--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I've noticed that, while I can't help but…" description: "\"I've noticed that, while I can't help but respect and sort of envy the moral nerve of people who truly do not care what others think of them, people li..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/631/david-foster-21558_admiring_i-ve-noticed-that-while-i-can-t-help-but_593757.jpg" --- # I've noticed that, while I can't help but respect and sort… ![“I've noticed that, while I can't help but respect and sort of envy the moral nerve of people who truly do not care what others think of them, people like this also make me nervous, and I tend to do my admiring from a safe distance.” quote by David Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/631/david-foster-21558_admiring_i-ve-noticed-that-while-i-can-t-help-but_593757.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/631/david-foster-21558_admiring_i-ve-noticed-that-while-i-can-t-help-but_593757.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/631/david-foster-21558_admiring_i-ve-noticed-that-while-i-can-t-help-but_593757.jpg) > “I've noticed that, while I can't help but respect and sort of envy the moral nerve of people who truly do not care what others think of them, people like this also make me nervous, and I tend to do my admiring from a safe distance.” [David Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-foster/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He admires people who are indifferent to others’ opinions but feels uneasy, keeping admiration at a safe distance. **In simple terms:** Admires confidence, yet feels nervous and keeps distance. Key Takeaway Observe confidence, but stay aware of personal comfort. Themes confidence social perception admiration Mood thoughtful cautious Type social psychological When to use this quote - networking events - meeting bold personalities - online interactions - team collaborations Key Concepts social anxiety self‑protection authenticity Questions to Reflect On - Why do you keep distance? - Can you engage without losing safety? A Different Perspective Admiration may ignore underlying insecurity or authenticity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Care](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/care/) [Envy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/envy/) [Moral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moral/) [Nerves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nerves/) [Nervous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nervous/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Respect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/respect/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [“Like Jordan Baker, people with self-respect have the courage of their mistakes. They know the price of things. 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Madre de…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeaniene-frost/juan-gave-bones-the-most-admiring-look-he-d-bestowed-on-him-yet-you/) [Jeaniene Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeaniene-frost/) > [Because I'm a musician aspiring to write good stuff and put on good shows, I'm hyperaware of what they're doing and what they're putting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-harmer/because-i-m-a-musician-aspiring-to-write-good-stuff-and-put-on-good/) [Sarah Harmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-harmer/) > [Great geniuses have the shortest biographies. Their cousins can tell you nothing about them. They lived in their writings, and sotheir house and street…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/great-geniuses-have-the-shortest-biographies-their-cousins-can-tell/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [I take all day to climb mountains and then spend about 10 minutes at the top admiring the view.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-thrun/i-take-all-day-to-climb-mountains-and-then-spend-about-10-minutes-at/) [Sebastian Thrun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-thrun/) > [If I ever let my head fall.. I promise , I would be simply admiring my shoes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mercy-pheona/if-i-ever-let-my-head-fall-i-promise-i-would-be-simply-admiring-my/) [Mercy Pheona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mercy-pheona/) > [“Miles couldn't help admiring women for their ability to dismiss the evidence of their senses. If that's what explained it. If it wasn't simply…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-russo/miles-couldn-t-help-admiring-women-for-their-ability-to-dismiss-the/) [Richard Russo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-russo/) > [I've grown up watching and admiring Norm. Sherie actually starred in the first off-Broadway show I ever saw in New York, which was The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tituss-burgess/i-ve-grown-up-watching-and-admiring-norm-sherie-actually-starred-in/) [Tituss Burgess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tituss-burgess/) > [There never was a liar that had not a spot in him where he could not help admiring truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/there-never-was-a-liar-that-had-not-a-spot-in-him-where-he-could-not/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [The Bible is to us what the star was to the wise men; but if we spend all our time in gazing upon it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-adams/the-bible-is-to-us-what-the-star-was-to-the-wise-men-but-if-we-spend/) [Thomas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-adams/) > [“Start admiring and noticing your beautiful nature, body, talents, and intelligence.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-vickers/start-admiring-and-noticing-your-beautiful-nature-body-talents-and/) [Lee Vickers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-vickers/) > [Hillary Clinton was in rural America during the Iowa caucuses, but I think the nature of a campaign makes it more difficult once you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-vilsack/hillary-clinton-was-in-rural-america-during-the-iowa-caucuses-but-i/) [Tom Vilsack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-vilsack/) > [The hidden child wants to be able to participate and to co-create in art, rather than being simply an admiring viewer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-morgenstern/the-hidden-child-wants-to-be-able-to-participate-and-to-co-create-in/) [Christian Morgenstern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-morgenstern/) ## More by David Foster > [It is unimaginably hard to do this, to stay conscious and alive, day in and day out,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-foster/it-is-unimaginably-hard-to-do-this-to-stay-conscious-and-alive-day-in/) [David Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-foster/) > [CPR to those elements of what’s human and magical that still live and glow despite the times’ darkness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-foster/cpr-to-those-elements-of-what-s-human-and-magical-that-still-live-and/) [David Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-foster/) > [We all suffer alone in the real world; true empathy's impossible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-foster/we-all-suffer-alone-in-the-real-world-true-empathy-s-impossible/) [David Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-foster/) > [I think that most of my romance comes out in my music. And if you look at my track record of three ex-wives, maybe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-foster/i-think-that-most-of-my-romance-comes-out-in-my-music-and-if-you-look/) [David Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-foster/) > [How totally banal of you to ask what I really mean.