--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I'd rather be called a boy and play with…" description: "\"I'd rather be called a boy and play with paper airplanes than be called a man and play with a girl's heart.\" — Niall Horan" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/540/niall-horan-3241_airplane_i-d-rather-be-called-a-boy-and-play-with_2606323.jpg" --- # I'd rather be called a boy and play with paper airplanes… ![“I'd rather be called a boy and play with paper airplanes than be called a man and play with a girl's heart.” quote by Niall Horan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/540/niall-horan-3241_airplane_i-d-rather-be-called-a-boy-and-play-with_2606323.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/540/niall-horan-3241_airplane_i-d-rather-be-called-a-boy-and-play-with_2606323.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/540/niall-horan-3241_airplane_i-d-rather-be-called-a-boy-and-play-with_2606323.jpg) > “I'd rather be called a boy and play with paper airplanes than be called a man and play with a girl's heart.” [Niall Horan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niall-horan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Preferring youthful innocence over adult heartbreak underscores a desire for simplicity and emotional safety. **In simple terms:** Choose innocence over heartbreak. Key Takeaway Value emotional safety over adult complexities. Themes innocence heartbreak growth emotional safety Mood nostalgic reflective Type personal philosophical When to use this quote - relationship advice - personal development - youthful perspective Key Concepts psychology of maturity relationship dynamics self‑preservation Questions to Reflect On - What does “boy” symbolize for you? - Can you balance innocence with maturity? A Different Perspective Avoiding adult pain may limit growth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Airplane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/airplane/) [Airplanes Called](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/airplanes-called-1542076/) [Boys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boys/) [Called Boy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/called-boy-1060929/) [Girl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/girl/) [Girl Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/girl-heart/) [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [One direction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/one-direction/) [Paper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/paper/) [Paper airplanes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/paper-airplanes/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Play Girl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play-girl-1586479/) ## Related quotes > [I'd rather be called a boy and play with paper airplanes than be called a man and play with a girls heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niall-horan/i-d-rather-be-called-a-boy-and-play-with-paper-airplanes-than-be-2/) [Niall Horan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niall-horan/) > [I'd rather be called a boy and play with paper airplanes than be called a man and play with a girl's heart. -Niall Horan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/one-direction/i-d-rather-be-called-a-boy-and-play-with-paper-airplanes-than-be/) [One Direction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/one-direction/) > [I'd rather be a boy and play with a paper airplane than to be considered a man and play with a girl's heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niall-horan/i-d-rather-be-a-boy-and-play-with-a-paper-airplane-than-to-be/) [Niall Horan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niall-horan/) > [Don't play with a girl's heart, why mislead a good girl if you know you're not going to love her the way she deserves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anurag-prakash-ray/don-t-play-with-a-girl-s-heart-why-mislead-a-good-girl-if-you-know/) [Anurag Prakash Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anurag-prakash-ray/) > [Don't play with a girl heart, she only has one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/don-t-play-with-a-girl-heart-she-only-has-one/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Of course you don’t mind being called boy,” the young man chuckled, “you think you’re Peter Pan.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-j-ethridge/of-course-you-don-t-mind-being-called-boy-the-young-man-chuckled-you/) [Aaron J. Ethridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-j-ethridge/) > [I got called a boy all the time. Going into the bathroom, I still get the shocked look, like, 'Are you supposed to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brittney-griner/i-got-called-a-boy-all-the-time-going-into-the-bathroom-i-still-get/) [Brittney Griner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brittney-griner/) > [You know, of course, that they have called this boy my downfall? You all know that on the night I lost my powers and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voldemort/you-know-of-course-that-they-have-called-this-boy-my-downfall-you-all/) [Voldemort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voldemort/) > [“After Lunch I sat outside and I saw the boy on the bike ride by again, and he didn't see me that time either.