--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Perhaps I’ve grown less likable over the…" description: "\"“Perhaps I’ve grown less likable over the years, or maybe I’ve just forgotten how to meet people. The initial introduction — the shaking-hands part — I..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e9/david-sedaris-333_shaking-hands_perhaps-i-ve-grown-less-likable-over-the_2296030.png" --- # Perhaps I’ve grown less likable over the years, or maybe… ![“Perhaps I’ve grown less likable over the years, or maybe I’ve just forgotten how to meet people. The initial introduction — the shaking-hands part — I can still manage. It’s the follow-up that throws me. Who calls whom, and how often? What if you decide after the second or third meeting that you…” quote by David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e9/david-sedaris-333_shaking-hands_perhaps-i-ve-grown-less-likable-over-the_2296030.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e9/david-sedaris-333_shaking-hands_perhaps-i-ve-grown-less-likable-over-the_2296030.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e9/david-sedaris-333_shaking-hands_perhaps-i-ve-grown-less-likable-over-the_2296030.png) > ““Perhaps I’ve grown less likable over the years, or maybe I’ve just forgotten how to meet people. The initial introduction — the shaking-hands part — I can still manage. It’s the follow-up that throws me. Who calls whom, and how often? What if you decide after the second or third meeting that you don’t really like this person? Up to what point are you allowed to back out? I used to know these things, but now they’re a mystery.”” [David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The narrator struggles with social interactions, finding the initial greeting easy but the ongoing follow‑up confusing and anxiety‑inducing. **In simple terms:** Social follow‑up feels overwhelming. Key Takeaway Practice consistent, low‑pressure contact. Themes social anxiety connection communication Mood anxious thoughtful Type observational conversational When to use this quote - dating - friendship - networking Key Concepts relationship dynamics social norms Questions to Reflect On - How can you simplify follow‑up? - When is it okay to disengage? A Different Perspective Maintaining connections requires effort beyond first impressions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Shaking hands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shaking-hands/) ## Related quotes > [Group interaction tends to amplify people's initial inclinations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-myers/group-interaction-tends-to-amplify-people-s-initial-inclinations/) [David Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-myers/) > [Before SpaceX, no space company was worth a second meeting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jurvetson/before-spacex-no-space-company-was-worth-a-second-meeting/) [Steve Jurvetson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jurvetson/) > [You may admire a girl's curves on the first introduction, but the second meeting shows up new angles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-west/you-may-admire-a-girl-s-curves-on-the-first-introduction-but-the/) [Mae West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-west/) > [I'm not going to be one of those guys who changes, and all of a sudden I'm shaking hands and kissing babies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolph-ziggler/i-m-not-going-to-be-one-of-those-guys-who-changes-and-all-of-a-sudden/) [Dolph Ziggler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dolph-ziggler/) > [“We must subdue our detestable habit of shaking hands with prosperous rascals and fawning upon the merely rich.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/we-must-subdue-our-detestable-habit-of-shaking-hands-with-prosperous/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [And I think to myself what a wonderful world. Oh, yeah…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-armstrong/and-i-think-to-myself-what-a-wonderful-world-oh-yeah/) [Louis Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-armstrong/) > [I remember very clearly someone saying, 'Don't shake hands with the cactus,' and I thought, 'Well, why not? What could possibly go wrong?' Shaking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benedict-cumberbatch/i-remember-very-clearly-someone-saying-don-t-shake-hands-with-the/) [Benedict Cumberbatch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benedict-cumberbatch/) > [I -- I alone know how to mourn for him as he deserves.' But while we were still shaking hands, such a look of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-conrad/i-i-alone-know-how-to-mourn-for-him-as-he-deserves-but-while-we-were/) [Joseph Conrad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-conrad/) > [The colors of the rainbow so pretty in the sky Are also on the faces of people goin' by I see friends shaking hands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-armstrong/the-colors-of-the-rainbow-so-pretty-in-the-sky-are-also-on-the-faces/) [Louis Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-armstrong/) > [Judge not man by his outward manifestation of faith; for some there are who tremblingly reach out shaking hands to the guidance of faith;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/judge-not-man-by-his-outward-manifestation-of-faith-for-some-there/) [Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) > [Your mind must always go, even while you're shaking hands and going through all the maneuvers. I developed the ability long ago to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-m-nixon/your-mind-must-always-go-even-while-you-re-shaking-hands-and-going/) [Richard M. Nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-m-nixon/) > [People started shaking hands with strangers to show that neither was holding a gun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/people-started-shaking-hands-with-strangers-to-show-that-neither-was/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [We just finished shaking hands with all of the fans. I feel very good. They are cute.