--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's extremely seldom that anybody wants…" description: "\"It's extremely seldom that anybody wants me to change what I've written about them. Generally I portray them in a good light, if they're friends\" — Har..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ed9/harvey-pekar-4945_friends_it-s-extremely-seldom-that-anybody-wants_2873921.jpg" --- # It's extremely seldom that anybody wants me to change what… ![“It's extremely seldom that anybody wants me to change what I've written about them. Generally I portray them in a good light, if they're friends” quote by Harvey Pekar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ed9/harvey-pekar-4945_friends_it-s-extremely-seldom-that-anybody-wants_2873921.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ed9/harvey-pekar-4945_friends_it-s-extremely-seldom-that-anybody-wants_2873921.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ed9/harvey-pekar-4945_friends_it-s-extremely-seldom-that-anybody-wants_2873921.jpg) > “It's extremely seldom that anybody wants me to change what I've written about them. Generally I portray them in a good light, if they're friends” [Harvey Pekar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-pekar/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People rarely ask to be portrayed negatively; we tend to present friends favorably. **In simple terms:** Friends are shown in a good light. Key Takeaway Show appreciation for friends. Themes friendship portrayal self‑presentation Mood reflective warm Type personal observational When to use this quote - writing about acquaintances - personal memoirs - social media posts Key Concepts public image social perception Questions to Reflect On - How does flattering portrayal affect honesty? - When is honesty more valuable than kindness? A Different Perspective May overlook flaws, leading to unrealistic views. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Friends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friends/) [Generally Portray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/generally-portray-3946624/) [Light](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/light/) [Light Friends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/light-friends-3946625/) [Portray Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/portray-good-2861120/) [Wants Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wants-change/) [Written](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/written/) ## Related quotes > [One of the differences between now and then is that the idea of body image is a much bigger issue now. Back then, just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-affleck/one-of-the-differences-between-now-and-then-is-that-the-idea-of-body/) [Ben Affleck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-affleck/) > [“Let arms be still and voices low, A million eyes watch as you go. A silken door your pathway ends, There fire and light…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-rodda/let-arms-be-still-and-voices-low-a-million-eyes-watch-as-you-go-a/) [Emily Rodda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-rodda/) > [I have so much love and light with the friends that I have around me, who I speak to every day, my family.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eva-marcille/i-have-so-much-love-and-light-with-the-friends-that-i-have-around-me/) [Eva Marcille](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eva-marcille/) > [As a character, it's very interesting to play someone who wants to change their life and have him change it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winona-ryder/as-a-character-it-s-very-interesting-to-play-someone-who-wants-to/) [Winona Ryder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winona-ryder/) > [“This is an invitation to change. This is complicated only in that most of us are quite divided, usually part of us wants to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-brand/this-is-an-invitation-to-change-this-is-complicated-only-in-that-most/) [Russell Brand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-brand/) > [God does sometimes change our trying circumstances. But more often, He doesn't - because He wants to change us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-wilkerson/god-does-sometimes-change-our-trying-circumstances-but-more-often-he/) [David Wilkerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-wilkerson/) > [Everyone wants better, no one wants change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/everyone-wants-better-no-one-wants-change/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Everybody wants to change the world yet no one wants to change themselves.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hamza-yusuf/everybody-wants-to-change-the-world-yet-no-one-wants-to-change/) [Hamza Yusuf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hamza-yusuf/) > [Statistics vary, but in less than seven years there won't be a single cell left in any of our bodies that's the same as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-finley/statistics-vary-but-in-less-than-seven-years-there-won-t-be-a-single/) [Guy Finley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-finley/) > [Everyone wants change. Donald is the only one that can deliver it. We should not be satisfied with stagnation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melania-trump/everyone-wants-change-donald-is-the-only-one-that-can-deliver-it-we/) [Melania Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melania-trump/) > [Change in a person happens not because YOU want it to happen, it happens when the person who needs to change, wants to change.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-nathaniel-butler/change-in-a-person-happens-not-because-you-want-it-to-happen-it/) [Eugene Nathaniel Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-nathaniel-butler/) > [When people said Africa would change me, I didn't understand what they meant. To see the poverty in the townships, for instance, is overwhelming.