---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I would not describe my personality. And…"
description: "\"I would not describe my personality. And I think when you describe people, you are making a mistake. That's not how they are; that's how you perceive t..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b9/philippe-petit-3697_describe_i-would-not-describe-my-personality-and_1463714.jpg"
---

#  I would not describe my personality. And I think when you…

![“I would not describe my personality. And I think when you describe people, you are making a mistake. That's not how they are; that's how you perceive them at that moment. It's limiting in front of something that is magnificent and unlimited: life.” quote by Philippe Petit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b9/philippe-petit-3697_describe_i-would-not-describe-my-personality-and_1463714.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b9/philippe-petit-3697_describe_i-would-not-describe-my-personality-and_1463714.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b9/philippe-petit-3697_describe_i-would-not-describe-my-personality-and_1463714.jpg)

> “I would not describe my personality. And I think when you describe people, you are making a mistake. That's not how they are; that's how you perceive them at that moment. It's limiting in front of something that is magnificent and unlimited: life.”

[Philippe Petit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-petit/)

## About This Quote

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

Describing people imposes limits; perception shapes identity, not the person.

**In simple terms:** Labels restrict understanding.

Key Takeaway

See beyond labels.

Themes

identity perception humanity

Mood

thoughtful analytical

Type

psychological philosophical

When to use this quote

- personal relationships
- psychology
- artistic expression
- teaching

Key Concepts

subjectivity self‑concept

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you avoid stereotyping?
- When are labels useful?

A Different Perspective

Labels can sometimes help communication.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Describe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/describe/) [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Front](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/front/) [How](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/how/) [I think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-think/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Limiting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/limiting/) [Limiting Magnificent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/limiting-magnificent-5293651/) [Magnificent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/magnificent/) [Making](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/making/) [Making a mistake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/making-a-mistake/) [Mistake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mistake/) [Mistake Perceive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mistake-perceive-5293650/) [Moment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moment/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Perceive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perceive/) [Personality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/personality/) [Personality Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/personality-think-1240501/) [Something](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/something/) [Them](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/them/) [Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think/) [Think People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-people/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Unlimited](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unlimited/) [Would](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/would/) [You](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/you/)

## Related quotes

> [It's always easy to describe something complex by applying to it an already known label.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-petit/it-s-always-easy-to-describe-something-complex-by-applying-to-it-an/)

[Philippe Petit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-petit/)

> [I think it's good that you test the reality that surrounds you in your neighbourhood with the reality as it is in other parts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-trudeau/i-think-it-s-good-that-you-test-the-reality-that-surrounds-you-in/)

[Pierre Trudeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-trudeau/)

> [I don't know where I fit in the spectrum of rap yet, I think now I'm kind of proving myself, but before, people thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicki-minaj/i-don-t-know-where-i-fit-in-the-spectrum-of-rap-yet-i-think-now-i-m/)

[Nicki Minaj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicki-minaj/)

> [Did I express my personality? I think that's quite unimportant because it's not people's selves but what they have to say about life that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-strand/did-i-express-my-personality-i-think-that-s-quite-unimportant-because/)

[Paul Strand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-strand/)

> [I'm still an obsessive personality, and I still think I'm right, and I still believe my literary balls hang far lower than nearly anyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-goad/i-m-still-an-obsessive-personality-and-i-still-think-i-m-right-and-i/)

[Jim Goad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-goad/)

> [“If you want to know if someone was meant to be in your future, then remove all the worldly things about them from your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder/if-you-want-to-know-if-someone-was-meant-to-be-in-your-future-then/)

[Shannon L. Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder/)

> [I don't think I ever wanted to be like Kanye in personality. I think I definitely want to, have always wanted to, have his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chance-the-rapper/i-don-t-think-i-ever-wanted-to-be-like-kanye-in-personality-i-think-i/)

[Chance The Rapper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chance-the-rapper/)

> [“They expect that their soul mate will be just like them. You know, that a soft, gentle intellectual will fit only with another soft,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristi-cook/they-expect-that-their-soul-mate-will-be-just-like-them-you-know-that/)

[Kristi Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristi-cook/)

> [I think I'm one of those people that kind of thinks everybody's got an identity, and maybe that's the core of their personality. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-sloan/i-think-i-m-one-of-those-people-that-kind-of-thinks-everybody-s-got/)

[Robin Sloan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-sloan/)

> [Weighing too much on someone's talent and not someone's personality. I think it matters whether someone has a good heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elon-musk/weighing-too-much-on-someone-s-talent-and-not-someone-s-personality-i/)

[Elon Musk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elon-musk/)

