---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I am a guy,\" I say. \"And I hate boys,\"…"
description: "\"“I am a guy,\" I say. \"And I hate boys,\" she says. \"But a guy's different,\" I say. \"Maybe a little,\" she says.”\" — Ned Vizzini"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dec/ned-vizzini-1483_boys_i-am-a-guy-i-say-and-i-hate-boys-she-say_2002877.png"
---

#  I am a guy," I say. "And I hate boys," she says. "But a…

![“I am a guy,&quot; I say. &quot;And I hate boys,&quot; she says. &quot;But a guy's different,&quot; I say. &quot;Maybe a little,&quot; she says.” quote by Ned Vizzini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dec/ned-vizzini-1483_boys_i-am-a-guy-i-say-and-i-hate-boys-she-say_2002877.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dec/ned-vizzini-1483_boys_i-am-a-guy-i-say-and-i-hate-boys-she-say_2002877.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dec/ned-vizzini-1483_boys_i-am-a-guy-i-say-and-i-hate-boys-she-say_2002877.png)

> ““I am a guy," I say. "And I hate boys," she says. "But a guy's different," I say. "Maybe a little," she says.””

[Ned Vizzini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ned-vizzini/)

## About This Quote

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

The speaker reveals conflicted feelings about gender and sexuality, highlighting personal confusion and societal expectations.

**In simple terms:** Confusing feelings about gender and identity.

Key Takeaway

Seek clarity and accept complexity.

Themes

gender identity conflict acceptance

Mood

confused thoughtful

Type

personal reflective

When to use this quote

- friendships
- dating
- family discussions

Key Concepts

social norms personal narrative

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you define yourself beyond labels?
- What influences your feelings about gender?

A Different Perspective

Self‑labeling can oversimplify nuanced experiences.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Boys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boys/) [High school](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/high-school/)

## Related quotes

> [“But, um, I kind of wondered if I could have your phone number, so I can call you when we're out of here.' She…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ned-vizzini/but-um-i-kind-of-wondered-if-i-could-have-your-phone-number-so-i-can/)

[Ned Vizzini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ned-vizzini/)

> [Boys,' she says, 'just aren't very good at being afraid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/boys-she-says-just-aren-t-very-good-at-being-afraid/)

[Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/)

> [“I stop at the touch of his hand on my bare skin, my heart pounding in shock. I turn to look up at him,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-henderson/i-stop-at-the-touch-of-his-hand-on-my-bare-skin-my-heart-pounding-in/)

[Lauren Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-henderson/)

> [“Some girls are fortunate enough to be in love with deep and intelligent boys," she says. "And then there's the rest of us, who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-h-eg/some-girls-are-fortunate-enough-to-be-in-love-with-deep-and/)

[Peter Høeg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-h-eg/)

> [“Uh oh,” my dad comes in the room but dramatically stops short. “Are we talking about boys?” I roll my eyes. “No, we’re talking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-harper/uh-oh-my-dad-comes-in-the-room-but-dramatically-stops-short-are-we/)

[Emily Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-harper/)

> [Boys will be boys, that's what everyone always says. But no one ever mentions how girls have to be something other than themselves altogether.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/boys-will-be-boys-that-s-what-everyone-always-says-but-no-one-ever/)

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

> [When a girl says What to a guy, she's not asking for you to repeat it. she's giving you a chance to change your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/itsme867/when-a-girl-says-what-to-a-guy-she-s-not-asking-for-you-to-repeat-it/)

Itsme867

> [“You pushed it too far. You shouldn't take the same risk again." "Says the guy who got shot.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joss-stirling/you-pushed-it-too-far-you-shouldn-t-take-the-same-risk-again-says-the/)

[Joss Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joss-stirling/)

> [“How can you guys do this?” Cotton paces back and forth. “How can you act like everything is okay when these people are doing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-scott/how-can-you-guys-do-this-cotton-paces-back-and-forth-how-can-you-act/)

[Victoria Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-scott/)

> [“Every life is different because you passed this way and touched history. Even the child Ruth May touched history. Everyone is complicit. The okapi…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-kingsolver/every-life-is-different-because-you-passed-this-way-and-touched-2/)

[Barbara Kingsolver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-kingsolver/)

> [Why is it that every time a girl says a guy is bothering her, it's fluffed off with oh, he just likes you, as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/why-is-it-that-every-time-a-girl-says-a-guy-is-bothering-her-it-s/)

[Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/)

> [“My mom says no guy is perfect, you just have to find one that makes you happy seventy percent of the time.” That was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-cannon/my-mom-says-no-guy-is-perfect-you-just-have-to-find-one-that-makes/)

[Chris Cannon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-cannon/)

