---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A lot of people use a smiley face when…"
description: "\"A lot of people use a smiley face when they write letters. But it's this huge insane compulsion, like 'I'm happy! I swear!' I'm not buying it.\" — Nate ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ee/nate-lowman-23779_buying_a-lot-of-people-use-a-smiley-face-when-t_2727124.jpg"
---

#  A lot of people use a smiley face when they write letters…

![“A lot of people use a smiley face when they write letters. But it's this huge insane compulsion, like 'I'm happy! I swear!' I'm not buying it.” quote by Nate Lowman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ee/nate-lowman-23779_buying_a-lot-of-people-use-a-smiley-face-when-t_2727124.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ee/nate-lowman-23779_buying_a-lot-of-people-use-a-smiley-face-when-t_2727124.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ee/nate-lowman-23779_buying_a-lot-of-people-use-a-smiley-face-when-t_2727124.jpg)

> “A lot of people use a smiley face when they write letters. But it's this huge insane compulsion, like 'I'm happy! I swear!' I'm not buying it.”

[Nate Lowman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate-lowman/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The quote critiques superficial expressions of happiness in written communication, suggesting they often mask genuine feelings.

**In simple terms:** People overuse smiley faces to feign happiness.

Key Takeaway

Beware of insincere digital emotions.

Themes

authenticity communication emotions

Mood

skeptical reflective

Type

observational critical

When to use this quote

- online messaging
- email correspondence
- social media posts

Key Concepts

social media digital etiquette psychology

Questions to Reflect On

- Do you rely on emojis to express true feelings?
- How does overusing them affect trust?

A Different Perspective

Smiley faces can sometimes convey sarcasm or irony, complicating interpretation.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Buying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/buying/) [Compulsion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compulsion/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/)

## Related quotes

> [A lot of people use a smiley face when they write letters. But it's this huge insane compulsion, like "I'm happy! I swear!" I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate-lowman/a-lot-of-people-use-a-smiley-face-when-they-write-letters-but-it-s/)

[Nate Lowman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate-lowman/)

> [4 Rules for texting a girl: 1) Don't take 40 minutes to reply. 2) Use good grammar. 3) Ask Questions. 4) Always use the smiley face](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/4-rules-for-texting-a-girl-1-don-t-take-40-minutes-to-reply-2-use/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Sometimes I use smiley faces so that my messages dont look rude!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sometimes-i-use-smiley-faces-so-that-my-messages-dont-look-rude/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [It's nice that I can go down the road of obsessing over this smiley-face bullshit so maybe I can get free from it and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate-lowman/it-s-nice-that-i-can-go-down-the-road-of-obsessing-over-this-smiley/)

[Nate Lowman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate-lowman/)

> [Leo had wanted to paint a giant message on the bottom of the hull-WASSUP? with a smiley-face-but Annabeth had vetoed the idea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/leo-had-wanted-to-paint-a-giant-message-on-the-bottom-of-the-hull/)

[Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/)

> [I was so happy every morning when I woke up that I was pissing smiley faces.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikki-sixx/i-was-so-happy-every-morning-when-i-woke-up-that-i-was-pissing-smiley/)

[Nikki Sixx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikki-sixx/)

> [Most of my friends from Columbia are going on to get advanced degrees. And why not? A Ph.D. is the new M.A., a master's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-mccafferty/most-of-my-friends-from-columbia-are-going-on-to-get-advanced-degrees/)

[Megan McCafferty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-mccafferty/)

> [If you're a Black artist, you could paint a wall of smiley faces, and someone will still ask you, 'Why are you so angry?'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kara-walker/if-you-re-a-black-artist-you-could-paint-a-wall-of-smiley-faces-and/)

[Kara Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kara-walker/)

> [That's a lot of vegetables. "It is, yes, and if you eat them like a good girl..." He lifted the silver lid on another…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/that-s-a-lot-of-vegetables-it-is-yes-and-if-you-eat-them-like-a-good/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Let me tell you something: for hundreds of thousands of years, this kind of discussion would have been impossible to have, or those like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/let-me-tell-you-something-for-hundreds-of-thousands-of-years-this/)

[Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/)

> [Just because you delete the smiley face from his contact, doesn't mean your over him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivia-anne/just-because-you-delete-the-smiley-face-from-his-contact-doesn-t-mean/)

Olivia Anne

> [For a second we just stand there in silence. Then, suddenly, Alex is back, easy and smiling again. “I left a note for you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-oliver/for-a-second-we-just-stand-there-in-silence-then-suddenly-alex-is/)

[Lauren Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-oliver/)