> [I've never been a guy who has said 'OK' about stuff. That's not me. That's not my personality. If I think something's wrong, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/draymond-green/i-ve-never-been-a-guy-who-has-said-ok-about-stuff-that-s-not-me-that/)

[Draymond Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/draymond-green/)

> [Everybody's a bit screwed up, you know. You can take it as symptoms of a disorder, or you can take it as personality. Me,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarvis-cocker/everybody-s-a-bit-screwed-up-you-know-you-can-take-it-as-symptoms-of/)

[Jarvis Cocker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarvis-cocker/)

> [It wasn't until I had a platform and an opportunity like 'Being the Elite' to show people that I'm a real human being. Show…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-page/it-wasn-t-until-i-had-a-platform-and-an-opportunity-like-being-the/)

[Adam Page](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-page/)

> [There are many sides to me to who I am and my personality. I think the only thing that is rebellious about me is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-fox/there-are-many-sides-to-me-to-who-i-am-and-my-personality-i-think-the/)

[Megan Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-fox/)

> [I have good personality, I think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juan-soto/i-have-good-personality-i-think/)

[Juan Soto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juan-soto/)

## More by Philippe Petit

> [If I look at the performance of another friend Sting, whenever I hear him take over a stage and share his art with millions,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-petit/if-i-look-at-the-performance-of-another-friend-sting-whenever-i-hear/)

[Philippe Petit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-petit/)

> [I am a wire-walker. I can walk any time, anywhere - I'm indestructible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-petit/i-am-a-wire-walker-i-can-walk-any-time-anywhere-i-m-indestructible/)

[Philippe Petit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-petit/)

> [I have been performing in the street for more than 50 years: magic for basically 60 years, and the high wire 45 years. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-petit/i-have-been-performing-in-the-street-for-more-than-50-years-magic-for/)

[Philippe Petit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-petit/)

> [I needed more knowledge in rigging and knotting. I started collecting books on knots and really learning more and more. That's how it started.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-petit/i-needed-more-knowledge-in-rigging-and-knotting-i-started-collecting/)

[Philippe Petit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-petit/)

> [To be able to create fully, it's maybe fine that you learn the rules, but you have to forget and to rebel against those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-petit/to-be-able-to-create-fully-it-s-maybe-fine-that-you-learn-the-rules/)

[Philippe Petit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-petit/)

> [When a loved one disappears, you continue to live with the accompaniment of that person. One has to find a balance between joy and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-petit/when-a-loved-one-disappears-you-continue-to-live-with-the/)

[Philippe Petit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-petit/)

> [You must not fall. / When you lose your balance, resist for a long time before turning yourself toward the earth. Then jump. /…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-petit/you-must-not-fall-when-you-lose-your-balance-resist-for-a-long-time/)

[Philippe Petit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-petit/)

> [When I was six years old, I fell in love with magic. For Christmas, I got a magic box and a very old book…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-petit/when-i-was-six-years-old-i-fell-in-love-with-magic-for-christmas-i/)

[Philippe Petit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-petit/)

> [I don't like to risk my life, so I prepare sometimes for months or sometimes for years. But sometimes after a walk, I look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-petit/i-don-t-like-to-risk-my-life-so-i-prepare-sometimes-for-months-or/)

[Philippe Petit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-petit/)

> [When I perform outside, the major problem that could arise is strong wind.I spend months preparing for the types of wind that occur in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-petit/when-i-perform-outside-the-major-problem-that-could-arise-is-strong/)

[Philippe Petit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-petit/)

> [If I have to make a self-portrait, I would put poetry and rebellion on the list. To be able to walk on a wire,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-petit/if-i-have-to-make-a-self-portrait-i-would-put-poetry-and-rebellion-on/)

[Philippe Petit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-petit/)

> [Whenever other worlds invite us, whenever we are balancing on the boundaries of our limited human condition, that’s where life starts, that’s where you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-petit/whenever-other-worlds-invite-us-whenever-we-are-balancing-on-the/)

[Philippe Petit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-petit/)

> [I have walked many times around the world and each time it's different from the last one. It feels a little bit like I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-petit/i-have-walked-many-times-around-the-world-and-each-time-it-s/)

[Philippe Petit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-petit/)

> [I am a thief of knowledge, and in a survival way, I had to solve all the problems around me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-petit/i-am-a-thief-of-knowledge-and-in-a-survival-way-i-had-to-solve-all/)

[Philippe Petit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-petit/)

> [Metaphorically speaking, of course, if I put a problem behind my pillow and fall asleep, very often because my brain went to sleep with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-petit/metaphorically-speaking-of-course-if-i-put-a-problem-behind-my-pillow/)

[Philippe Petit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-petit/)

[Explore all 124 Philippe Petit quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-petit/)

