--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In America, the first thing people say…" description: "\"In America, the first thing people say is, 'What do you do?'\" — Simon Helberg" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c4/simon-helberg-6849_america_in-america-the-first-thing-people-say-is_2994782.jpg" --- # In America, the first thing people say is, 'What do you do?' ![“In America, the first thing people say is, 'What do you do?'” quote by Simon Helberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c4/simon-helberg-6849_america_in-america-the-first-thing-people-say-is_2994782.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c4/simon-helberg-6849_america_in-america-the-first-thing-people-say-is_2994782.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c4/simon-helberg-6849_america_in-america-the-first-thing-people-say-is_2994782.jpg) > “In America, the first thing people say is, 'What do you do?'” [Simon Helberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-helberg/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People often define themselves by their occupations, reflecting societal focus on work identity. **In simple terms:** We ask what you do as a primary identifier. Key Takeaway Recognize identity beyond jobs. Themes identity social norms career Mood reflective curious Type observational social When to use this quote - networking events - interviews - social gatherings Key Concepts self-worth conversation starters Questions to Reflect On - What other aspects define you? - How does this question affect self‑esteem? A Different Perspective It can limit appreciation of non‑professional qualities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) ## Related quotes > [The only thing I really feel is necessary is that the black people, not only in Mississippi, will have to actually upset this applecart.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fannie-lou-hamer/the-only-thing-i-really-feel-is-necessary-is-that-the-black-people-2/) [Fannie Lou Hamer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fannie-lou-hamer/) > [What really drives me mad about art is that, in America, the only thing you can do is to take it apart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/what-really-drives-me-mad-about-art-is-that-in-america-the-only-thing/) M.I.A > [I know people don't like America very much, but the one thing it's very good on is local government.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-brooke/i-know-people-don-t-like-america-very-much-but-the-one-thing-it-s/) [Heather Brooke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-brooke/) > [I don't want to speak for my movies; you could say my movies are just completely silly and dumb, but in the case of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-mckay/i-don-t-want-to-speak-for-my-movies-you-could-say-my-movies-are-just-2/) [Adam McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-mckay/) > [I think I must be one of the only people who hasn't done the whole let's-crack-America thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-macdonald/i-think-i-must-be-one-of-the-only-people-who-hasn-t-done-the-whole/) [Amy Macdonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-macdonald/) > [The coolest thing, too, is that people that have never even seen 'One Tree Hill' tell me, 'I love your music.' And I'm like,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jana-kramer/the-coolest-thing-too-is-that-people-that-have-never-even-seen-one/) [Jana Kramer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jana-kramer/) > [Oh, I'm a great believer in the power of the pause. Radio is a bit brasher now. My style was slower. I just used…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-wogan/oh-i-m-a-great-believer-in-the-power-of-the-pause-radio-is-a-bit/) [Terry Wogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-wogan/) > [The one thing people are the most liberal with, is their advice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/the-one-thing-people-are-the-most-liberal-with-is-their-advice/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [“That's the kind of thing people always thinking. They always got to see some sort of scary thing in everything.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-d-crockett/that-s-the-kind-of-thing-people-always-thinking-they-always-got-to/) S.D. Crockett > [“Except for one last thing. What if the people who believe in the cheap Internet appliance turn out to be right?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-s-grove/except-for-one-last-thing-what-if-the-people-who-believe-in-the-cheap/) [Andrew S. Grove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-s-grove/) > [The thing is, though, that some of these people are my age, right? And I didn't know them. I didn't know Susan Sarandon. