--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: My definition of likeable may be…" description: "\"My definition of likeable may be different from other people's. That's not traditional likeable. Sympathy is a different thing [to define it].\" — Paul ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c2/paul-giamatti-12727_definitions_my-definition-of-likeable-may-be-differe_849047.png" --- # My definition of likeable may be different from other… ![“My definition of likeable may be different from other people's. That's not traditional likeable. Sympathy is a different thing [to define it].” quote by Paul Giamatti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c2/paul-giamatti-12727_definitions_my-definition-of-likeable-may-be-differe_849047.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c2/paul-giamatti-12727_definitions_my-definition-of-likeable-may-be-differe_849047.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c2/paul-giamatti-12727_definitions_my-definition-of-likeable-may-be-differe_849047.png) > “My definition of likeable may be different from other people's. That's not traditional likeable. Sympathy is a different thing \[to define it\].” [Paul Giamatti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-giamatti/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People have varied ideas of likability; it’s subjective and not tied to tradition. **In simple terms:** Likability is personal. Key Takeaway Accept differing views on likability. Themes subjectivity likability perception Mood reflective thoughtful Type analytical philosophical When to use this quote - team building - personal branding - leadership - conflict resolution Key Concepts social psychology identity Questions to Reflect On - How do you define likability for yourself? - What influences your perception of likability? A Different Perspective Some may misinterpret non‑traditional likability as insincerity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) ## Related quotes > [“It was hard to feel the remotest sympathy for any of the different fools she'd been. As opposed to the fool she was being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-kingsolver/it-was-hard-to-feel-the-remotest-sympathy-for-any-of-the-different/) [Barbara Kingsolver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-kingsolver/) > [I am remarkably likeable. Few people have ever been as likeable as I am. There is, frankly, no end to my likeability. People gather…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/i-am-remarkably-likeable-few-people-have-ever-been-as-likeable-as-i/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [Consumers know precisely what's wrong with advertising. Be it TV or print or whatever, they know that advertising is never creative enough ... never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-dusenberry/consumers-know-precisely-what-s-wrong-with-advertising-be-it-tv-or/) [Phil Dusenberry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-dusenberry/) > [Theresa Rebeck's writing is so scarily funny. I just love how unapologetic she is with her writing: she doesn't try to make her characters…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lily-rabe/theresa-rebeck-s-writing-is-so-scarily-funny-i-just-love-how/) [Lily Rabe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lily-rabe/) > [You have to have faith that if you want people to like your brand, you have to do likeable things. There has to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-chapman/you-have-to-have-faith-that-if-you-want-people-to-like-your-brand-you/) Jeff Chapman > [The Postman Always Rings Twice that's a book that I think every writer should read - that has to do with technique. But it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-dee/the-postman-always-rings-twice-that-s-a-book-that-i-think-every/) [Jonathan Dee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-dee/) > [The vegan diet is obviously lacking whatever essential nutrient it is that makes people likeable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-goad/the-vegan-diet-is-obviously-lacking-whatever-essential-nutrient-it-is/) [Jim Goad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-goad/) > [I was supposed to be authoritative, but at the same time had to be likeable, a quality that is a bonus, not a requirement,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dee-dee-myers/i-was-supposed-to-be-authoritative-but-at-the-same-time-had-to-be/) [Dee Dee Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dee-dee-myers/) > [Jonathan Coe's genial, likeable novel can only be described as a kind of lit-prog-rock concept album... Coe recreates the period with such loving accuracy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-bradshaw/jonathan-coe-s-genial-likeable-novel-can-only-be-described-as-a-kind/) [Peter Bradshaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-bradshaw/) > [Anywhere you go liking everyone, everyone will be likeable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mignon-mclaughlin/anywhere-you-go-liking-everyone-everyone-will-be-likeable/) [Mignon McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mignon-mclaughlin/) > [Gillard is as likeable as Rudd is charmless. She is self-deprecating; he is ludicrously vainglorious. She is a mistress of understatement; he is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germaine-greer/gillard-is-as-likeable-as-rudd-is-charmless-she-is-self-deprecating/) [Germaine Greer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germaine-greer/) > [Live like Spongebob, Laugh out loud all day for no reason and annoy all the mean people with your happiness!