--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When you think a girl looks pretty, say…" description: "\"“When you think a girl looks pretty, say it. But don’t reference the thing that might reveal you are aware of the backstage process: e.g., say, “You lo..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff1/mindy-kaling-672_compliment_when-you-think-a-girl-looks-pretty-say-i_1337519.jpg" --- # When you think a girl looks pretty, say it. But don’t… ![“When you think a girl looks pretty, say it. But don’t reference the thing that might reveal you are aware of the backstage process: e.g., say, “You look gorgeous tonight,” not “I like how you did your makeup tonight.” Also, a compliment means less if you compliment the thing and not the way the…” quote by Mindy Kaling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff1/mindy-kaling-672_compliment_when-you-think-a-girl-looks-pretty-say-i_1337519.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff1/mindy-kaling-672_compliment_when-you-think-a-girl-looks-pretty-say-i_1337519.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff1/mindy-kaling-672_compliment_when-you-think-a-girl-looks-pretty-say-i_1337519.jpg) > ““When you think a girl looks pretty, say it. But don’t reference the thing that might reveal you are aware of the backstage process: e.g., say, “You look gorgeous tonight,” not “I like how you did your makeup tonight.” Also, a compliment means less if you compliment the thing and not the way the girl is carrying it off. So say, “You look so sexy in those boots,” rather than “Those boots are really cool.” I didn’t make the boots! I don’t care if you like the boots’ design! We are magic to you: you have no idea how we got to look as good as we do.”” [Mindy Kaling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mindy-kaling/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The advice emphasizes giving sincere compliments focused on the person’s overall appearance rather than specific accessories, to avoid sounding superficial or objectifying. **In simple terms:** Give genuine, whole‑person compliments, not object‑focused ones. Key Takeaway Compliment the person, not just the item. Themes communication romance social etiquette authenticity gender dynamics Mood playful practical insightful Type advice social When to use this quote - dating - friendship - workplace interactions - social media Key Concepts compliment strategy psychology of attraction social norms Questions to Reflect On - How can I ensure compliments feel authentic? - When is it appropriate to comment on appearance? A Different Perspective Compliments can still feel insincere if overused. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet ## Related quotes > [A compliment would be the last thing out of my mouth to a man who was so pigheaded that he could be served at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-macalister/a-compliment-would-be-the-last-thing-out-of-my-mouth-to-a-man-who-was/) [Katie MacAlister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-macalister/) > [Unjust criticism is usually disguised compliment. It often means that you have aroused jealously and envy. 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It means that you've become a comfortable, trusted element in another person's life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-brothers/being-taken-for-granted-can-be-a-compliment-it-means-that-you-ve/) [Joyce Brothers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-brothers/) > [My husband says I like animals more than I like people. I take that as the compliment he means it as.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tricia-helfer/my-husband-says-i-like-animals-more-than-i-like-people-i-take-that-as/) [Tricia Helfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tricia-helfer/) > [“The word slut is the highest compliment I can give. It means you are a person who owns her sexuality and is unafraid to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tiffany-reisz/the-word-slut-is-the-highest-compliment-i-can-give-it-means-you-are-a/) [Tiffany Reisz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tiffany-reisz/) > [If people call you weird or different, then maybe you should take that as a compliment. 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She look sexy to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-ross/i-ain-t-gon-lie-i-got-love-for-solange-she-look-sexy-to-me/) [Rick Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-ross/) > [“You don’t look beautiful.” Hunter smiled as the cool night air hit my face. “Thanks.” “You look sexy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/skyla-madi/you-don-t-look-beautiful-hunter-smiled-as-the-cool-night-air-hit-my/) [Skyla Madi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/skyla-madi/) > [You can be beautiful with big breasts; you can be beautiful in your 40s. If you don't have perfect ankles, still you can move…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carine-roitfeld/you-can-be-beautiful-with-big-breasts-you-can-be-beautiful-in-your/) [Carine Roitfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carine-roitfeld/) > [I admit it guys in v-necks look sexy af. But when it goes all the way to his belly button...Nigga u gay! O\_e](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexia/i-admit-it-guys-in-v-necks-look-sexy-af-but-when-it-goes-all-the-way/) [Alexia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexia/) ## More by Mindy Kaling > [I think women in general like men that don't give them the thing that we want. We want a chase.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mindy-kaling/i-think-women-in-general-like-men-that-don-t-give-them-the-thing-that/) [Mindy Kaling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mindy-kaling/) > [When you're "East Coast" person, you are so insufferable, and you have no idea. And I was. One, because I was miserable, and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mindy-kaling/when-you-re-east-coast-person-you-are-so-insufferable-and-you-have-no/) [Mindy Kaling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mindy-kaling/) > [..I find it incredible impossible not to cry when I hear Stevie Nicks's "Landslide," especially the lyric: "I've been afraid of changing, because I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mindy-kaling/i-find-it-incredible-impossible-not-to-cry-when-i-hear-stevie-nicks-s/) [Mindy Kaling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mindy-kaling/) > [I must have been 10 or 11, but anything Dana Carvey ever did, I just really loved. He was on for a long time,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mindy-kaling/i-must-have-been-10-or-11-but-anything-dana-carvey-ever-did-i-just/) [Mindy Kaling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mindy-kaling/) > [“As it is, I guess I find “Jack & Diane” a little disgusting. 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She’s the only one I wonder about.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mindy-kaling/even-though-mavis-was-my-secret-friend-she-is-the-only-one-i-hope-i/) [Mindy Kaling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mindy-kaling/) > [I regard romantic comedies as a subgenre of sci-fi, in which the world operates according to different rules than my regular human world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mindy-kaling/i-regard-romantic-comedies-as-a-subgenre-of-sci-fi-in-which-the-world/) [Mindy Kaling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mindy-kaling/) > [“Be like Allan Pearl. Sit next to the class clown and study him. Then grow up, take everything you learned, and get paid to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mindy-kaling/be-like-allan-pearl-sit-next-to-the-class-clown-and-study-him-then/) [Mindy Kaling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mindy-kaling/) > [“Don’t be closer to twice a friend’s weight than to her actual weight,” I told myself. 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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 ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“When you think a girl looks pretty, say it. But don’t reference the thing that might reveal you are aware of the backstage process: e.g., say, “You look gorgeous tonight,” not “I like how you did your makeup tonight.” Also, a compliment means less if you compliment the thing and not the way the girl is carrying it off. 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