--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Yes, I hate it when people call me a…" description: "\"Yes, I hate it when people call me a 'national treasure'. It takes away your bite and makes you feel like a harmless old golden Labrador.\" — Sue Townsend" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c18/sue-townsend-8170_golden_yes-i-hate-it-when-people-call-me-a-nati_245950.png" --- # Yes, I hate it when people call me a 'national treasure'… ![“Yes, I hate it when people call me a 'national treasure'. It takes away your bite and makes you feel like a harmless old golden Labrador.” quote by Sue Townsend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c18/sue-townsend-8170_golden_yes-i-hate-it-when-people-call-me-a-nati_245950.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c18/sue-townsend-8170_golden_yes-i-hate-it-when-people-call-me-a-nati_245950.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c18/sue-townsend-8170_golden_yes-i-hate-it-when-people-call-me-a-nati_245950.png) > “Yes, I hate it when people call me a 'national treasure'. It takes away your bite and makes you feel like a harmless old golden Labrador.” [Sue Townsend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-townsend/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Being labeled a 'national treasure' can diminish one's edge, making one feel harmless and complacent. **In simple terms:** Labels can strip away one's edge. Key Takeaway Stay true to your authentic self despite accolades. Themes identity society self-perception aging humor Mood reflective wry Type personal social When to use this quote - Public speaking - media interviews - career transitions - personal branding Key Concepts Cultural expectations personal authenticity ageism self-esteem Questions to Reflect On - How do you maintain your edge under praise? - What does being a 'national treasure' mean to you? A Different Perspective External validation may lead to self-censorship. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Hate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hate/) [National treasure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/national-treasure/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Treasure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/treasure/) ## Related quotes > [“Jude: Just as you are? Not thinner? Not cleverer? Not with slightly bigger breasts or slightly smaller nose? Bridget: No. Shazzer: Well, fuck me.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-fielding/jude-just-as-you-are-not-thinner-not-cleverer-not-with-slightly/) [Helen Fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-fielding/) > [I want you to just let a wave of intolerance wash over you. I want you to let a wave of hatred wash over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randall-terry/i-want-you-to-just-let-a-wave-of-intolerance-wash-over-you-i-want-you/) [Randall Terry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randall-terry/) > [They really hate you, yes they do. They hate everyone, how 'bout you?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kami-garcia/they-really-hate-you-yes-they-do-they-hate-everyone-how-bout-you/) [Kami Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kami-garcia/) > [Yevgeny Yevtushenko: 'You atheist?' "Kingsley Amis: 'Well, yes, but it's more that I hate him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kingsley-amis/yevgeny-yevtushenko-you-atheist-kingsley-amis-well-yes-but-it-s-more/) [Kingsley Amis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kingsley-amis/) > [Luckily, voting machines register only 'yes' or 'no,' not 'yes, but I hate myself'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-coulter/luckily-voting-machines-register-only-yes-or-no-not-yes-but-i-hate/) [Ann Coulter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-coulter/) > [Culture Clash is a national treasure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-kan-gotanda/culture-clash-is-a-national-treasure/) Philip Kan Gotanda > [The Magic Roundabout' has become something of a national treasure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-evans/the-magic-roundabout-has-become-something-of-a-national-treasure/) [Lee Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-evans/) > [Movies such as this remind us that Owen Wilson is nothing less than a national treasure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-moore/movies-such-as-this-remind-us-that-owen-wilson-is-nothing-less-than-a/) [Roger Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-moore/) > [The Chautauqua Institution is truly a national treasure. It is a place for contemplation and a place for reflection, a place where platitudes and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliot-spitzer/the-chautauqua-institution-is-truly-a-national-treasure-it-is-a-place/) [Eliot Spitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliot-spitzer/) > [ I have no policy for my collection. For example, there's a bunch of meteorite \[on the windowsill in my studio\]. I touch it and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hiroshi-sugimoto/i-have-no-policy-for-my-collection-for-example-there-s-a-bunch-of/) [Hiroshi Sugimoto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hiroshi-sugimoto/) > [Let me tell you, though: being the smartest boy in