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-keaton/the-thing-is-though-that-some-of-these-people-are-my-age-right-and-i/) [Diane Keaton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-keaton/) > [You're stuck with being yourself, so the important thing is to find people who like that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-davies/you-re-stuck-with-being-yourself-so-the-important-thing-is-to-find/) [Andrew Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-davies/) > [Leadership is not a quantitative thing. People either smell it in you, or they don't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergio-marchionne/leadership-is-not-a-quantitative-thing-people-either-smell-it-in-you/) [Sergio Marchionne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergio-marchionne/) > [Marriage is a beautiful thing if two people work on it and want to be together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-winget/marriage-is-a-beautiful-thing-if-two-people-work-on-it-and-want-to-be/) [Jennifer Winget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-winget/) > [It occurs to her that there is one thing about people you can never understand well enough: how entirely inside themselves they are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-kingsolver/it-occurs-to-her-that-there-is-one-thing-about-people-you-can-never/) [Barbara Kingsolver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-kingsolver/) ## More by Simon Helberg > [It's hard to convince your agents and managers to do theater, because it's not as financially rewarding and it takes up a lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-helberg/it-s-hard-to-convince-your-agents-and-managers-to-do-theater-because/) [Simon Helberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-helberg/) > [My dad was one of the original members of the Groundlings, and I watched him as an actor have ups and downs, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-helberg/my-dad-was-one-of-the-original-members-of-the-groundlings-and-i/) [Simon Helberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-helberg/) > [I wanted to come to Chicago. I also wanted to do "Saturday Night Live." And then I got to a place where I didn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-helberg/i-wanted-to-come-to-chicago-i-also-wanted-to-do-saturday-night-live/) [Simon Helberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-helberg/) > [I'm interested in character and people and motivations and things like that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-helberg/i-m-interested-in-character-and-people-and-motivations-and-things/) [Simon Helberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-helberg/) > [I try to act with my whole body and, for better or worse, this is the face that's attached to it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-helberg/i-try-to-act-with-my-whole-body-and-for-better-or-worse-this-is-the/) [Simon Helberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-helberg/) > [I love Jerry Lewis. I loved Jim Carrey when I was younger, and Mike Myers and Phil Hartman, all the 'Saturday Night Live' people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-helberg/i-love-jerry-lewis-i-loved-jim-carrey-when-i-was-younger-and-mike/) [Simon Helberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-helberg/) > [Surprise is a huge element in acting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-helberg/surprise-is-a-huge-element-in-acting/) [Simon Helberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-helberg/) > [Everybody has something now. It's become very over-saturated, and it's hard to weed out what's good, what you should watch and what you have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-helberg/everybody-has-something-now-it-s-become-very-over-saturated-and-it-s/) [Simon Helberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-helberg/) > [I wouldn't wear turtlenecks. That I'm not envious of. But who knows? I might sneak out a few things and hope and pray that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-helberg/i-wouldn-t-wear-turtlenecks-that-i-m-not-envious-of-but-who-knows-i/) [Simon Helberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-helberg/) > [I've learned over time that human beings tend to want to do more than they have the courage to do or that the social…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-helberg/i-ve-learned-over-time-that-human-beings-tend-to-want-to-do-more-than/) [Simon Helberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-helberg/) > [I enjoy spending my spare time with my wife, our cat, and our bird.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-helberg/i-enjoy-spending-my-spare-time-with-my-wife-our-cat-and-our-bird/) [Simon Helberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-helberg/) > [Actually, when I was young, I believe I met Nicolas Cage. I think I was probably eight, and I remember seeing him at somebody's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-helberg/actually-when-i-was-young-i-believe-i-met-nicolas-cage-i-think-i-was/) [Simon Helberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-helberg/) > [I generally don't feel the need to do more research than is necessary to play the part for me, to inform me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-helberg/i-generally-don-t-feel-the-need-to-do-more-research-than-is-necessary/) [Simon Helberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-helberg/) > [I think in terms of a career trajectory, it's good for people to be reminded that, in spite of seeing me a million times…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-helberg/i-think-in-terms-of-a-career-trajectory-it-s-good-for-people-to-be/) [Simon Helberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-helberg/) > [I did not want to be the accompanist to an operatic star. But I was at a very high level for a 16-year-old, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-helberg/i-did-not-want-to-be-the-accompanist-to-an-operatic-star-but-i-was-at/) [Simon Helberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-helberg/) [Explore all 97 Simon Helberg quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-helberg/) ## More America quotes > [The costs of the Bush-Obama wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are now estimated to run as high as $4.4 trillion - a major