--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I am someone who takes everything very…" description: "\"I am someone who takes everything very literally. I simply do not understand irony, a defect I have had ever since I was able to think independently.\" ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/93c/werner-herzog-964_able_i-am-someone-who-takes-everything-very-l_1099499.jpg" --- # I am someone who takes everything very literally. I simply… ![“I am someone who takes everything very literally. I simply do not understand irony, a defect I have had ever since I was able to think independently.” quote by Werner Herzog](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/93c/werner-herzog-964_able_i-am-someone-who-takes-everything-very-l_1099499.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/93c/werner-herzog-964_able_i-am-someone-who-takes-everything-very-l_1099499.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/93c/werner-herzog-964_able_i-am-someone-who-takes-everything-very-l_1099499.jpg) > “I am someone who takes everything very literally. I simply do not understand irony, a defect I have had ever since I was able to think independently.” [Werner Herzog](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/werner-herzog/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker admits a literal mindset, lacking grasp of irony, which shapes their perception and communication. **In simple terms:** Literal thinker, struggles with irony. Key Takeaway Embrace nuanced language. Themes communication cognition humor self-awareness Mood thoughtful introspective Type educational philosophical When to use this quote - social interactions - writing - teaching - media consumption Key Concepts psychology linguistics philosophy Questions to Reflect On - How does literal thinking affect relationships? - Can irony be taught? A Different Perspective Irony can be learned with exposure. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Able](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/able/) [Defects](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defects/) [Irony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/irony/) [Irony Defect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/irony-defect-2884256/) [Literally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/literally/) [Takes Literally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/takes-literally-2884257/) [Think Independently](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-independently-718023/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Understand Irony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/understand-irony-1472611/) ## Related quotes > [We didn't understand irony yet in the '80s; we just kind of existed at face value, so there was no nerd cool yet because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hardwick/we-didn-t-understand-irony-yet-in-the-80s-we-just-kind-of-existed-at/) [Chris Hardwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hardwick/) > [I don't think I see the world in terms of stupid or clever, but in terms of being able to get irony. There's some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-coupland/i-don-t-think-i-see-the-world-in-terms-of-stupid-or-clever-but-in/) [Douglas Coupland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-coupland/) > [Americans don't understand irony? I am an intelligent person living in the United States. My entire existence is ironic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-maron/americans-don-t-understand-irony-i-am-an-intelligent-person-living-in/) [Marc Maron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-maron/) > [Irony is a disciplinarian feared only by those who do not know it, but cherished by those who do. He who does not understand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soren-kierkegaard/irony-is-a-disciplinarian-feared-only-by-those-who-do-not-know-it-but-2/) [Soren Kierkegaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soren-kierkegaard/) > [To make money in the markets, you have to think independently and be humble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-dalio/to-make-money-in-the-markets-you-have-to-think-independently-and-be/) [Ray Dalio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-dalio/) > [I don't like gurus. I don't like people who ask you to follow or believe. I like people who ask you to think independently.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-s-byatt-2/i-don-t-like-gurus-i-don-t-like-people-who-ask-you-to-follow-or/) [A. S. Byatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-s-byatt-2/) > [“You need to be able to think Independently.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sikhosana/you-need-to-be-able-to-think-independently/) [David Sikhosana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sikhosana/) > [Do not crave to know the views of others, nor base your intent thereon. To think independently for yourself is a sign of fearlessness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/do-not-crave-to-know-the-views-of-others-nor-base-your-intent-thereon/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [We cannot have a society half slave and half free; nor can we have thought half slave and half free. If we create an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-steele-commager/we-cannot-have-a-society-half-slave-and-half-free-nor-can-we-have/) [Henry Steele Commager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-steele-commager/) > [I also believe that everyone needs to think independently and make their own decisions on what makes the most sense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-dalio/i-also-believe-that-everyone-needs-to-think-independently-and-make/) [Ray Dalio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-dalio/) > [Think independently and put the country first.