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-hudson/when-people-said-africa-would-change-me-i-didn-t-understand-what-they/) [Jennifer Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-hudson/) > [“To generate a big impact, pair someone who wants to change the world with someone who already knows how the world works.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-wiseman/to-generate-a-big-impact-pair-someone-who-wants-to-change-the-world/) [Liz Wiseman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-wiseman/) > [>> Everybody wants to change the world, but nobody wants to change his self.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juba-larbes/everybody-wants-to-change-the-world-but-nobody-wants-to-change-his/) [Juba Larbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juba-larbes/) > [So, President Obama wants to change America. I understand that. We don't need to change America. We need to change the White House. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-diaz-balart/so-president-obama-wants-to-change-america-i-understand-that-we-don-t/) [Mario Diaz-Balart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-diaz-balart/) ## More by Harvey Pekar > [Every ethnic group thinks they are the chosen ones. …](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-pekar/every-ethnic-group-thinks-they-are-the-chosen-ones/) [Harvey Pekar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-pekar/) > [Since about 1980 Kenny Werner has been one of jazz’s unsung heroes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-pekar/since-about-1980-kenny-werner-has-been-one-of-jazz-s-unsung-heroes/) [Harvey Pekar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-pekar/) > [I think that the so-called average person often exhibits a great deal of heroism in getting through an ordinary day . . .](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-pekar/i-think-that-the-so-called-average-person-often-exhibits-a-great-deal/) [Harvey Pekar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-pekar/) > [It's real easy for me to write a lot of stories. I just go and I live through something, and I go home and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-pekar/it-s-real-easy-for-me-to-write-a-lot-of-stories-i-just-go-and-i-live/) [Harvey Pekar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-pekar/) > [I've just been writing stuff down as it comes to me. I haven't thought, 'Let me write some major opus here.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-pekar/i-ve-just-been-writing-stuff-down-as-it-comes-to-me-i-haven-t-thought/) [Harvey Pekar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-pekar/) > [I'm always shook up and nervous and I've got the hospital record to prove it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-pekar/i-m-always-shook-up-and-nervous-and-i-ve-got-the-hospital-record-to/) [Harvey Pekar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-pekar/) > [I'm a guy that likes to sit in one place](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-pekar/i-m-a-guy-that-likes-to-sit-in-one-place/) [Harvey Pekar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-pekar/) > [People who are readers of fiction aren't particularly interested in comic books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-pekar/people-who-are-readers-of-fiction-aren-t-particularly-interested-in/) [Harvey Pekar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-pekar/) > [When you're dead, it robs life of many of it's pleasures](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-pekar/when-you-re-dead-it-robs-life-of-many-of-it-s-pleasures/) [Harvey Pekar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-pekar/) > [My parents' work ethic amazed me. How could they put in such long hours, day after day? Part of the reason was to keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-pekar/my-parents-work-ethic-amazed-me-how-could-they-put-in-such-long-hours/) [Harvey Pekar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-pekar/) > [I think you can find all the elements that you can find in great literature in mundane experiences.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-pekar/i-think-you-can-find-all-the-elements-that-you-can-find-in-great/) [Harvey Pekar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-pekar/) > [Life is about women, gigs, an' bein' creative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-pekar/life-is-about-women-gigs-an-bein-creative/) [Harvey Pekar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-pekar/) > [The film's success so far involves winning a couple of prizes at Cannes and Sundance, and getting some very nice reviews in newspapers and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-pekar/the-film-s-success-so-far-involves-winning-a-couple-of-prizes-at/) [Harvey Pekar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-pekar/) > [I just continue to be kind of disappointed that people don't realize that and try and diversify the kind of work they are doing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-pekar/i-just-continue-to-be-kind-of-disappointed-that-people-don-t-realize/) [Harvey Pekar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-pekar/) > [I don't think I made any really big mistakes; it's just that I chose something difficult to do. Looking back, I suppose I should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-pekar/i-don-t-think-i-made-any-really-big-mistakes-it-s-just-that-i-chose/) [Harvey Pekar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-pekar/) [Explore all 104 Harvey Pekar quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-pekar/) ## More Friends quotes > [Whatever meaning 'Annie's Song' had for me on a personal level, there was also a larger context. It could just as easily have been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-denver/whatever-meaning-annie-s-song-had-for-me-on-a-personal-level-there/) [John Denver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-denver/) > [It's always great to see old friends, especially those I have not been able to see in 15 months.