytime-i-trust-somebody-they-tell-me-why-i-shouldn-t/) Senoraroy > [I've been holding back this secret from you, I probably shouldn't tell it but if I.. if I let you know... you can't tell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaliyah/i-ve-been-holding-back-this-secret-from-you-i-probably-shouldn-t-tell/) [Aaliyah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaliyah/) > [Government shouldn't tell you whom to marry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bloomberg/government-shouldn-t-tell-you-whom-to-marry/) [Michael Bloomberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bloomberg/) > [“It is important to remember that anytime you feel the need to begin a conversation with the words, "I probably shouldn't tell you this,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-morris/it-is-important-to-remember-that-anytime-you-feel-the-need-to-begin-a/) [Robert Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-morris/) ## More by Barry Eisler > [“But, like all indulgences that are valued not just for their product but for their process, the sento will never entirely disappear. For in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-eisler/but-like-all-indulgences-that-are-valued-not-just-for-their-product/) [Barry Eisler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-eisler/) > [“She’s a bargirl. You don’t know where her loyalties lie. That one was unconvincing. No one had directed her against me—I was the one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-eisler/she-s-a-bargirl-you-don-t-know-where-her-loyalties-lie-that-one-was/) [Barry Eisler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-eisler/) > [“In my unpleasant experience, unarmed against a knife, you’ve basically got four options. Your best bet is to run like hell, if you can.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-eisler/in-my-unpleasant-experience-unarmed-against-a-knife-you-ve-basically/) [Barry Eisler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-eisler/) > [The most important guideline when it comes to argument is the golden rule. If someone were addressing your point, what tone, what overall approach…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-eisler/the-most-important-guideline-when-it-comes-to-argument-is-the-golden/) [Barry Eisler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-eisler/) > [“That I was apparently into body building at all at this stage in my life probably meant affairs with young women, for whom a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-eisler/that-i-was-apparently-into-body-building-at-all-at-this-stage-in-my/) [Barry Eisler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-eisler/) > [“Immediately the sounds of the street below grew detached, distant, the meaningless echoes of urban voices whose urgent notes reached but held no sway…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-eisler/immediately-the-sounds-of-the-street-below-grew-detached-distant-the/) [Barry Eisler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-eisler/) > [“I heard laughter and looked up. Some kids at the terminal next to me, playing an online game. I wondered for a moment how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-eisler/i-heard-laughter-and-looked-up-some-kids-at-the-terminal-next-to-me/) [Barry Eisler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-eisler/) > [“I shifted my head slightly. The corners of our mouths brushed together. I felt her breath on my cheek. Then we were kissing. Her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-eisler/i-shifted-my-head-slightly-the-corners-of-our-mouths-brushed-together/) [Barry Eisler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-eisler/) > [“I looked at her. Why was it her question seemed suffused with double entendre? She was attractive, of course, more than attractive, but that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-eisler/i-looked-at-her-why-was-it-her-question-seemed-suffused-with-double/) [Barry Eisler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-eisler/) > [“I realized my knowledge of that potentially damning evidence gave Delilah a reason to want me out of the way. “Out of the way”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-eisler/i-realized-my-knowledge-of-that-potentially-damning-evidence-gave/) [Barry Eisler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-eisler/) > [“I wouldn’t want to try to take this guy out with anything less than a scoped rifle. Which is something that’s hard to confuse…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-eisler/i-wouldn-t-want-to-try-to-take-this-guy-out-with-anything-less-than-a/) [Barry Eisler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-eisler/) > [“I picked up the earthen cup and went to take a sip. “Not like that,” Miyamoto said. “Let it cool a little. Give yourself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-eisler/i-picked-up-the-earthen-cup-and-went-to-take-a-sip-not-like-that/) [Barry Eisler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-eisler/) > [“It seemed he’d recently learned the value of playing up the difficulty of accomplishing whatever he was tasked with, the better to play the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-eisler/it-seemed-he-d-recently-learned-the-value-of-playing-up-the/) [Barry Eisler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-eisler/) > [“Yukiko walked over, her mouth stretching into a feline grin at the sight of Murakami. Naomi followed a moment later. She was wearing another…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-eisler/yukiko-walked-over-her-mouth-stretching-into-a-feline-grin-at-the/) [Barry