> [I'm really not into that super-crazy-colour, smiley-faces-on-the-front-of-your-dress look. That's not my thing. You're not going to see me in pink. Or anything frilly. Or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-wasson/i-m-really-not-into-that-super-crazy-colour-smiley-faces-on-the-front/)

[Erin Wasson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-wasson/)

> [I'm trying to broaden the scope of positive psychology well beyond the smiley face. Happiness is just one-fifth of what human beings choose to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-seligman/i-m-trying-to-broaden-the-scope-of-positive-psychology-well-beyond/)

[Martin Seligman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-seligman/)

> [The door swung open and Kate walked in. Her jeans and T-shirt were splattered with blood and she was carrying a severed vampire head.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilona-andrews/the-door-swung-open-and-kate-walked-in-her-jeans-and-t-shirt-were/)

[Ilona Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilona-andrews/)

## More by Nate Lowman

> [It's nice that I can go down the road of obsessing over this smiley-face bullshit so maybe I can get free from it and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate-lowman/it-s-nice-that-i-can-go-down-the-road-of-obsessing-over-this-smiley/)

[Nate Lowman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate-lowman/)

> [To me, a drop of oil paint or a xerographic dot are the same thing - they're all just language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate-lowman/to-me-a-drop-of-oil-paint-or-a-xerographic-dot-are-the-same-thing/)

[Nate Lowman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate-lowman/)

> [Language is the most beautiful and destructive thing because it allows you to express yourself, but it totally confuses everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate-lowman/language-is-the-most-beautiful-and-destructive-thing-because-it/)

[Nate Lowman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate-lowman/)

> [I do believe that I will see the apocalypse in my lifetime. And when it comes, I'm not repenting for anything I've done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate-lowman/i-do-believe-that-i-will-see-the-apocalypse-in-my-lifetime-and-when/)

[Nate Lowman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate-lowman/)

> [I don't have a great imagination to share something with you that you don't know, so it's about interpreting things - a dialogue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate-lowman/i-don-t-have-a-great-imagination-to-share-something-with-you-that-you/)

[Nate Lowman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate-lowman/)

> [I think of other artists as generous when I get inspired by their work. That's why I like curating. You don't want to take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate-lowman/i-think-of-other-artists-as-generous-when-i-get-inspired-by-their/)

[Nate Lowman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate-lowman/)

> [There are so many different desires that make you execute an artwork.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate-lowman/there-are-so-many-different-desires-that-make-you-execute-an-artwork/)

[Nate Lowman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate-lowman/)

> [The night schedule is a crazy pit I fall into most of the time, but I do like it because the buzz of normal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate-lowman/the-night-schedule-is-a-crazy-pit-i-fall-into-most-of-the-time-but-i/)

[Nate Lowman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate-lowman/)

> [Dead people don't really die. They live on within you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate-lowman/dead-people-don-t-really-die-they-live-on-within-you/)

[Nate Lowman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate-lowman/)

> [A lot of people use a smiley face when they write letters. But it's this huge insane compulsion, like "I'm happy! I swear!" I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate-lowman/a-lot-of-people-use-a-smiley-face-when-they-write-letters-but-it-s/)

[Nate Lowman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate-lowman/)

> [For me, Corsica is a place that I visited with my friends, maybe five or six times over the years, and I'm so happy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate-lowman/for-me-corsica-is-a-place-that-i-visited-with-my-friends-maybe-five/)

[Nate Lowman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate-lowman/)

> [I'm really interested in the difference between selfishness and generosity. It confuses me to no end because sometimes it all just feels like pure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate-lowman/i-m-really-interested-in-the-difference-between-selfishness-and/)

[Nate Lowman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate-lowman/)

> [People have these weird ideas about artists being romantic, generous people, and sometimes I feel like an asshole, a selfish kid, a brat, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate-lowman/people-have-these-weird-ideas-about-artists-being-romantic-generous/)

[Nate Lowman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate-lowman/)

> [It's a shame when other people's gambling habits change the meaning of paintings or when fluctuations of value start to dictate how people perceive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate-lowman/it-s-a-shame-when-other-people-s-gambling-habits-change-the-meaning/)

[Nate Lowman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate-lowman/)

> [A lot of the images I use are already out there in the public or in the news. I just steal them or photograph…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate-lowman/a-lot-of-the-images-i-use-are-already-out-there-in-the-public-or-in/)

[Nate Lowman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate-lowman/)

[Explore all 25 Nate Lowman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate-lowman/)

## More Buying quotes

> [To me, the beauty of a quilt or a dress lies within the stitches and the thought of the person who made them. When…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie/to-me-the-beauty-of-a-quilt-or-a-dress-lies-within-the-stitches-and/)

