--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I liked him; not because he was a good…" description: "\"“I liked him; not because he was a good sort, as he later proved to be, but because he was enthusiastic about things.”\" — Jack Kerouac" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/658/jack-kerouac-182_enthusiastic_i-liked-him-not-because-he-was-a-good-so_2322102.jpg" --- # I liked him; not because he was a good sort, as he later… ![“I liked him; not because he was a good sort, as he later proved to be, but because he was enthusiastic about things.” quote by Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/658/jack-kerouac-182_enthusiastic_i-liked-him-not-because-he-was-a-good-so_2322102.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/658/jack-kerouac-182_enthusiastic_i-liked-him-not-because-he-was-a-good-so_2322102.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/658/jack-kerouac-182_enthusiastic_i-liked-him-not-because-he-was-a-good-so_2322102.jpg) > ““I liked him; not because he was a good sort, as he later proved to be, but because he was enthusiastic about things.”” [Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Enthusiasm for a person can be more compelling than their moral character. **In simple terms:** Enthusiasm outweighs goodness. Key Takeaway Value passion over judgment. Themes character enthusiasm perception Mood reflective thoughtful Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - team building - leadership - friendship Key Concepts subjective judgment personal charisma Questions to Reflect On - When should enthusiasm be tempered? - How do you assess character beyond excitement? A Different Perspective Enthusiasm may mask flaws. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Enthusiastic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enthusiastic/) [Enthusiastic Things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enthusiastic-things-242213/) [Liked](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liked/) [Liked Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liked-good-1042368/) [Proved Enthusiastic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/proved-enthusiastic-5554846/) ## Related quotes > [If we're not enthusiastic, we can't get things done. If we're over-enthusiastic, we run into the danger of being fanatical.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woodrow-wyatt/if-we-re-not-enthusiastic-we-can-t-get-things-done-if-we-re-over/) [Woodrow Wyatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woodrow-wyatt/) > [I think I was always just a bit too, like, annoyingly enthusiastic about things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-ryder/i-think-i-was-always-just-a-bit-too-like-annoyingly-enthusiastic/) [Sam Ryder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-ryder/) > [“...'My father called me an enthusiast. I am enthusiastic about things. A lot of things.' - Mary”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-monninger/my-father-called-me-an-enthusiast-i-am-enthusiastic-about-things-a/) [Joseph Monninger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-monninger/) > [I stand by the Lost finale. It's the story that we wanted to tell, and we told it. No excuses. No apologies. I look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damon-lindelof/i-stand-by-the-lost-finale-it-s-the-story-that-we-wanted-to-tell-and/) [Damon Lindelof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damon-lindelof/) > [“Skylar, you have to understand... All the things I did... I did it for me. I liked it. I was good at it. And...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vince-gilligan/skylar-you-have-to-understand-all-the-things-i-did-i-did-it-for-me-i/) [Vince Gilligan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vince-gilligan/) > [I've had quite a few moments I've liked, so it's good enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-ferry/i-ve-had-quite-a-few-moments-i-ve-liked-so-it-s-good-enough/) [Bryan Ferry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-ferry/) > [If I watch an episode of SNL, and there's one thing that I liked, then that's a good episode.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-samberg/if-i-watch-an-episode-of-snl-and-there-s-one-thing-that-i-liked-then/) [Andy Samberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-samberg/) > [“You paid some way for everything that was any good. I paid my way into enough things that I liked, so that I had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/you-paid-some-way-for-everything-that-was-any-good-i-paid-my-way-into/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [I was always keen to be liked but not very good at doing the things that got you approval, except from my friends. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-lipman/i-was-always-keen-to-be-liked-but-not-very-good-at-doing-the-things/) [Maureen Lipman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-lipman/) > [Movies are great fun and wonderful when they're good. But you never get to see them till six months after they're finished. So you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-bacall/movies-are-great-fun-and-wonderful-when-they-re-good-but-you-never/) [Lauren Bacall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-bacall/) > [Bill Murray I always liked. I'm not as good as him, but there's a quality in him that I like. And then there's DeNiro,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-spade/bill-murray-i-always-liked-i-m-not-as-good-as-him-but-there-s-a/) [David Spade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-spade/) > [I always liked a good love song and I dig being in love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sammy-hagar/i-always-liked-a-good-love-song-and-i-dig-being-in-love/) [Sammy Hagar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sammy-hagar/) > [“You want the truth? I liked it. It's good for the ego for a man to have a woman cry over him.