> [“Strong is right?” “Well, yes, I suppose you could say that.” “You say a woman cannot be bought. I say she can. I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-anderson/strong-is-right-well-yes-i-suppose-you-could-say-that-you-say-a-woman/)

[Catherine Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-anderson/)

> [Troy Deeney is a good guy, he's one of the nicest guys I've played with. He says it how it is. He's not a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/odion-ighalo/troy-deeney-is-a-good-guy-he-s-one-of-the-nicest-guys-i-ve-played/)

[Odion Ighalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/odion-ighalo/)

> [“What freaking year were you born in? You can’t be much younger than me. They had all of those shows about Amazon chicks and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/santino-hassell/what-freaking-year-were-you-born-in-you-can-t-be-much-younger-than-me/)

[Santino Hassell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/santino-hassell/)

## More by Ned Vizzini

> [I want to live but I want to die. What do I do?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ned-vizzini/i-want-to-live-but-i-want-to-die-what-do-i-do/)

[Ned Vizzini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ned-vizzini/)

> [“See, because being Cool is obviously the most important thing on earth. It’s more important than getting a job, or having a girlfriend, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ned-vizzini/see-because-being-cool-is-obviously-the-most-important-thing-on-earth/)

[Ned Vizzini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ned-vizzini/)

> [“She puts on her poker face; I don’t have any extra faces to put on, just the normal Craig face.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ned-vizzini/she-puts-on-her-poker-face-i-don-t-have-any-extra-faces-to-put-on/)

[Ned Vizzini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ned-vizzini/)

> [“pro scienta atque sapienta-Latin- for science and wisdom It's a Darwinian popularity contest. at all times, the question on everyone's mind is, "who's coolest?"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ned-vizzini/pro-scienta-atque-sapienta-latin-for-science-and-wisdom-it-s-a/)

[Ned Vizzini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ned-vizzini/)

> [I think you run out of 'I love yous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ned-vizzini/i-think-you-run-out-of-i-love-yous/)

[Ned Vizzini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ned-vizzini/)

> [So now live for real, Craig. Live. Live. Live. Live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ned-vizzini/so-now-live-for-real-craig-live-live-live-live/)

[Ned Vizzini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ned-vizzini/)

> [“...one quarter of your life is spent as a minor; you might as well make the best of it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ned-vizzini/one-quarter-of-your-life-is-spent-as-a-minor-you-might-as-well-make/)

[Ned Vizzini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ned-vizzini/)

> [Once you have a kid, it's amazing how quickly people ask, 'So are you going to stop at just one?'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ned-vizzini/once-you-have-a-kid-it-s-amazing-how-quickly-people-ask-so-are-you/)

[Ned Vizzini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ned-vizzini/)

> [“So when I ran out of the final bottle of Zoloft, I didn’t take any more. I didn’t call Dr. Barney either. I just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ned-vizzini/so-when-i-ran-out-of-the-final-bottle-of-zoloft-i-didn-t-take-any/)

[Ned Vizzini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ned-vizzini/)

> [“If Bobby can get a place to live, I think, then I can get a life worth living.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ned-vizzini/if-bobby-can-get-a-place-to-live-i-think-then-i-can-get-a-life-worth/)

[Ned Vizzini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ned-vizzini/)

> [“Up next is Noelle. 'Hey, girl!' 'Don't you dare start calling me that. This is very nice of you to do.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ned-vizzini/up-next-is-noelle-hey-girl-don-t-you-dare-start-calling-me-that-this/)

[Ned Vizzini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ned-vizzini/)

> [They're sort of ancillary anyway, friends. I mean, they're important -- everybody knows that; the TV tells you so -- but they come and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ned-vizzini/they-re-sort-of-ancillary-anyway-friends-i-mean-they-re-important/)

[Ned Vizzini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ned-vizzini/)

> [“There are only things that could have turned out differently. You don't have any shoulds or woulds in your life, see? You only have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ned-vizzini/there-are-only-things-that-could-have-turned-out-differently-you-don/)

[Ned Vizzini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ned-vizzini/)

> [That's what gets me through the day. Knowing that I could do it. That I'm strong enough to do it and I can get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ned-vizzini/that-s-what-gets-me-through-the-day-knowing-that-i-could-do-it-that-i/)

[Ned Vizzini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ned-vizzini/)

> [I like how you don't hide your problems like everyone else, and I don't have to hide mine when I'm around you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ned-vizzini/i-like-how-you-don-t-hide-your-problems-like-everyone-else-and-i-don/)

[Ned Vizzini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ned-vizzini/)

[Explore all 237 Ned Vizzini quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ned-vizzini/)

## More Boys quotes

> [Ye youths and virgins, when your generous blood Has drunk the warmth of fifteen summers, now The loves invite; now to new rapture wakes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-armstrong/ye-youths-and-virgins-when-your-generous-blood-has-drunk-the-warmth/)

