--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Is it necessary to say what my first…" description: "\"“Is it necessary to say what my first impression was when I looked at my visitor's card? Surely not! My sister having married a foreigner, there was bu..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/216/wilkie-collins-2078_first-impression_is-it-necessary-to-say-what-my-first-imp_480060.jpg" --- # Is it necessary to say what my first impression was when I… ![“Is it necessary to say what my first impression was when I looked at my visitor's card? Surely not! My sister having married a foreigner, there was but one impression that any man in his senses could possibly feel. Of course the Count had come to borrow money of me. "Louis," I said, "do you think…” quote by Wilkie Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/216/wilkie-collins-2078_first-impression_is-it-necessary-to-say-what-my-first-imp_480060.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/216/wilkie-collins-2078_first-impression_is-it-necessary-to-say-what-my-first-imp_480060.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/216/wilkie-collins-2078_first-impression_is-it-necessary-to-say-what-my-first-imp_480060.jpg) > ““Is it necessary to say what my first impression was when I looked at my visitor's card? Surely not! My sister having married a foreigner, there was but one impression that any man in his senses could possibly feel. Of course the Count had come to borrow money of me. "Louis," I said, "do you think he would go away if you gave him five shillings?”” [Wilkie Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilkie-collins/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. First impressions can be misleading; deeper inquiry reveals true motives beyond surface appearances. **In simple terms:** Don’t judge quickly; look deeper. Key Takeaway Seek underlying reasons. Themes perception trust deception Mood curious skeptical Type literary reflective When to use this quote - meeting new people - business negotiations - personal relationships Key Concepts social dynamics psychology Questions to Reflect On - What assumptions are you making? - How might deeper questioning change outcomes? A Different Perspective Overanalysis can cause paralysis. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [First impression](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first-impression/) ## Related quotes > [“Expression is saying what you wish to say, Impression is saying what others wish to listen.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krishna-sagar/expression-is-saying-what-you-wish-to-say-impression-is-saying-what/) [Krishna Sagar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krishna-sagar/) > [“Expression is saying what you wish to say, Impression is saying what others wish to hear.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krishna-saagar/expression-is-saying-what-you-wish-to-say-impression-is-saying-what-2/) [Krishna Saagar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krishna-saagar/) > [Be not swept off your feet by the vividness of the impression, but say, Impression, wait for me a little. Let me see what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/be-not-swept-off-your-feet-by-the-vividness-of-the-impression-but-say/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [Kissinger projects a strong impression of a man at home in the world and on top of his brief. But there are a number…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/kissinger-projects-a-strong-impression-of-a-man-at-home-in-the-world/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [We act and walk and speak and talk in ways that consolidate an impression of being a man or being a woman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-butler/we-act-and-walk-and-speak-and-talk-in-ways-that-consolidate-an/) [Judith Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-butler/) > [“Every woman who makes a permanent impression on a man is afterwards recalled to his mind's eye as she appeared in one particular scene,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hardy/every-woman-who-makes-a-permanent-impression-on-a-man-is-afterwards/) [Thomas Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hardy/) > [“See the difference between the impression a man makes on you when you walk by his side in familiar talk, or look at him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-eliot/see-the-difference-between-the-impression-a-man-makes-on-you-when-you/) [George Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-eliot/) > [There's not too many times you get a chance to make a second first impression.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-palmer/there-s-not-too-many-times-you-get-a-chance-to-make-a-second-first/) [Jesse Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-palmer/) > [I don't know if you've ever noticed this, but first impressions are often entirely wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-don-t-know-if-you-ve-ever-noticed-this-but-first-impressions-are/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The first impression is the truth, and all that follows is merely the excuse of memory.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-crumey/the-first-impression-is-the-truth-and-all-that-follows-is-merely-the/) Andrew Crumey > [“There are times when making a great first impression is essential and you need to do everything in your power to be diligent, deliberate,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-c-young/there-are-times-when-making-a-great-first-impression-is-essential-and/) [Susan C. Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-c-young/) > [You will always get a second chance to make a first impression with me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cv-pillay/you-will-always-get-a-second-chance-to-make-a-first-impression-with-me/) [Cv Pillay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cv-pillay/) > [“\*You only get one chance to make a first impression.\* Ah, whatever!!! Who said you get three chances to make the second impression?!!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/you-only-get-one-chance-to-make-a-first-impression-ah-whatever-who/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [I think it's really important that I'm not the only model in the world that goes through personal problems. People forget that we're human.