--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I've always said it's flattering to be…" description: "\"I've always said it's flattering to be desired, just as it's flattering that people accept the reality of the character you play. But it was always rid..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f9/richard-gere-3534_accepting_i-ve-always-said-it-s-flattering-to-be-d_2432082.jpg" --- # I've always said it's flattering to be desired, just as… ![“I've always said it's flattering to be desired, just as it's flattering that people accept the reality of the character you play. But it was always ridiculous to assume that because I could play a gigolo on screen I'd play anything like that role off screen.” quote by Richard Gere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f9/richard-gere-3534_accepting_i-ve-always-said-it-s-flattering-to-be-d_2432082.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f9/richard-gere-3534_accepting_i-ve-always-said-it-s-flattering-to-be-d_2432082.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f9/richard-gere-3534_accepting_i-ve-always-said-it-s-flattering-to-be-d_2432082.jpg) > “I've always said it's flattering to be desired, just as it's flattering that people accept the reality of the character you play. But it was always ridiculous to assume that because I could play a gigolo on screen I'd play anything like that role off screen.” [Richard Gere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-gere/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Desirability and character acceptance are flattering, but on‑screen roles should not dictate real‑life identity. **In simple terms:** People like being desired and accepted, but roles don’t define you. Key Takeaway Separate performance persona from personal self. Themes identity celebrity authenticity Mood introspective thoughtful Type reflective advice When to use this quote - acting - media interviews - public speaking - personal relationships Key Concepts Role immersion public perception personal branding Questions to Reflect On - How do you maintain personal boundaries in fame? - What steps protect your authentic self? A Different Perspective Fans may conflate actor with character, causing misjudgment. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Accept The Reality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accept-the-reality/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Gigolo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gigolo/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Reality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reality/) ## Related quotes > [Sometimes it's flattering when people copy you, but sometimes it gets to a breaking point.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-eilish/sometimes-it-s-flattering-when-people-copy-you-but-sometimes-it-gets/) [Billie Eilish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-eilish/) > [Television is just amazing - how many people see it and how many people recognize you, and I think once you've had the opportunity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-wagner/television-is-just-amazing-how-many-people-see-it-and-how-many-people/) [Robert Wagner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-wagner/) > [I think it's so flattering that people would even give me enough attention to know about my private life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janhvi-kapoor/i-think-it-s-so-flattering-that-people-would-even-give-me-enough/) [Janhvi Kapoor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janhvi-kapoor/) > [It's flattering if people think I'm attractive. If it helps, great, but it's not going to get in the way of me wanting to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorrie-fair/it-s-flattering-if-people-think-i-m-attractive-if-it-helps-great-but/) [Lorrie Fair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorrie-fair/) > [It's flattering to make a picture which becomes a classic within 10 years; it's not so flattering, however, when people get the impression it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-hamer/it-s-flattering-to-make-a-picture-which-becomes-a-classic-within-10/) Robert Hamer > [I recommend to you, in my last, an innocent piece of art: that of flattering people behind their backs, in presence of those who,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-stanhope/i-recommend-to-you-in-my-last-an-innocent-piece-of-art-that-of/) [Doug Stanhope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-stanhope/) > [It is an honour and it's flattering that people refer to me as someone they trust or get inspired from.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conchita-wurst/it-is-an-honour-and-it-s-flattering-that-people-refer-to-me-as/) [Conchita Wurst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conchita-wurst/) > [It's flattering to people who stop you and say that you've helped them and all. But, again, you know, you've got to stay humble…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/it-s-flattering-to-people-who-stop-you-and-say-that-you-ve-helped/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [It's flattering that people think I'm sexy, but it's not the end-all, be-all. The minute I put my self-esteem on what they think I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eva-mendes/it-s-flattering-that-people-think-i-m-sexy-but-it-s-not-the-end-all/) [Eva Mendes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eva-mendes/) > [I have no intention of flattering people. 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But that was a gift from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ioan-gruffudd/being-attractive-it-s-not-something-i-do-consciously-it-s-incredibly/) [Ioan Gruffudd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ioan-gruffudd/) > [I always find it really flattering when people are going to line up and wait in line for hours to tell you how cool…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-hall/i-always-find-it-really-flattering-when-people-are-going-to-line-up/) [Scott Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-hall/) > [I'm male gigolo. Professionally? I don't think I've ever done anything professionally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-jourgensen/i-m-male-gigolo-professionally-i-don-t-think-i-ve-ever-done-anything/) [Al Jourgensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-jourgensen/) ## More by Richard Gere > [Anything that's expanding the mind and heart is happiness. But it's not a goal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-gere/anything-that-s-expanding-the-mind-and-heart-is-happiness-but-it-s/) [Richard Gere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-gere/) > [People have a different idea of how movies are made than they really are. On a certain level, everyone throws ideas into the hopper.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-gere/people-have-a-different-idea-of-how-movies-are-made-than-they-really/) [Richard Gere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-gere/) > [ Julia \[Roberts\]. She's got two kids and animals, and I think she's a night nibbler. There'd be crumbs everywhere. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-gere/julia-roberts-she-s-got-two-kids-and-animals-and-i-think-she-s-a/) [Richard Gere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-gere/) > [I meditate. Daily practice is essential to my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-gere/i-meditate-daily-practice-is-essential-to-my-life/) [Richard Gere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-gere/) > [Things come out of nowhere, and you start evaluating the director, the cast, and all those other things going into it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-gere/things-come-out-of-nowhere-and-you-start-evaluating-the-director-the/) [Richard Gere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-gere/) > [I'm a 50 year-old guy and I'm not in shape like I was when I was 30.