--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When people call people nerds, mostly…" description: "\"When people call people nerds, mostly what they're saying is, 'you like stuff.' Which is not a good insult at all, like, 'you are too enthusiastic abou..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6b1/john-green-12_conscience_when-people-call-people-nerds-mostly-wha_459688.jpg" --- # When people call people nerds, mostly what they're saying… ![“When people call people nerds, mostly what they're saying is, 'you like stuff.' Which is not a good insult at all, like, 'you are too enthusiastic about the miracle of human conscience.” quote by John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6b1/john-green-12_conscience_when-people-call-people-nerds-mostly-wha_459688.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6b1/john-green-12_conscience_when-people-call-people-nerds-mostly-wha_459688.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6b1/john-green-12_conscience_when-people-call-people-nerds-mostly-wha_459688.jpg) > “When people call people nerds, mostly what they're saying is, 'you like stuff.' Which is not a good insult at all, like, 'you are too enthusiastic about the miracle of human conscience.” [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Calling someone a nerd highlights their passion for niche interests, turning a label into a compliment. **In simple terms:** Nerd = passionate about something. Key Takeaway Embrace enthusiasm, ignore the insult. Themes identity passion labels acceptance Mood playful defensive Type observational humorous When to use this quote - school projects - hobbies - online communities - creative work Key Concepts Stereotypes self‑esteem culture Questions to Reflect On - Do you celebrate your passions publicly? - How do you respond when others use "nerd" negatively? A Different Perspective The term can be weaponized in hostile environments. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Conscience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conscience/) [Enthusiastic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enthusiastic/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Miracle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/miracle/) [Nerd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nerd/) [Nerds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nerds/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) ## Related quotes > [“When people call people nerds, mostly what they're saying is 'You like stuff!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/when-people-call-people-nerds-mostly-what-they-re-saying-is-you-like-2/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [Hank, when people call people nerds mostly what they're saying is,'You like stuff'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/hank-when-people-call-people-nerds-mostly-what-they-re-saying-is-you/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [Nerds like us are allowed to be unironically enthusiastic about stuff. Nerds are allowed to love stuff, like jump-up-and-down-in-your-chair-can't-control-yourself love it. when people call…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/nerds-like-us-are-allowed-to-be-unironically-enthusiastic-about-stuff/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > […because nerds like us are allowed to be unironically enthusiastic about stuff… Nerds are allowed to love stuff, like jump-up-and-down-in-the-chair-can’t-control-yourself love it. Hank, when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/because-nerds-like-us-are-allowed-to-be-unironically-enthusiastic/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [“To be an enthusiast had become her social vocation and, sometimes even when she did not feel like it, she became enthusiastic in order…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/to-be-an-enthusiast-had-become-her-social-vocation-and-sometimes-even/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [What I think makes people nerds is just being obsessive. I think that's what nerdiness really is - its people who don't just passively…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-posehn/what-i-think-makes-people-nerds-is-just-being-obsessive-i-think-that/) [Brian Posehn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-posehn/) > [“If I want your ass off me, I think I can handle the job myself.” Kevin’s voice was soft, and amazingly even. Weight shifted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rory-ni-coileain/if-i-want-your-ass-off-me-i-think-i-can-handle-the-job-myself-kevin-s/) [Rory Ni Coileain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rory-ni-coileain/) > [“Nerds always say they don’t give a shit about popularity; but—not having friends sucks. I never liked quote unquote cool kids, personally—I thought they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/nerds-always-say-they-don-t-give-a-shit-about-popularity-but-not/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [“Why is being a nerd bad? Saying I notice you’re a nerd is like saying, ‘Hey, I notice that you’d rather be intelligent than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/why-is-being-a-nerd-bad-saying-i-notice-you-re-a-nerd-is-like-saying/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [I get very nervous when people like stuff too much. I feel, like, as a child of the Internet, I know what that's like:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayo-edebiri/i-get-very-nervous-when-people-like-stuff-too-much-i-feel-like-as-a/) [Ayo Edebiri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayo-edebiri/) > [I don't want to be made pacified or made comfortable. I like stuff that gets your adrenaline going.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-bigelow/i-don-t-want-to-be-made-pacified-or-made-comfortable-i-like-stuff/) [Kathryn Bigelow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-bigelow/) > [I never do impressions, but I probably should. People like that stuff.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-macdonald/i-never-do-impressions-but-i-probably-should-people-like-that-stuff/) [Norm MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norm-macdonald/) > [I like stuff like Joy Division and Verdi, and then some naff stuff.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-revel-horwood/i-like-stuff-like-joy-division-and-verdi-and-then-some-naff-stuff/) [Craig Revel Horwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-revel-horwood/) > [I like all kinds of comedy. I like comedy that doesn't talk about real beliefs or serious thoughts, but then I also like the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-bamford/i-like-all-kinds-of-comedy-i-like-comedy-that-doesn-t-talk-about-real/) [Maria Bamford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-bamford/) > [I sometimes feel I'm a sort of cult writer, rather than a mainstream writer, in that those who like my stuff like it a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-amis/i-sometimes-feel-i-m-a-sort-of-cult-writer-rather-than-a-mainstream/) [Martin Amis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-amis/) ## More by John Green > [Issac:"I dislike living in a world without Augustus Waters." Computer: "I don't understand-" Issac: "Me neither. Pause](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/issac-i-dislike-living-in-a-world-without-augustus-waters-computer-i/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [“I just want to stay away from people and read books and think”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/i-just-want-to-stay-away-from-people-and-read-books-and-think/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [She smiled with all the delight of a kid on Christmas morning and said, "Y'all smoke to enjoy it. I smoke to die." -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/she-smiled-with-all-the-delight-of-a-kid-on-christmas-morning-and/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [A Margo for each of us--and each more mirror than window.