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gigi-hadid/i-think-it-s-really-important-that-i-m-not-the-only-model-in-the/) [Gigi Hadid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gigi-hadid/) > [First impressions are often the truest, as we find (not infrequently) to our cost, when we have been wheedled out of them by plausible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-hazlitt/first-impressions-are-often-the-truest-as-we-find-not-infrequently-to/) [William Hazlitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-hazlitt/) ## More by Wilkie Collins > [“There is nothing serious in mortality! Solomon in all his glory was Solomon with the elements of the contemptible lurking in every fold of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilkie-collins/there-is-nothing-serious-in-mortality-solomon-in-all-his-glory-was/) [Wilkie Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilkie-collins/) > [“Let Lady Glyde's maid come in, Louis. Stop! Do her shoes creak?" I was obliged to ask the question. Creaking shoes invariably upset me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilkie-collins/let-lady-glyde-s-maid-come-in-louis-stop-do-her-shoes-creak-i-was/) [Wilkie Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilkie-collins/) > [Let the music speak to us of tonight, in a happier language than our own.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilkie-collins/let-the-music-speak-to-us-of-tonight-in-a-happier-language-than-our/) [Wilkie Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilkie-collins/) > [The woman who first gives life, light, and form to our shadowy conceptions of beauty, fills a void in our spiritual nature that has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilkie-collins/the-woman-who-first-gives-life-light-and-form-to-our-shadowy/) [Wilkie Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilkie-collins/) > [“The human heart is unsearchable. Who is to fathom it?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilkie-collins/the-human-heart-is-unsearchable-who-is-to-fathom-it/) [Wilkie Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilkie-collins/) > [“I smell your cigar. Delicious! Give me one directly.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilkie-collins/i-smell-your-cigar-delicious-give-me-one-directly/) [Wilkie Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilkie-collins/) > [“I dread the beginning of her new life more than words can tell, but I see some hope for her if she travels -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilkie-collins/i-dread-the-beginning-of-her-new-life-more-than-words-can-tell-but-i/) [Wilkie Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilkie-collins/) > [“It is quite possible that I may be altogether wrong in this idea. My own impression, however, is, that I am right.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilkie-collins/it-is-quite-possible-that-i-may-be-altogether-wrong-in-this-idea-my/) [Wilkie Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilkie-collins/) > [I sadly want a reform in the construction of children. Nature's only idea seems to be to make them machines for the production of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilkie-collins/i-sadly-want-a-reform-in-the-construction-of-children-nature-s-only/) [Wilkie Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilkie-collins/) > [Habits of literary composition are perfectly familiar to me. One of the rarest of all the intellectual accomplishments that a man can possess is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilkie-collins/habits-of-literary-composition-are-perfectly-familiar-to-me-one-of/) [Wilkie Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilkie-collins/) > [“He has that quiet deference, that look of pleased, attentive interest, in listening to a woman, which, say what we may, we can none…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilkie-collins/he-has-that-quiet-deference-that-look-of-pleased-attentive-interest/) [Wilkie Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilkie-collins/) > [“The dress of Virtue, in our parts, was cotton print. I had silk.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilkie-collins/the-dress-of-virtue-in-our-parts-was-cotton-print-i-had-silk/) [Wilkie Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilkie-collins/) > [“It is not for you to say - you Englishmen, who have conquered your freedom so long ago, that you have conveniently forgotten what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilkie-collins/it-is-not-for-you-to-say-you-englishmen-who-have-conquered-your/) [Wilkie Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilkie-collins/) > [“Tell him next, that crimes cause their own detection. There's another bit of copy-book morality for you, Fosco. Crimes cause their own detection. What…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilkie-collins/tell-him-next-that-crimes-cause-their-own-detection-there-s-another/) [Wilkie Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilkie-collins/) > [“Shall I confess it, Mr. Hartright? I sadly want a reform in the construction of children. Nature's only idea seems to be to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilkie-collins/shall-i-confess-it-mr-hartright-i-sadly-want-a-reform-in-the/) [Wilkie Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilkie-collins/) [Explore all 183 Wilkie Collins quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilkie-collins/) ## More First impression quotes > [First impressions are often the truest, as we find (not infrequently) to our cost, when we have been wheedled out of them by plausible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-hazlitt/first-impressions-are-often-the-truest-as-we-find-not-infrequently-to/) [William Hazlitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-hazlitt/) > [“Communication skills, quotes by susan c young, relationship quotes, how to make a great first impression, preparation quotes, motivational speaker, susan young, build confidence,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-c-young/communication-skills-quotes-by-susan-c-young-relationship-quotes-how/) [Susan C. Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-c-young/) > [I think it's really important that I'm not the only model in the world that goes through personal problems. People forget that we're human.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gigi-hadid/i-think-it-s-really-important-that-i-m-not-the-only-model-in-the/) [Gigi Hadid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gigi-hadid/) > [“He looked at Chloe "Come over to the table. Sit with your aunt. I will clear away the mess and…I will achieve pancakes." Grace's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thea-harrison/he-looked-at-chloe-come-over-to-the-table-sit-with-your-aunt-i-will/) [Thea Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thea-harrison/) > [“\*You only get one chance to make a first impression.\* Ah, whatever!!! Who said you get three chances to make the second impression?!!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/you-only-get-one-chance-to-make-a-first-impression-ah-whatever-who/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [“Cincinatti was where I learned that running away from your problems has a three-month statute of limitations, a lesson I have found repeatedly to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stacy-pershall/cincinatti-was-where-i-learned-that-running-away-from-your-problems/) [Stacy Pershall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stacy-pershall/) > [You will always get a second chance to make a first impression with me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cv-pillay/you-will-always-get-a-second-chance-to-make-a-first-impression-with-me/) [Cv Pillay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cv-pillay/) > [“There are times when making a great first impression is essential and you need to do everything in your power to be diligent, deliberate,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-c-young/there-are-times-when-making-a-great-first-impression-is-essential-and/) [Susan C. Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-c-young/) > [Santa waiting at bus stop in UK along with 3 women. When bus arrived, conductor picked the women & said: No more, no more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/butterfly-kisses/santa-waiting-at-bus-stop-in-uk-along-with-3-women-when-bus-arrived/) Butterfly\_Kisses > [The very first step in building your confidence is to improve your look. Remember that first impression lasts. How you look will determine how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dranil-kr-sinha/the-very-first-step-in-building-your-confidence-is-to-improve-your/) [DrAnil Kr Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dranil-kr-sinha/) > [“ Posture The first impression you make is likely to be from several feet away. An observer will assess your approachability from a general…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-berent/posture-the-first-impression-you-make-is-likely-to-be-from-several/) [Jonathan Berent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-berent/) > [“The first impression is the truth, and all that follows is merely the excuse of memory.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-crumey/the-first-impression-is-the-truth-and-all-that-follows-is-merely-the/) Andrew Crumey > [“Developing this ability instills a sixth sense for navigating human relationships with dignity, grace, and discretion, thus making an intentional and thoughtful first impression.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-c-young/developing-this-ability-instills-a-sixth-sense-for-navigating-human/) [Susan C. Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-c-young/) > [I don't know if you've ever noticed this, but first impressions are often entirely wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-don-t-know-if-you-ve-ever-noticed-this-but-first-impressions-are/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [There's not too many times you get a chance to make a second first impression.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-palmer/there-s-not-too-many-times-you-get-a-chance-to-make-a-second-first/) [Jesse Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-palmer/) [Browse all 308 First impression quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first-impression/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Is it necessary to say what my first impression was when I looked at my visitor's card? Surely not! My sister having married a foreigner, there was but one impression that any man in his senses could possibly feel. Of course the Count had come to borrow money of me. \"Louis,\" I said, \"do you think he would go away if you gave him five shillings?”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Wilkie Collins" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilkie-collins/is-it-necessary-to-say-what-my-first-impression-was-when-i-looked-at/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "First impression" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilkie-collins/is-it-necessary-to-say-what-my-first-impression-was-when-i-looked-at/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/216/wilkie-collins-2078_first-impression_is-it-necessary-to-say-what-my-first-imp_480060.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/216/wilkie-collins-2078_first-impression_is-it-necessary-to-say-what-my-first-imp_480060.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/216/wilkie-collins-2078_first-impression_is-it-necessary-to-say-what-my-first-imp_480060.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Is it necessary to say what my first impression was when I looked at my visitor's card? Surely not! My…” — Wilkie Collins", "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": "Wilkie Collins", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilkie-collins/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Is it necessary to say what...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilkie-collins/is-it-necessary-to-say-what-my-first-impression-was-when-i-looked-at/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilkie-collins/is-it-necessary-to-say-what-my-first-impression-was-when-i-looked-at/#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 } } ] } ```