--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I like characters like Ignatius Reilly in…" description: "\"I like characters like Ignatius Reilly in 'A Confederacy of Dunces' and Ricky Gervais's character in 'The Office.' They think one thing about themselve..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7be/stephan-pastis-9455_about_i-like-characters-like-ignatius-reilly-i_1025643.jpg" --- # I like characters like Ignatius Reilly in 'A Confederacy… ![“I like characters like Ignatius Reilly in 'A Confederacy of Dunces' and Ricky Gervais's character in 'The Office.' They think one thing about themselves, but the truth is as far from that as it can be. So I began to think about how to put that kind of character in a book for kids.” quote by Stephan Pastis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7be/stephan-pastis-9455_about_i-like-characters-like-ignatius-reilly-i_1025643.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7be/stephan-pastis-9455_about_i-like-characters-like-ignatius-reilly-i_1025643.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7be/stephan-pastis-9455_about_i-like-characters-like-ignatius-reilly-i_1025643.jpg) > “I like characters like Ignatius Reilly in 'A Confederacy of Dunces' and Ricky Gervais's character in 'The Office.' They think one thing about themselves, but the truth is as far from that as it can be. So I began to think about how to put that kind of character in a book for kids.” [Stephan Pastis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-pastis/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A character who overestimates themselves but is actually far from their self‑image can be used to teach humility and self‑awareness to children. **In simple terms:** Kids learn that self‑perception can be wrong. Key Takeaway Show kids the gap between self‑view and reality. Themes humility self‑awareness character development children literature Mood playful thoughtful Type educational humorous When to use this quote - writing children's books - teaching self‑reflection - character analysis Key Concepts psychology narrative irony growth mindset Questions to Reflect On - How can humor reveal truth without belittling? - What simple story shows a character learning humility? A Different Perspective The humor may obscure the lesson if not balanced. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Characters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/characters/) [Confederacy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confederacy/) [Kids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kids/) [Office](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/office/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) ## Related quotes > [I would like to see 'A Confederacy of Dunces' by John Kennedy Toole adapted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamara-feldman/i-would-like-to-see-a-confederacy-of-dunces-by-john-kennedy-toole/) [Tamara Feldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamara-feldman/) > [Yeah, I think A Confederacy of Dunces is probably the perfect New Orleans book.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/poppy-z-brite/yeah-i-think-a-confederacy-of-dunces-is-probably-the-perfect-new/) [Poppy Z. Brite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/poppy-z-brite/) > [Ricky Gervais captured the staggering laziness that comes with a boring job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-enfield/ricky-gervais-captured-the-staggering-laziness-that-comes-with-a/) [Harry Enfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-enfield/) > [When I first saw stand-up it was Lee Evans. Then I got into Ricky Gervais - we're both from Reading.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rosenthal/when-i-first-saw-stand-up-it-was-lee-evans-then-i-got-into-ricky/) [Tom Rosenthal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rosenthal/) > [My ultimate is Peter Sellers - his ability to go broad and somehow humanize that and be hilarious at the same time. He was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hank-azaria/my-ultimate-is-peter-sellers-his-ability-to-go-broad-and-somehow/) [Hank Azaria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hank-azaria/) > [On a daily basis, you're working with Steve Carell; you're not working with Ricky Gervais. You try a line, and you can't be writing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-daniels/on-a-daily-basis-you-re-working-with-steve-carell-you-re-not-working/) [Greg Daniels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-daniels/) > [I've always wanted to work with Ricky Gervais.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-goldstein/i-ve-always-wanted-to-work-with-ricky-gervais/) [Brett Goldstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-goldstein/) > [Ricky Gervais, met him a couple times. He wouldn't remember it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-middleditch/ricky-gervais-met-him-a-couple-times-he-wouldn-t-remember-it/) [Thomas Middleditch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-middleditch/) > [I like 'The Office.' I particularly like the British version with Ricky Gervais. Of course, I liked the 'Seinfeld' show a lot. I thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-van-dyke/i-like-the-office-i-particularly-like-the-british-version-with-ricky/) [Dick Van Dyke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-van-dyke/) > [Ricky Gervais is a genius.