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ally-condie/after-lunch-i-sat-outside-and-i-saw-the-boy-on-the-bike-ride-by-again/) [Ally Condie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ally-condie/) > [Between the innocence of boyhood and the dignity of manhood, we find a delightful creature called a boy…A boy is truth with dirt on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-beck/between-the-innocence-of-boyhood-and-the-dignity-of-manhood-we-find-a/) [Alan Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-beck/) > [“Forty years old, and she called him "boy": that's how she treated him, too, which made it worse. If only he didn't have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-bloch/forty-years-old-and-she-called-him-boy-that-s-how-she-treated-him-too/) [Robert Bloch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-bloch/) > [People thought we were making it up the whole 'We met at school thing.' That was half the reason people called us a boy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-hemmings/people-thought-we-were-making-it-up-the-whole-we-met-at-school-thing/) [Luke Hemmings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-hemmings/) > [I was so happy I wanted to fold all the people into paper airplanes and fly them into the lidless eye of that big…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-toltz/i-was-so-happy-i-wanted-to-fold-all-the-people-into-paper-airplanes/) [Steve Toltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-toltz/) > [I used to sit in class and listen to the terms come floating down the room like paper airplanes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mcphee/i-used-to-sit-in-class-and-listen-to-the-terms-come-floating-down-the/) [John McPhee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mcphee/) > [“Still, national politics meant little to him: about as much as paper airplanes would mean to the survivor of a plane crash.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-mulisch/still-national-politics-meant-little-to-him-about-as-much-as-paper/) [Harry Mulisch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-mulisch/) ## More by Niall Horan > [I hate it when girls act stupid ’cause they think it’s cute. Intelligence is sexy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niall-horan/i-hate-it-when-girls-act-stupid-cause-they-think-it-s-cute/) [Niall Horan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niall-horan/) > [I get really nervous if pigeons are flying around before shows. I can't stand them after one once flew in through my bathroom window…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niall-horan/i-get-really-nervous-if-pigeons-are-flying-around-before-shows-i-can/) [Niall Horan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niall-horan/) > [“Best I ever had Hips don't lie You make me wanna \*sssss\* One more night Irreplaceable, yeah Crazy, we're crazy”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niall-horan/best-i-ever-had-hips-don-t-lie-you-make-me-wanna-sssss-one-more-night/) [Niall Horan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niall-horan/) > [Her boyfriend's a dick And he brings a gun to school And he'd simply kick My ass if he knew the truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niall-horan/her-boyfriend-s-a-dick-and-he-brings-a-gun-to-school-and-he-d-simply/) [Niall Horan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niall-horan/) > [When i was 12 all of my friends had girlfriends and i didn't, i felt lonely so i asked my mom to date me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niall-horan/when-i-was-12-all-of-my-friends-had-girlfriends-and-i-didn-t-i-felt/) [Niall Horan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niall-horan/) > [When you think about it, some people don't like certain things, but when it comes to music, no matter who you are, where you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niall-horan/when-you-think-about-it-some-people-don-t-like-certain-things-but/) [Niall Horan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niall-horan/) > [I’ll always defend the people I love even though I’m as terrifying as a baby penguin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niall-horan/i-ll-always-defend-the-people-i-love-even-though-i-m-as-terrifying-as/) [Niall Horan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niall-horan/) > [Being single doesn't mean your weak. It means your strong enough to wait for what you deserve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niall-horan/being-single-doesn-t-mean-your-weak-it-means-your-strong-enough-to/) [Niall Horan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niall-horan/) > [“If a man whistles at you don't turn around, ignore him. You're a lady not a dog.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niall-horan/if-a-man-whistles-at-you-don-t-turn-around-ignore-him-you-re-a-lady/) [Niall Horan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niall-horan/) > [“Being single doesn't mean you're weak, it means that you're strong enough to wait for the right person.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niall-horan/being-single-doesn-t-mean-you-re-weak-it-means-that-you-re-strong/) [Niall Horan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niall-horan/) > [“Louis's feet smell the worst. Literally like dog poo on a stick-that bad!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niall-horan/louis-s-feet-smell-the-worst-literally-like-dog-poo-on-a-stick-that/) [Niall Horan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niall-horan/) > [I've got my old favorites like The Eagles and Bon Jovi.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niall-horan/i-ve-got-my-old-favorites-like-the-eagles-and-bon-jovi/) [Niall Horan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niall-horan/) > [“So baby, if you say you want me to drive, to KFC”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niall-horan/so-baby-if-you-say-you-want-me-to-drive-to-kfc/) [Niall Horan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niall-horan/) > [Written on these walls are the colours that I can't change Leave my heart open but it stays right here in its cage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niall-horan/written-on-these-walls-are-the-colours-that-i-can-t-change-leave-my/) [Niall Horan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niall-horan/) > ['Ted' made me nearly cry. It's kind of like 'Marley and Me.