---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Wanting to be liked can get in the way of…"
description: "\"“Wanting to be liked can get in the way of truth.”\" — Delia Ephron"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f90/delia-ephron-17863_liked_wanting-to-be-liked-can-get-in-the-way-o_1406068.png"
---

#  Wanting to be liked can get in the way of truth.

![“Wanting to be liked can get in the way of truth.” quote by Delia Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f90/delia-ephron-17863_liked_wanting-to-be-liked-can-get-in-the-way-o_1406068.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f90/delia-ephron-17863_liked_wanting-to-be-liked-can-get-in-the-way-o_1406068.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f90/delia-ephron-17863_liked_wanting-to-be-liked-can-get-in-the-way-o_1406068.png)

> ““Wanting to be liked can get in the way of truth.””

[Delia Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/delia-ephron/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Seeking approval can compromise honesty, leading to distorted communication and loss of authenticity.

**In simple terms:** Wanting approval may hide truth.

Key Takeaway

Value truth over popularity.

Themes

authenticity social pressure truth

Mood

thoughtful serious

Type

philosophical inspirational

When to use this quote

- leadership
- personal relationships
- media

Key Concepts

psychology communication

Questions to Reflect On

- When have you sacrificed truth for likability?
- How can you stay authentic under pressure?

A Different Perspective

Truth may be socially costly.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/)

## Related quotes

> [I'm definitely not above wanting to be liked. Because, I mean, that feels less... lonely? But to be honest, because it was never my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-harding/i-m-definitely-not-above-wanting-to-be-liked-because-i-mean-that/)

[Aldous Harding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-harding/)

> [I think the desire to be funny was a mixture of wanting to be liked but also wanting to throw your elbows a bit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-rust/i-think-the-desire-to-be-funny-was-a-mixture-of-wanting-to-be-liked/)

[Paul Rust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-rust/)

> [For me, I go Ronaldo. Growing up I've always liked the way he's done things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reece-james/for-me-i-go-ronaldo-growing-up-i-ve-always-liked-the-way-he-s-done/)

[Reece James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reece-james/)

> [“He was good with women, he reminded himself. Probably because he just liked them—the way they looked, sounded, smelled—the strange way their minds worked.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-roberts/he-was-good-with-women-he-reminded-himself-probably-because-he-just/)

[Nora Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-roberts/)

> [I liked Amy Winehouse a lot. I liked the way she did what she wanted, and she wasn't fazed about the press being on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cher-lloyd/i-liked-amy-winehouse-a-lot-i-liked-the-way-she-did-what-she-wanted/)

[Cher Lloyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cher-lloyd/)

> [Don't trap yourself with the desire of wanting to be liked.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jada-pinkett-smith/don-t-trap-yourself-with-the-desire-of-wanting-to-be-liked/)

[Jada Pinkett Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jada-pinkett-smith/)

> [“You really can't go through life wanting to be liked. It's the hardest lesson to learn. Once you say, "Fuck it, I don't care,"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-mcdonough/you-really-can-t-go-through-life-wanting-to-be-liked-it-s-the-hardest/)

Jimmy McDonough

> [“Wanting to be liked is often a very unlikeable characteristic.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-fry/wanting-to-be-liked-is-often-a-very-unlikeable-characteristic/)

[Stephen Fry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-fry/)

> [Wanting to be liked means being a supporting character in your own life, using the cues of the actors around you to determine your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-valenti/wanting-to-be-liked-means-being-a-supporting-character-in-your-own/)

[Jessica Valenti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-valenti/)

> [We forgave, followed and accepted because we liked the way he looked. And he had a pretty wife. Camelot was fun, even for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-mcginniss/we-forgave-followed-and-accepted-because-we-liked-the-way-he-looked/)

[Joe McGinniss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-mcginniss/)

> [“He liked the way the story unfolded as he wrote, liked the way the answers just came to him sometimes, out of the blue,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-black/he-liked-the-way-the-story-unfolded-as-he-wrote-liked-the-way-the/)

[Holly Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-black/)

> [My mother just liked the way the name Nipsey sounded.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nipsey-russell/my-mother-just-liked-the-way-the-name-nipsey-sounded/)

[Nipsey Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nipsey-russell/)

> [I think people liked the way I fight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-liddell/i-think-people-liked-the-way-i-fight/)