[Natalie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie/)

> [Look at music for what it's worth around the world and not just America. In other countries, people are still buying CDs and going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/snoop-dogg/look-at-music-for-what-it-s-worth-around-the-world-and-not-just/)

[Snoop Dogg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/snoop-dogg/)

> [Corporations invest in sophisticated CRM, or Customer Relationship Management, programs to effectively oversee their relationship with their customers at every point during the buying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-ostrofsky/corporations-invest-in-sophisticated-crm-or-customer-relationship/)

[Marc Ostrofsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-ostrofsky/)

> [I'm being called in by all the great casting directors. It's no longer based on a headshot. I realize now what they're buying is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-gonzalez/i-m-being-called-in-by-all-the-great-casting-directors-it-s-no-longer/)

[Nicholas Gonzalez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-gonzalez/)

> [Whether you are buying a car or casting a ballot, choosing a job or planning a family, follow your moral compass. Don't let others…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-hayes/whether-you-are-buying-a-car-or-casting-a-ballot-choosing-a-job-or/)

[Denis Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-hayes/)

> [A hardback's harder at Christmas time because that's a good hardback buying time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/a-hardback-s-harder-at-christmas-time-because-that-s-a-good-hardback/)

[Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/)

> [Truth is, people like buying things for $0.99 and $1.99 for their digital devices. We know that from iTunes. We know that from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-lee/truth-is-people-like-buying-things-for-0-99-and-1-99-for-their/)

[Jennifer Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-lee/)

> [There's a whole generation of women who never really heard the word investment before, when it came to fashion. They've been buying things because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-kors/there-s-a-whole-generation-of-women-who-never-really-heard-the-word/)

[Michael Kors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-kors/)

> [I think buying a home is the best investment that any individual can make](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-paulson/i-think-buying-a-home-is-the-best-investment-that-any-individual-can/)

[John Paulson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-paulson/)

> [The more a prospective customer clicks on you and your stuff, the easier it is for them to make a buying decision in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-gitomer/the-more-a-prospective-customer-clicks-on-you-and-your-stuff-the/)

[Jeffrey Gitomer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-gitomer/)

> [“If you have half a nothing - sell it for a double something, resell half at double-price, and buy another something and a half…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-advise/if-you-have-half-a-nothing-sell-it-for-a-double-something-resell-half/)

Will Advise

> [Every kid looks forward to buying their first JanSport backpack for school - you know my kids did!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-buteau/every-kid-looks-forward-to-buying-their-first-jansport-backpack-for/)

[Michelle Buteau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-buteau/)

> [What is the focus of the new image infrastructure? Attention. It's all designed for capturing, tracking, quantifying, manipulating, holding, buying, selling and controlling attention.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-mau/what-is-the-focus-of-the-new-image-infrastructure-attention-it-s-all/)

[Bruce Mau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-mau/)

> [It’s always going to be easy to live like others or other’s life, because creating or innovating something of own is always difficult in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anuj/it-s-always-going-to-be-easy-to-live-like-others-or-other-s-life/)

[Anuj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anuj/)

> [The truth is, if I was maybe better or funnier or prettier, wouldn't I have starred in a movie? I can see it objectively…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-greer/the-truth-is-if-i-was-maybe-better-or-funnier-or-prettier-wouldn-t-i/)

[Judy Greer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-greer/)

[Browse all 1,598 Buying quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/buying/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "A lot of people use a smiley face when they write letters. But it's this huge insane compulsion, like 'I'm happy! I swear!' I'm not buying it.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Nate Lowman"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate-lowman/a-lot-of-people-use-a-smiley-face-when-they-write-letters-but-it-s-2/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Buying"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate-lowman/a-lot-of-people-use-a-smiley-face-when-they-write-letters-but-it-s-2/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ee/nate-lowman-23779_buying_a-lot-of-people-use-a-smiley-face-when-t_2727124.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ee/nate-lowman-23779_buying_a-lot-of-people-use-a-smiley-face-when-t_2727124.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ee/nate-lowman-23779_buying_a-lot-of-people-use-a-smiley-face-when-t_2727124.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“A lot of people use a smiley face when they write letters. But it's this huge insane compulsion, like 'I'm…” — Nate Lowman",
                "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": "Nate Lowman",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate-lowman/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "A lot of people use a...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate-lowman/a-lot-of-people-use-a-smiley-face-when-they-write-letters-but-it-s-2/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate-lowman/a-lot-of-people-use-a-smiley-face-when-they-write-letters-but-it-s-2/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