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-roberts/you-want-the-truth-i-liked-it-it-s-good-for-the-ego-for-a-man-to-have/) [Nora Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-roberts/) > [I was never totally what we would now call 'politically correct,' even in my most militant phase. I always liked good food, good wines.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tariq-ali/i-was-never-totally-what-we-would-now-call-politically-correct-even/) [Tariq Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tariq-ali/) > [My mom was an enthusiastic, positive, glass-is-half-full type of person and that is how I live my life and I owe that to her.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kliff-kingsbury/my-mom-was-an-enthusiastic-positive-glass-is-half-full-type-of-person/) [Kliff Kingsbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kliff-kingsbury/) ## More by Jack Kerouac > [Bein Crazy is the least of my worries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/bein-crazy-is-the-least-of-my-worries/) [Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/) > [I'm Catholic and I can't commit suicide, but I plan to drink myself to death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/i-m-catholic-and-i-can-t-commit-suicide-but-i-plan-to-drink-myself-to/) [Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/) > [The Beat Generation, that was a vision that we had, John Clellon Holmes and I, and Allen Ginsberg in an even wilder way, in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/the-beat-generation-that-was-a-vision-that-we-had-john-clellon-holmes/) [Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/) > [But, outside of being a sweet little girl, she was awfully dumb and capable of doing horrible things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/but-outside-of-being-a-sweet-little-girl-she-was-awfully-dumb-and/) [Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/) > [“For when you realized that God is Everything you know that you've got to love everything no matter how bad it is, in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/for-when-you-realized-that-god-is-everything-you-know-that-you-ve-got/) [Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/) > [“I'm an idealist who has outgrown my idealism I have nothing to do the rest of my life but do it and the rest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/i-m-an-idealist-who-has-outgrown-my-idealism-i-have-nothing-to-do-the/) [Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/) > [“Most of them were running away from something―usually the law.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/most-of-them-were-running-away-from-something-usually-the-law/) [Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/) > [“Non lo so, non importa e non fa nessuna differenza.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/non-lo-so-non-importa-e-non-fa-nessuna-differenza/) [Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/) > [“And in the flush of the first few days of joy I confidently tell myself (not expecting what I'll do in three weeks only)…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/and-in-the-flush-of-the-first-few-days-of-joy-i-confidently-tell/) [Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/) > [I want a blaze of light to flame in me forever in a timeless, dear love of everything. And why should I pretend to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/i-want-a-blaze-of-light-to-flame-in-me-forever-in-a-timeless-dear/) [Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/) > [“For the next week that was all I heard - manana, a lovely word and one that probably means heaven.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/for-the-next-week-that-was-all-i-heard-manana-a-lovely-word-and-one/) [Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/) > [“O how wonderful life is, how miraculous, God made this and God made that", "how do you know he doesn't hate what He did:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/o-how-wonderful-life-is-how-miraculous-god-made-this-and-god-made/) [Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/) > [Notoriety and public confession in the literary form is a frazzler of the heart you were born with, believe me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/notoriety-and-public-confession-in-the-literary-form-is-a-frazzler-of/) [Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/) > [I promise I shall never give up, and that I'll die yelling & laughing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/i-promise-i-shall-never-give-up-and-that-i-ll-die-yelling-laughing/) [Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/) > [“The hot water pools are steaming, Fagan and Monsanto and the others are all sitting peacefully up to their necks, they're all naked, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/the-hot-water-pools-are-steaming-fagan-and-monsanto-and-the-others/) [Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/) [Explore all 936 Jack Kerouac quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/) ## More Enthusiastic quotes > [My mom was an enthusiastic, positive, glass-is-half-full type of person and that is how I live my life and I owe that to her.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kliff-kingsbury/my-mom-was-an-enthusiastic-positive-glass-is-half-full-type-of-person/) [Kliff Kingsbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kliff-kingsbury/) > [“I am honest and enthusiastic, except when I’m lying down.