## More Describe quotes

> [Amongst the financial Twitterati, the term 'muppets' has come to describe any client used and abused by some financial predator. I've adopted the term…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-ritholtz/amongst-the-financial-twitterati-the-term-muppets-has-come-to/)

[Barry Ritholtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-ritholtz/)

> [There is a comfort zone of knowing where things are going and having characters in place, but the action gets more and more dramatic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-b-jenkins/there-is-a-comfort-zone-of-knowing-where-things-are-going-and-having/)

[Jerry B. Jenkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-b-jenkins/)

> [I'd happily describe myself as a TV presenter now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-riley/i-d-happily-describe-myself-as-a-tv-presenter-now/)

[Rachel Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-riley/)

> [Without sounding overly sentimental about the process, I'd say trying to describe how you tend to conceive of a book is like describing how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jess-walter/without-sounding-overly-sentimental-about-the-process-i-d-say-trying/)

[Jess Walter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jess-walter/)

> [The work of deciding cases goes on every day in hundreds of courts throughout the land. Any judge, one might suppose, would find it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-n-cardozo/the-work-of-deciding-cases-goes-on-every-day-in-hundreds-of-courts/)

[Benjamin N. Cardozo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-n-cardozo/)

> [Everyone's gonna have their opinion, everyone's gonna have their favorite bands. The best way I can describe it is music is like food, either…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-anselmo/everyone-s-gonna-have-their-opinion-everyone-s-gonna-have-their/)

[Phil Anselmo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-anselmo/)

> [If I had to describe myself in one word its annoying...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasmine/if-i-had-to-describe-myself-in-one-word-its-annoying/)

[Jasmine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasmine/)

> [If people ask me to describe my look, I always say: 'Quite classic with an edge.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carine-roitfeld/if-people-ask-me-to-describe-my-look-i-always-say-quite-classic-with/)

[Carine Roitfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carine-roitfeld/)

> [How could this world be so unlike the world that I believed I was living in? I can't describe it. Do I not want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-safran-foer/how-could-this-world-be-so-unlike-the-world-that-i-believed-i-was/)

[Jonathan Safran Foer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-safran-foer/)

> [Most filmmakers' entire body of knowledge is of other movies. When they describe things, they describe them in relation to other movies. That's why…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-malkovich/most-filmmakers-entire-body-of-knowledge-is-of-other-movies-when-they/)

[John Malkovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-malkovich/)

> ['Brand-Dropping' is the term that the Kluger Agency coined to describe discreetly advertising by product mentioning in song, and we feel we can make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-kluger/brand-dropping-is-the-term-that-the-kluger-agency-coined-to-describe/)

[Adam Kluger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-kluger/)

> [Would I describe myself as new Labour? I'm Labour, organised Labour. I think labels have a limited use and that's where you really get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-o-grady/would-i-describe-myself-as-new-labour-i-m-labour-organised-labour-i/)

[Frances O'Grady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-o-grady/)

> [I wouldn't want to even try to begin to describe our customer, as I think she likes a certain amount of anonymity. I try…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phoebe-philo/i-wouldn-t-want-to-even-try-to-begin-to-describe-our-customer-as-i/)

[Phoebe Philo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phoebe-philo/)

> [I would describe our concerts as pretty intense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzuka-nakamoto/i-would-describe-our-concerts-as-pretty-intense/)

[Suzuka Nakamoto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzuka-nakamoto/)

> [I'm never aiming to make a movie like someone else's movie, but in order to describe a movie to someone else who hasn't seen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-zombie/i-m-never-aiming-to-make-a-movie-like-someone-else-s-movie-but-in/)

[Rob Zombie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-zombie/)

[Browse all 258 Describe quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/describe/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I would not describe my personality. And I think when you describe people, you are making a mistake. That's not how they are; that's how you perceive them at that moment. It's limiting in front of something that is magnificent and unlimited: life.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Philippe Petit"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-petit/i-would-not-describe-my-personality-and-i-think-when-you-describe/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Describe"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-petit/i-would-not-describe-my-personality-and-i-think-when-you-describe/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b9/philippe-petit-3697_describe_i-would-not-describe-my-personality-and_1463714.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b9/philippe-petit-3697_describe_i-would-not-describe-my-personality-and_1463714.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b9/philippe-petit-3697_describe_i-would-not-describe-my-personality-and_1463714.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I would not describe my personality. And I think when you describe people, you are making a mistake. That's…” — Philippe Petit",
                "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": "Philippe Petit",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-petit/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I would not describe my personality....",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-petit/i-would-not-describe-my-personality-and-i-think-when-you-describe/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-petit/i-would-not-describe-my-personality-and-i-think-when-you-describe/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
