--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I pretended to be precocious, people…" description: "\"“When I pretended to be precocious, people started the rumor that I was precocious. When I acted like an idler, rumor had it I was an idler. When I pre..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/57b/osamu-dazai-2813_family_when-i-pretended-to-be-precocious-people_80663.jpg" --- # When I pretended to be precocious, people started the… ![“When I pretended to be precocious, people started the rumor that I was precocious. When I acted like an idler, rumor had it I was an idler. When I pretended I couldn't write a novel, people said I couldn't write. When I acted like a liar, they called me a liar. When I acted like a rich man, they…” quote by Osamu Dazai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/57b/osamu-dazai-2813_family_when-i-pretended-to-be-precocious-people_80663.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/57b/osamu-dazai-2813_family_when-i-pretended-to-be-precocious-people_80663.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/57b/osamu-dazai-2813_family_when-i-pretended-to-be-precocious-people_80663.jpg) > ““When I pretended to be precocious, people started the rumor that I was precocious. When I acted like an idler, rumor had it I was an idler. When I pretended I couldn't write a novel, people said I couldn't write. When I acted like a liar, they called me a liar. When I acted like a rich man, they started the rumor I was rich. When I feigned indifference, they classed me as the indifferent type. But when I inadvertently groaned because I was really in pain, they started the rumor that I was faking suffering. The world is out of joint.”” [Osamu Dazai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osamu-dazai/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People label us based on outward behavior, even when we are genuinely suffering, revealing a disconnect between perception and reality. **In simple terms:** Labels often ignore true experience. Key Takeaway Perception can misrepresent reality. Themes Identity Perception Social judgment Suffering Authenticity Mood Reflective Melancholic Critical Type Anecdotal Philosophical Social commentary When to use this quote - Being judged at work - Navigating social media criticism - Dealing with health stigma - Facing stereotypes in relationships - Managing public reputation Key Concepts Self-presentation Rumor dynamics Empathy Social stigma Practical Applications - Developing self-awareness - Cultivating compassionate communication Questions to Reflect On - How do we verify authentic suffering? - What responsibilities do observers have when labeling others? A Different Perspective Some argue that self-presentation is a strategic tool, not a misrepresentation of inner truth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Called Liar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/called-liar-801595/) [Family](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/family/) [Friends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friends/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Hypocrisy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hypocrisy/) [Idlers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/idlers/) [Indifference](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/indifference/) [Indifferent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/indifferent/) [Joints](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/joints/) [Liar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liar/) [Liar Acted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liar-acted-1028694/) [Liars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liars/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Living](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/living/) [Lying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lying/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Novel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/novel/) [Pain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pain/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Precocious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/precocious/) [Pretended Precocious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pretended-precocious-1028696/) [Rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rich/) [Rich man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rich-man/) [Rumor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rumor/) [Rumor Faking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rumor-faking-1028695/) [Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) [Society](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/society/) [Suffering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suffering/) [Type](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/type/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [I have been known for some time as a person who speaks the truth and speaks it strongly. I have always called a liar…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cindy-sheehan/i-have-been-known-for-some-time-as-a-person-who-speaks-the-truth-and/) [Cindy Sheehan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cindy-sheehan/) > [“Well?” said Professor McGonagall, rounding on him. “Is this true?” “Is what true?” Harry asked, rather more aggressively than he had intended. “Professor?” he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling/well-said-professor-mcgonagall-rounding-on-him-is-this-true-is-what/) [J.K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling/) > [Is it true that you shouted at Professor Umbridge?" "Yes." "You called her a liar?" "Yes." "You told her He Who Must Not Be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/is-it-true-that-you-shouted-at-professor-umbridge-yes-you-called-her-2/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Sometimes when you get older — and I’m not talking about you, I’m talking generally, because everyone ages differently — things you think on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-gruen/sometimes-when-you-get-older-and-i-m-not-talking-about-you-i-m-2/) [Sara Gruen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-gruen/) > [Growing up with three brothers and three sisters, I was the storyteller of the family... what my mother called 'The Liar.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-rollins/growing-up-with-three-brothers-and-three-sisters-i-was-the/) [James Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-rollins/) > [“When I was a little boy, they called me a liar, but now that I'm a grown up, they call me a writer.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-bashevis-singer/when-i-was-a-little-boy-they-called-me-a-liar-but-now-that-i-m-a/) [Isaac Bashevis Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-bashevis-singer/) > [If you had told me I would have had a signature shoe at 18, I would have looked at you and called you a liar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-reaves/if-you-had-told-me-i-would-have-had-a-signature-shoe-at-18-i-would/) [Austin Reaves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-reaves/) > [“Is it true that you shouted at Professor Umbridge?' 