--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: People are really surprised when they…" description: "\"People are really surprised when they meet me that I'm a recluse. People think I'm very gregarious and outgoing - and I am - I'm thinking about writing..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/032/leslie-jordan-4504_books_people-are-really-surprised-when-they-me_90272.jpg" --- # People are really surprised when they meet me that I'm a… ![“People are really surprised when they meet me that I'm a recluse. People think I'm very gregarious and outgoing - and I am - I'm thinking about writing a book about it called 'The Gregarious Recluse.' How the more that you put me out there in front of audiences, the more that when I have down time…” quote by Leslie Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/032/leslie-jordan-4504_books_people-are-really-surprised-when-they-me_90272.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/032/leslie-jordan-4504_books_people-are-really-surprised-when-they-me_90272.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/032/leslie-jordan-4504_books_people-are-really-surprised-when-they-me_90272.jpg) > “People are really surprised when they meet me that I'm a recluse. People think I'm very gregarious and outgoing - and I am - I'm thinking about writing a book about it called 'The Gregarious Recluse.' How the more that you put me out there in front of audiences, the more that when I have down time I have to disappear.” [Leslie Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-jordan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Jordan describes the paradox of being perceived as sociable while needing solitude, and how public exposure amplifies that need. **In simple terms:** Public life fuels his need for privacy. Key Takeaway Visibility intensifies the desire for retreat. Themes personality public image introversion social expectations Mood wry thoughtful Type self‑reflection humor When to use this quote - celebrity interviews - social media strategy - personal branding workshops Key Concepts self‑concept tension boundary management Practical Applications - Schedule regular offline periods - Communicate boundaries clearly Questions to Reflect On - What strategies help maintain personal space in a public career? - Can introversion be reframed as a strength? A Different Perspective The tension may be overstated; many people balance social roles without retreat. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) [Writing a book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing-a-book/) ## Related quotes > [I'm quite a gregarious, outgoing person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-minchin/i-m-quite-a-gregarious-outgoing-person/) [Tim Minchin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-minchin/) > [“Scully was appallingly gregarious—so outgoing she was practically incoming.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-joy-fowler/scully-was-appallingly-gregarious-so-outgoing-she-was-practically/) [Karen Joy Fowler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-joy-fowler/) > [I'm not very good at talking and being with people and being gregarious and outgoing. I love people, but I have great difficulty doing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-rampling/i-m-not-very-good-at-talking-and-being-with-people-and-being/) [Charlotte Rampling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-rampling/) > [I wish I was a little more gregarious and outgoing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-fogelberg/i-wish-i-was-a-little-more-gregarious-and-outgoing/) [Dan Fogelberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-fogelberg/) > [The whole thing of working in all these different mediums, it's just so that I can always be playing hooky from one of them.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miranda-july/the-whole-thing-of-working-in-all-these-different-mediums-it-s-just/) [Miranda July](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miranda-july/) > [“Writing a book is a blood sport. If it doesn't hurt when you're done, you're probably doing something wrong.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevis-hendrickson/writing-a-book-is-a-blood-sport-if-it-doesn-t-hurt-when-you-re-done/) [Kevis Hendrickson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevis-hendrickson/) > [Nothing mattered ... but writing books, and living the kind of life that made it possible to write them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willa-cather/nothing-mattered-but-writing-books-and-living-the-kind-of-life-that/) [Willa Cather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willa-cather/) > [“One of the vital things for a writer who’s writing a book, which is a lengthy project and is going to take about a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roald-dahl/one-of-the-vital-things-for-a-writer-who-s-writing-a-book-which-is-a/) [Roald Dahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roald-dahl/) > [Doctoral training is devoted almost entirely to learning to do research, even though most Ph.Ds who enter academic life spend far more time teaching…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-bok/doctoral-training-is-devoted-almost-entirely-to-learning-to-do/) [Derek Bok](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-bok/) > [Writing a book is a brilliant thing because once you've finished it, you've done it, and there's the potential for it to go on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hodgkinson/writing-a-book-is-a-brilliant-thing-because-once-you-ve-finished-it/) [Tom Hodgkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hodgkinson/) > [I never have written every day. 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I always try to take Saturday and pretend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/i-never-have-written-every-day-when-i-m-writing-a-book-i-write-monday/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [These are rules I've picked up along the way to help me remain invisible when I'm writing a book, to help me show rather…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/these-are-rules-i-ve-picked-up-along-the-way-to-help-me-remain/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [When I turned 35, I thought, 'Mozart was dead at 36, so I set the bar: I'm going to start writing a book on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/when-i-turned-35-i-thought-mozart-was-dead-at-36-so-i-set-the-bar-i-m/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [Writing a book is an adventure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/writing-a-book-is-an-adventure/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [As a rule, I am very skeptical of tying books to anniversaries. I don't think readers care. I also feel that it just about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-larson/as-a-rule-i-am-very-skeptical-of-tying-books-to-anniversaries-i-don-t/) [Erik Larson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-larson/) ## More by Leslie Jordan > [Lesbian humor is nothing like gay men's humor. We're sillier.