victory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-costs-of-the-bush-obama-wars-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-are-now/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [Well, The Day the Earth Caught Fire was a story... I don't if anybody knows what it is but it was about... in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-guest/well-the-day-the-earth-caught-fire-was-a-story-i-don-t-if-anybody/) [Val Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-guest/) > [So here's what I want you to know, and here's what I want all our men and women in uniform to know: Because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-here-s-what-i-want-you-to-know-and-here-s-what-i-want-all-our-men/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Today, the world looks to America for leadership. And America looks to its Corps of Marines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/today-the-world-looks-to-america-for-leadership-and-america-looks-to/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [The image of blacks usually is one of people who are suffering from hunger, unemployment, and poverty. The idea of them as agents and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-lee-boggs/the-image-of-blacks-usually-is-one-of-people-who-are-suffering-from/) [Grace Lee Boggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-lee-boggs/) > [ I'll smoke, I'll cough, I'll get the tumors, I'll die, deal? Thank you America. \[salutes\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hicks/i-ll-smoke-i-ll-cough-i-ll-get-the-tumors-i-ll-die-deal-thank-you/) [Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hicks/) > [America is a democracy and has no Hitler, but I am afraid for her future; there are hard times ahead for the American people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/america-is-a-democracy-and-has-no-hitler-but-i-am-afraid-for-her/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [I'm gonna bring America together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-m-gonna-bring-america-together/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [In the nineteenth century some parts of the world were unexplored, but there was almost no restriction on travel.:; Up to 1914 you did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/in-the-nineteenth-century-some-parts-of-the-world-were-unexplored-but/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [We need a system that serves our needs, not the needs of others. Remember, under a Trump administration it's called America first. Remember that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/we-need-a-system-that-serves-our-needs-not-the-needs-of-others/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [America, you're sending girls a mixed message. On one hand, you're saying to have positive body image and love who we are; on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adora-svitak/america-you-re-sending-girls-a-mixed-message-on-one-hand-you-re/) [Adora Svitak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adora-svitak/) > [You live overseas, you see these exotic places and you want to know about them. But, weirdly, it also made me homesick for all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-jennings/you-live-overseas-you-see-these-exotic-places-and-you-want-to-know/) [Ken Jennings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-jennings/) > [Freedom in every sense but primarily political sense, a rise in repression that stems from a repression of sexuality. It's AIDS, it's herpes, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicholson/freedom-in-every-sense-but-primarily-political-sense-a-rise-in/) [Jack Nicholson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicholson/) > [“In American terms, the accomplishment of Genghis Khan might be understood if the United States, instead of being created by a group of educated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-weatherford/in-american-terms-the-accomplishment-of-genghis-khan-might-be/) [Jack Weatherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-weatherford/) [Browse all 20,382 America quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "In America, the first thing people say is, 'What do you do?'", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Simon Helberg" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-helberg/in-america-the-first-thing-people-say-is-what-do-you-do/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "America" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-helberg/in-america-the-first-thing-people-say-is-what-do-you-do/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c4/simon-helberg-6849_america_in-america-the-first-thing-people-say-is_2994782.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c4/simon-helberg-6849_america_in-america-the-first-thing-people-say-is_2994782.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c4/simon-helberg-6849_america_in-america-the-first-thing-people-say-is_2994782.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“In America, the first thing people say is, 'What do you do?'” — Simon Helberg", "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": "Simon Helberg", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-helberg/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "In America, the first thing people...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-helberg/in-america-the-first-thing-people-say-is-what-do-you-do/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-helberg/in-america-the-first-thing-people-say-is-what-do-you-do/#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 } } ] } ```