--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's much more important to be interested…" description: "\"It's much more important to be interested than to be interesting.\" — Jane Fonda" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/672/jane-fonda-1041_important_it-s-much-more-important-to-be-intereste_2843952.jpg" --- # It's much more important to be interested than to be… ![“It's much more important to be interested than to be interesting.” quote by Jane Fonda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/672/jane-fonda-1041_important_it-s-much-more-important-to-be-intereste_2843952.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/672/jane-fonda-1041_important_it-s-much-more-important-to-be-intereste_2843952.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/672/jane-fonda-1041_important_it-s-much-more-important-to-be-intereste_2843952.jpg) > “It's much more important to be interested than to be interesting.” [Jane Fonda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-fonda/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Being genuinely interested in others is more valuable than trying to be interesting oneself. **In simple terms:** Interest in others outweighs self‑promotion. Key Takeaway Listen actively, prioritize curiosity. Themes empathy learning humility Mood warm encouraging Type practical inspirational When to use this quote - networking - mentoring - relationship building Key Concepts social psychology communication Questions to Reflect On - How can you show genuine interest? - What benefits arise from listening? A Different Perspective Self‑expression also builds connections. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Important](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/important/) [Important Interested](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/important-interested-3226703/) [Interested](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interested/) [Interested Interesting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interested-interesting-286051/) [Interesting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interesting/) ## Related quotes > [You have to be interested. If you're not interested, you can't be interesting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iris-apfel/you-have-to-be-interested-if-you-re-not-interested-you-can-t-be/) [Iris Apfel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iris-apfel/) > [You should focus on being more interested than interesting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacqueline-novogratz/you-should-focus-on-being-more-interested-than-interesting/) [Jacqueline Novogratz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacqueline-novogratz/) > [The externals are important but I'm not interested in superficiality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyan-douglas/the-externals-are-important-but-i-m-not-interested-in-superficiality/) [Kyan Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyan-douglas/) > [I don't want people to know anything about me, because that's not important. I'm more interested in the me that takes shape through the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willem-dafoe/i-don-t-want-people-to-know-anything-about-me-because-that-s-not/) [Willem Dafoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willem-dafoe/) > [I was interested in being part of interesting stories. As an actor, you generally don't get to choose what projects you are part of,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-rannells/i-was-interested-in-being-part-of-interesting-stories-as-an-actor-you/) [Andrew Rannells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-rannells/) > [Be more concerned with being interested than being interesting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-french/be-more-concerned-with-being-interested-than-being-interesting/) [Chris French](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-french/) > [“Interested is interesting.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-koukl/interested-is-interesting/) [Greg Koukl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-koukl/) > [Don't just be interested, be interesting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luci-swindoll/don-t-just-be-interested-be-interesting/) [Luci Swindoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luci-swindoll/) > [Be interested rather than interesting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-sylver/be-interested-rather-than-interesting/) [Marshall Sylver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-sylver/) > [I am interested in anyone who has something interesting for me to do and who is going to pay me well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-drake/i-am-interested-in-anyone-who-has-something-interesting-for-me-to-do/) [Eli Drake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-drake/) > [It's better to be interested than interesting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-s-better-to-be-interested-than-interesting/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The rules of improvisation apply beautifully to life. Never say no - you have to be interested to be interesting, and your job is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-adsit/the-rules-of-improvisation-apply-beautifully-to-life-never-say-no-you/) [Scott Adsit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-adsit/) > [Be more interested than interesting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-goulston/be-more-interested-than-interesting/) [Mark Goulston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-goulston/) > [And it's interesting, but I'm always interested in the story behind the story.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maximilian-schell/and-it-s-interesting-but-i-m-always-interested-in-the-story-behind/) [Maximilian Schell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maximilian-schell/) > [If you want an interesting life. Become interested.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melchor-lim/if-you-want-an-interesting-life-become-interested/) [Melchor Lim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melchor-lim/) ## More by Jane Fonda > [Shortly after I turned 50, both Ted Turner and the AARP came into my life. The only difference? With AARP, there were benefits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-fonda/shortly-after-i-turned-50-both-ted-turner-and-the-aarp-came-into-my/) [Jane Fonda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-fonda/) > [Exercise teaches you the pleasure of discipline.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-fonda/exercise-teaches-you-the-pleasure-of-discipline/) [Jane Fonda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-fonda/) > [Women are rising. And I think that's all the violence and war - it could be the last gasp of the patriarchy, actually.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-fonda/women-are-rising-and-i-think-that-s-all-the-violence-and-war-it-could/) [Jane Fonda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-fonda/) > [pragmatist that I am, I always meet necessity with enthusiasm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-fonda/pragmatist-that-i-am-i-always-meet-necessity-with-enthusiasm/) [Jane Fonda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-fonda/) > [I don't know if a country (America) where the people are so ignorant of reality and of history, if you can call that a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-fonda/i-don-t-know-if-a-country-america-where-the-people-are-so-ignorant-of/) [Jane Fonda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-fonda/) > [I don't want to die without knowing who I am.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-fonda/i-don-t-want-to-die-without-knowing-who-i-am/) [Jane Fonda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-fonda/) > [To do life right, you have to feel like you're growing up until the day you die. 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I love to fish, and he has some beautiful property down there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-fonda/he-s-my-favorite-ex-husband-we-get-along-great-i-love-to-fish-and-he/) [Jane Fonda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-fonda/) > [When I'm in Canada, I feel this is what the world should be like.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-fonda/when-i-m-in-canada-i-feel-this-is-what-the-world-should-be-like/) [Jane Fonda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-fonda/) > [Enjoyable does not necessarily mean easy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-fonda/enjoyable-does-not-necessarily-mean-easy/) [Jane Fonda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-fonda/) [Explore all 303 Jane Fonda quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-fonda/) ## More Important quotes > [There is something more important than any ultimate weapon. 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