---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Telling someone he looks healthy isn't a…"
description: "\"Telling someone he looks healthy isn't a compliment -- it's a second opinion.\" — Fran Lebowitz"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/875/fran-lebowitz-690_compliment_telling-someone-he-looks-healthy-isn-t-a_2431536.png"
---

#  Telling someone he looks healthy isn't a compliment…

![“Telling someone he looks healthy isn't a compliment -- it's a second opinion.” quote by Fran Lebowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/875/fran-lebowitz-690_compliment_telling-someone-he-looks-healthy-isn-t-a_2431536.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/875/fran-lebowitz-690_compliment_telling-someone-he-looks-healthy-isn-t-a_2431536.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/875/fran-lebowitz-690_compliment_telling-someone-he-looks-healthy-isn-t-a_2431536.png)

> “Telling someone he looks healthy isn't a compliment -- it's a second opinion.”

[Fran Lebowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fran-lebowitz/)

## About This Quote

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

Commenting on health is not a compliment but an unsolicited second opinion.

**In simple terms:** Saying “you look healthy” is a second opinion.

Key Takeaway

Avoid unsolicited health remarks.

Themes

social interaction communication boundaries

Mood

wry observational

Type

cultural humorous

When to use this quote

- social gatherings
- casual conversation
- professional settings

Key Concepts

personal space health perception

Questions to Reflect On

- When is health feedback appropriate?
- How does tone affect reception?

A Different Perspective

People may feel judged rather than praised.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Health](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/health/) [Opinion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opinion/)

## Related quotes

> [If you have your own taste, you know what looks right and what looks good on you versus someone kind of telling you what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-angelo-russell/if-you-have-your-own-taste-you-know-what-looks-right-and-what-looks/)

[D'Angelo Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-angelo-russell/)

> [I told him about the way they get to know you. Not the way people do, the way they flatter you by wanting to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-hempel/i-told-him-about-the-way-they-get-to-know-you-not-the-way-people-do/)

[Amy Hempel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-hempel/)

> ['You're just you in your movies!' isn't a compliment, nor a reason for me to care about your existence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-mintz-plasse-2/you-re-just-you-in-your-movies-isn-t-a-compliment-nor-a-reason-for-me/)

[Christopher Mintz Plasse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-mintz-plasse-2/)

> [Being healthy isn't about inches, pounds, or how kids look - it's about how they feel and making sure they feel good about themselves.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-obama/being-healthy-isn-t-about-inches-pounds-or-how-kids-look-it-s-about/)

[Michelle Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-obama/)

> [Cooking healthy, nutritious and delicious meals is one of my biggest passions so eating 'healthy' for me isn't 'eating healthy', it's just eating.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-gale/cooking-healthy-nutritious-and-delicious-meals-is-one-of-my-biggest/)

[Kelly Gale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-gale/)

> [((Doc is getting ready to do a Pap-smear on Reece)) "Looks healthy," Doc commented. "Good, because it hasn't been getting any exercise in quite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-roberts/doc-is-getting-ready-to-do-a-pap-smear-on-reece-looks-healthy-doc/)

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

> [I want to be an inspirational model. I want people to look at me and say, 'Wow, she looks healthy.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ireland-baldwin/i-want-to-be-an-inspirational-model-i-want-people-to-look-at-me-and/)

[Ireland Baldwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ireland-baldwin/)

> [Getting healthy isn't just about losing weight. It's not limited to adjusting our diet and hoping for good physical results. It's about recalibrating our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lysa-terkeurst/getting-healthy-isn-t-just-about-losing-weight-it-s-not-limited-to/)

[Lysa TerKeurst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lysa-terkeurst/)

> [“I am right in front of him, my hand resting on the screen. I search his eyes for any sign of hurt, any reflection…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/i-am-right-in-front-of-him-my-hand-resting-on-the-screen-i-search-his/)

[Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/)

> [In order to have skin that glows and looks healthy and actually is healthy, you need to look at the whole picture and have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allison-williams/in-order-to-have-skin-that-glows-and-looks-healthy-and-actually-is/)

[Allison Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allison-williams/)

> [You can't educate a child who isn't healthy, and you can't keep a child healthy who isn't educated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joycelyn-elders/you-can-t-educate-a-child-who-isn-t-healthy-and-you-can-t-keep-a/)

[Joycelyn Elders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joycelyn-elders/)

> [“Don’t be afraid to ask for help, because sometimes we can’t “reach it” all by ourselves, or our judgment isn’t clear and we need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-howell/don-t-be-afraid-to-ask-for-help-because-sometimes-we-can-t-reach-it/)

[Angela Howell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-howell/)