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/i-am-honest-and-enthusiastic-except-when-i-m-lying-down/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [How do you find the divine power in yourself? The word enthusiasm means 'filled with a god,' so what makes you enthusiastic? Follow it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-campbell/how-do-you-find-the-divine-power-in-yourself-the-word-enthusiasm/) [Joseph Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-campbell/) > [Obama did organize a great large number of people and many enthusiastic people, what's called in the press 'Obama's Army.' But the army is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/obama-did-organize-a-great-large-number-of-people-and-many/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Enthusiastic service providers create enthusiastic customers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-kaufman/enthusiastic-service-providers-create-enthusiastic-customers/) [Ron Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-kaufman/) > [I went to religious schools. I wasn't that enthusiastic, by and large, but it sunk in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-rice/i-went-to-religious-schools-i-wasn-t-that-enthusiastic-by-and-large/) [Tim Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-rice/) > [“You can not have empty or neutral mind, as long as you work the mind will contain dreams, if you stop working it will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/you-can-not-have-empty-or-neutral-mind-as-long-as-you-work-the-mind/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [I want to be around people that are just as enthusiastic about the process and storytelling as I am.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-david-washington/i-want-to-be-around-people-that-are-just-as-enthusiastic-about-the/) [John David Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-david-washington/) > [I think Roger Rasheed is helping me to be more serious. Also, he can convey his passion for tennis. He loves the game. Also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-wilfried-tsonga/i-think-roger-rasheed-is-helping-me-to-be-more-serious-also-he-can/) [Jo-Wilfried Tsonga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-wilfried-tsonga/) > [New York is a wonderful place to shoot. The bystanders are great. They are enthusiastic. They respect the process, and you get the energy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-curtin/new-york-is-a-wonderful-place-to-shoot-the-bystanders-are-great-they/) [Jane Curtin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-curtin/) > [“The smell of the sweat is not sweet, but the fruit of the sweat is very sweet.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/the-smell-of-the-sweat-is-not-sweet-but-the-fruit-of-the-sweat-is/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [The group is enthusiastic about making art, but it's also a good excuse to get together with friends and to enjoy each other's company…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jussi-lehtisalo/the-group-is-enthusiastic-about-making-art-but-it-s-also-a-good/) [Jussi Lehtisalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jussi-lehtisalo/) > [...full of God's thoughts, a place of peace and safety amid the most exalted grandeur and enthusiastic action, a new song, a place of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-muir/full-of-god-s-thoughts-a-place-of-peace-and-safety-amid-the-most/) [John Muir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-muir/) > [We're constantly striving for success, fame and comfort when all we really need to be happy is someone or some thing to be enthusiastic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-jackson-brown-jr/we-re-constantly-striving-for-success-fame-and-comfort-when-all-we/) [H. Jackson Brown, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-jackson-brown-jr/) > [“Enthusiastic Entrepreneurial Evangelist”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-hollis/enthusiastic-entrepreneurial-evangelist/) [Robert Hollis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-hollis/) [Browse all 497 Enthusiastic quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enthusiastic/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I liked him; not because he was a good sort, as he later proved to be, but because he was enthusiastic about things.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jack Kerouac" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/i-liked-him-not-because-he-was-a-good-sort-as-he-later-proved-to-be/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Enthusiastic" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/i-liked-him-not-because-he-was-a-good-sort-as-he-later-proved-to-be/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/658/jack-kerouac-182_enthusiastic_i-liked-him-not-because-he-was-a-good-so_2322102.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/658/jack-kerouac-182_enthusiastic_i-liked-him-not-because-he-was-a-good-so_2322102.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/658/jack-kerouac-182_enthusiastic_i-liked-him-not-because-he-was-a-good-so_2322102.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I liked him; not because he was a good sort, as he later proved to be, but because he was enthusiastic about…” — Jack Kerouac", "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": "Jack Kerouac", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“I liked him; not because he...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/i-liked-him-not-because-he-was-a-good-sort-as-he-later-proved-to-be/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/i-liked-him-not-because-he-was-a-good-sort-as-he-later-proved-to-be/#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 } } ] } ```