[Chuck Liddell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-liddell/)

> [“she saw that I was much more than the slut I’d made myself out to be, and I liked the way her brown hair…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-iredell/she-saw-that-i-was-much-more-than-the-slut-i-d-made-myself-out-to-be/)

[Jamie Iredell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-iredell/)

> [I didn't know what the hell Charlie Parker was playing... I just liked the way he played.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-watts/i-didn-t-know-what-the-hell-charlie-parker-was-playing-i-just-liked/)

[Charlie Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-watts/)

## More by Delia Ephron

> [“And why do most of us want marriage? Crave it for status or for stability that is an illusion. Marriage can’t protect you from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/delia-ephron/and-why-do-most-of-us-want-marriage-crave-it-for-status-or-for/)

[Delia Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/delia-ephron/)

> [There is something fantastic about getting divorced. Everyone should do it to experience the extraordinary sense of freedom after being in marriage jail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/delia-ephron/there-is-something-fantastic-about-getting-divorced-everyone-should/)

[Delia Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/delia-ephron/)

> [As complicated as joint custody is, it allows the delicious contradiction of having children and maintaining the intimacy of life-before-kid s.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/delia-ephron/as-complicated-as-joint-custody-is-it-allows-the-delicious/)

[Delia Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/delia-ephron/)

> [“Maybe the truth can't be buried. Or maybe it can't stay buried. Maybe the very nature of truth is that it will ultimately reveal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/delia-ephron/maybe-the-truth-can-t-be-buried-or-maybe-it-can-t-stay-buried-maybe/)

[Delia Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/delia-ephron/)

> [writing is how I understand everything that happens. Writing is the only way I know to move on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/delia-ephron/writing-is-how-i-understand-everything-that-happens-writing-is-the/)

[Delia Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/delia-ephron/)

> [“I love it that I'm standing alone, it doesn't bother me, actually I prefer it, actually I don't give a shit. I am a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/delia-ephron/i-love-it-that-i-m-standing-alone-it-doesn-t-bother-me-actually-i/)

[Delia Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/delia-ephron/)

> [For me, having it all - if one wants to define it at all - is the magical time when what you want and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/delia-ephron/for-me-having-it-all-if-one-wants-to-define-it-at-all-is-the-magical/)

[Delia Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/delia-ephron/)

> [“I didn’t know about the Purell. I don’t think I would have wanted to vacation with someone who brought Purell along. I even fantasized…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/delia-ephron/i-didn-t-know-about-the-purell-i-don-t-think-i-would-have-wanted-to/)

[Delia Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/delia-ephron/)

> [“Who cared that he couldn't spell? She was a good-enough speller for both of them. With luck, their children would take after her.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/delia-ephron/who-cared-that-he-couldn-t-spell-she-was-a-good-enough-speller-for/)

[Delia Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/delia-ephron/)

> [“God, secrets could simply do you in.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/delia-ephron/god-secrets-could-simply-do-you-in/)

[Delia Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/delia-ephron/)

> [“She has bitten into a crisp juicy apple and wondered if the bite and the thought were connected-- one never knew what went together,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/delia-ephron/she-has-bitten-into-a-crisp-juicy-apple-and-wondered-if-the-bite-and/)

[Delia Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/delia-ephron/)

> [I'm planning to give up worrying. I want to, but I'm worried I won't be able to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/delia-ephron/i-m-planning-to-give-up-worrying-i-want-to-but-i-m-worried-i-won-t-be/)

[Delia Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/delia-ephron/)

> [I have one rule I live by: Only do what you can do. That neans you're never looking outside for what's popular; you're always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/delia-ephron/i-have-one-rule-i-live-by-only-do-what-you-can-do-that-neans-you-re/)

[Delia Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/delia-ephron/)

> [in the family I grew up in, being called boring was like being called an ax murderer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/delia-ephron/in-the-family-i-grew-up-in-being-called-boring-was-like-being-called/)

[Delia Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/delia-ephron/)

> [if you are a stepparent, rush right out and get yourself a dog. Because it's very nice to have someone in the house that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/delia-ephron/if-you-are-a-stepparent-rush-right-out-and-get-yourself-a-dog-because/)

[Delia Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/delia-ephron/)

[Explore all 36 Delia Ephron quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/delia-ephron/)

