Be interested, not interesting is the secret to likability. It flips the script on how we connect. Instead of performing, you become present. And that’s where real relationships are built.
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Meaning
The core message is simple: shift your focus from trying to impress others to being genuinely curious about them. Your likability isn’t about your stories, it’s about your attention.
Explanation
Look, we’ve all been there. You walk into a room and your internal monologue is just screaming “Be cool, be impressive, say something smart.” It’s exhausting, right? And it puts up a wall. This concept is about tearing that wall down. When you focus on being interested, you stop performing and start connecting. You ask better questions. You listen to the answers. People don’t remember the clever thing you said nearly as much as they remember how you made them feel—and nothing makes a person feel better than feeling heard and understood. It’s the ultimate hack because it takes the pressure off of you and puts the value on the other person.
Quote Summary
| Context | Attributes |
|---|---|
| Original Language | English (3668) |
| Category | Relationship (329) |
| Topics | connection (265), interest (21), likability (6) |
| Literary Style | memorable (234), short (36) |
| Emotion / Mood | realistic (354), warm (182) |
| Overall Quote Score | 86 (262) |
Origin & Factcheck
This gem comes straight from Leil Lowndes’s 1999 book, How to Talk to Anyone: 92 Little Tricks for Big Success in Relationships. You’ll sometimes see similar sentiments floating around, often misattributed to Dale Carnegie (who had a similar philosophy in How to Win Friends), but the specific phrasing “Be interested, not interesting” is Lowndes’s.
Attribution Summary
| Context | Attributes |
|---|---|
| Author | Leil Lowndes (235) |
| Source Type | Book (4032) |
| Source/Book Name | How to Talk to Anyone: 92 Little Tricks for Big Success in Relationships (185) |
| Origin Timeperiod | Contemporary (1615) |
| Original Language | English (3668) |
| Authenticity | Verified (4032) |
Author Bio
Leil Lowndes writes about striking conversations with unknown people and how to put others at ease and maintain relationships. Her techniques are straightforward and practically usable that readers can apply immediately in their workplace, and everyday life. Her book list includes How to Talk to Anyone and Goodbye to Shy which have reached international audiences.
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Where is this quotation located?
| Quotation | Be interested, not interesting. It’s the secret to likability |
| Book Details | Publication Year: 1999; ISBN: 978-0-07-141858-4; Last edition: 2018; Number of pages: 368. |
| Where is it? | Chapter 21: The Power of Curiosity, Approximate page 92 from 2018 edition |
