---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We always like those who admire us; we do…"
description: "\"“We always like those who admire us; we do not always like those whom we admire”\" — François de La Rochefoucauld"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/757/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_admire_we-always-like-those-who-admire-us-we-do_597610.png"
---

#  We always like those who admire us; we do not always like…

![“We always like those who admire us; we do not always like those whom we admire” quote by François de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/757/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_admire_we-always-like-those-who-admire-us-we-do_597610.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/757/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_admire_we-always-like-those-who-admire-us-we-do_597610.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/757/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_admire_we-always-like-those-who-admire-us-we-do_597610.png)

> ““We always like those who admire us; we do not always like those whom we admire””

[François de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/)

## About This Quote

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

People often enjoy being admired but may not reciprocate admiration for those they admire, revealing a paradox in social preferences.

**In simple terms:** We like being admired more than admiring others.

Key Takeaway

Balance giving and receiving admiration in relationships.

Themes

social behavior ego reciprocity

Mood

reflective analytical

Type

philosophical observational

When to use this quote

- friendships
- leadership
- teamwork

Key Concepts

psychology social dynamics self-esteem

Questions to Reflect On

- Do you give admiration freely?
- How do you handle admiration that feels one‑sided?

A Different Perspective

Admiration can be conditional and may create imbalance.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

## Related quotes

> [What bothers me, I guess, is when I get these messages from girls on Twitter, and they're like, 'God, you're my idol, I really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cara-delevingne/what-bothers-me-i-guess-is-when-i-get-these-messages-from-girls-on/)

[Cara Delevingne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cara-delevingne/)

> [Among those whom I like or admire, I can find no common denominator, but among those I love, I can: all of them make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-h-auden/among-those-whom-i-like-or-admire-i-can-find-no-common-denominator/)

[W. H. Auden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-h-auden/)

> [I like Stella McCartney, Chloe, Alexander McQueen, Aaron Featherstone, normal Chanel if I can ever afford it, I'd be wearing that all the time!…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brittany-snow/i-like-stella-mccartney-chloe-alexander-mcqueen-aaron-featherstone/)

[Brittany Snow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brittany-snow/)

> [Sometimes it is not what we despise that most hurts us; it is what we like and admire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sometimes-it-is-not-what-we-despise-that-most-hurts-us-it-is-what-we/)

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

> [Most poets, like most people, try hard to be like someone they admire or they are possessed with an image of what they ought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-broughton/most-poets-like-most-people-try-hard-to-be-like-someone-they-admire/)

[James Broughton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-broughton/)

> [There's people who I admire like... Dr. Dre, Puff Daddy, Master P, people who built their stuff and are still going.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wiz-khalifa/there-s-people-who-i-admire-like-dr-dre-puff-daddy-master-p-people/)

[Wiz Khalifa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wiz-khalifa/)

> [Every time you get the chance to work with somebody you admire and would like to collaborate with... it feels like the best opportunity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-riseborough/every-time-you-get-the-chance-to-work-with-somebody-you-admire-and/)

[Andrea Riseborough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-riseborough/)

> [“A man can love too.' 'No; -- hardly. He can admire, and he can like, and he can fondle and be fond. He can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-trollope/a-man-can-love-too-no-hardly-he-can-admire-and-he-can-like-and-he-can/)

[Anthony Trollope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-trollope/)

> [Wow, I wish I could have done something like that.” That’s the thing, with other filmmakers, if I like them I just feel admiration.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfonso-cuaron/wow-i-wish-i-could-have-done-something-like-that-that-s-the-thing/)

[Alfonso Cuaron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfonso-cuaron/)

> [I have a desire to learn and be able to interact with people that I admire or like or respect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harrison-barnes/i-have-a-desire-to-learn-and-be-able-to-interact-with-people-that-i/)

[Harrison Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harrison-barnes/)