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spongebob/live-like-spongebob-laugh-out-loud-all-day-for-no-reason-and-annoy/) [Spongebob](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spongebob/) > [It really takes likeable superstars to get the attention of the masses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-wyatt/it-really-takes-likeable-superstars-to-get-the-attention-of-the-masses/) [Jennifer Wyatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-wyatt/) > [The individual attributes of warmth and competence are often perceived to be negatively correlated. That doesn't mean they actually are, but that's how people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-pfeffer/the-individual-attributes-of-warmth-and-competence-are-often/) [Jeffrey Pfeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-pfeffer/) > [The easiest way for readers to connect with characters and feel sympathy is to make the character entertaining, sympathetic and likeable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randa-abdel-fattah/the-easiest-way-for-readers-to-connect-with-characters-and-feel/) [Randa Abdel-Fattah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randa-abdel-fattah/) ## More by Paul Giamatti > [Lead roles are fun, but I'm especially happy other, more colorful supporting stuff has come along.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-giamatti/lead-roles-are-fun-but-i-m-especially-happy-other-more-colorful/) [Paul Giamatti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-giamatti/) > [Somehow whatever I play ends up being sleazy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-giamatti/somehow-whatever-i-play-ends-up-being-sleazy/) [Paul Giamatti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-giamatti/) > [It'd be disingenuous to say I don't like attention - I'm an actor for God's sake - and it's flattering and all, but attention…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-giamatti/it-d-be-disingenuous-to-say-i-don-t-like-attention-i-m-an-actor-for/) [Paul Giamatti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-giamatti/) > [I'm not a big wine guy. And bars, I never go to bars anymore. It's such a drag, man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-giamatti/i-m-not-a-big-wine-guy-and-bars-i-never-go-to-bars-anymore-it-s-such/) [Paul Giamatti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-giamatti/) > [Well, you know, when people say stuff about you, it's always really flattering. But does it mean anything to me? It's not really real…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-giamatti/well-you-know-when-people-say-stuff-about-you-it-s-always-really/) [Paul Giamatti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-giamatti/) > [I suppose there must be some way in which I'm compelled to show some side of myself - or of people - that's paranoid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-giamatti/i-suppose-there-must-be-some-way-in-which-i-m-compelled-to-show-some/) [Paul Giamatti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-giamatti/) > [As an actor, to have achieved financial stability is amazing. 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You can't kill yourself before you're even published.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-giamatti/come-on-man-hemingway-sexton-plath-woolf-you-can-t-kill-yourself/) [Paul Giamatti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-giamatti/) [Explore all 53 Paul Giamatti quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-giamatti/) ## More Definitions quotes > [When the first Superman movie came out I was frequently asked "What is a hero?" ...My answer was that a hero is someone who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-reeve/when-the-first-superman-movie-came-out-i-was-frequently-asked-what-is/) [Christopher Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-reeve/) > [The poet reminds men of their uniqueness and it is not necessary to possess the ultimate definition of this uniqueness. 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Anything that a \[person\] postulates as being a greater totality than \[oneself\]… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/the-self-is-defined-psychologically-as-the-psychic-totality-of-the/) [Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/) > [Before I had kids, I thought you should never lie to a kid. But now I've had them, I realize you almost lie to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-donoghue/before-i-had-kids-i-thought-you-should-never-lie-to-a-kid-but-now-i/) [Emma Donoghue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-donoghue/) > [my definition of the ideal man is 'that particular man with whom a woman happens to be in love at that particular time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clare-boothe-luce/my-definition-of-the-ideal-man-is-that-particular-man-with-whom-a/) [Clare Boothe Luce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clare-boothe-luce/) > [He emphasised basic truths: you are not dying yet, you have to live your life until you are. Underpinning them was the belief that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvine-welsh/he-emphasised-basic-truths-you-are-not-dying-yet-you-have-to-live/) [Irvine Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvine-welsh/) > [My briefest ever definition of science fiction is 'Hubris clobbered by Nemesis.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-aldiss/my-briefest-ever-definition-of-science-fiction-is-hubris-clobbered-by/) [Brian Aldiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-aldiss/) > [Was man made stupid to see his own stupidity? Is God by definition indifferent, beyond us all? Is the eternal truth man's fighting soul…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-eberhart/was-man-made-stupid-to-see-his-own-stupidity-is-god-by-definition/) [Richard Eberhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-eberhart/) > [Science manipulates things and gives up living in them. It makes its own limited models of things; operating upon these indices or variables to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-merleau-ponty/science-manipulates-things-and-gives-up-living-in-them-it-makes-its/) [Maurice Merleau-Ponty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-merleau-ponty/) > [The accumulation of all powers, legislative, executive, and judiciary, in the same hands, whether of one, a few, or many, and whether hereditary, selfappointed,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/the-accumulation-of-all-powers-legislative-executive-and-judiciary-in/) [James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/) > [“I'm going to use them to track him down and thwart him." "Thwart?" Sarissa asked. "Thwart." I said. 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