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niall-horan/ted-made-me-nearly-cry-it-s-kind-of-like-marley-and-me/) [Niall Horan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niall-horan/) [Explore all 134 Niall Horan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niall-horan/) ## More Airplane quotes > [The time that one gains cannot be accumulated in a storehouse; it is contradictory to want to save up existence, which, the fact is,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-de-beauvoir/the-time-that-one-gains-cannot-be-accumulated-in-a-storehouse-it-is/) [Simone de Beauvoir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-de-beauvoir/) > [I shoot in black and white, sometimes color, sometimes if it looks good I shoot out the window of the airplanes or whatever, anything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-barry/i-shoot-in-black-and-white-sometimes-color-sometimes-if-it-looks-good/) [Robert Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-barry/) > [I've jumped out of an airplane 34 times. I've dove 212 feet under water. I've done a lot of things that defied death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-ventura/i-ve-jumped-out-of-an-airplane-34-times-i-ve-dove-212-feet-under/) [Jesse Ventura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-ventura/) > [I believe that anyone who flies in an airplane and doesn't spend most of his time looking out the window wastes his money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-reisner/i-believe-that-anyone-who-flies-in-an-airplane-and-doesn-t-spend-most/) [Marc Reisner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-reisner/) > [We live in a world where it has become politically correct to avoid absolutes. Many want all religions to be given the same honor,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-live-in-a-world-where-it-has-become-politically-correct-to-avoid/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [On the second airplane to france and we're done ! yeyyyyyyyyy !! this one was more full :P](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shmmopy/on-the-second-airplane-to-france-and-we-re-done-yeyyyyyyyyy-this-one/) [Shmmopy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shmmopy/) > [The way I see it, you can either work for a living or you can fly airplanes. Me, I'd rather fly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/len-morgan/the-way-i-see-it-you-can-either-work-for-a-living-or-you-can-fly/) [Len Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/len-morgan/) > [I'm 17 years old. I'm not a straight-A student or anything. Even so, I figured out how to make an Internet that they can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cory-doctorow/i-m-17-years-old-i-m-not-a-straight-a-student-or-anything-even-so-i/) [Cory Doctorow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cory-doctorow/) > [I don't have a fear of flying; I have a fear of crashing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-bob-thornton/i-don-t-have-a-fear-of-flying-i-have-a-fear-of-crashing/) [Billy Bob Thornton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-bob-thornton/) > [From computers to information technology to airplanes, it has been America's unique blend of republican government and free-market capitalism that has allowed us to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-nethercutt/from-computers-to-information-technology-to-airplanes-it-has-been/) [George Nethercutt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-nethercutt/) > [I've been racking my brain. I've been trying to figure out how Bob Dole's luggage got on my airplane...I told the doctor, I said,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/i-ve-been-racking-my-brain-i-ve-been-trying-to-figure-out-how-bob/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [Sometimes life is like being stuck in the middle-seat of an airplane, next to a ridiculously fat person and a crying baby.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sometimes-life-is-like-being-stuck-in-the-middle-seat-of-an-airplane/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm sure the most favorite airplane in my career would still be the Sabre F86 cleft wing , which allowed me to be credited…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buzz-aldrin/i-m-sure-the-most-favorite-airplane-in-my-career-would-still-be-the/) [Buzz Aldrin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buzz-aldrin/) > [I do not use airplanes. They strike me as unsporting. You can have an automobile accident-and survive. You can be on a sinking ship-and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/i-do-not-use-airplanes-they-strike-me-as-unsporting-you-can-have-an/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) > [John Travolta said he sometimes lets his friends take control of his airplane even though they don't know what they're doing. Then Travolta said…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conan-o-brien/john-travolta-said-he-sometimes-lets-his-friends-take-control-of-his/) [Conan O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conan-o-brien/) [Browse all 935 Airplane quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/airplane/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I'd rather be called a boy and play with paper airplanes than be called a man and play with a girl's heart.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Niall Horan" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niall-horan/i-d-rather-be-called-a-boy-and-play-with-paper-airplanes-than-be-3/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Airplane" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niall-horan/i-d-rather-be-called-a-boy-and-play-with-paper-airplanes-than-be-3/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/540/niall-horan-3241_airplane_i-d-rather-be-called-a-boy-and-play-with_2606323.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/540/niall-horan-3241_airplane_i-d-rather-be-called-a-boy-and-play-with_2606323.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/540/niall-horan-3241_airplane_i-d-rather-be-called-a-boy-and-play-with_2606323.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I'd rather be called a boy and play with paper airplanes than be called a man and play with a girl's heart.” — Niall Horan", "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": "Niall Horan", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niall-horan/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I'd rather be called a boy...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niall-horan/i-d-rather-be-called-a-boy-and-play-with-paper-airplanes-than-be-3/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niall-horan/i-d-rather-be-called-a-boy-and-play-with-paper-airplanes-than-be-3/#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 } } ] } ```