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-foster/how-totally-banal-of-you-to-ask-what-i-really-mean/) [David Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-foster/) > [It seems like the big difference between good art and so-so art lies somewhere in the art's heart's purpose, the agenda of the consciousness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-foster/it-seems-like-the-big-difference-between-good-art-and-so-so-art-lies/) [David Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-foster/) > [Try to let what is unfair teach you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-foster/try-to-let-what-is-unfair-teach-you/) [David Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-foster/) > [Ya' know, these days kids seem to be getting younger and younger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-foster/ya-know-these-days-kids-seem-to-be-getting-younger-and-younger/) [David Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-foster/) > [I am uncompromising to the point of huge dissension in the studio. And it's served me very well. My theory and my philosophy is,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-foster/i-am-uncompromising-to-the-point-of-huge-dissension-in-the-studio-and/) [David Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-foster/) > [This is what the real, no bullshit value of your liberal arts education is supposed to be about: how to keep from going through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-foster/this-is-what-the-real-no-bullshit-value-of-your-liberal-arts/) [David Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-foster/) > [I don’t really mean what I’m saying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-foster/i-don-t-really-mean-what-i-m-saying/) [David Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-foster/) > [Blind certainty, a close-mindedness that amounts to an imprisonment so total that the prisoner doesn't even know he's locked up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-foster/blind-certainty-a-close-mindedness-that-amounts-to-an-imprisonment-so/) [David Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-foster/) > [The really important kind of freedom involves being able truly to care about other people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-foster/the-really-important-kind-of-freedom-involves-being-able-truly-to/) [David Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-foster/) > [I told Celine Dion not to record that 'Titanic' song. That's about as big as you can get. 'Flashdance?' I thought, 'Welder by day,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-foster/i-told-celine-dion-not-to-record-that-titanic-song-that-s-about-as/) [David Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-foster/) > [Commerce and art are natural enemies. And also, the enemy of good is great. And the enemy of great is good, so there's this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-foster/commerce-and-art-are-natural-enemies-and-also-the-enemy-of-good-is/) [David Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-foster/) [Explore all 29 David Foster quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-foster/) ## More Admiring quotes > [The hidden child wants to be able to participate and to co-create in art, rather than being simply an admiring viewer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-morgenstern/the-hidden-child-wants-to-be-able-to-participate-and-to-co-create-in/) [Christian Morgenstern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-morgenstern/) > [Hillary Clinton was in rural America during the Iowa caucuses, but I think the nature of a campaign makes it more difficult once you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-vilsack/hillary-clinton-was-in-rural-america-during-the-iowa-caucuses-but-i/) [Tom Vilsack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-vilsack/) > [“Start admiring and noticing your beautiful nature, body, talents, and intelligence.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-vickers/start-admiring-and-noticing-your-beautiful-nature-body-talents-and/) [Lee Vickers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-vickers/) > [The Bible is to us what the star was to the wise men; but if we spend all our time in gazing upon it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-adams/the-bible-is-to-us-what-the-star-was-to-the-wise-men-but-if-we-spend/) [Thomas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-adams/) > [There never was a liar that had not a spot in him where he could not help admiring truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/there-never-was-a-liar-that-had-not-a-spot-in-him-where-he-could-not/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [I've grown up watching and admiring Norm. Sherie actually starred in the first off-Broadway show I ever saw in New York, which was The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tituss-burgess/i-ve-grown-up-watching-and-admiring-norm-sherie-actually-starred-in/) [Tituss Burgess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tituss-burgess/) > [“Miles couldn't help admiring women for their ability to dismiss the evidence of their senses. If that's what explained it. If it wasn't simply…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-russo/miles-couldn-t-help-admiring-women-for-their-ability-to-dismiss-the/) [Richard Russo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-russo/) > [If I ever let my head fall.. I promise , I would be simply admiring my shoes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mercy-pheona/if-i-ever-let-my-head-fall-i-promise-i-would-be-simply-admiring-my/) [Mercy Pheona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mercy-pheona/) > [I take all day to climb mountains and then spend about 10 minutes at the top admiring the view.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-thrun/i-take-all-day-to-climb-mountains-and-then-spend-about-10-minutes-at/) [Sebastian Thrun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-thrun/) > [Great geniuses have the shortest biographies. Their cousins can tell you nothing about them. They lived in their writings, and sotheir house and street…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/great-geniuses-have-the-shortest-biographies-their-cousins-can-tell/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Because I'm a musician aspiring to write good stuff and put on good shows, I'm hyperaware of what they're doing and what they're putting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-harmer/because-i-m-a-musician-aspiring-to-write-good-stuff-and-put-on-good/) [Sarah Harmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-harmer/) > [Juan gave Bones the most admiring look he’d bestowed on him yet. “You talked her into going without panties all these years? Madre de…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeaniene-frost/juan-gave-bones-the-most-admiring-look-he-d-bestowed-on-him-yet-you/) [Jeaniene Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeaniene-frost/) > [I've been an admirer of Helen Mirren for a long time. 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