> [“The two girls used to meet several times a day, and every time they met, Kitty's eyes said: "Who are you? What are you?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/the-two-girls-used-to-meet-several-times-a-day-and-every-time-they/)

[Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/)

> [The companies we admire are like the people we admire: resilient, authentic, personable, collaborative, ambitious, and humble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-companies-we-admire-are-like-the-people-we-admire-resilient/)

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

> [There are guys I admire. Like Jimmy Stewart and - a more modern example - Tom Hanks. They managed to do it and have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-reynolds/there-are-guys-i-admire-like-jimmy-stewart-and-a-more-modern-example/)

[Ryan Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-reynolds/)

> [“He is that Object to admire which (or, if you like, to appreciate which) is simply to be awake, to have entered the real…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis-2/he-is-that-object-to-admire-which-or-if-you-like-to-appreciate-which/)

[C.S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis-2/)

> [I can admire someone like my grandpa who was always happy and proud.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/uncle-kracker/i-can-admire-someone-like-my-grandpa-who-was-always-happy-and-proud/)

[Uncle Kracker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/uncle-kracker/)

## More by François de La Rochefoucauld

> [Our own distrust gives a fair pretence for the knavery of other people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/our-own-distrust-gives-a-fair-pretence-for-the-knavery-of-other-people/)

[Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/)

> [Behind many acts that are thought ridiculous there lie wise and weighty motives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/behind-many-acts-that-are-thought-ridiculous-there-lie-wise-and/)

[Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/)

> [“Passion often makes a madman of the cleverest man, and renders the greatest fools clever.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/passion-often-makes-a-madman-of-the-cleverest-man-and-renders-the/)

[François de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/)

> [Perseverance is neither praiseworthy nor blameworthy; for it seems to be only the enduring of certain inclinations and opinions which men neither give themselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/perseverance-is-neither-praiseworthy-nor-blameworthy-for-it-seems-to/)

[Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/)

> [A woman is faithful to her first lover for a long time - unless she happens to take a second.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/a-woman-is-faithful-to-her-first-lover-for-a-long-time-unless-she/)

[Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/)

> [We are almost always wearied in the company of persons with whom we are not permitted to be weary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/we-are-almost-always-wearied-in-the-company-of-persons-with-whom-we/)

[Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/)

> [The love of new acquaintance comes not so much from being weary of what we had before, or from any satisfaction there is in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/the-love-of-new-acquaintance-comes-not-so-much-from-being-weary-of/)

[Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/)

> [It is sometimes necessary to play the fool to avoid being deceived by cunning men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/it-is-sometimes-necessary-to-play-the-fool-to-avoid-being-deceived-by/)

[Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/)

> [The intention of never deceiving often exposes us to deception.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/the-intention-of-never-deceiving-often-exposes-us-to-deception/)

[Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/)

> [Jealousy springs more from love of self than from love of another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/jealousy-springs-more-from-love-of-self-than-from-love-of-another/)

[Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/)

> [Our distrust of another justifies his deceit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/our-distrust-of-another-justifies-his-deceit/)

[Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/)

> [No persons are more frequently wrong, than those who will not admit they are wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/no-persons-are-more-frequently-wrong-than-those-who-will-not-admit/)

[Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/)

> [Jealousy is always born with love, but does not die with it. In jealousy there is more of self-love than of love to another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/jealousy-is-always-born-with-love-but-does-not-die-with-it-in/)

[Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/)

> [The greatest of all gifts is the power to estimate things at their true worth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/the-greatest-of-all-gifts-is-the-power-to-estimate-things-at-their/)

[Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/)

> [We have not strength enough to follow our reason so far as it would carry us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/we-have-not-strength-enough-to-follow-our-reason-so-far-as-it-would/)

[Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/)

[Explore all 1,134 François de La Rochefoucauld quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/)

## More Admire quotes

> [Everyone will admire you when you do well. What a horrible thing to do to someone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/everyone-will-admire-you-when-you-do-well-what-a-horrible-thing-to-do/)

[Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/)

