--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Without wishing to sound pretentious, my…" description: "\"Without wishing to sound pretentious, my basic standard of happiness is to do with being who I am.\" — David Baddiel" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/24a/david-baddiel-4416_being_without-wishing-to-sound-pretentious-my_979278.png" --- # Without wishing to sound pretentious, my basic standard of… ![“Without wishing to sound pretentious, my basic standard of happiness is to do with being who I am.” quote by David Baddiel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/24a/david-baddiel-4416_being_without-wishing-to-sound-pretentious-my_979278.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/24a/david-baddiel-4416_being_without-wishing-to-sound-pretentious-my_979278.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/24a/david-baddiel-4416_being_without-wishing-to-sound-pretentious-my_979278.png) > “Without wishing to sound pretentious, my basic standard of happiness is to do with being who I am.” [David Baddiel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-baddiel/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He suggests personal happiness stems from authenticity—being true to oneself—rather than external validation. **In simple terms:** Happiness comes from being yourself. Key Takeaway Cultivate self‑acceptance and live authentically. Themes self‑acceptance authenticity well‑being identity Mood reflective optimistic Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - career choices - relationships - creative pursuits - mental health Key Concepts psychology philosophy Questions to Reflect On - What does being authentic mean in your daily life? - How can you balance self‑acceptance with societal pressures? A Different Perspective Authenticity can clash with social expectations or responsibilities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Basic Standard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/basic-standard-1932942/) [Being](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being/) [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [I am](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-am/) [Pretentious Basic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pretentious-basic-1932943/) [Sound](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sound/) [Sound Pretentious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sound-pretentious-1350800/) [Standard Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/standard-happiness-937023/) [Who](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/who/) ## Related quotes > [Set an achievable standard for your happiness and it will have less or no limit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-mark/set-an-achievable-standard-for-your-happiness-and-it-will-have-less/) [Terry Mark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-mark/) > [The profoundest affinities are the most readily felt; they remain a background and standard for all happiness and if we trace them out we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-santayana/the-profoundest-affinities-are-the-most-readily-felt-they-remain-a/) [George Santayana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-santayana/) > [I refuse to accept other people's ideas of happiness for me. As if there's a 'one size fits all' standard for happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kanye-west/i-refuse-to-accept-other-people-s-ideas-of-happiness-for-me-as-if/) [Kanye West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kanye-west/) > [I don't want to sound pretentious or meta or anything, but I don't write until it comes to me... People know when something is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tituss-burgess/i-don-t-want-to-sound-pretentious-or-meta-or-anything-but-i-don-t/) [Tituss Burgess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tituss-burgess/) > [I don't wanna sound pretentious talking about myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wale/i-don-t-wanna-sound-pretentious-talking-about-myself/) [Wale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wale/) > [I want to paint. That is probably going to sound so pretentious coming from someone who's been a musician.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juliana-hatfield/i-want-to-paint-that-is-probably-going-to-sound-so-pretentious-coming/) [Juliana Hatfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juliana-hatfield/) > [It may or may not sound pretentious. But I've turned down, consciously and specifically, many jobs I knew would have been a pretty surefire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-kilmer/it-may-or-may-not-sound-pretentious-but-i-ve-turned-down-consciously/) [Val Kilmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-kilmer/) > [Titles always sound so pretentious, and when I see a comedian, I just want the person to take flight, not stick to one topic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-hardy/titles-always-sound-so-pretentious-and-when-i-see-a-comedian-i-just/) [Jeremy Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-hardy/) > [This may sound pretentious, but I don't like being thought of as 'the Metal Gear guy.' There's a lot more I can do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hideo-kojima/this-may-sound-pretentious-but-i-don-t-like-being-thought-of-as-the/) [Hideo Kojima](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hideo-kojima/) > [I don't want to sound pretentious, but I love art, I like to go to museums, and I like to read books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainn-wilson/i-don-t-want-to-sound-pretentious-but-i-love-art-i-like-to-go-to/) [Rainn Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainn-wilson/) > [This is going to sound pretentious, but I like comedy that addresses something I find either worrisome or interesting in my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-woods/this-is-going-to-sound-pretentious-but-i-like-comedy-that-addresses/) [Zach Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-woods/) > [I never personalize anything because I think that can be dangerous. For me, the best way is - this may sound pretentious - but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/imogen-poots/i-never-personalize-anything-because-i-think-that-can-be-dangerous/) [Imogen Poots](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/imogen-poots/) > [I never use pull-offs because I don't like the sort of 'meow' sound they make with the string being deflected sideways.