the world wasn’t easy. I didn’t ask for this. I didn’t want this. On…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/let-me-tell-you-though-being-the-smartest-boy-in-the-world-wasn-t/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I think Noam Chomsky is a national treasure - make that an international treasure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jello-biafra/i-think-noam-chomsky-is-a-national-treasure-make-that-an/) [Jello Biafra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jello-biafra/) > [The careful insect 'midst his works I view, Now from the flowers exhaust the fragrant dew, With golden treasures load his little thighs, And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gay/the-careful-insect-midst-his-works-i-view-now-from-the-flowers/) [John Gay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gay/) > [If your purse no longer bulges and you've lost your golden treasure, If times you think you're lonely and have hungry grown for pleasure,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-guest/if-your-purse-no-longer-bulges-and-you-ve-lost-your-golden-treasure/) [Edgar Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-guest/) > [There were doors that looked like large keyholes, others that resembled the entrances to caves, there were golden doors, some were padded and some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ende/there-were-doors-that-looked-like-large-keyholes-others-that/) [Michael Ende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ende/) ## More by Sue Townsend > [I always wanted to be Jo in 'Little Women.' She's a bit reckless and feckless, always getting into trouble like me. But I'm probably…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-townsend/i-always-wanted-to-be-jo-in-little-women-she-s-a-bit-reckless-and/) [Sue Townsend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-townsend/) > [“Sex with the gorilla went on a bit, but once he'd stumbled over my clitoris we both had good times.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-townsend/sex-with-the-gorilla-went-on-a-bit-but-once-he-d-stumbled-over-my/) [Sue Townsend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-townsend/) > [I am the world's worst diabetic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-townsend/i-am-the-world-s-worst-diabetic/) [Sue Townsend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-townsend/) > [“Personally, nothing would surprise me any more. If my father announced that he was really a Russian agent or my mother ran away with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-townsend/personally-nothing-would-surprise-me-any-more-if-my-father-announced/) [Sue Townsend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-townsend/) > [“Pauline: "All under-fives are mad Adrian, you used to talk to the moon. You invited it to your birthday party and cried when it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-townsend/pauline-all-under-fives-are-mad-adrian-you-used-to-talk-to-the-moon/) [Sue Townsend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-townsend/) > [“Had a note from Mr Cherry asking me when I can resume my paper round. I sent a note back to say that due…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-townsend/had-a-note-from-mr-cherry-asking-me-when-i-can-resume-my-paper-round/) [Sue Townsend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-townsend/) > ['The Gambler' by Dostoevsky. It was the first time I realised that it was possible to have good and evil in one person. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-townsend/the-gambler-by-dostoevsky-it-was-the-first-time-i-realised-that-it/) [Sue Townsend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-townsend/) > [People down on their luck deserve the best: beautiful surroundings and well-paid professional staff to help them out of their difficulties. Why not train…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-townsend/people-down-on-their-luck-deserve-the-best-beautiful-surroundings-and/) [Sue Townsend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-townsend/) > [Most social problems could be helped or prevented if people had more money and practical advice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-townsend/most-social-problems-could-be-helped-or-prevented-if-people-had-more/) [Sue Townsend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-townsend/) > [I take life very seriously. I can laugh at it, because what else can you do? But it's a hard daily battle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-townsend/i-take-life-very-seriously-i-can-laugh-at-it-because-what-else-can/) [Sue Townsend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-townsend/) > [Yes - I am usually overweight. I have had to be interested in diet because of being diabetic for 30 years and having kidney failure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-townsend/yes-i-am-usually-overweight-i-have-had-to-be-interested-in-diet/) [Sue Townsend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-townsend/) > [My dark secrets are life threatening. Pockets of unhappiness set in aspic that build and build. I have this primitive feeling that if something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-townsend/my-dark-secrets-are-life-threatening-pockets-of-unhappiness-set-in/) [Sue