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/onew/we-just-finished-shaking-hands-with-all-of-the-fans-i-feel-very-good/) [Onew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/onew/) > [ You can't believe any picture nowadays, if it's digital. You can't really believe. If you see me shaking hands with Mr. \[Barack\] Obama, it… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hockney/you-can-t-believe-any-picture-nowadays-if-it-s-digital-you-can-t/) [David Hockney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hockney/) > [A Relationship Doesnt Shine By Just Shaking Hands In Best Times.. But, It Blossoms By Holding Hands Firmly In Critical Times..!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/a-relationship-doesnt-shine-by-just-shaking-hands-in-best-times-but/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) ## More by David Sedaris > [“Plenty of animals had pets, but few were more devoted than the mouse, who owned a baby corn snake—“A rescue snake, she’d be quick…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/plenty-of-animals-had-pets-but-few-were-more-devoted-than-the-mouse/) [David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/) > [“never fall asleep in a Dumpster, never underestimate a bee, never drive a convertible behind a flatbed truck, never get old, never get drunk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/never-fall-asleep-in-a-dumpster-never-underestimate-a-bee-never-drive/) [David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/) > [“It was a father, one hand resting teapot-style on his hip, and the other - what would be the spout - formed into a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/it-was-a-father-one-hand-resting-teapot-style-on-his-hip-and-the/) [David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/) > [“A Japanese woman we’d met in Paris came to the apartment yesterday and spent several hours explaining our appliances. The microwave, the water kettle,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/a-japanese-woman-we-d-met-in-paris-came-to-the-apartment-yesterday/) [David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/) > [One thing I like about the United States, and I kind of miss about the United States, is there's an election coming up here…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/one-thing-i-like-about-the-united-states-and-i-kind-of-miss-about-the/) [David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/) > [When you read comic material and people aren't laughing how do you know they're listening.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/when-you-read-comic-material-and-people-aren-t-laughing-how-do-you/) [David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/) > [“You have how many children in your family?" the teacher would ask. "I'm guessing you must be Catholic, am I right?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/you-have-how-many-children-in-your-family-the-teacher-would-ask-i-m/) [David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/) > [“Like most seasoned phonies, I roundly suspect that everyone is as disingenuous as I am.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/like-most-seasoned-phonies-i-roundly-suspect-that-everyone-is-as/) [David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/) > [As a child I assumed that when I reached adulthood, I would have grown-up thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/as-a-child-i-assumed-that-when-i-reached-adulthood-i-would-have-grown/) [David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/) > [“You just take and take don´t you? Out there with your thumb in the air—not a care in the world, just grabbing whatever you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/you-just-take-and-take-don-t-you-out-there-with-your-thumb-in-the-air/) [David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/) > [In other parts of the country people tried to stay together for the sake of the children. In New York they tried to work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/in-other-parts-of-the-country-people-tried-to-stay-together-for-the/) [David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/) > [My boyfriend got me a computer three years ago. I'll admit it does make things a lot easier. When I was working on a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/my-boyfriend-got-me-a-computer-three-years-ago-i-ll-admit-it-does/) [David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/) > [I spent months searching for some secret code before I realized that common sense has nothing to do with it. Hysteria, psychosis, torture, depression:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/i-spent-months-searching-for-some-secret-code-before-i-realized-that/) [David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/) > [I hated leaving a hole in the smoking world, and so I recruited someone to take my place. People have given me a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/i-hated-leaving-a-hole-in-the-smoking-world-and-so-i-recruited/) [David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/) > [Write relentlessly, until you find your voice. Then, use it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/write-relentlessly-until-you-find-your-voice-then-use-it/) [David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/) [Explore all 667 David Sedaris quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/) ## More Shaking hands quotes > [A Relationship Doesnt Shine By Just Shaking Hands In Best Times.. But, It Blossoms By Holding Hands Firmly In Critical Times..!