Eisler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-eisler/) > [It would be awesome to be so impressive that we could sway people to our way of thinking just by declaiming our thoughts, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-eisler/it-would-be-awesome-to-be-so-impressive-that-we-could-sway-people-to/) [Barry Eisler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-eisler/) [Explore all 305 Barry Eisler quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-eisler/) ## More Having fun quotes > [Some days I'm laidback and focused on my talents like Sheryl Crow, and other days I'm just having a ball, kicking sex rhymes with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kid-rock/some-days-i-m-laidback-and-focused-on-my-talents-like-sheryl-crow-and/) [Kid Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kid-rock/) > [I think a business guy is different from an artist. They walk different paths. Artists create the best outputs when they're having fun. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-dragon/i-think-a-business-guy-is-different-from-an-artist-they-walk/) [G-Dragon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-dragon/) > [Everything gets better with time, but time is precious so I'm having fun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/everything-gets-better-with-time-but-time-is-precious-so-i-m-having/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The only vocal training I had was playing with a tape recorder as a kid, and you know, doing the beginning of the 'Lone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-buffer/the-only-vocal-training-i-had-was-playing-with-a-tape-recorder-as-a/) [Michael Buffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-buffer/) > [“Fun is not an activity, it is a state of mind.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/fun-is-not-an-activity-it-is-a-state-of-mind/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [ITS MORE FUN TO DO IT IN REAL LIFE](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-paul-rose/its-more-fun-to-do-it-in-real-life/) [LEONARD PAUL ROSE](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-paul-rose/) > [Not harder than it should be, no. We're about the business, we're about the work. It's all about the work, always. We have fun…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-fuqua/not-harder-than-it-should-be-no-we-re-about-the-business-we-re-about/) [Antoine Fuqua](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-fuqua/) > [Off the court, I tend to stick to the classics, but I like to have fun with color and accessories. I'm from Spain, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-hilfiger/off-the-court-i-tend-to-stick-to-the-classics-but-i-like-to-have-fun/) [Tommy Hilfiger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-hilfiger/) > [The essence of having fun is enjoying without guilt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-essence-of-having-fun-is-enjoying-without-guilt/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It's hard no to work, so I find a way to put myself back to work. And I think it's important, in between projects,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angelina-jolie/it-s-hard-no-to-work-so-i-find-a-way-to-put-myself-back-to-work-and-i/) [Angelina Jolie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angelina-jolie/) > [Just have fun. Smile. And keep putting on lipstick.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-keaton/just-have-fun-smile-and-keep-putting-on-lipstick/) [Diane Keaton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-keaton/) > [I am never usually taking myself too seriously and I think that people when they read stuff from me, they have to realise that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katy-perry/i-am-never-usually-taking-myself-too-seriously-and-i-think-that/) [Katy Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katy-perry/) > [Fun-run" indeed,what a misnomer. That'd be like saying "calm gremlin" or "pleasant hag." Or 'entertaining history textbook.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiersten-white/fun-run-indeed-what-a-misnomer-that-d-be-like-saying-calm-gremlin-or/) [Kiersten White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiersten-white/) > [There's a good case to be made that having fun is a key evolutionary advantage right next to opposable thumbs in terms of importance.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raph-koster/there-s-a-good-case-to-be-made-that-having-fun-is-a-key-evolutionary/) [Raph Koster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raph-koster/) > [One change of attitude would change everything. If everyone realized that it could be a beautiful world and said, 'let's not do these things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lynch/one-change-of-attitude-would-change-everything-if-everyone-realized/) [David Lynch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lynch/) [Browse all 2,130 Having fun quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/having-fun/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I hadn’t meant to embarrass him. “Harry, I only ask because, when you’re young, you sometimes think you can have it both ways. If you’re just having fun, you don’t need to tell her anything. You shouldn’t tell her anything. But if the attachment gets deeper, you’ll need to do some hard thinking. About how close you want to get with her, about how important your hobbies are. Because you can’t live with one foot in daylight and the other in shadows. Believe me on this. It can’t be done. 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