--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I'm not that nice,\" I said. People were…" description: "\"“I'm not that nice,\" I said. People were always telling me how nice I was. You'd think it would be a compliment, but it was amazing how sometimes it ju..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d0/hester-browne-25208_compliment_i-m-not-that-nice-i-said-people-were-alw_668081.jpg" --- # I'm not that nice," I said. People were always telling me… ![“I'm not that nice," I said. People were always telling me how nice I was. You'd think it would be a compliment, but it was amazing how sometimes it just felt like a kinder way of saying "blah." "I just keep my horrible side well hidden.” quote by Hester Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d0/hester-browne-25208_compliment_i-m-not-that-nice-i-said-people-were-alw_668081.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d0/hester-browne-25208_compliment_i-m-not-that-nice-i-said-people-were-alw_668081.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d0/hester-browne-25208_compliment_i-m-not-that-nice-i-said-people-were-alw_668081.jpg) > ““I'm not that nice," I said. People were always telling me how nice I was. You'd think it would be a compliment, but it was amazing how sometimes it just felt like a kinder way of saying "blah." "I just keep my horrible side well hidden.”” [Hester Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hester-browne/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker reveals a tension between external praise and internal self‑perception, feeling that compliments can mask criticism. **In simple terms:** People’s praise can feel like a veiled insult. Key Takeaway Recognize and own your true self. Themes self‑image perception authenticity Mood conflicted introspective Type personal reflective When to use this quote - personal relationships - self‑reflection - workplace feedback Key Concepts psychology social dynamics Questions to Reflect On - How do you differentiate genuine praise from veiled criticism? - What does “horrible side” represent for you? A Different Perspective Compliments may hide underlying expectations or judgments. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Compliment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compliment/) [Compliment Amazing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compliment-amazing-5309702/) [Nice Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nice-said-908259/) [Niceness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/niceness/) [Telling Nice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/telling-nice-5309701/) [Think Compliment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-compliment-1188847/) ## Related quotes > [“Be careful who you call crazy. Some of us think it's a compliment.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilynn-dawson/be-careful-who-you-call-crazy-some-of-us-think-it-s-a-compliment/) [Marilynn Dawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilynn-dawson/) > [Too often we underestimate the power of a touch...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-buscaglia/too-often-we-underestimate-the-power-of-a-touch/) [Leo Buscaglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-buscaglia/) > [“Nice?” he said fiercely. “Nice is a lemonade stand.” He withdrew and thrust deep. “Nice is a picnic on the lawn. This is not—…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruthie-knox/nice-he-said-fiercely-nice-is-a-lemonade-stand-he-withdrew-and-thrust/) [Ruthie Knox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruthie-knox/) > [“Have you ever tried to hold the gaze of someone who’s just complimented you? It’s hard as hell. At least I think it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-stella/have-you-ever-tried-to-hold-the-gaze-of-someone-who-s-just/) [Leslie Stella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-stella/) > [You are beautiful. Don't ever think you are not. It may be such a compliment that does not come from a man too often.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yoko-ono/you-are-beautiful-don-t-ever-think-you-are-not-it-may-be-such-a/) [Yoko Ono](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yoko-ono/) > [Really. Is there anything nice to be said about other people's vacations?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amor-towles/really-is-there-anything-nice-to-be-said-about-other-people-s-2/) [Amor Towles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amor-towles/) > [“You ask me why I’m nice to you,” he said. “Why, why, why. But you don’t ask me stuff that matters. Who I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-ockler/you-ask-me-why-i-m-nice-to-you-he-said-why-why-why-but-you-don-t-ask/) [Sarah Ockler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-ockler/) > [Amaal is a music composer, and I am singer, so I think we compliment each other rather than competing with each other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/armaan-malik/amaal-is-a-music-composer-and-i-am-singer-so-i-think-we-compliment/) [Armaan Malik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/armaan-malik/) > [“When I got to the house about an hour ago, James took one look at me and said, "Damn, girl, your parents put out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-barnholdt/when-i-got-to-the-house-about-an-hour-ago-james-took-one-look-at-me/) [Lauren Barnholdt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-barnholdt/) > [I want to think of it as a compliment. We're different, but not wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-chae-rin/i-want-to-think-of-it-as-a-compliment-we-re-different-but-not-wrong/) [Lee Chae Rin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-chae-rin/) > [“They’re nice,” I said, taking in this new version of him. And they were—he now seemed a little more approachable, a little dorkier, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/they-re-nice-i-said-taking-in-this-new-version-of-him-and-they-were/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [NAUGHTY AND NICE? said Death. BUT IT'S EASY TO BE NICE IF YOU'RE RICH. IS THIS FAIR? Albert wanted to argue. He wanted to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/naughty-and-nice-said-death-but-it-s-easy-to-be-nice-if-you-re-rich/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“Very nice!’ said Nikki. ‘That really enabled you to indulge in your pastime on a grand scale, didn’t it?’ When Kris spoke, his voice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joy-ellis/very-nice-said-nikki-that-really-enabled-you-to-indulge-in-your/) [Joy Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joy-ellis/) > [Anything nice that's said about me is diametrically opposed to who I am.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-carell/anything-nice-that-s-said-about-me-is-diametrically-opposed-to-who-i/) [Steve Carell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-carell/) > [“Very nice," said Rick after a while. "Very nice," he repeated, with more emphasis the second time. "What is?" I asked, turning to him,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheryl-strayed/very-nice-said-rick-after-a-while-very-nice-he-repeated-with-more/) [Cheryl Strayed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheryl-strayed/) ## More by Hester Browne > [“Outside, I avoided the gazes of passersby and slid gratefully into the cavernous interior of Godric's car. I didn't like to say "This is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hester-browne/outside-i-avoided-the-gazes-of-passersby-and-slid-gratefully-into-the/) [Hester Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hester-browne/) > [“The way he looks at me, all serious and attentive, was more flattering than any compliment I'd ever had”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hester-browne/the-way-he-looks-at-me-all-serious-and-attentive-was-more-flattering/) [Hester Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hester-browne/) > [“Great friendships are like cell phones, you do not know why they work but are so glad that they do.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hester-browne/great-friendships-are-like-cell-phones-you-do-not-know-why-they-work/) [Hester Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hester-browne/) > [“As with most situations in my life, Emery's dress was much harder to get out of than it had been to get into.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hester-browne/as-with-most-situations-in-my-life-emery-s-dress-was-much-harder-to/) [Hester Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hester-browne/) > [“My golden rule has always been to look on the bright side, no matter what. With all the complications in my life, I had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hester-browne/my-golden-rule-has-always-been-to-look-on-the-bright-side-no-matter/) [Hester Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hester-browne/) > [ “Back in the kitchen, Mummy was trying to make her \[knitted\] hippo stand up on the table. I had to swallow a gasp of… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hester-browne/back-in-the-kitchen-mummy-was-trying-to-make-her-knitted-hippo-stand/) [Hester Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hester-browne/) > [It's so much easier to have a crush on someone who you know isn't going to respond-it makes it nice and safe and you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hester-browne/it-s-so-much-easier-to-have-a-crush-on-someone-who-you-know-isn-t/) [Hester Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hester-browne/) > [I just keep my horrible side well hidden.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hester-browne/i-just-keep-my-horrible-side-well-hidden/) [Hester Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hester-browne/) > [“I want to share all of my New York with you, Melissa. My house, my friends, my life. It's not just about where you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hester-browne/i-want-to-share-all-of-my-new-york-with-you-melissa-my-house-my/) [Hester Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hester-browne/) > [“The best friendships are like mobile phones, I think--you can't explain exactly how they work, but you're just relieved they do.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hester-browne/the-best-friendships-are-like-mobile-phones-i-think-you-can-t-explain/) [Hester Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hester-browne/) > [There are many marks of a true lady but I believe that one of them is to walk with her head held high while…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hester-browne/there-are-many-marks-of-a-true-lady-but-i-believe-that-one-of-them-is/) [Hester Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hester-browne/) > [“There's a difference between compromising your independence and compromising yourself. Love's about giving up a little dependence, darling. But that doesn't mean you have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hester-browne/there-s-a-difference-between-compromising-your-independence-and/) [Hester Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hester-browne/) > [“There is something rather sexy about men who knew exactly what they are talking about. Men who might not be conventionally attractive, but who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hester-browne/there-is-something-rather-sexy-about-men-who-knew-exactly-what-they/) [Hester Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hester-browne/) > [“Fashion is a cruel mistress.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hester-browne/fashion-is-a-cruel-mistress/) [Hester Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hester-browne/) > [“Appearances can be deceptive. Just because someone has a generous chest and a romantic nature doesn't mean they're EASY.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hester-browne/appearances-can-be-deceptive-just-because-someone-has-a-generous/) [Hester Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hester-browne/) [Explore all 23 Hester Browne quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hester-browne/) ## 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 ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compliment/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I'm not that nice,\" I said. People were always telling me how nice I was. 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