--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think if human beings had genuine…" description: "\"I think if human beings had genuine courage, they'd wear their costumes every day of the year, not just on Halloween. Wouldn't life be more interesting..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1df/douglas-coupland-305_costumes_i-think-if-human-beings-had-genuine-cour_1208093.jpg" --- # I think if human beings had genuine courage, they'd wear… ![“I think if human beings had genuine courage, they'd wear their costumes every day of the year, not just on Halloween. Wouldn't life be more interesting that way? And now that I think about it, why the heck don't they? Who made the rule that everybody has to dress like sheep 364 days of the year?…” quote by Douglas Coupland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1df/douglas-coupland-305_costumes_i-think-if-human-beings-had-genuine-cour_1208093.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1df/douglas-coupland-305_costumes_i-think-if-human-beings-had-genuine-cour_1208093.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1df/douglas-coupland-305_costumes_i-think-if-human-beings-had-genuine-cour_1208093.jpg) > “I think if human beings had genuine courage, they'd wear their costumes every day of the year, not just on Halloween. Wouldn't life be more interesting that way? And now that I think about it, why the heck don't they? Who made the rule that everybody has to dress like sheep 364 days of the year? Think of all the people you'd meet if they were in costume every day. People would be so much easier to talk to - like talking to dogs.” [Douglas Coupland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-coupland/) ## 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 that everyday authenticity, like wearing costumes daily, would make social interactions freer and more genuine. **In simple terms:** Be authentic like wearing a costume daily. Key Takeaway Embrace daily authenticity. Themes authenticity individuality social norms Mood playful provocative Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - workplace - social media - public speaking - festivals - daily routines Key Concepts identity conformity creativity Questions to Reflect On - What would happen if you stopped conforming? - How does costume metaphor relate to personal identity? A Different Perspective Societal pressure often discourages constant self‑expression. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Costumes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/costumes/) [Courage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courage/) [Dog](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dog/) [Halloween](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/halloween/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [If human beings had genuine courage, they'd wear their costumes every day of the year, not just on Halloween.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-coupland/if-human-beings-had-genuine-courage-they-d-wear-their-costumes-every/) [Douglas Coupland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-coupland/) > [I get more distracted by hair or a really bad wig than I do costumes any day of the week.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-atwood/i-get-more-distracted-by-hair-or-a-really-bad-wig-than-i-do-costumes/) [Colleen Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-atwood/) > [Actually I have a tradition that I always steal my last costume on the last day of filming.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/channing-tatum/actually-i-have-a-tradition-that-i-always-steal-my-last-costume-on/) [Channing Tatum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/channing-tatum/) > [When you wear the costumes in a period drama, you already feel like a different person - the clothes make you stand differently, change…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodie-comer/when-you-wear-the-costumes-in-a-period-drama-you-already-feel-like-a/) [Jodie Comer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodie-comer/) > [I knew I would grow up and wear a costume one day, and that's exactly what happened.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-peterson/i-knew-i-would-grow-up-and-wear-a-costume-one-day-and-that-s-exactly/) [Cassandra Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-peterson/) > [There are so many things I'd like to do. I'd really like to be in a period piece that takes place in old New…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-slate/there-are-so-many-things-i-d-like-to-do-i-d-really-like-to-be-in-a/) [Jenny Slate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-slate/) > [You look at Cheney, Rumsfeld, Karl Rove, and Bush - if you saw them on Halloween, they wouldn't need a costume. You'd give them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-chong/you-look-at-cheney-rumsfeld-karl-rove-and-bush-if-you-saw-them-on/) [Tommy Chong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-chong/) > [Every day each of us wakes up, reaches into drawers and closets, pulls out a costume for the day and proceeds to dress in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-schmich/every-day-each-of-us-wakes-up-reaches-into-drawers-and-closets-pulls/) [Mary Schmich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-schmich/) > [I love Halloween and dressing up. I usually have at least three costumes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrina-patridge/i-love-halloween-and-dressing-up-i-usually-have-at-least-three/) [Audrina Patridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrina-patridge/) > [Our prevailing system of management has destroyed our people. People are born with intrinsic motivation, self-respect, dignity, curiosity to learn, joy in learning. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/our-prevailing-system-of-management-has-destroyed-our-people-people/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Just because a man is dressed in a clean white robe does not mean his heart and hands are clean. Any man who neglects…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzy-kassem/just-because-a-man-is-dressed-in-a-clean-white-robe-does-not-mean-his/) [Suzy Kassem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzy-kassem/) > [In Britain, the major public holiday used to be Guy Fawkes Day... that was celebrated on November 5th with things like bonfires and fireworks...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-morton/in-britain-the-major-public-holiday-used-to-be-guy-fawkes-day-that/) [Lisa Morton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-morton/) > [I think a lot of times it just looks like Hollywood actors in Halloween costumes, you know? And I think what we’re going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miles-teller/i-think-a-lot-of-times-it-just-looks-like-hollywood-actors-in/) [Miles Teller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miles-teller/) > [At last, small witches, goblins, hags, And pirates armed with paper bags Their costumes hinged on safety pins, Go haunt a night of pumpkin…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-updike/at-last-small-witches-goblins-hags-and-pirates-armed-with-paper-bags/) [John Updike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-updike/) > [Then, finally, the third year, begging the parents, I got the Superman Halloween costume. Cardboard box, self-made top, mask included. Remember the rubber band…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-seinfeld/then-finally-the-third-year-begging-the-parents-i-got-the-superman/) [Jerry Seinfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-seinfeld/) ## More by Douglas Coupland > [And in your new lives you'll have to live entirely for that one sensation-that of imminent truth. And you're going to have to holler…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-coupland/and-in-your-new-lives-you-ll-have-to-live-entirely-for-that-one/) [Douglas Coupland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-coupland/) > [A man in a bookstore buys a book on loneliness and every woman in the store hits on him. A woman buys a book…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-coupland/a-man-in-a-bookstore-buys-a-book-on-loneliness-and-every-woman-in-the/) [Douglas Coupland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-coupland/) > [The future and eternity are two entirely different things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-coupland/the-future-and-eternity-are-two-entirely-different-things/) [Douglas Coupland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-coupland/) > [Do you remember how you felt at seventeen? I do and I don't (...) Imagine you came from outer space and someone showed you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-coupland/do-you-remember-how-you-felt-at-seventeen-i-do-and-i-don-t-imagine/) [Douglas Coupland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-coupland/) > [You can't fake competence, creativity, or sexual arousal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-coupland/you-can-t-fake-competence-creativity-or-sexual-arousal/) [Douglas Coupland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-coupland/) > [“But Dag, for all of his efforts, might as well have been talking to a cat. Our parents’ generation seems neither able nor interested…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-coupland/but-dag-for-all-of-his-efforts-might-as-well-have-been-talking-to-a/) [Douglas Coupland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-coupland/) > [Negative? Moi? I think realistic might be a better word. You mean to tell me we can drive all the way here from L.A.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-coupland/negative-moi-i-think-realistic-might-be-a-better-word-you-mean-to/) [Douglas Coupland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-coupland/) > [It was pivotal in making you but you don't remember it. Or do you? Do we understand the events that make us who we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-coupland/it-was-pivotal-in-making-you-but-you-don-t-remember-it-or-do-you-do/) [Douglas Coupland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-coupland/) > [Your ability to rationalize your own bad deeds makes you believe that the whole world is as amoral as you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-coupland/your-ability-to-rationalize-your-own-bad-deeds-makes-you-believe-that/) [Douglas Coupland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-coupland/) > [“I like to go beach-combing, and I like to find interestingly shaped rocks. When I really get into the groove I start finding beautiful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-coupland/i-like-to-go-beach-combing-and-i-like-to-find-interestingly-shaped/) [Douglas Coupland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-coupland/) > [“You know, Dag and Claire smile a lot, as do many people I know. But I always wondered if there is something either mechanical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-coupland/you-know-dag-and-claire-smile-a-lot-as-do-many-people-i-know-but-i/) [Douglas Coupland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-coupland/) > [Brain research tells us that only twenty percent of human beings have a sense of irony, which means that eighty percent of the world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-coupland/brain-research-tells-us-that-only-twenty-percent-of-human-beings-have/) [Douglas Coupland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-coupland/) > [I keep vampire hours, going to bed at 2 A.M. and waking up at about 10:30-11 A.M.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-coupland/i-keep-vampire-hours-going-to-bed-at-2-a-m-and-waking-up-at-about-10/) [Douglas Coupland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-coupland/) > [“Anna-Louise leans over and whispers in my ear. "This is so surreal," she says, "I think I'm turning into a melting clock.