---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I wish people weren't so set on being…"
description: "\"“I wish people weren't so set on being themselves, when that means being a bastard.”\" — Robertson Davies"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e96/robertson-davies-834_bastard_i-wish-people-weren-t-so-set-on-being-th_3174698.jpg"
---

#  I wish people weren't so set on being themselves, when…

![“I wish people weren't so set on being themselves, when that means being a bastard.” quote by Robertson Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e96/robertson-davies-834_bastard_i-wish-people-weren-t-so-set-on-being-th_3174698.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e96/robertson-davies-834_bastard_i-wish-people-weren-t-so-set-on-being-th_3174698.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e96/robertson-davies-834_bastard_i-wish-people-weren-t-so-set-on-being-th_3174698.jpg)

> ““I wish people weren't so set on being themselves, when that means being a bastard.””

[Robertson Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robertson-davies/)

## About This Quote

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

The quote suggests that people cling to their identities even when it makes them act poorly, implying a need to let go of rigid self‑image.

**In simple terms:** Holding onto identity can cause harmful behavior.

Key Takeaway

Embrace flexibility over rigid self‑labels.

Themes

identity authenticity self‑image psychology

Mood

introspective critical encouraging

Type

psychological literary

When to use this quote

- personal development
- social interactions
- conflict resolution

Key Concepts

self‑concept growth humility

Questions to Reflect On

- How does self‑image limit actions?
- Can we be authentic without ego?

A Different Perspective

Rigid identity may hinder personal growth.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Personality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/personality/) [Wish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wish/)

## Related quotes

> [Although it sounds very trite, I wish people were nice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobcat-goldthwait/although-it-sounds-very-trite-i-wish-people-were-nice/)

[Bobcat Goldthwait](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobcat-goldthwait/)

> [I would wish that people would accept people for who they are, not be judgemental, allow people to live their lives and enjoy themselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barrowman/i-would-wish-that-people-would-accept-people-for-who-they-are-not-be/)

[John Barrowman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barrowman/)

> [What do men want? They want a lot of pals, and they wish that people wouldn't get so mad at them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/what-do-men-want-they-want-a-lot-of-pals-and-they-wish-that-people/)

[Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/)

> [I wish more people would belabor the obvious, and more often.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ibn-warraq/i-wish-more-people-would-belabor-the-obvious-and-more-often/)

[Ibn Warraq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ibn-warraq/)

> [“I just wish people would realise that anything is possible if you try. Dreams are made if people try.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-fox/i-just-wish-people-would-realise-that-anything-is-possible-if-you-try/)

[Terry Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-fox/)

> [“since my parents died. The circumstances were public knowledge, minus the details you would expect only if you were there, yet it remained something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taryn-plendl/since-my-parents-died-the-circumstances-were-public-knowledge-minus/)

[Taryn Plendl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taryn-plendl/)

> [Its the careless-fallibility types of people that weren't meant to carry a heavy soul, or a heavy load. Its one of them thangs, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/travis-long/its-the-careless-fallibility-types-of-people-that-weren-t-meant-to/)

[Travis Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/travis-long/)

> [I think these movies are as much for people of that time as for people who weren't born. For people who weren't born, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-costner/i-think-these-movies-are-as-much-for-people-of-that-time-as-for/)

[Kevin Costner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-costner/)

> [“The extraordinary-looking pair of young people weren't holding hands, but the way they tilted ever so subtly toward each other made it clear that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josephine-angelini/the-extraordinary-looking-pair-of-young-people-weren-t-holding-hands/)

[Josephine Angelini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josephine-angelini/)

> [Communism didn't work because people weren't ready for it, it was corrupt, and because it squelched individualism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-shadyac/communism-didn-t-work-because-people-weren-t-ready-for-it-it-was/)

[Tom Shadyac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-shadyac/)

> [“People weren't made for this kind of thing, he said, the way I feel about you, how much I feel, no one ever has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laekan-zea-kemp/people-weren-t-made-for-this-kind-of-thing-he-said-the-way-i-feel/)

[Laekan Zea Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laekan-zea-kemp/)

> [“You couldn’t really tell people you weren’t out performing your civic duties because you were too busy raising the dead.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lish-mcbride/you-couldn-t-really-tell-people-you-weren-t-out-performing-your-civic/)

[Lish McBride](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lish-mcbride/)