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/a-margo-for-each-of-us-and-each-more-mirror-than-window/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [“No one ever says good-bye unless they want to see you again.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/no-one-ever-says-good-bye-unless-they-want-to-see-you-again/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [Neither novels or their readers benefit from any attempts to divine whether any facts hide inside a story. Such efforts attack the very idea…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/neither-novels-or-their-readers-benefit-from-any-attempts-to-divine/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [“Traffic's not too bad on Sheridan, and I'm cornering the car like it's the Indy 500, and we're listening to my favorite NMH song,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/traffic-s-not-too-bad-on-sheridan-and-i-m-cornering-the-car-like-it-s/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [“Praise God for good nurses.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/praise-god-for-good-nurses/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [So I was ugly. I was never fat, really, and I never wore headgear or had zits or anything. But I was ugly. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/so-i-was-ugly-i-was-never-fat-really-and-i-never-wore-headgear-or-had/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [Nothing has ever looked like that ever in all of human history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/nothing-has-ever-looked-like-that-ever-in-all-of-human-history/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [“said to him quietly, as if I couldn’t hear or something. Dad was about to respond but I interrupted.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/said-to-him-quietly-as-if-i-couldn-t-hear-or-something-dad-was-about/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [I believe humans have souls, and I believe in the conservation of souls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/i-believe-humans-have-souls-and-i-believe-in-the-conservation-of-souls/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [“He was hot. A nonhotboy stares at you relentlessly and it is, at best, awkward and, at worst, a form of assault. But a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/he-was-hot-a-nonhotboy-stares-at-you-relentlessly-and-it-is-at-best/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [I think if you keep the box closed long enough you do kill the cat, actually.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/i-think-if-you-keep-the-box-closed-long-enough-you-do-kill-the-cat/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [Imagining the future is a kind of nostalgia. (...) You spend your whole life stuck in the labyrinth, thinking about how you'll escape it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/imagining-the-future-is-a-kind-of-nostalgia-you-spend-your-whole-life/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) [Explore all 3,614 John Green quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) ## More Conscience quotes > [Self-respect and a clear conscience are powerful components of integrity and are the basis for enriching your relationships with others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-waitley/self-respect-and-a-clear-conscience-are-powerful-components-of/) [Denis Waitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-waitley/) > [“Knowledge without conscience is but the ruin of the soul.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rabelaise/knowledge-without-conscience-is-but-the-ruin-of-the-soul/) Rabelaise > [Writing adds up to the conscience of our times.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-firrell/writing-adds-up-to-the-conscience-of-our-times/) [Martin Firrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-firrell/) > [My conscience is really active. So I feel bad about spending excess amount of money on things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/syd/my-conscience-is-really-active-so-i-feel-bad-about-spending-excess/) [Syd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/syd/) > [Let us be thankful for health and competence, and, above all, for a quiet conscience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/izaak-walton/let-us-be-thankful-for-health-and-competence-and-above-all-for-a/) [Izaak Walton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/izaak-walton/) > [Making money doesn't oblige people to forfeit their honor or their conscience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-de-rothschild/making-money-doesn-t-oblige-people-to-forfeit-their-honor-or-their/) [Guy de Rothschild](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-de-rothschild/) > [“If we cannot be happy and powerful and prey on others, we invent conscience and prey on ourselves.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/if-we-cannot-be-happy-and-powerful-and-prey-on-others-we-invent/) [Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) > [The God in whose hands are all our days and ways, did cast into my hand one day a book of Martin Luthers; it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bunyan/the-god-in-whose-hands-are-all-our-days-and-ways-did-cast-into-my/) [John Bunyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bunyan/) > [My morals are important to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-parrish/my-morals-are-important-to-me/) [Hunter Parrish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-parrish/) > [Being tolerant does not mean that I share another ones belief. But it does mean that I acknowledge another ones right to believe, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-frankl/being-tolerant-does-not-mean-that-i-share-another-ones-belief-but-it/) [Viktor Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-frankl/) > [Never can true courage dwell with them, Who, playing tricks with conscience, dare not look At their own vices.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-taylor-coleridge/never-can-true-courage-dwell-with-them-who-playing-tricks-with/) [Samuel Taylor Coleridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-taylor-coleridge/) > [In presenting a mathematical argument the great thing is to give the educated reader the chance to catch on at once to the momentary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-edensor-littlewood/in-presenting-a-mathematical-argument-the-great-thing-is-to-give-the/) [John Edensor Littlewood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-edensor-littlewood/) > [I've worked with people who are much further to the left than I am and much further to the right than I am. At…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hanks/i-ve-worked-with-people-who-are-much-further-to-the-left-than-i-am/) [Tom Hanks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hanks/) > [If all the world hated you and believed you wicked, while your own conscience approved of you and absolved you from guilt, you would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/if-all-the-world-hated-you-and-believed-you-wicked-while-your-own/) [Charlotte Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/) > [ \[D\]on't grow old. With age comes caution, which is another name for cowardice… Whatever else you do in life, don't cultivate a conscience. 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