## More Liked quotes

> [I would have done well as a gypsy child, I think. A circus baby. I coulda played a great street urchin or ragamuffin. Or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-lyonne/i-would-have-done-well-as-a-gypsy-child-i-think-a-circus-baby-i/)

[Natasha Lyonne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-lyonne/)

> [I was a very good student. Procrastinating gives me anxiety, and getting a B really ticked me off. Sure, I didn't always want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josie-loren/i-was-a-very-good-student-procrastinating-gives-me-anxiety-and/)

[Josie Loren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josie-loren/)

> [I liked Cats as a kid, now its hard to say. I dont live in New York anymore so dont see so many.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-moennig/i-liked-cats-as-a-kid-now-its-hard-to-say-i-dont-live-in-new-york/)

[Katherine Moennig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-moennig/)

> [I never liked Hans Christian Andersen because I knew he was always getting at me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-r-tolkien-2/i-never-liked-hans-christian-andersen-because-i-knew-he-was-always/)

[J. R. R. Tolkien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-r-tolkien-2/)

> [I realized I couldn't be a journalist because I like to take a side, to have an opinion and a point a view; I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-leibovitz/i-realized-i-couldn-t-be-a-journalist-because-i-like-to-take-a-side/)

[Annie Leibovitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-leibovitz/)

> [I liked climbing trees and could often be found up one reading a book. I played games with Dad and drew maps for him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhianna-pratchett/i-liked-climbing-trees-and-could-often-be-found-up-one-reading-a-book/)

[Rhianna Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhianna-pratchett/)

> [I've always been interested in socially political, or overtly political, comedy. And I guess I've always liked to channel some kind of personal element…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-oliver/i-ve-always-been-interested-in-socially-political-or-overtly/)

[John Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-oliver/)

> [All my way through college, I worked my way as a window dresser for Lord & Taylor, so I always liked fashion. I always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-rivers/all-my-way-through-college-i-worked-my-way-as-a-window-dresser-for/)

[Joan Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-rivers/)

> [Women liked me because I made them laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mickey-rooney/women-liked-me-because-i-made-them-laugh/)

[Mickey Rooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mickey-rooney/)

> [“One day I wandered away from her and hid. I liked the way it felt to have someone look for me, to hear my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-safran-foer/one-day-i-wandered-away-from-her-and-hid-i-liked-the-way-it-felt-to/)

[Jonathan Safran Foer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-safran-foer/)

> [I've always liked Dzeko - he's a champion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alvaro-morata/i-ve-always-liked-dzeko-he-s-a-champion/)

[Alvaro Morata](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alvaro-morata/)

> [I've always liked artists like Chris Burden, who would take performances, put them in galleries, and then do things that were on the edge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-blaine/i-ve-always-liked-artists-like-chris-burden-who-would-take/)

[David Blaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-blaine/)

> [“You saw someone who reminded you of you, and then you looked for the reasons why you liked him. The”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-lewis/you-saw-someone-who-reminded-you-of-you-and-then-you-looked-for-the/)

[Michael Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-lewis/)

> [“He called me "love". I liked that. A lot.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristi-cook/he-called-me-love-i-liked-that-a-lot/)

[Kristi Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristi-cook/)

> [I liked 'The Office' when it was on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-calzaghe/i-liked-the-office-when-it-was-on/)

[Joe Calzaghe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-calzaghe/)

Browse all 1,885 Liked quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“Wanting to be liked can get in the way of truth.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Delia Ephron"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/delia-ephron/wanting-to-be-liked-can-get-in-the-way-of-truth/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Liked"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/delia-ephron/wanting-to-be-liked-can-get-in-the-way-of-truth/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f90/delia-ephron-17863_liked_wanting-to-be-liked-can-get-in-the-way-o_1406068.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f90/delia-ephron-17863_liked_wanting-to-be-liked-can-get-in-the-way-o_1406068.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f90/delia-ephron-17863_liked_wanting-to-be-liked-can-get-in-the-way-o_1406068.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Wanting to be liked can get in the way of truth.” — Delia Ephron",
                "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": "Delia Ephron",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/delia-ephron/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“Wanting to be liked can get...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/delia-ephron/wanting-to-be-liked-can-get-in-the-way-of-truth/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/delia-ephron/wanting-to-be-liked-can-get-in-the-way-of-truth/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```