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-nunez/ricky-gervais-is-a-genius/) [Oscar Nunez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-nunez/) > [I'm a pretty big Ricky Gervais fan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-roberts/i-m-a-pretty-big-ricky-gervais-fan/) [Craig Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-roberts/) > [I'm not a big comedy show-watcher, but I love Ricky Gervais' stuff and Sacha Baron Cohen's things. But I'm not an expert on them.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-lilley/i-m-not-a-big-comedy-show-watcher-but-i-love-ricky-gervais-stuff-and/) [Chris Lilley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-lilley/) > [I love British voicing and British humour in general. I'm a huge Ricky Gervais fan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mcg/i-love-british-voicing-and-british-humour-in-general-i-m-a-huge-ricky/) [McG](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mcg/) > [I'll watch Ricky Gervais in anything he does. The guy's hilarious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-devito/i-ll-watch-ricky-gervais-in-anything-he-does-the-guy-s-hilarious/) [Danny DeVito](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-devito/) > [“A green hunting cap squeezed the top of the fleshy balloon of a head. The green earflaps, full of large ears and uncut hair…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kennedy-toole/a-green-hunting-cap-squeezed-the-top-of-the-fleshy-balloon-of-a-head/) [John Kennedy Toole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kennedy-toole/) ## More by Stephan Pastis > [For me, going to Minneapolis is like going to Mecca.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-pastis/for-me-going-to-minneapolis-is-like-going-to-mecca/) [Stephan Pastis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-pastis/) > [I have days where the only words I say are to the person making my sandwich at the grocery store.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-pastis/i-have-days-where-the-only-words-i-say-are-to-the-person-making-my/) [Stephan Pastis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-pastis/) > [“Humility is what you strive for when you've failed at everything else.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-pastis/humility-is-what-you-strive-for-when-you-ve-failed-at-everything-else/) [Stephan Pastis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-pastis/) > [A comic strip has a rhythm and a pattern, and you got to get in and out quick. So you set up a joke,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-pastis/a-comic-strip-has-a-rhythm-and-a-pattern-and-you-got-to-get-in-and/) [Stephan Pastis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-pastis/) > [I like characters who have blind spots and are full of themselves, but there also needs to be vulnerability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-pastis/i-like-characters-who-have-blind-spots-and-are-full-of-themselves-but/) [Stephan Pastis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-pastis/) > [If you put me in 'South Park,' that audience is going to fall asleep in five minutes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-pastis/if-you-put-me-in-south-park-that-audience-is-going-to-fall-asleep-in/) [Stephan Pastis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-pastis/) > [When you can't draw chameleons and you can't draw blenders, it's a bad idea to write strips where chameleons become blenders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-pastis/when-you-can-t-draw-chameleons-and-you-can-t-draw-blenders-it-s-a-bad/) [Stephan Pastis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-pastis/) > [Thomas, my 15-year-old, is effectively my editor, I've always trusted his voice, more than anybody, on the strip for years. He has one of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-pastis/thomas-my-15-year-old-is-effectively-my-editor-i-ve-always-trusted/) [Stephan Pastis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-pastis/) > [I think it might surprise the average person how angry people can get over the comics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-pastis/i-think-it-might-surprise-the-average-person-how-angry-people-can-get/) [Stephan Pastis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-pastis/) > [You can't just count on becoming a syndicated cartoonist. I actually tried to calculate the odds once, and the best I could come up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-pastis/you-can-t-just-count-on-becoming-a-syndicated-cartoonist-i-actually/) [Stephan Pastis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-pastis/) > [A stand-up comedian faces the audiences and gets their immediate feedback. I hide behind the comic strip, and unless people write to me, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-pastis/a-stand-up-comedian-faces-the-audiences-and-gets-their-immediate/) [Stephan Pastis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-pastis/) > [“I know that if I am to move forward like the professional that I am, I must first see the past with mature eyes.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-pastis/i-know-that-if-i-am-to-move-forward-like-the-professional-that-i-am-i/) [Stephan Pastis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-pastis/) > [“Perhaps it is a secret yearning of all Hallmark employees to use the phrase 'you big fat pain in the butt' in an anniversary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-pastis/perhaps-it-is-a-secret-yearning-of-all-hallmark-employees-to-use-the/) [Stephan Pastis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-pastis/) > [It seems so absurd to get really mad with a cartoonist over a comic strip. It's sort of like getting in a fight with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-pastis/it-seems-so-absurd-to-get-really-mad-with-a-cartoonist-over-a-comic/) [Stephan Pastis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-pastis/) > [I know I can always draw, but I actually love the writing the most.