'Yes,' said Harry. 'You called her a liar?' 'Yes.' 'You told her He Who Must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jk-rowling/is-it-true-that-you-shouted-at-professor-umbridge-yes-said-harry-you/) [JK Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jk-rowling/) > [“I don't mind being called a liar. I am. I am a marvelous liar. But I hate being called a liar when I´m telling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/i-don-t-mind-being-called-a-liar-i-am-i-am-a-marvelous-liar-but-i/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [My integrity had been called into question; I was being called a liar, and I am not a liar. And I just think it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-blunkett/my-integrity-had-been-called-into-question-i-was-being-called-a-liar/) [David Blunkett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-blunkett/) > [Joe was being called a liar and a traitor; I'm being accused of nepotism, of being a glorified secretary. The stresses that that places…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-plame/joe-was-being-called-a-liar-and-a-traitor-i-m-being-accused-of/) [Valerie Plame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-plame/) > [If one is to be called a liar, one may as well make an effort to deserve the name.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-a-milne/if-one-is-to-be-called-a-liar-one-may-as-well-make-an-effort-to/) [A. A. Milne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-a-milne/) > [“Sometimes a policeman must confront people about lying. No one likes to be called a liar. But it is what it is! A fact…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sometimes-a-policeman-must-confront-people-about-lying-no-one-likes/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I was precocious, so I began reading 'Cosmo' when I was 12.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanna-coles/i-was-precocious-so-i-began-reading-cosmo-when-i-was-12/) [Joanna Coles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanna-coles/) > [I've always been a late bloomer in some ways, and extremely precocious in other ways. When I was twenty I was living in New…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meghan-daum/i-ve-always-been-a-late-bloomer-in-some-ways-and-extremely-precocious/) [Meghan Daum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meghan-daum/) ## More by Osamu Dazai > [I want to spend my time with people who don't look to be respected. But such good people won't want to spend their time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osamu-dazai/i-want-to-spend-my-time-with-people-who-don-t-look-to-be-respected/) [Osamu Dazai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osamu-dazai/) > [“Disqualified as a human being. I had now ceased utterly to be a human being.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osamu-dazai/disqualified-as-a-human-being-i-had-now-ceased-utterly-to-be-a-human/) [Osamu Dazai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osamu-dazai/) > [I was afraid to board a streetcar because of the conductor; I was afraid to enter the Kabuki Theater for fear of the usherettes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osamu-dazai/i-was-afraid-to-board-a-streetcar-because-of-the-conductor-i-was/) [Osamu Dazai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osamu-dazai/) > [“Tomorrow will probably be another day like today. Happiness will never come my way. I know that. But it's probably best to go to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osamu-dazai/tomorrow-will-probably-be-another-day-like-today-happiness-will-never/) [Osamu Dazai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osamu-dazai/) > [One day, I went to a soba restaurant outside town, and while I was waiting for the zarusoba I opened an old graph magazine.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osamu-dazai/one-day-i-went-to-a-soba-restaurant-outside-town-and-while-i-was/) [Osamu Dazai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osamu-dazai/) > [“I feel so unhappy.” I am sure that this one phrase whispered to me would arouse my sympathy more than the longest, most painstaking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osamu-dazai/i-feel-so-unhappy-i-am-sure-that-this-one-phrase-whispered-to-me/) [Osamu Dazai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osamu-dazai/) > [I soon came to understand that drink, tobacco and prostitutes were all great means if dissipating (even for a few moments) my dread for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osamu-dazai/i-soon-came-to-understand-that-drink-tobacco-and-prostitutes-were-all/) [Osamu Dazai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osamu-dazai/) > [“Of late a gloomy rain has been falling almost incessantly. Whatever I do depresses me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osamu-dazai/of-late-a-gloomy-rain-has-been-falling-almost-incessantly-whatever-i/) [Osamu Dazai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osamu-dazai/) > [“All I feel are the assaults of apprehension and terror at the thought that I am the only one who is entirely unlike the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osamu-dazai/all-i-feel-are-the-assaults-of-apprehension-and-terror-at-the-thought/) [Osamu Dazai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osamu-dazai/) > [Last year nothing happened The year before nothing happened And the year before that nothing happened.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osamu-dazai/last-year-nothing-happened-the-year-before-nothing-happened-and-the/) [Osamu Dazai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osamu-dazai/) > [“Disqualified as a human being.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osamu-dazai/disqualified-as-a-human-being/) [Osamu Dazai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osamu-dazai/) > [“Logic, inevitably, is the love of logic. It is not the love for living human beings.