About this quote

People love to force you into neat little boxes so they can easily categorize your personality. When the world demands you choose between two pre-packaged identities, the best response is often a playful refusal. Humor cuts through the noise of silly, forced binaries. You do not have to buy into the labels other people design for you. Making up your own category keeps people guessing and keeps you free.

When to use it

• At a job interview, the recruiter pressures you to choose whether you are a 'visionary leader' or a 'detail-oriented implementer'. You decide to bypass their corporate jargon and say you are simply a pragmatist who likes fixing broken systems.
• Your high school friends are arguing over whether they belong to the popular crowd or the indie outsiders. You tell them you are just a teenager trying to survive pre-calculus.
• A pushy relative asks if you are a strict saver or a big spender with your money. You laugh and tell them you are a professional bill-payer.