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-jordan/lesbian-humor-is-nothing-like-gay-men-s-humor-we-re-sillier/) [Leslie Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-jordan/) > [I'm very encouraged. This is progress. There are two or three ways to combat homophobia - one is through humor. The second is to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-jordan/i-m-very-encouraged-this-is-progress-there-are-two-or-three-ways-to/) [Leslie Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-jordan/) > [I had that perfect deadpan ... for these commercials. Within the first eight months I had eight national TV commercials. I'm a true Hollywood…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-jordan/i-had-that-perfect-deadpan-for-these-commercials-within-the-first/) [Leslie Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-jordan/) > [I was there when APLA was started in somebody's living room.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-jordan/i-was-there-when-apla-was-started-in-somebody-s-living-room/) [Leslie Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-jordan/) > [I'm a true Hollywood success story - knew no one, had no connections.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-jordan/i-m-a-true-hollywood-success-story-knew-no-one-had-no-connections/) [Leslie Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-jordan/) > [My success on the road is predicated on my success in Hollywood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-jordan/my-success-on-the-road-is-predicated-on-my-success-in-hollywood/) [Leslie Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-jordan/) > [There are two or three ways to combat homophobia - one is through humor. The second is to put a face on it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-jordan/there-are-two-or-three-ways-to-combat-homophobia-one-is-through-humor/) [Leslie Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-jordan/) > [We figured out as a community of gay people, we have to take care of our own.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-jordan/we-figured-out-as-a-community-of-gay-people-we-have-to-take-care-of/) [Leslie Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-jordan/) > [My sister was cute, she said, 'Oh my gosh, you're an overnight success.' 'Oh,' I said, 'this is the longest night.' I've been at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-jordan/my-sister-was-cute-she-said-oh-my-gosh-you-re-an-overnight-success-oh/) [Leslie Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-jordan/) > [I'm on the road almost eight months of the year.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-jordan/i-m-on-the-road-almost-eight-months-of-the-year/) [Leslie Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-jordan/) > [I've never been known for being a team player, but I've adjusted to being part of a big cast and it has worked out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-jordan/i-ve-never-been-known-for-being-a-team-player-but-i-ve-adjusted-to/) [Leslie Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-jordan/) > [The thing that I love about 'Will & Grace' is that there's a clear-cut reason for my character to be there. I come in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-jordan/the-thing-that-i-love-about-will-grace-is-that-there-s-a-clear-cut/) [Leslie Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-jordan/) > [I was reading Agatha Christie as a little boy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-jordan/i-was-reading-agatha-christie-as-a-little-boy/) [Leslie Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-jordan/) > [I grew up in Chattanooga.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-jordan/i-grew-up-in-chattanooga/) [Leslie Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-jordan/) > [I can tell when I meet you, within three minutes, how you were raised. When I met Lady Gaga on the 'American Horror' set...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-jordan/i-can-tell-when-i-meet-you-within-three-minutes-how-you-were-raised/) [Leslie Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-jordan/) [Explore all 110 Leslie Jordan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-jordan/) ## More Books quotes > [I think a new world will arise out of the religious mists when we approach our Bible with the idea that it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/i-think-a-new-world-will-arise-out-of-the-religious-mists-when-we/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [If I had a dollar for every time I couldn’t sleep, I could buy a billion locks and finally read a book in peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aesop-rock/if-i-had-a-dollar-for-every-time-i-couldn-t-sleep-i-could-buy-a/) [Aesop Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aesop-rock/) > [If what I write is literature, I guess you'd better emphasize the 'litter.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lydia-lunch/if-what-i-write-is-literature-i-guess-you-d-better-emphasize-the/) [Lydia Lunch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lydia-lunch/) > [My sentences got sharper and my stories more efficient, and I gradually learned to imagine the reader more clearly and to empathize with that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-thompson-walker/my-sentences-got-sharper-and-my-stories-more-efficient-and-i/) [Karen Thompson Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-thompson-walker/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [“Within the pages of books, I've journeyed to Mandalay, the Milky Way and Santa Fe, without once having to leave my armchair.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-ansbro/within-the-pages-of-books-i-ve-journeyed-to-mandalay-the-milky-way/) [Kevin Ansbro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-ansbro/) > [The Rosary is the book of the blind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/the-rosary-is-the-book-of-the-blind/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) > [“Tacitus did not write a most dangerous book. His readers made it so.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-k-krebs/tacitus-did-not-write-a-most-dangerous-book-his-readers-made-it-so/) Christopher K. Krebs > [“Take some books and read; that’s an immense help; and books are always good company if you have the right sort.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louisa-may-alcott/take-some-books-and-read-that-s-an-immense-help-and-books-are-always/) [Louisa May Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louisa-may-alcott/) > [Reader, if you are gifted with nerves like mine, aspire to any character but that of a wit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/reader-if-you-are-gifted-with-nerves-like-mine-aspire-to-any/) [Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) > [I have many who keep me going, I am very fortunate in this sense. There is nothing like a child who knows more about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/floyd-cooper/i-have-many-who-keep-me-going-i-am-very-fortunate-in-this-sense-there/) [Floyd Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/floyd-cooper/) > [I think books in which people are really happy and things are going well are probably the most challenging novels there are to write,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-quindlen/i-think-books-in-which-people-are-really-happy-and-things-are-going/) [Anna Quindlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-quindlen/) > [It's like the query letter problem that I just mentioned, magnified a hundredfold. You might be good at telling a story, but that doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/it-s-like-the-query-letter-problem-that-i-just-mentioned-magnified-a/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [“Be careful about reading health books. 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