> [When I told my wife she was lousy in bed - she went out - she got a second opinion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-dangerfield/when-i-told-my-wife-she-was-lousy-in-bed-she-went-out-she-got-a/)

[Rodney Dangerfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-dangerfield/)

> [Doctor just told me I can't have kids. I asked for a second opinion. He said, Why? No one's gonna to let you take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-jeselnik/doctor-just-told-me-i-can-t-have-kids-i-asked-for-a-second-opinion-he/)

[Anthony Jeselnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-jeselnik/)

> [as we acquire new aches and new pains, our health care is, of necessity, being supplied by internists, cardiologists, dermatologists, podiatrists, urologists, periodontists, gynecologists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-viorst/as-we-acquire-new-aches-and-new-pains-our-health-care-is-of-necessity/)

[Judith Viorst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-viorst/)

## More by Fran Lebowitz

> [Why not have your first baby at sixty, when your husband is already dead and your career is over? Then you can really devote…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fran-lebowitz/why-not-have-your-first-baby-at-sixty-when-your-husband-is-already/)

[Fran Lebowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fran-lebowitz/)

> [I've never had the experience of being edited and never will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fran-lebowitz/i-ve-never-had-the-experience-of-being-edited-and-never-will/)

[Fran Lebowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fran-lebowitz/)

> [I think humor is warmer, and wit is colder. Wit is judgment, whereas humor invites some sort of response.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fran-lebowitz/i-think-humor-is-warmer-and-wit-is-colder-wit-is-judgment-whereas/)

[Fran Lebowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fran-lebowitz/)

> [Communists all seem to wear small caps, a look I consider better suited to tubes of toothpaste than to people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fran-lebowitz/communists-all-seem-to-wear-small-caps-a-look-i-consider-better/)

[Fran Lebowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fran-lebowitz/)

> [“lack, or loutish and crass kollective is a program dedicated to the proposition that vulgarity and bad taste are an inalienable right. the lackies,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fran-lebowitz/lack-or-loutish-and-crass-kollective-is-a-program-dedicated-to-the/)

[Fran Lebowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fran-lebowitz/)

> [I figure you have the same chance of winning the lottery whether you play or not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fran-lebowitz/i-figure-you-have-the-same-chance-of-winning-the-lottery-whether-you/)

[Fran Lebowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fran-lebowitz/)

> [ \[Friendships\] are easy to get out of compared to love affairs, but they are not easy to get out of compared to, say, jail. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fran-lebowitz/friendships-are-easy-to-get-out-of-compared-to-love-affairs-but-they/)

[Fran Lebowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fran-lebowitz/)

> [Smoking is, as far as I'm concerned, the entire point of being an adult.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fran-lebowitz/smoking-is-as-far-as-i-m-concerned-the-entire-point-of-being-an-adult/)

[Fran Lebowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fran-lebowitz/)

> [If you want to get ahead in this world get a lawyer -- not a book.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fran-lebowitz/if-you-want-to-get-ahead-in-this-world-get-a-lawyer-not-a-book/)

[Fran Lebowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fran-lebowitz/)

> [When it comes to sports I am not particularly interested. Generally speaking, I look upon them as dangerous and tiring activities performed by people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fran-lebowitz/when-it-comes-to-sports-i-am-not-particularly-interested-generally/)

[Fran Lebowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fran-lebowitz/)

> [The first time I ever saw platform shoes in the '70s, I knew they'd been revived from the '40s, and I felt sickened. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fran-lebowitz/the-first-time-i-ever-saw-platform-shoes-in-the-70s-i-knew-they-d/)

[Fran Lebowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fran-lebowitz/)

> [Children ask better questions than adults. "May I have a cookie?" "Why is the sky blue?" and "What does a cow say?" are far…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fran-lebowitz/children-ask-better-questions-than-adults-may-i-have-a-cookie-why-is/)

[Fran Lebowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fran-lebowitz/)

> [ I do not think everyone is created equal. In fact, I know they're not. \[The Constitution\] means that everyone should have the same laws… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fran-lebowitz/i-do-not-think-everyone-is-created-equal-in-fact-i-know-they-re-not/)

[Fran Lebowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fran-lebowitz/)

> [When I fly, I'm never afraid the plane is going to crash. But there have often been times when I was afraid it wouldn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fran-lebowitz/when-i-fly-i-m-never-afraid-the-plane-is-going-to-crash-but-there/)

[Fran Lebowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fran-lebowitz/)

> [Smoking is, if not my life, then at least my hobby. I love to smoke. Smoking is fun. Smoking is cool. Smoking is, as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fran-lebowitz/smoking-is-if-not-my-life-then-at-least-my-hobby-i-love-to-smoke/)

