12 Phrases Only Highly Authentic People Ever Use

You’ll only hear these words spoken by an authentic person.

A woman with glasses smiles while talking to a man, sitting outdoors on a bench in a park. She is listening attentively, and there is a blurred background of trees and pathways.

You can tell a lot about a person’s authenticity (or lack thereof) by the phrases they use on a regular basis. The 12 examples that follow are generally used by those whose personalities are honest and real, rather than contrived and performative.

1. “I didn’t know that, thank you so much for telling me.”

Two women are sitting at an outdoor table, each holding a takeaway coffee cup. They are engaged in conversation, with one gesturing as she speaks. The background is softly blurred, suggesting a casual, relaxed setting.

Highly authentic people don’t pretend to know things that they’re ignorant about. Instead, they’re honest about their lack of knowledge because that gives them the opportunity to learn more. There’s no shame in ignorance, but it is shameful to lie about one’s knowledge level in order to avoid potential embarrassment.

2. “We’re going to have to agree to disagree on this one.”

Two men are sitting at a wooden table in an outdoor café, engaged in a conversation. One man, holding a pen, is speaking, while the other listens attentively with his back to the camera. The table holds a metal bucket, condiments, and utensils. Other patrons are blurred in the background.

They know that people are going to have differing perspectives on things, and that’s absolutely okay. A huge mark of an emotionally mature, very real human being is their ability to acknowledge and respect different opinions without feeling the need to get defensive or go on the attack about them.

3. “I don’t have the bandwidth for this right now, but I’d like to discuss this with you soon.”

Two women engaged in a conversation in a bright, white space with a glass-paneled ceiling. They are smiling, one holding a piece of paper, both wearing professional attire. The image is taken from a low angle, emphasizing the open and airy environment.

You can tell that someone you know is truly authentic when they’re honest with you about their personal limitations. If they care about you and want to be there for you, but they’re going through something and don’t have the energy to do so, they’ll tell you the truth about it.

4. “I’m sorry, but I’m not comfortable sharing that information with you.”

A woman with wavy hair wearing a grey blazer is gesturing with one hand while looking at a man with short dark hair and a red shirt. They appear to be engaged in a conversation in a well-lit room with a blurred background.

A highly authentic person isn’t likely to lie about a subject that they aren’t comfortable sharing: they have too much integrity for that. Instead, they’ll be honest about the fact that they don’t feel right discussing it, and will let you know that they have a boundary regarding this information.

5. “It’s great that you like that, but it really isn’t for me.”

Two women are sitting together in a cozy cafe, holding cups of coffee. One woman is wearing a red sweater and smiling, while the other is looking at her with a smile. The background is softly blurred, creating a warm atmosphere.

You’ve probably read (or watched) plenty of reviews in which people describe how awful something is because it isn’t to their personal tastes. An authentic person will acknowledge that they aren’t going to like everything, but that doesn’t mean the things they dislike are terrible—they simply aren’t for them.

6. “I apologize. Please let me know how I can make this up to you.”

A woman with long dark hair is sitting on a beige sofa in a bright room, wearing a yellow striped shirt and white top. She appears to be speaking, with her hands slightly raised. Sunlight filters through a window with blinds, casting shadows.

Authentic people don’t simply apologize when they know they’ve done wrong: they also ask how they can rectify the situation. They hold themselves to a high standard of ethics and accountability, and they strive to make amends with people rather than ghosting them or pretending that nothing bad happened between them.

7. “You don’t have to approve of my choices, but you do need to respect them.”

Two women sit at an outdoor table at a café, engaged in conversation. One woman with shoulder-length red hair gestures with her hand, while the other with long dark hair is holding her sunglasses. Their smartphones are on the table.

People who use phrases like this are authentic enough to have the courage of their convictions, and won’t tolerate disrespect about their life choices. They don’t feel insecure about said choices, and they won’t tolerate other people’s bigotry or harassment about them, or the people close to them.

8. “I can’t understand what you’re going through firsthand, but I can empathize and be here for you however I can.”

Two people are sitting close on the floor, with one person comforting the other. One has their head bowed and is being comforted by the other who has a hand on their back. The scene conveys empathy and support. Both individuals are casually dressed.

You may have gotten frustrated with people who have never experienced the same hardships as you, but who imply that they understand exactly what you’re going through. Authentic people won’t make this claim, but will instead be real about that fact, and will ask how they can best support you.

9. “I can’t do that in good conscience.”

Two men are in an office with large windows. One man stands, wearing a light blue shirt and blue tie, gesturing as he talks. The other man, sitting with his back to the camera, listens attentively. A coffee cup and documents are on the desk in front of them.

It’s a rare soul who will turn down things that may benefit them because they don’t align with their personal morals or ethics. Although they want to help others, they won’t hesitate to disappoint someone else if it means being true to themselves, even if that comes at a personal cost.

10. “That doesn’t work for me, so let’s find a middle ground that we can both agree to.”

A woman with short hair wearing a green shirt is sitting on a couch, gesturing animatedly while talking to another woman with long dark hair. They are in a bright room with shelves and plants in the background.

Rather than people-pleasing, they’ll be honest when something doesn’t align for them, but they’ll also aim to negotiate a middle ground that both parties can be comfortable with. They have their boundaries, but also respect those of others, and like to work toward the best solutions possible for everyone involved.

11. “Let me repeat that back to ensure that I understood you correctly.”

Two women are sitting at a table, smiling and holding takeaway coffee cups. One woman has curly red hair and is wearing a light blue shirt, the other has long blonde hair and is wearing a red blouse. They appear to be engaged in a friendly conversation.

One of the most authentic things a person can do is ensure that there are as few misunderstandings and miscommunications as possible. As a result, they often put active listening into practice and repeat back what they think they heard to ensure everyone is on the same track.

12. “You’re entitled to your opinion, but I don’t have to care about it.”

A young woman sitting on a couch with her arms crossed and looking away while an older woman beside her seems to be speaking and gesturing. The scene appears to be a serious conversation in a living room setting.

Most authentic people are completely unfazed by others’ views and opinions. They’ll respect that others may think or feel a certain way, but that doesn’t mean they have to share their thoughts or beliefs. In fact, they don’t have to care about them at all.