> [And who are all these people? There weren't this many when I fell asleep." Alfie shrugged, indicating that the universe was mysterious and nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/and-who-are-all-these-people-there-weren-t-this-many-when-i-fell/)

[Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/)

> [People don't get married to get divorced. Maybe people weren't meant to be together forever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frankie-valli/people-don-t-get-married-to-get-divorced-maybe-people-weren-t-meant/)

[Frankie Valli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frankie-valli/)

> [I realized that the people weren't just characters but they were people and they were getting to do something that was so fun and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-elizabeth-winstead/i-realized-that-the-people-weren-t-just-characters-but-they-were/)

[Mary Elizabeth Winstead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-elizabeth-winstead/)

## More by Robertson Davies

> [“...the irrational will have its say, perhaps because 'irrational' is the wrong word for it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robertson-davies/the-irrational-will-have-its-say-perhaps-because-irrational-is-the/)

[Robertson Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robertson-davies/)

> [If you're going to do something that looks evil, don't smear it with icing and pretend it's good; just bloody well do it and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robertson-davies/if-you-re-going-to-do-something-that-looks-evil-don-t-smear-it-with/)

[Robertson Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robertson-davies/)

> [Extraordinary people survive under the most terrible circumstances and they become more extraordinary because of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robertson-davies/extraordinary-people-survive-under-the-most-terrible-circumstances/)

[Robertson Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robertson-davies/)

> [Although there may be nothing new under the sun, what is old is new to us and so rich and astonishing that we never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robertson-davies/although-there-may-be-nothing-new-under-the-sun-what-is-old-is-new-to/)

[Robertson Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robertson-davies/)

> [If I had to describe my remarks this evening frankly as if I were in police court and on oath, so to speak I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robertson-davies/if-i-had-to-describe-my-remarks-this-evening-frankly-as-if-i-were-in/)

[Robertson Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robertson-davies/)

> [The people of the United States, perhaps more than any other nation in history, love to abase themselves and proclaim their unworthiness, and seem…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robertson-davies/the-people-of-the-united-states-perhaps-more-than-any-other-nation-in/)

[Robertson Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robertson-davies/)

> [I don't suppose God laughs at the people who think He doesn't exist. He's above jokes. But the devil isn't. That's one of his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robertson-davies/i-don-t-suppose-god-laughs-at-the-people-who-think-he-doesn-t-exist/)

[Robertson Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robertson-davies/)

> [Inactivity and deprivation of all accustomed stimulus is not rest; it is a preparation for the tomb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robertson-davies/inactivity-and-deprivation-of-all-accustomed-stimulus-is-not-rest-it/)

[Robertson Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robertson-davies/)

> [“My lifelong involvement with Mrs Dempster began at 5:58 o'clock p.m. on 27 December 1908, at which time I was ten years and seven months old.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robertson-davies/my-lifelong-involvement-with-mrs-dempster-began-at-5-58-o-clock-p-m/)

[Robertson Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robertson-davies/)

> [In a government like ours, the Crown is the abiding and unshakable element in government; politicians may come and go, but the Crown remains…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robertson-davies/in-a-government-like-ours-the-crown-is-the-abiding-and-unshakable/)

[Robertson Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robertson-davies/)

> [The art of the quoter is to know when to stop.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robertson-davies/the-art-of-the-quoter-is-to-know-when-to-stop/)

[Robertson Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robertson-davies/)

> [There can be no doubt that Samuel Marchbanks is one of the choice and master spirits of this age. If there were such a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robertson-davies/there-can-be-no-doubt-that-samuel-marchbanks-is-one-of-the-choice-and/)

[Robertson Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robertson-davies/)

> [Nobody who looks as though he enjoyed life is ever called distinguished, though he is a man in a million.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robertson-davies/nobody-who-looks-as-though-he-enjoyed-life-is-ever-called/)

[Robertson Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robertson-davies/)

> [They're all so highly educated, you know. Education is a great shield against experience. It offers so much, ready-made and all from the best…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robertson-davies/they-re-all-so-highly-educated-you-know-education-is-a-great-shield/)

[Robertson Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robertson-davies/)

> [Students today are a pretty solemn lot. One of the really notable achievements of the twentieth century has been to make the young old…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robertson-davies/students-today-are-a-pretty-solemn-lot-one-of-the-really-notable/)

[Robertson Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robertson-davies/)

