"I never get tired of hearing compliments"
About this Quote
The intent is disarming candor. Most public figures reach for a socially acceptable variant (“I’m humbled,” “I’m grateful”) that keeps admiration at arm’s length. Lithgow skips the hygiene ritual and names the craving. That directness reads less narcissistic than pragmatic: praise is feedback, fuel, confirmation that the illusion held. In a craft built on other people’s belief, affirmation isn’t a guilty pleasure; it’s occupational weather.
The subtext is about permission. He’s giving the audience a script that relaxes the whole compliment economy. If the recipient admits they like it, the giver doesn’t have to worry they’re imposing, flattering, or embarrassing someone. It’s a small cultural intervention against the American habit of treating desire for validation as a character flaw.
Context matters, too. Lithgow’s longevity suggests a performer who’s survived changing tastes, prestige cycles, and the constant threat of irrelevance. “Never get tired” hints at the treadmill: you can be adored in one role and forgotten by the next season. The line smiles, but it carries the quiet truth that applause is ephemeral - which is precisely why it’s so addictive.
Quote Details
| Topic | Joy |
|---|---|
| Source | Help us find the source |
| Cite | Cite this Quote |
Citation Formats
APA Style (7th ed.)
Lithgow, John. (n.d.). I never get tired of hearing compliments. FixQuotes. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/i-never-get-tired-of-hearing-compliments-60015/
Chicago Style
Lithgow, John. "I never get tired of hearing compliments." FixQuotes. Accessed February 2, 2026. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/i-never-get-tired-of-hearing-compliments-60015/.
MLA Style (9th ed.)
"I never get tired of hearing compliments." FixQuotes, https://fixquotes.com/quotes/i-never-get-tired-of-hearing-compliments-60015/. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.