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-gere/i-m-a-50-year-old-guy-and-i-m-not-in-shape-like-i-was-when-i-was-30/) [Richard Gere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-gere/) > [It's nice to have money, but the first thing I did with money was buy my father a snow-blower, because my job was to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-gere/it-s-nice-to-have-money-but-the-first-thing-i-did-with-money-was-buy/) [Richard Gere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-gere/) > [I meet human beings who are flawed, who are mentally ill and have enormous problems, but I don't think I've ever met someone who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-gere/i-meet-human-beings-who-are-flawed-who-are-mentally-ill-and-have/) [Richard Gere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-gere/) > [Relationships are like sharks. They've got to keep going into deeper, colder water, sometimes scarier, darker territories ... to stay alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-gere/relationships-are-like-sharks-they-ve-got-to-keep-going-into-deeper/) [Richard Gere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-gere/) > [One of the joys of being an actor is that you're always learning new things. And I've been doing this since I was 19,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-gere/one-of-the-joys-of-being-an-actor-is-that-you-re-always-learning-new/) [Richard Gere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-gere/) > [I think people do want to relate their entertainment to what's going on in their lives. Not everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-gere/i-think-people-do-want-to-relate-their-entertainment-to-what-s-going/) [Richard Gere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-gere/) > [I can see the character in a photograph, in the way a guy stands or holds his hands, the way he buckles his belt.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-gere/i-can-see-the-character-in-a-photograph-in-the-way-a-guy-stands-or/) [Richard Gere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-gere/) > [Certainly there have been better actors than me who have had no careers. Why? I don't know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-gere/certainly-there-have-been-better-actors-than-me-who-have-had-no/) [Richard Gere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-gere/) > [My first encounter with Buddhist dharma would be in my early 20s. Like most young men, I was not particularly happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-gere/my-first-encounter-with-buddhist-dharma-would-be-in-my-early-20s-like/) [Richard Gere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-gere/) > [The reality is, we can change. We can change ourselves. We can change our minds. We can change our hearts... and therefore the Universe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-gere/the-reality-is-we-can-change-we-can-change-ourselves-we-can-change/) [Richard Gere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-gere/) [Explore all 128 Richard Gere quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-gere/) ## More Accepting quotes > [From Augustine down, theologians have tried to compel people to accept their special interpretation of the Scripture, and the tortures of the inquisition, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matilda-joslyn-gage/from-augustine-down-theologians-have-tried-to-compel-people-to-accept/) [Matilda Joslyn Gage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matilda-joslyn-gage/) > [Laughing, laughing, laughing, laughing! It is the jester! A voice from the Void, to cheer poor Cicero! I accept your gift, dearest Night Mother.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/laughing-laughing-laughing-laughing-it-is-the-jester-a-voice-from-the/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [This duo inside of me causes the perfect opportunity to live and learn twice as fast as those who choose to accept simplicity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tupac-shakur/this-duo-inside-of-me-causes-the-perfect-opportunity-to-live-and/) [Tupac Shakur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tupac-shakur/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [We only enter into the full life if our faith gives thanks. Because how else do we accept His free gift of salvation if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/we-only-enter-into-the-full-life-if-our-faith-gives-thanks-because/) [Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/) > [Don't be bitter. Everybody suffers. If you can accept your suffering then you will understand other people better. Be grateful for pain. Love life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colbert/don-t-be-bitter-everybody-suffers-if-you-can-accept-your-suffering/) [Stephen Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colbert/) > [It takes an unusually philosophic mind to accept that all one’s suffering might be to no end, really, in the larger scheme of things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-takes-an-unusually-philosophic-mind-to-accept-that-all-one-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [No nation being under another nation can accept gifts, and kick at the responsibility attached to those gifts, imposed by the conquering nation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/no-nation-being-under-another-nation-can-accept-gifts-and-kick-at-the/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [Even with clothing naked animals, there were people who wanted to send in money. A woman in Santa Barbara, California, sent a $40,000 check.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-abel/even-with-clothing-naked-animals-there-were-people-who-wanted-to-send/) [Alan Abel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-abel/) > [Society understands the architecture of academia and knows there are relevant qualifications in different fields, and the media accepts the idea of specialisations and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-griffiths/society-understands-the-architecture-of-academia-and-knows-there-are/) [Jay Griffiths](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-griffiths/) > [Whatever your conscious mind assumes and believes to be true, your subconscious mind will accept and bring to pass. Believe in good fortune, divine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-murphy/whatever-your-conscious-mind-assumes-and-believes-to-be-true-your/) [Joseph Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-murphy/) > [Losing someone is easy, but accepting it is hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/losing-someone-is-easy-but-accepting-it-is-hard/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [… and so he tried to accept the ache in his heart as what Dr. Larch would call the common symptoms of normal life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/and-so-he-tried-to-accept-the-ache-in-his-heart-as-what-dr-larch/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [I think what was special about 'Music by Prudence' was the classic story of the title subject's life path - from being an outcast…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-think-what-was-special-about-music-by-prudence-was-the-classic/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [As my films are born at the moment when they are reflected into another person's mind and memories, there are no misconceptions. I totally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pirjo-honkasalo/as-my-films-are-born-at-the-moment-when-they-are-reflected-into/) [Pirjo Honkasalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pirjo-honkasalo/) Browse all 6,788 Accepting quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I've always said it's flattering to be desired, just as it's flattering that people accept the reality of the character you play. 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