Townsend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-townsend/) > [I'd love a day devoid of responsibilities. I've often thought about going to a hotel just to have a day away from everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-townsend/i-d-love-a-day-devoid-of-responsibilities-i-ve-often-thought-about/) [Sue Townsend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-townsend/) > [In the early days, it was, you know, I used to weep while I was writing. I used to grab at any kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-townsend/in-the-early-days-it-was-you-know-i-used-to-weep-while-i-was-writing/) [Sue Townsend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-townsend/) > [“She is just straight all the way up and down, including her nose and mouth and hair.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-townsend/she-is-just-straight-all-the-way-up-and-down-including-her-nose-and/) [Sue Townsend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-townsend/) [Explore all 82 Sue Townsend quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-townsend/) ## More Golden quotes > [Broken by hardships, disappointments and tragedy, people can become discouraged and cynical. But lives can also be mended. Put back together well, they won't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-goodier/broken-by-hardships-disappointments-and-tragedy-people-can-become/) [Steve Goodier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-goodier/) > [Apuleius married a rich widow, then wrote \_The Golden Ass\_.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-abbey/apuleius-married-a-rich-widow-then-wrote-the-golden-ass/) [Edward Abbey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-abbey/) > [O Word of God incarnate . . . It is the golden casket Where gems of truth are stored; It is the heaven-drawn picture…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walsham-how/o-word-of-god-incarnate-it-is-the-golden-casket-where-gems-of-truth/) Walsham How > [Just because the Americans are so good at rattling out accessible and cheap junk food, nobody looks twice when it comes to their food.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-oliver/just-because-the-americans-are-so-good-at-rattling-out-accessible-and/) [Jamie Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-oliver/) > [“Yes, when I get big and have my own home, no plush chairs and lace curtains for me. And no rubber plants. I'll have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-smith/yes-when-i-get-big-and-have-my-own-home-no-plush-chairs-and-lace/) [Betty Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-smith/) > [Most people put money in their piggy bank. I buy a goose that lays golden eggs over and over again. That's what an asset…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kiyosaki/most-people-put-money-in-their-piggy-bank-i-buy-a-goose-that-lays/) [Robert Kiyosaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kiyosaki/) > [My featherbed is deep and soft, and there I’ll lay you down, I’ll dress you all in yellow silk and on your head a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/my-featherbed-is-deep-and-soft-and-there-i-ll-lay-you-down-i-ll-dress/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Your name is a golden bell hung in my heart. I would break my body to pieces to call you once by your name.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-s-beagle/your-name-is-a-golden-bell-hung-in-my-heart-i-would-break-my-body-to/) [Peter S. Beagle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-s-beagle/) > [We're in a golden age for television. TV 25 years ago was slow, plodding , boring. The production values were not great. Today it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrian-dunbar/we-re-in-a-golden-age-for-television-tv-25-years-ago-was-slow/) [Adrian Dunbar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrian-dunbar/) > [You are quite, quite wrong if you think that ... I find your happiness painful. What matters is that happiness - the golden day…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winifred-holtby/you-are-quite-quite-wrong-if-you-think-that-i-find-your-happiness/) [Winifred Holtby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winifred-holtby/) > [We dance, we dance. You hold the thread of my soul. You spin, you spin. And you unravel the part from the whole. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/we-dance-we-dance-you-hold-the-thread-of-my-soul-you-spin-you-spin/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) > [“I have found it an amusing strategy, when asked whether I am an atheist, to point out that the questioner is also an atheist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/i-have-found-it-an-amusing-strategy-when-asked-whether-i-am-an/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [Let everyone regulate his conduct... by the golden rule of doing to others as in similar circumstances we would have them do to us,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-wilberforce/let-everyone-regulate-his-conduct-by-the-golden-rule-of-doing-to/) [William Wilberforce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-wilberforce/) > [For years, I had a top secret clearance and never left Russia. 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