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allan-holdsworth/i-never-use-pull-offs-because-i-don-t-like-the-sort-of-meow-sound/) [Allan Holdsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allan-holdsworth/) > [I raised another shot. "That sound you hear is the heads of moral conservatives spontaneously exploding in the distance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-thurman/i-raised-another-shot-that-sound-you-hear-is-the-heads-of-moral/) [Rob Thurman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-thurman/) > [This may sound strange, but although I feel like I know everything about my characters, the brand of shampoo they use, how many cavities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-honeyman/this-may-sound-strange-but-although-i-feel-like-i-know-everything/) [Gail Honeyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-honeyman/) ## More by David Baddiel > [It was definitely a challenging upbringing. My parents were by no means perfect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-baddiel/it-was-definitely-a-challenging-upbringing-my-parents-were-by-no/) [David Baddiel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-baddiel/) > [We're not designed to know hundreds of people - we're designed to know four people in our village. So the only way we can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-baddiel/we-re-not-designed-to-know-hundreds-of-people-we-re-designed-to-know/) [David Baddiel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-baddiel/) > [Now 'South Park' - they are interested in blasphemy. They're interested in creating offence for its own sake.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-baddiel/now-south-park-they-are-interested-in-blasphemy-they-re-interested-in/) [David Baddiel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-baddiel/) > [I have an issue with classical music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-baddiel/i-have-an-issue-with-classical-music/) [David Baddiel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-baddiel/) > [When I retweet a troll, I'm not thinking of the troll, I'm thinking of the audience: how can I make them laugh with me,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-baddiel/when-i-retweet-a-troll-i-m-not-thinking-of-the-troll-i-m-thinking-of/) [David Baddiel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-baddiel/) > [Fame is a silly thing that makes your life absurd.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-baddiel/fame-is-a-silly-thing-that-makes-your-life-absurd/) [David Baddiel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-baddiel/) > [For a long time, I used to think that I had a man's brain that I thought more like a man than a woman.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-baddiel/for-a-long-time-i-used-to-think-that-i-had-a-man-s-brain-that-i/) [David Baddiel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-baddiel/) > [All of my children's books are attempts to tap into what I believe to be children's, and to some extent human beings', fantasies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-baddiel/all-of-my-children-s-books-are-attempts-to-tap-into-what-i-believe-to/) [David Baddiel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-baddiel/) > [I had probably never met a non-Jew until the age of 12.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-baddiel/i-had-probably-never-met-a-non-jew-until-the-age-of-12/) [David Baddiel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-baddiel/) > [I'm not saying Jews should only play Jews... I personally think actors should be allowed to act.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-baddiel/i-m-not-saying-jews-should-only-play-jews-i-personally-think-actors/) [David Baddiel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-baddiel/) > [My theory as to why I first became a comedian is that my mother was always keenest on my younger brother, Dan. It doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-baddiel/my-theory-as-to-why-i-first-became-a-comedian-is-that-my-mother-was/) [David Baddiel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-baddiel/) > [Most people who know me well say I am almost autistically myself. I like to never change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-baddiel/most-people-who-know-me-well-say-i-am-almost-autistically-myself-i/) [David Baddiel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-baddiel/) > [Unfortunately, we no longer live in a culture where what is spoken about and what truths are told and what lies are told are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-baddiel/unfortunately-we-no-longer-live-in-a-culture-where-what-is-spoken/) [David Baddiel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-baddiel/) > [An academic is what I would have been if I hadn't been successful as a comedian. I've never had a proper job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-baddiel/an-academic-is-what-i-would-have-been-if-i-hadn-t-been-successful-as/) [David Baddiel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-baddiel/) > [There are no gatekeepers in children's literature. There are children who like what you write because it's funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-baddiel/there-are-no-gatekeepers-in-children-s-literature-there-are-children/) [David Baddiel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-baddiel/) [Explore all 105 David Baddiel quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-baddiel/) ## More Being quotes > [Because of the womb being a central phenomenon in the feminine body, the whole psychology of woman differs: she is non-aggressive, non-inquiring, non-questioning, non-doubting,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/because-of-the-womb-being-a-central-phenomenon-in-the-feminine-body/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [There is something magical about being able to feel somebody. And that is something that has always moved me with music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-brink/there-is-something-magical-about-being-able-to-feel-somebody-and-that/) [Maria Brink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-brink/) > [I love being in Malibu. It's so cool there, and the water is just, it's nice and, and I love the beach. And I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-evancho/i-love-being-in-malibu-it-s-so-cool-there-and-the-water-is-just-it-s/) [Jackie Evancho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-evancho/) > [I talk to my mates about our kids, being too tired and being worn out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-willoughby/i-talk-to-my-mates-about-our-kids-being-too-tired-and-being-worn-out/) [Holly Willoughby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-willoughby/) > [I love to fish. I love the peacefulness of being around the water.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evonne-goolagong-cawley/i-love-to-fish-i-love-the-peacefulness-of-being-around-the-water/) [Evonne Goolagong Cawley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evonne-goolagong-cawley/) > [When you're in your twenties and starting out, the problem is that you care about being cool. Being older, I can care less about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-righton/when-you-re-in-your-twenties-and-starting-out-the-problem-is-that-you/) [James Righton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-righton/) > [I am tired of our characters being so incomplete. When do we ever save the day in a film? When does a Latino actor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esai-morales/i-am-tired-of-our-characters-being-so-incomplete-when-do-we-ever-save/) [Esai Morales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esai-morales/) > [Being a new mother is a blessing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phaedra-parks/being-a-new-mother-is-a-blessing/) [Phaedra Parks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phaedra-parks/) > [I think I've had the longest career of strength, focus, and still being able to sell records. I think I'm that guy. I'm still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-think-i-ve-had-the-longest-career-of-strength-focus-and-still-being/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) > [If we accept being talked to any kind of a way, then we are telling ourselves we are not quite worth the best. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/if-we-accept-being-talked-to-any-kind-of-a-way-then-we-are-telling/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [Having small children and being an investigative reporter would seem like a difficult mix, but it worked well for me. I was often working…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-abramson/having-small-children-and-being-an-investigative-reporter-would-seem/) [Jill Abramson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-abramson/) > [I am just enjoying the dream of being Milan coach at the age of 40.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gennaro-gattuso/i-am-just-enjoying-the-dream-of-being-milan-coach-at-the-age-of-40/) [Gennaro Gattuso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gennaro-gattuso/) > [America, you're sending girls a mixed message. On one hand, you're saying to have positive body image and love who we are; on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adora-svitak/america-you-re-sending-girls-a-mixed-message-on-one-hand-you-re/) [Adora Svitak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adora-svitak/) > [We should not live in fear, we should all enjoy being able to express our views freely and openly, challenge each other on issues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tan-cheng-bock/we-should-not-live-in-fear-we-should-all-enjoy-being-able-to-express/) [Tan Cheng Bock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tan-cheng-bock/) [Browse all 18,139 Being quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Without wishing to sound pretentious, my basic standard of happiness is to do with being who I am.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "David Baddiel" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-baddiel/without-wishing-to-sound-pretentious-my-basic-standard-of-happiness/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Being" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-baddiel/without-wishing-to-sound-pretentious-my-basic-standard-of-happiness/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/24a/david-baddiel-4416_being_without-wishing-to-sound-pretentious-my_979278.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/24a/david-baddiel-4416_being_without-wishing-to-sound-pretentious-my_979278.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/24a/david-baddiel-4416_being_without-wishing-to-sound-pretentious-my_979278.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Without wishing to sound pretentious, my basic standard of happiness is to do with being who I am.” — David Baddiel", "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": "David Baddiel", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-baddiel/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Without wishing to sound pretentious, my...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-baddiel/without-wishing-to-sound-pretentious-my-basic-standard-of-happiness/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-baddiel/without-wishing-to-sound-pretentious-my-basic-standard-of-happiness/#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 } } ] } ```