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mick-cornett/think-independently-and-put-the-country-first/) [Mick Cornett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mick-cornett/) > [Most people don’t really want to think independently or make decisions; they’re herd animals with herd instincts to keep to the middle of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blanche-barton/most-people-don-t-really-want-to-think-independently-or-make/) [Blanche Barton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blanche-barton/) > [Our students believe, rightfully so, that when they embark on their own journey to higher education, they too will have the freedom to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gavin-williamson/our-students-believe-rightfully-so-that-when-they-embark-on-their-own/) [Gavin Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gavin-williamson/) > [Most men use their knowledge only under guidance from others because they lack the courage to think independently using their own reasoning abilities. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/immanuel-kant/most-men-use-their-knowledge-only-under-guidance-from-others-because/) [Immanuel Kant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/immanuel-kant/) > [Every man must have the right fearlessly to think independently and express his opinion about what he knows, what he has personally thought about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mstislav-rostropovich/every-man-must-have-the-right-fearlessly-to-think-independently-and/) [Mstislav Rostropovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mstislav-rostropovich/) ## More by Werner Herzog > [If your project has real substance, ultimately the money will follow you like a common cur in the street with its tail between its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/werner-herzog/if-your-project-has-real-substance-ultimately-the-money-will-follow/) [Werner Herzog](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/werner-herzog/) > [Every man should pull a boat over a mountain once in his life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/werner-herzog/every-man-should-pull-a-boat-over-a-mountain-once-in-his-life/) [Werner Herzog](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/werner-herzog/) > [I know whenever it comes to be really dysfunctional and vile and base and hostile on screen, I'm good at that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/werner-herzog/i-know-whenever-it-comes-to-be-really-dysfunctional-and-vile-and-base/) [Werner Herzog](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/werner-herzog/) > [When we speak about trespassing, we speak about artistic trespassing. You have to be prudent and have common sense and a sense of responsibility…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/werner-herzog/when-we-speak-about-trespassing-we-speak-about-artistic-trespassing/) [Werner Herzog](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/werner-herzog/) > [If you want to propose marriage to your girlfriend and you live in England and she is in Sicily, do the decent thing and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/werner-herzog/if-you-want-to-propose-marriage-to-your-girlfriend-and-you-live-in/) [Werner Herzog](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/werner-herzog/) > [I'm a very circumspect and prudent person, and I eliminate danger as far as it can be done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/werner-herzog/i-m-a-very-circumspect-and-prudent-person-and-i-eliminate-danger-as/) [Werner Herzog](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/werner-herzog/) > [It is not only my dreams, my belief is that all these dreams are yours as well. The only distinction between me and you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/werner-herzog/it-is-not-only-my-dreams-my-belief-is-that-all-these-dreams-are-yours/) [Werner Herzog](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/werner-herzog/) > [My non-fiction films are pretty much fiction, or at least close... It's all "movies" for me. I never have searched for a subject. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/werner-herzog/my-non-fiction-films-are-pretty-much-fiction-or-at-least-close-it-s/) [Werner Herzog](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/werner-herzog/) > [If an actor knows how to milk a cow, I always know it will not be difficult to be in business with him,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/werner-herzog/if-an-actor-knows-how-to-milk-a-cow-i-always-know-it-will-not-be/) [Werner Herzog](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/werner-herzog/) > [ِِِِِِِِِِArt house theaters are vanishing. They have almost disappeared completely, and that means there's a shift in what audiences want to see. And they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/werner-herzog/art-house-theaters-are-vanishing-they-have-almost-disappeared/) [Werner Herzog](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/werner-herzog/) > [I always had a feeling, for example, that there should be something from Verdi's "Requiem" in the film. You hear it when you see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/werner-herzog/i-always-had-a-feeling-for-example-that-there-should-be-something/) [Werner Herzog](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/werner-herzog/) > [Along with this rapid growth of forms of communication at our disposal - be it fax, phone, email, Internet or whatever - human solitude…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/werner-herzog/along-with-this-rapid-growth-of-forms-of-communication-at-our/) [Werner Herzog](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/werner-herzog/) > [ I had complete freedom. They \[Netflix\] knew roughly what I was doing. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/werner-herzog/i-had-complete-freedom-they-netflix-knew-roughly-what-i-was-doing/) [Werner Herzog](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/werner-herzog/) > [For example, the face of Nicole Kidman in Queen of the Desert and she is the most beautiful goddess on screen that you can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/werner-herzog/for-example-the-face-of-nicole-kidman-in-queen-of-the-desert-and-she/) [Werner Herzog](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/werner-herzog/) > [I have always postulated that we have to find a new way to deal with reality. It's not so much facts that interest me,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/werner-herzog/i-have-always-postulated-that-we-have-to-find-a-new-way-to-deal-with/) [Werner Herzog](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/werner-herzog/) [Explore all 318 Werner Herzog quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/werner-herzog/) ## More Able quotes > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) > [I have observed this in my experience of slavery, - that whenever my condition was improved, instead of its increasing my contentment, it only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-have-observed-this-in-my-experience-of-slavery-that-whenever-my/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [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/) > [In the '80s, the way radio was programmed, if you didn't have a hit record you weren't going to be able to make any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huey-lewis/in-the-80s-the-way-radio-was-programmed-if-you-didn-t-have-a-hit/) [Huey Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huey-lewis/) > [I think I've had the longest career of strength, focus, and still being able to sell records. I think I'm that guy. I'm still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-think-i-ve-had-the-longest-career-of-strength-focus-and-still-being/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) > [I have that need in me, I want everyone to love me, but I'm embarrassed by that need, so I wanted to cover it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-jeselnik/i-have-that-need-in-me-i-want-everyone-to-love-me-but-i-m-embarrassed/) [Anthony Jeselnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-jeselnik/) > [Thinking about the things that happened, I don't know any other ball player would could have done what he (Jackie Robinson) did. To be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pee-wee-reese/thinking-about-the-things-that-happened-i-don-t-know-any-other-ball/) [Pee Wee Reese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pee-wee-reese/) > [I wanted to remember in order to be able to return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/i-wanted-to-remember-in-order-to-be-able-to-return/) [Anais Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/) > [Government schools, with your tax money, now discourage the teaching of multiplication tables by rote memorization but teach reading by the 'look-and-say' method which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-perry/government-schools-with-your-tax-money-now-discourage-the-teaching-of/) [Greg Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-perry/) > [I don't know if I would qualify as mainstream. I think I have managed to function pretty successfully on the fringes of the music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-metheny/i-don-t-know-if-i-would-qualify-as-mainstream-i-think-i-have-managed/) [Pat Metheny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-metheny/) > [What we're supposed to do as actors is be able to portray real human beings and emotions. And if you grow up in this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-browning/what-we-re-supposed-to-do-as-actors-is-be-able-to-portray-real-human/) [Emily Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-browning/) > [The reason that Apple is able to create products like iPad is because we always try to be at the intersection of technology and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/the-reason-that-apple-is-able-to-create-products-like-ipad-is-because/) [Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/) > [It was an important period for us, because even though we weren't a "punk band", and what became a model for a punk band,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-mallinder/it-was-an-important-period-for-us-because-even-though-we-weren-t-a/) [Stephen Mallinder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-mallinder/) > [- You look fine. - Right. I look fine. Except I don't, said Zora, tugging sadly at her man's nightshirt. This was why Kiki…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zadie-smith/you-look-fine-right-i-look-fine-except-i-don-t-said-zora-tugging/) [Zadie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zadie-smith/) > [There is a way to be a woman, ask for what we deserve and be able to negotiate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracee-ellis-ross/there-is-a-way-to-be-a-woman-ask-for-what-we-deserve-and-be-able-to/) [Tracee Ellis Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracee-ellis-ross/) [Browse all 17,257 Able quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/able/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I am someone who takes everything very literally. I simply do not understand irony, a defect I have had ever since I was able to think independently.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Werner Herzog" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/werner-herzog/i-am-someone-who-takes-everything-very-literally-i-simply-do-not/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Able" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/werner-herzog/i-am-someone-who-takes-everything-very-literally-i-simply-do-not/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/93c/werner-herzog-964_able_i-am-someone-who-takes-everything-very-l_1099499.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/93c/werner-herzog-964_able_i-am-someone-who-takes-everything-very-l_1099499.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/93c/werner-herzog-964_able_i-am-someone-who-takes-everything-very-l_1099499.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I am someone who takes everything very literally. I simply do not understand irony, a defect I have had ever…” — Werner Herzog", "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": "Werner Herzog", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/werner-herzog/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I am someone who takes everything...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/werner-herzog/i-am-someone-who-takes-everything-very-literally-i-simply-do-not/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/werner-herzog/i-am-someone-who-takes-everything-very-literally-i-simply-do-not/#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 } } ] } ```