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-regal/it-s-always-great-to-see-old-friends-especially-those-i-have-not-been/) [William Regal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-regal/) > [Friends are like stars you can't always see them, but you know they're there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/unknwon/friends-are-like-stars-you-can-t-always-see-them-but-you-know-they-re/) [Unknwon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/unknwon/) > [I have friends and family that identify as LGBTQ.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-mace/i-have-friends-and-family-that-identify-as-lgbtq/) [Nancy Mace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-mace/) > [“Light it up, bitch.' 'Light it up, asshole,' ...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/light-it-up-bitch-light-it-up-asshole/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [In life, we never lose friends we only get to know who the true ones are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ace-kid/in-life-we-never-lose-friends-we-only-get-to-know-who-the-true-ones/) [Ace Kid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ace-kid/) > [I always bump into people that Ive met. Not great friends, but if I bump into somebody Ive known and I wont recognise them.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dario-franchitti/i-always-bump-into-people-that-ive-met-not-great-friends-but-if-i/) [Dario Franchitti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dario-franchitti/) > [It's hard to be JUST FRIENDS with the ONE YOU LOVE when every time you look at that person, all you see is EVERYTHING…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-s-hard-to-be-just-friends-with-the-one-you-love-when-every-time/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [One of the things that touches me most when I play for an audience is that although we may be unable to communicate in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hough/one-of-the-things-that-touches-me-most-when-i-play-for-an-audience-is/) [Stephen Hough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hough/) > [Actors don't hate acting. Most people don't hate acting! Whether you're a child mucking around with your friends or a grown up being paid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liv-hewson/actors-don-t-hate-acting-most-people-don-t-hate-acting-whether-you-re/) [Liv Hewson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liv-hewson/) > [Family over friends, because real friends are family](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/family-over-friends-because-real-friends-are-family/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [There are a lot of kids out there copying and distributing movies - not because they care about seeing the movies or sharing them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-perry-barlow/there-are-a-lot-of-kids-out-there-copying-and-distributing-movies-not/) [John Perry Barlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-perry-barlow/) > [“Cops aren't really your friends, they are trying to be your friends but they are not… - They are searching evidence to PIN YOU.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deyth-banger/cops-aren-t-really-your-friends-they-are-trying-to-be-your-friends/) [Deyth Banger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deyth-banger/) > [“Don’t waste your time trying to explain yourself to people that are committed to misunderstanding you. Instead, commit your time to explaining who they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder/don-t-waste-your-time-trying-to-explain-yourself-to-people-that-are/) [Shannon L. Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder/) > [Back home I get to see my old friends!(: But they don't understand the change in me and I can't explain it to them...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jade/back-home-i-get-to-see-my-old-friends-but-they-don-t-understand-the/) [Jade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jade/) [Browse all 13,428 Friends quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friends/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It's extremely seldom that anybody wants me to change what I've written about them. Generally I portray them in a good light, if they're friends", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Harvey Pekar" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-pekar/it-s-extremely-seldom-that-anybody-wants-me-to-change-what-i-ve/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Friends" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-pekar/it-s-extremely-seldom-that-anybody-wants-me-to-change-what-i-ve/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ed9/harvey-pekar-4945_friends_it-s-extremely-seldom-that-anybody-wants_2873921.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ed9/harvey-pekar-4945_friends_it-s-extremely-seldom-that-anybody-wants_2873921.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ed9/harvey-pekar-4945_friends_it-s-extremely-seldom-that-anybody-wants_2873921.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It's extremely seldom that anybody wants me to change what I've written about them. Generally I portray them…” — Harvey Pekar", "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": "Harvey Pekar", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-pekar/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It's extremely seldom that anybody wants...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-pekar/it-s-extremely-seldom-that-anybody-wants-me-to-change-what-i-ve/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-pekar/it-s-extremely-seldom-that-anybody-wants-me-to-change-what-i-ve/#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 } } ] } ```