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-pastis/i-know-i-can-always-draw-but-i-actually-love-the-writing-the-most/) [Stephan Pastis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-pastis/) [Explore all 72 Stephan Pastis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-pastis/) ## More About quotes > [If you ask an introvert a question, wait until she thinks about it. Introverts think before speaking, not through speaking. If you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-helgoe/if-you-ask-an-introvert-a-question-wait-until-she-thinks-about-it/) [Laurie Helgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-helgoe/) > [Joking about violence is not funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perez-hilton/joking-about-violence-is-not-funny/) [Perez Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perez-hilton/) > [I talk to my mates about our kids, being too tired and being worn out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-willoughby/i-talk-to-my-mates-about-our-kids-being-too-tired-and-being-worn-out/) [Holly Willoughby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-willoughby/) > [With 'Pretty Girls,' I saw the opportunity to talk not just about crime but what crime leaves behind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karin-slaughter/with-pretty-girls-i-saw-the-opportunity-to-talk-not-just-about-crime/) [Karin Slaughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karin-slaughter/) > [I write about presidents. That means I write about guys - so far. I'm interested in the people closest to them, the people they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-kearns-goodwin/i-write-about-presidents-that-means-i-write-about-guys-so-far-i-m/) [Doris Kearns Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-kearns-goodwin/) > [That's something a lot of folks don't know about me - I'm pretty darn funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jai-white/that-s-something-a-lot-of-folks-don-t-know-about-me-i-m-pretty-darn/) [Michael Jai White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jai-white/) > [I learned a lot about myself at Oakmont.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-lowry/i-learned-a-lot-about-myself-at-oakmont/) [Shane Lowry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-lowry/) > [I don't think about the press or the crowds or the other leaders of the race. The focus is only on myself. As soon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magdalena-neuner/i-don-t-think-about-the-press-or-the-crowds-or-the-other-leaders-of/) [Magdalena Neuner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magdalena-neuner/) > [Sport is not just about entertainment. It is equally about winning and losing, pooling and galvanising the energy of the youth, upgrading people's physical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nita-ambani/sport-is-not-just-about-entertainment-it-is-equally-about-winning-and/) [Nita Ambani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nita-ambani/) > [One of the ways that I discovered my confidence and my ability to overpower is becoming a mother. Suddenly, my world wasn't about myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lights/one-of-the-ways-that-i-discovered-my-confidence-and-my-ability-to/) [Lights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lights/) > [I didn't want to do 'Fashion Police' because I thought, 'This is stupid, this is beneath me, who wants to talk about fashion?' It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-rivers/i-didn-t-want-to-do-fashion-police-because-i-thought-this-is-stupid/) [Joan Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-rivers/) > [I just worried about my weight. Worried about my appearance and thought I wan't pretty enough to be a pop star. It was very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-durham/i-just-worried-about-my-weight-worried-about-my-appearance-and/) [Judith Durham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-durham/) > [I read a couple of books about neuroscience and the relationship between the mind and the body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-kinnaman/i-read-a-couple-of-books-about-neuroscience-and-the-relationship/) [Joel Kinnaman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-kinnaman/) > [There are a lot of kids out there copying and distributing movies - not because they care about seeing the movies or sharing them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-perry-barlow/there-are-a-lot-of-kids-out-there-copying-and-distributing-movies-not/) [John Perry Barlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-perry-barlow/) > [I have no physical genius about me. I can't dribble a ball and run at the same time, I can't do lay-ups - I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-mullins/i-have-no-physical-genius-about-me-i-can-t-dribble-a-ball-and-run-at/) [Rich Mullins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-mullins/) Browse all 26,122 About quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I like characters like Ignatius Reilly in 'A Confederacy of Dunces' and Ricky Gervais's character in 'The Office.' They think one thing about themselves, but the truth is as far from that as it can be. 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