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/a-relationship-doesnt-shine-by-just-shaking-hands-in-best-times-but/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [ You can't believe any picture nowadays, if it's digital. You can't really believe. If you see me shaking hands with Mr. \[Barack\] Obama, it… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hockney/you-can-t-believe-any-picture-nowadays-if-it-s-digital-you-can-t/) [David Hockney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hockney/) > [We just finished shaking hands with all of the fans. I feel very good. They are cute.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/onew/we-just-finished-shaking-hands-with-all-of-the-fans-i-feel-very-good/) [Onew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/onew/) > [People started shaking hands with strangers to show that neither was holding a gun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/people-started-shaking-hands-with-strangers-to-show-that-neither-was/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Your mind must always go, even while you're shaking hands and going through all the maneuvers. I developed the ability long ago to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-m-nixon/your-mind-must-always-go-even-while-you-re-shaking-hands-and-going/) [Richard M. Nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-m-nixon/) > [Judge not man by his outward manifestation of faith; for some there are who tremblingly reach out shaking hands to the guidance of faith;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/judge-not-man-by-his-outward-manifestation-of-faith-for-some-there/) [Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) > [The colors of the rainbow so pretty in the sky Are also on the faces of people goin' by I see friends shaking hands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-armstrong/the-colors-of-the-rainbow-so-pretty-in-the-sky-are-also-on-the-faces/) [Louis Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-armstrong/) > [I -- I alone know how to mourn for him as he deserves.' But while we were still shaking hands, such a look of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-conrad/i-i-alone-know-how-to-mourn-for-him-as-he-deserves-but-while-we-were/) [Joseph Conrad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-conrad/) > [I remember very clearly someone saying, 'Don't shake hands with the cactus,' and I thought, 'Well, why not? What could possibly go wrong?' Shaking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benedict-cumberbatch/i-remember-very-clearly-someone-saying-don-t-shake-hands-with-the/) [Benedict Cumberbatch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benedict-cumberbatch/) > [And I think to myself what a wonderful world. Oh, yeah…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-armstrong/and-i-think-to-myself-what-a-wonderful-world-oh-yeah/) [Louis Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-armstrong/) > [“We must subdue our detestable habit of shaking hands with prosperous rascals and fawning upon the merely rich.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/we-must-subdue-our-detestable-habit-of-shaking-hands-with-prosperous/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [I'm not going to be one of those guys who changes, and all of a sudden I'm shaking hands and kissing babies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolph-ziggler/i-m-not-going-to-be-one-of-those-guys-who-changes-and-all-of-a-sudden/) [Dolph Ziggler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dolph-ziggler/) > [I'm a bit of an introvert, so after talking for an hour and then shaking hands and taking pictures with the people who came…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ari-shaffir/i-m-a-bit-of-an-introvert-so-after-talking-for-an-hour-and-then/) [Ari Shaffir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ari-shaffir/) > [Shaking hands with the Queen of England was a long way from being forced to sit in the colored section of the bus going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/althea-gibson/shaking-hands-with-the-queen-of-england-was-a-long-way-from-being/) [Althea Gibson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/althea-gibson/) > [I never know if the person I'm shaking hands with is coming to kill me. That's something you have to live with when you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ice-t/i-never-know-if-the-person-i-m-shaking-hands-with-is-coming-to-kill/) [Ice T](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ice-t/) [Browse all 64 Shaking hands quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shaking-hands/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Perhaps I’ve grown less likable over the years, or maybe I’ve just forgotten how to meet people. The initial introduction — the shaking-hands part — I can still manage. It’s the follow-up that throws me. Who calls whom, and how often? What if you decide after the second or third meeting that you don’t really like this person? Up to what point are you allowed to back out? 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