[Fran Lebowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fran-lebowitz/)

[Explore all 408 Fran Lebowitz quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fran-lebowitz/)

## More Compliment quotes

> [Hot legs, bring your Mother, too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-stewart/hot-legs-bring-your-mother-too/)

[Rod Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-stewart/)

> [I see the joy in life and I see the joy in simple things. I over-compliment. I over-praise. I over-express my feelings toward people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherry-lansing/i-see-the-joy-in-life-and-i-see-the-joy-in-simple-things-i-over/)

[Sherry Lansing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherry-lansing/)

> [The words I LOVE YOU, sometimes fooled us... But when someone says I TRUST YOU.. That's a better compliment, a true care with faith...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-reolope/the-words-i-love-you-sometimes-fooled-us-but-when-someone-says-i/)

[Janet Reolope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-reolope/)

> [Sometimes after a compliment about my characterization skills, I'm asked if I model my characters on real people. Emphatically, no. And sort of, yes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brent-weeks/sometimes-after-a-compliment-about-my-characterization-skills-i-m/)

[Brent Weeks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brent-weeks/)

> [I've got the public. I don't care about the critics. I did at one time. I don't any more. I did when I needed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-neiman/i-ve-got-the-public-i-don-t-care-about-the-critics-i-did-at-one-time/)

[LeRoy Neiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-neiman/)

> [When one is frank, one's very presence is a compliment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-moore/when-one-is-frank-one-s-very-presence-is-a-compliment/)

[Marianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-moore/)

> [Well, I think every now and again, some people deserve to get their butts chewed. Every now and again some people deserve a pat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/well-i-think-every-now-and-again-some-people-deserve-to-get-their/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [We are searching for the same thing,” Stripey said. “How do you know?” Janco asked. “I read his mind.” The Sitian pointed to Ari.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-v-snyder/we-are-searching-for-the-same-thing-stripey-said-how-do-you-know/)

[Maria V. Snyder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-v-snyder/)

> [“Even if you are a pompous ass with no respect for authority, you're worth fifty men, and I mean to see you in my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-mcclellan/even-if-you-are-a-pompous-ass-with-no-respect-for-authority-you-re/)

[Brian McClellan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-mcclellan/)

> [You're better off owning 30 percent and having two amazing partners who compliment you and are equally as driven as you are than having…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-dyrdek/you-re-better-off-owning-30-percent-and-having-two-amazing-partners/)

[Rob Dyrdek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-dyrdek/)

> [The three of us just try put our heads down and stay creative. The awards truly are just cake. It's one of those things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-scott/the-three-of-us-just-try-put-our-heads-down-and-stay-creative-the/)

[Hillary Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-scott/)

> [Your eyes are like two jewels in the sky.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dylan/your-eyes-are-like-two-jewels-in-the-sky/)

[Bob Dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dylan/)

> [I've made this conscious decision to tell people on the street when I think they're wearing something great. If more people did that, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-jensen/i-ve-made-this-conscious-decision-to-tell-people-on-the-street-when-i/)

[Ashley Jensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-jensen/)

> [“Why did you decide to be an architect?" "I didn't know it then. But it's because I've never believed in God." "Come on, talk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/why-did-you-decide-to-be-an-architect-i-didn-t-know-it-then-but-it-s/)

[Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/)

> [When two people compliment each other with the choice of anything, each of them generally gets that which he likes least.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/when-two-people-compliment-each-other-with-the-choice-of-anything/)

[Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/)

Browse all 1,338 Compliment quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Telling someone he looks healthy isn't a compliment -- it's a second opinion.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Fran Lebowitz"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fran-lebowitz/telling-someone-he-looks-healthy-isn-t-a-compliment-it-s-a-second/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Compliment"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fran-lebowitz/telling-someone-he-looks-healthy-isn-t-a-compliment-it-s-a-second/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/875/fran-lebowitz-690_compliment_telling-someone-he-looks-healthy-isn-t-a_2431536.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/875/fran-lebowitz-690_compliment_telling-someone-he-looks-healthy-isn-t-a_2431536.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/875/fran-lebowitz-690_compliment_telling-someone-he-looks-healthy-isn-t-a_2431536.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Telling someone he looks healthy isn't a compliment -- it's a second opinion.” — Fran Lebowitz",
                "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": "Fran Lebowitz",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fran-lebowitz/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Telling someone he looks healthy isn't...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fran-lebowitz/telling-someone-he-looks-healthy-isn-t-a-compliment-it-s-a-second/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fran-lebowitz/telling-someone-he-looks-healthy-isn-t-a-compliment-it-s-a-second/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