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osamu-dazai/logic-inevitably-is-the-love-of-logic-it-is-not-the-love-for-living/) [Osamu Dazai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osamu-dazai/) > [I like roses best. But they bloom in all four seasons. I wonder if people who like roses best have to die four times…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osamu-dazai/i-like-roses-best-but-they-bloom-in-all-four-seasons-i-wonder-if/) [Osamu Dazai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osamu-dazai/) > [But happiness is being able to hope, however faintly, for happiness. So, at least, we must believe if we are to live in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osamu-dazai/but-happiness-is-being-able-to-hope-however-faintly-for-happiness-so/) [Osamu Dazai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osamu-dazai/) > [In my case such an expression as 'to be fallen for' or even 'to be loved' is not in the least appropriate; perhaps it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osamu-dazai/in-my-case-such-an-expression-as-to-be-fallen-for-or-even-to-be-loved/) [Osamu Dazai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osamu-dazai/) [Explore all 135 Osamu Dazai quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osamu-dazai/) ## More Family quotes > [I was 3-years-old - to this day it is a vivid memory. My family and I were on a boat, catching fish. As one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joaquin-phoenix/i-was-3-years-old-to-this-day-it-is-a-vivid-memory-my-family-and-i/) [Joaquin Phoenix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joaquin-phoenix/) > [One can put some trust in the gratitude of a sovereign, and also in that of his family; under certain conditions, one can even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/otto-von-bismarck/one-can-put-some-trust-in-the-gratitude-of-a-sovereign-and-also-in/) [Otto von Bismarck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/otto-von-bismarck/) > [Social responsibility above the level of family, or at most of tribe, requires imagination-- devotion, loyalty, all the higher virtues -- which a man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/social-responsibility-above-the-level-of-family-or-at-most-of-tribe/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [“ever day Maureen is Selfish To her friend and Family One she get mad at her friend and family and She need to Grad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-andeson/ever-day-maureen-is-selfish-to-her-friend-and-family-one-she-get-mad/) [Maureen Andeson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-andeson/) > [Our concept of a family holiday was going to a guest house in the Lake district or Wales where walking was part of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-bannister/our-concept-of-a-family-holiday-was-going-to-a-guest-house-in-the/) [Roger Bannister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-bannister/) > [“So Jace is my actual family," Kit said. "But I can't go live with him, because him and his hot girlfriend are going off…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/so-jace-is-my-actual-family-kit-said-but-i-can-t-go-live-with-him/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [I have friends and family that identify as LGBTQ.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-mace/i-have-friends-and-family-that-identify-as-lgbtq/) [Nancy Mace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-mace/) > [Her dignity consists in being unknown to the world; her glory is in the esteem of her husband; her pleasures in the happiness of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-jacques-rousseau/her-dignity-consists-in-being-unknown-to-the-world-her-glory-is-in/) [Jean-Jacques Rousseau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-jacques-rousseau/) > [It's not just that families can't buy a home or start a business without some savings tucked away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cooper/it-s-not-just-that-families-can-t-buy-a-home-or-start-a-business/) [Jim Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cooper/) > [“She knew how to play him so very well. He slipped his hand around hers. "Friends," he repeated roughly. Her smile was bright enough…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-smith/she-knew-how-to-play-him-so-very-well-he-slipped-his-hand-around-hers/) [Kathryn Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-smith/) > [As a family, we all loved the Flyers. To me, rooting for the Flyers were how I bonded with my dad especially.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-f-goldberg/as-a-family-we-all-loved-the-flyers-to-me-rooting-for-the-flyers-were/) [Adam F. Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-f-goldberg/) > [The people have always been family to me here in Las Vegas. The people have always been very, very kind to me, and it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randall-cunningham/the-people-have-always-been-family-to-me-here-in-las-vegas-the-people/) [Randall Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randall-cunningham/) > [“Your relationship with your brother will be, in many ways, the most complex and bewildering of all the interpersonal connections you will form. An…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-currie-jr/your-relationship-with-your-brother-will-be-in-many-ways-the-most/) [Ron Currie Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-currie-jr/) > [I've long believed one of the mainsprings of our own liberty has been the widespread ownership of property among our people and the expectation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/i-ve-long-believed-one-of-the-mainsprings-of-our-own-liberty-has-been/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [Family over friends, because real friends are family](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/family-over-friends-because-real-friends-are-family/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 36,913 Family quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/family/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“When I pretended to be precocious, people started the rumor that I was precocious. When I acted like an idler, rumor had it I was an idler. When I pretended I couldn't write a novel, people said I couldn't write. When I acted like a liar, they called me a liar. When I acted like a rich man, they started the rumor I was rich. When I feigned indifference, they classed me as the indifferent type. But when I inadvertently groaned because I was really in pain, they started the rumor that I was faking suffering. The world is out of joint.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Osamu Dazai" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osamu-dazai/when-i-pretended-to-be-precocious-people-started-the-rumor-that-i-was/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Family" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osamu-dazai/when-i-pretended-to-be-precocious-people-started-the-rumor-that-i-was/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/57b/osamu-dazai-2813_family_when-i-pretended-to-be-precocious-people_80663.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/57b/osamu-dazai-2813_family_when-i-pretended-to-be-precocious-people_80663.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/57b/osamu-dazai-2813_family_when-i-pretended-to-be-precocious-people_80663.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When I pretended to be precocious, people started the rumor that I was precocious. When I acted like an…” — Osamu Dazai", "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": "Osamu Dazai", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osamu-dazai/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“When I pretended to be precocious,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osamu-dazai/when-i-pretended-to-be-precocious-people-started-the-rumor-that-i-was/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osamu-dazai/when-i-pretended-to-be-precocious-people-started-the-rumor-that-i-was/#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 } } ] } ```