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-coupland/anna-louise-leans-over-and-whispers-in-my-ear-this-is-so-surreal-she/) [Douglas Coupland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-coupland/) > [When you grow up these days, you're told you're going to have four or five different careers during your lifetime. But what they don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-coupland/when-you-grow-up-these-days-you-re-told-you-re-going-to-have-four-or/) [Douglas Coupland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-coupland/) [Explore all 704 Douglas Coupland quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-coupland/) ## More Costumes quotes > [So, did the costume come with a condom, or is that sold separately?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-vincent/so-did-the-costume-come-with-a-condom-or-is-that-sold-separately/) [Rachel Vincent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-vincent/) > [Meanwhile someone is shining my head to get it dry to attach my top-hat to my head with toupee tape. I get into microphone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tituss-burgess/meanwhile-someone-is-shining-my-head-to-get-it-dry-to-attach-my-top/) [Tituss Burgess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tituss-burgess/) > [When my kids were in the school play for the first time, I decided I had to make the costumes from scratch and bought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-alexander/when-my-kids-were-in-the-school-play-for-the-first-time-i-decided-i/) [Sarah Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-alexander/) > [Merlin' was awesome, but the costumes would drive you insane. Every day, you'd get into chain mail and wear 30 pounds of that stuff.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eoin-macken/merlin-was-awesome-but-the-costumes-would-drive-you-insane-every-day/) [Eoin Macken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eoin-macken/) > [When the Strokes first started playing gigs, instead of getting into a costume for the shows, we talked about how we should dress every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-casablancas/when-the-strokes-first-started-playing-gigs-instead-of-getting-into-a/) [Julian Casablancas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-casablancas/) > [I've always worked closely with the designers and whoever's making the costumes. Comfort is the last thing you want on your mind when you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristi-yamaguchi/i-ve-always-worked-closely-with-the-designers-and-whoever-s-making/) [Kristi Yamaguchi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristi-yamaguchi/) > [ Shigure Sohma: \[got Tohru a maid costume for White Day\] I can't wait to for her to call me master while wearing this. Hatsuharu… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natsuki-takaya/shigure-sohma-got-tohru-a-maid-costume-for-white-day-i-can-t-wait-to/) [Natsuki Takaya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natsuki-takaya/) > [I always use the analogy that when you go to a jeans store and put on a new pair of jeans, it's a pair…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-bana/i-always-use-the-analogy-that-when-you-go-to-a-jeans-store-and-put-on/) [Eric Bana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-bana/) > [I am out in public and using the phone. I am in a phone booth, got the phone in my hand and a man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-engvall/i-am-out-in-public-and-using-the-phone-i-am-in-a-phone-booth-got-the/) [Bill Engvall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-engvall/) > [...and there I suddenly found my articulate self in a dazzling land of smiling, jostling people wearing and not wearing all sorts of costumes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cary-grant/and-there-i-suddenly-found-my-articulate-self-in-a-dazzling-land-of/) [Cary Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cary-grant/) > [I'm an actor, so I like costumes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/parker-posey/i-m-an-actor-so-i-like-costumes/) [Parker Posey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/parker-posey/) > [My parents are actors as well, so I grew up around that world. It was always a very romantic, mythical world. They did a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phoebe-fox/my-parents-are-actors-as-well-so-i-grew-up-around-that-world-it-was/) [Phoebe Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phoebe-fox/) > [Singing is an incredible expression and something that is important to me, but where I feel comfortable with how much I reveal about myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brie-larson/singing-is-an-incredible-expression-and-something-that-is-important/) [Brie Larson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brie-larson/) > [Someone once bought me loads of clothes from a charity shop - and sent them to me in a black bin liner. That was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-shaw/someone-once-bought-me-loads-of-clothes-from-a-charity-shop-and-sent/) [Suzanne Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-shaw/) > [When I was young, I would get my tailor to replicate Madhuri Dixit's costumes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mallika-sherawat/when-i-was-young-i-would-get-my-tailor-to-replicate-madhuri-dixit-s/) [Mallika Sherawat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mallika-sherawat/) [Browse all 655 Costumes quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/costumes/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I think if human beings had genuine courage, they'd wear their costumes every day of the year, not just on Halloween. Wouldn't life be more interesting that way? And now that I think about it, why the heck don't they? Who made the rule that everybody has to dress like sheep 364 days of the year? Think of all the people you'd meet if they were in costume every day. 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