[Explore all 357 Robertson Davies quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robertson-davies/)

## More Bastard quotes

> [“I know I don’t deserve this,” he says roughly, “but I’m going to be a selfish bastard and take it. Because I’ve been dying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-c-lynn/i-know-i-don-t-deserve-this-he-says-roughly-but-i-m-going-to-be-a/)

[K.C. Lynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-c-lynn/)

> [“In another Christmas story, Dale Pearson, evil developer, self-absorbed woman hater, and seemingly unredeemable curmudgeon, might be visited in the night by a series…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-moore/in-another-christmas-story-dale-pearson-evil-developer-self-absorbed/)

[Christopher Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-moore/)

> [Butane is the bastard gas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hank-hill/butane-is-the-bastard-gas/)

[Hank Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hank-hill/)

> [“You’re one cruel bastard,” she managed to get out. He tsked with his tongue. “Everyone says that.” Then he took hold of her chin…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dianna-hardy/you-re-one-cruel-bastard-she-managed-to-get-out-he-tsked-with-his/)

[Dianna Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dianna-hardy/)

> [“Bastard had the bad manners to die before we were through talking to him.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-banks/bastard-had-the-bad-manners-to-die-before-we-were-through-talking-to/)

[Maya Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-banks/)

> [“You want to change the world? Now is your chance! Go show this bastard what you are made of!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wesley-chu/you-want-to-change-the-world-now-is-your-chance-go-show-this-bastard/)

[Wesley Chu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wesley-chu/)

> [“Yet Another reason to hate him. The bastard had broken her libido with his wonder penis.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolette-day/yet-another-reason-to-hate-him-the-bastard-had-broken-her-libido-with/)

Nicolette Day

> [“Sometimes being a contrary bastard was a real pain.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lori-foster/sometimes-being-a-contrary-bastard-was-a-real-pain/)

[Lori Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lori-foster/)

> [“Love is a heartless bastard”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/love-is-a-heartless-bastard/)

[Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/)

> [“Bastard. Mother-crapping bastard.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samantha-towle/bastard-mother-crapping-bastard/)

[Samantha Towle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samantha-towle/)

> [The object of war is not to die for your country but to make the other bastard die for his.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-s-patton/the-object-of-war-is-not-to-die-for-your-country-but-to-make-the/)

[George S. Patton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-s-patton/)

> [“You going to finish beating yourself up soon? Because I've got a lot of work to catch up on, seeing as I had to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-roberts/you-going-to-finish-beating-yourself-up-soon-because-i-ve-got-a-lot/)

[Nora Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-roberts/)

> [“Bastard children were born from lust and lies, men said; their nature was wanton and treacherous." — Jon Snow”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin/bastard-children-were-born-from-lust-and-lies-men-said-their-nature/)

[George R.R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin/)

> [“That rotten bastard had let his dick ruin our family, and I was going to cut it off and stick it in my neighbor’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-foor/that-rotten-bastard-had-let-his-dick-ruin-our-family-and-i-was-going/)

[Jennifer Foor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-foor/)

> [“I’m lucky yes I am don’t argue I’m the luckiest bastard in the world. And: how wonderful it was to have before him the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/i-m-lucky-yes-i-am-don-t-argue-i-m-the-luckiest-bastard-in-the-world/)

[Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/)

Browse all 151 Bastard quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“I wish people weren't so set on being themselves, when that means being a bastard.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Robertson Davies"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robertson-davies/i-wish-people-weren-t-so-set-on-being-themselves-when-that-means/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Bastard"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robertson-davies/i-wish-people-weren-t-so-set-on-being-themselves-when-that-means/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e96/robertson-davies-834_bastard_i-wish-people-weren-t-so-set-on-being-th_3174698.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e96/robertson-davies-834_bastard_i-wish-people-weren-t-so-set-on-being-th_3174698.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e96/robertson-davies-834_bastard_i-wish-people-weren-t-so-set-on-being-th_3174698.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I wish people weren't so set on being themselves, when that means being a bastard.” — Robertson Davies",
                "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": "Robertson Davies",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robertson-davies/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“I wish people weren't so set...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robertson-davies/i-wish-people-weren-t-so-set-on-being-themselves-when-that-means/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robertson-davies/i-wish-people-weren-t-so-set-on-being-themselves-when-that-means/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```