> [I admire Serena Williams, because, I mean, who doesn't admire Serena Williams?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johanna-konta/i-admire-serena-williams-because-i-mean-who-doesn-t-admire-serena/)

[Johanna Konta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johanna-konta/)

> [How proud I am to be compared to Oprah. I really admire her. She's a minority woman and she's done all this by herself...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cristina-saralegui/how-proud-i-am-to-be-compared-to-oprah-i-really-admire-her-she-s-a/)

[Cristina Saralegui](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cristina-saralegui/)

> [I admire President Obama's ability to trust strangers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-gutfeld/i-admire-president-obama-s-ability-to-trust-strangers/)

[Greg Gutfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-gutfeld/)

> [I really admire people's interactions with technology that aren't tech-centric but use it as a tool.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-polachek/i-really-admire-people-s-interactions-with-technology-that-aren-t/)

[Caroline Polachek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-polachek/)

> [During my first years in the Sierra, I was ever calling on everybody within reach to admire them, but I found no one half…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-muir/during-my-first-years-in-the-sierra-i-was-ever-calling-on-everybody/)

[John Muir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-muir/)

> [Shaw's works make me admire the magnificent tolerance and broadmindedness of the english.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-joyce/shaw-s-works-make-me-admire-the-magnificent-tolerance-and/)

[James Joyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-joyce/)

> [It could be my British need for discipline that makes me admire the American appetite for freedom and passion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-winwood/it-could-be-my-british-need-for-discipline-that-makes-me-admire-the/)

[Steve Winwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-winwood/)

> [I believe in a world where there are no heroes, and I've read and know humanity a lot. There are moments that I admire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orhan-pamuk/i-believe-in-a-world-where-there-are-no-heroes-and-i-ve-read-and-know/)

[Orhan Pamuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orhan-pamuk/)

> [I admire machinery as much is any man, and am as thankful to it as any man can be for what it does for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/i-admire-machinery-as-much-is-any-man-and-am-as-thankful-to-it-as-any/)

[Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/)

> [I think it's really good and helpful to have the people you most admire in some other discipline than what you work in. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/whit-stillman/i-think-it-s-really-good-and-helpful-to-have-the-people-you-most/)

[Whit Stillman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/whit-stillman/)

> [Part of what we admire about a painting or a piece of music is the order which the artist has imposed upon what would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-storr/part-of-what-we-admire-about-a-painting-or-a-piece-of-music-is-the/)

[Anthony Storr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-storr/)

> [I respect and admire the Premier League.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-koeman/i-respect-and-admire-the-premier-league/)

[Ronald Koeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-koeman/)

> [“Admire and appreciate your man and he will be happy on your side”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-alfiori/admire-and-appreciate-your-man-and-he-will-be-happy-on-your-side/)

[Linda Alfiori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-alfiori/)

> [“The thing I admire most about you is no matter how hard, or how much the world has tried to beat you, break you,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikita-gill/the-thing-i-admire-most-about-you-is-no-matter-how-hard-or-how-much/)

[Nikita Gill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikita-gill/)

Browse all 2,369 Admire quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“We always like those who admire us; we do not always like those whom we admire”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "François de La Rochefoucauld"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/we-always-like-those-who-admire-us-we-do-not-always-like-those-whom/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Admire"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/we-always-like-those-who-admire-us-we-do-not-always-like-those-whom/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/757/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_admire_we-always-like-those-who-admire-us-we-do_597610.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/757/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_admire_we-always-like-those-who-admire-us-we-do_597610.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/757/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_admire_we-always-like-those-who-admire-us-we-do_597610.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“We always like those who admire us; we do not always like those whom we admire” — François de La Rochefoucauld",
                "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": "François de La Rochefoucauld",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“We always like those who admire...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/we-always-like-those-who-admire-us-we-do-not-always-like-those-whom/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/we-always-like-those-who-admire-us-we-do-not-always-like-those-whom/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