[John Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-armstrong/)

> [Boys and boys' body image and clothes have become just as important an issue for boys as for girls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosalind-wiseman/boys-and-boys-body-image-and-clothes-have-become-just-as-important-an/)

[Rosalind Wiseman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosalind-wiseman/)

> [Lets face it this world is ruled by girls that why we must away pleases our girls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mrawesome/lets-face-it-this-world-is-ruled-by-girls-that-why-we-must-away/)

MrAwesome

> [I grew up in Synagogue in the boys' choir. We didn't listen to music in the house; only at temple. Then I went to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-patinkin/i-grew-up-in-synagogue-in-the-boys-choir-we-didn-t-listen-to-music-in/)

[Mandy Patinkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-patinkin/)

> [When it comes to bullying small businesses, Donald Trump is the poster boy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/when-it-comes-to-bullying-small-businesses-donald-trump-is-the-poster/)

[Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/)

> [When other boys dreamt of going to the moon or becoming doctors, I wanted to be a designer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivier-theyskens/when-other-boys-dreamt-of-going-to-the-moon-or-becoming-doctors-i/)

[Olivier Theyskens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivier-theyskens/)

> [In the middle of a play, I go crazy and don't realize what I'm doing. I'll snap back to reality and I realize, 'Hey,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-bosworth/in-the-middle-of-a-play-i-go-crazy-and-don-t-realize-what-i-m-doing-i/)

[Brian Bosworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-bosworth/)

> [If Pete’s (Sampras) child is a girl, my son will like her; if he’s a boy, my son will defeat him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-agassi/if-pete-s-sampras-child-is-a-girl-my-son-will-like-her-if-he-s-a-boy/)

[Andre Agassi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-agassi/)

> [The tie's a multi purpose accessory, y'know, belt, school boy, Rambo.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noel-fielding/the-tie-s-a-multi-purpose-accessory-y-know-belt-school-boy-rambo/)

[Noel Fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noel-fielding/)

> [The reason I went to an all-boys Catholic school was because they had the best football team. We won the state championship my junior…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theo-rossi/the-reason-i-went-to-an-all-boys-catholic-school-was-because-they-had/)

[Theo Rossi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theo-rossi/)

> [Some article called me the most feared man in Silicon Valley. Good Lord! Why? My teenage boys got a kick out of it: 'Dad,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-myhrvold/some-article-called-me-the-most-feared-man-in-silicon-valley-good/)

[Nathan Myhrvold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-myhrvold/)

> [She had been dragged in the most humiliating of all dusts, the dust reserved for older women who let themselves be approached, on amorous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-von-arnim/she-had-been-dragged-in-the-most-humiliating-of-all-dusts-the-dust/)

[Elizabeth von Arnim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-von-arnim/)

> [As you'll never hear the thing again, my boy, why not throw in a couple of brass bands?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-beecham/as-you-ll-never-hear-the-thing-again-my-boy-why-not-throw-in-a-couple/)

[Thomas Beecham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-beecham/)

> [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/)

> [If a Coach is determined to stay in the coaching profession, he will develop from year to year. This much is true, no coach…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolph-rupp/if-a-coach-is-determined-to-stay-in-the-coaching-profession-he-will/)

[Adolph Rupp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolph-rupp/)

[Browse all 7,168 Boys quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boys/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“I am a guy,\" I say. \"And I hate boys,\" she says. \"But a guy's different,\" I say. \"Maybe a little,\" she says.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Ned Vizzini"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ned-vizzini/i-am-a-guy-i-say-and-i-hate-boys-she-says-but-a-guy-s-different-i-say/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Boys"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ned-vizzini/i-am-a-guy-i-say-and-i-hate-boys-she-says-but-a-guy-s-different-i-say/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dec/ned-vizzini-1483_boys_i-am-a-guy-i-say-and-i-hate-boys-she-say_2002877.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dec/ned-vizzini-1483_boys_i-am-a-guy-i-say-and-i-hate-boys-she-say_2002877.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dec/ned-vizzini-1483_boys_i-am-a-guy-i-say-and-i-hate-boys-she-say_2002877.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I am a guy,\" I say. \"And I hate boys,\" she says. \"But a guy's different,\" I say. \"Maybe a little,\" she says.” — Ned Vizzini",
                "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": "Ned Vizzini",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ned-vizzini/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“I am a guy,\" I say....",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ned-vizzini/i-am-a-guy-i-say-and-i-hate-boys-she-says-but-a-guy-s-different-i-say/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ned-vizzini/i-am-a-guy-i-say-and-i-hate-boys-she-says-but-a-guy-s-different-i-say/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
