--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: To know who a person really is, I believe…" description: "\"“To know who a person really is, I believe you have to know first who they were.”\" — Anonymous" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/037/anonymous-1_mud-vein_to-know-who-a-person-really-is-i-believe_2158601.jpg" --- # To know who a person really is, I believe you have to know… ![“To know who a person really is, I believe you have to know first who they were.” quote by Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/037/anonymous-1_mud-vein_to-know-who-a-person-really-is-i-believe_2158601.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/037/anonymous-1_mud-vein_to-know-who-a-person-really-is-i-believe_2158601.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/037/anonymous-1_mud-vein_to-know-who-a-person-really-is-i-believe_2158601.jpg) > ““To know who a person really is, I believe you have to know first who they were.”” [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Understanding a person requires knowledge of their past experiences and growth, not just present behavior. **In simple terms:** Know their past to understand them now. Key Takeaway Consider history when judging others. Themes identity growth history understanding Mood thoughtful reflective Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - friendships - relationships - team dynamics Key Concepts personal development psychology Questions to Reflect On - What past experiences shape who you are? - Can people truly change? A Different Perspective Past actions may not reflect current change. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Believe Know](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe-know/) [Know](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know/) [Know Person](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know-person/) [Mud-vein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mud-vein-126693/) [Person](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/person/) [Person Really](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/person-really/) [Really Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/really-believe/) ## Related quotes > [“That’s what it’s like to be a prisoner of anything. You want your freedom until you get it, then you feel bare without your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tarryn-fisher/that-s-what-it-s-like-to-be-a-prisoner-of-anything-you-want-your-2/) [Tarryn Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tarryn-fisher/) > [“Tell me a truth, Senna." "I don't know how," I breath. "Then tell me a lie." "I don't love you," I say. I sink…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tarryn-fisher/tell-me-a-truth-senna-i-don-t-know-how-i-breath-then-tell-me-a-lie-i/) [Tarryn Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tarryn-fisher/) > [That's why writers write—to say things loudly with ink. To give feet to thoughts; to make quiet, still feelings loudly heard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tarryn-fisher/that-s-why-writers-write-to-say-things-loudly-with-ink-to-give-feet/) [Tarryn Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tarryn-fisher/) > [The only person I really believe in is me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debbie-harry/the-only-person-i-really-believe-in-is-me/) [Debbie Harry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debbie-harry/) > [“Does one ever know what another person is really like, even someone very close to us? Do we know what we are like ourselves?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anderson-cooper/does-one-ever-know-what-another-person-is-really-like-even-someone/) [Anderson Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anderson-cooper/) > [“We can invest enormous time and energy in serious efforts to know another person, but in the end, how close are we able to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/we-can-invest-enormous-time-and-energy-in-serious-efforts-to-know/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [You are who you are for a reason; don't let what someone else says about you get to you. Believe and know that what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-are-who-you-are-for-a-reason-don-t-let-what-someone-else-says/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Your faith is what you believe, not what you know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/your-faith-is-what-you-believe-not-what-you-know/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Etc.: A sign to make others believe that you know more than you actually do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/etc-a-sign-to-make-others-believe-that-you-know-more-than-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Always believe in what you know about others not what you have heard about others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/always-believe-in-what-you-know-about-others-not-what-you-have-heard/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Never give up on something you believe in. You never know, you might be just another breath away from it!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/never-give-up-on-something-you-believe-in-you-never-know-you-might-be/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [People would rather believe than know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/people-would-rather-believe-than-know/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Always believe in what you know and not what you hear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/always-believe-in-what-you-know-and-not-what-you-hear/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Faith is that quality that enables us to believe what we know to be untrue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/faith-is-that-quality-that-enables-us-to-believe-what-we-know-to-be/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Believe in yourself and all that you are. Know that there is something inside you that is greater than any obstacle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/believe-in-yourself-and-all-that-you-are-know-that-there-is-something/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Anonymous > [And a tear rolled down her cheek, as she said goodbye; because she's walking away, and she's never looking back](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/and-a-tear-rolled-down-her-cheek-as-she-said-goodbye-because-she-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You'll seldom experience regret for anything that you've done. It is what you haven't done that will torment you. The message, therefore, is clear.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-ll-seldom-experience-regret-for-anything-that-you-ve-done-it-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Scrabble - The game is available in Braille. That’s a nice fact. This makes me feel better about humanity for some reason. I can’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/scrabble-the-game-is-available-in-braille-that-s-a-nice-fact-this/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Everyone needs someone to love, and I choose you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/everyone-needs-someone-to-love-and-i-choose-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“THIS tale of my sore-troubled life I write,    To thank the God of nature, who conveyed    My soul to me, and with such care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/this-tale-of-my-sore-troubled-life-i-write-to-thank-the-god-of-nature/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Put on my J's and dance the whole night away Im naughty by nature like Im hip-hop hooray With my hands in the sky,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/put-on-my-j-s-and-dance-the-whole-night-away-im-naughty-by-nature/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Me.. I have been through a lot, but I still manage to have a smile on my face. Im not worried about the past…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/me-i-have-been-through-a-lot-but-i-still-manage-to-have-a-smile-on-my/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Distance is a test of love. many will fail for those who can't withstand it, but for those who can, theres only one answer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/distance-is-a-test-of-love-many-will-fail-for-those-who-can-t/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Im sorry I ever tried...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/im-sorry-i-ever-tried/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Being betrayed by the one you love is the worst feeling in the world...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-betrayed-by-the-one-you-love-is-the-worst-feeling-in-the-world/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Let children support their parents or be imprisoned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/let-children-support-their-parents-or-be-imprisoned/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The only person I've ever purposely caused pain here is myself...By simply sharing, caring too much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-only-person-i-ve-ever-purposely-caused-pain-here-is-myself-by/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Start a business, not a startup”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/start-a-business-not-a-startup/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The truth is, of course, that the curtness of the Ten Commandments is an evidence, not of the gloom and narrowness of a religion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-truth-is-of-course-that-the-curtness-of-the-ten-commandments-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Explore all 162,899 Anonymous quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More Know quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [“To know someone, to be known. That matters more than he'd ever thought it would.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianna-baggott/to-know-someone-to-be-known-that-matters-more-than-he-d-ever-thought/) [Julianna Baggott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianna-baggott/) > [Animals know nothing of themselves, and they also know nothing of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/animals-know-nothing-of-themselves-and-they-also-know-nothing-of-the/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [The one thing that I keep learning over and over again is that I don't know nothing. I mean, that's my life lesson.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwayne-johnson/the-one-thing-that-i-keep-learning-over-and-over-again-is-that-i-don/) [Dwayne Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwayne-johnson/) > [If we will not interfere with our thought, but will act entirely, or see how the thing stands in God, we know the particular…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/if-we-will-not-interfere-with-our-thought-but-will-act-entirely-or/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [It's very easy to fool yourself that you're working, you know, when you're really not working very hard. I mean, I'm very lazy. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-caro/it-s-very-easy-to-fool-yourself-that-you-re-working-you-know-when-you/) [Robert Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-caro/) > [That's something a lot of folks don't know about me - I'm pretty darn funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jai-white/that-s-something-a-lot-of-folks-don-t-know-about-me-i-m-pretty-darn/) [Michael Jai White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jai-white/) > [Don't get too attached to someone you know you can't be together with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anurag-prakash-ray/don-t-get-too-attached-to-someone-you-know-you-can-t-be-together-with/) [Anurag Prakash Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anurag-prakash-ray/) > [I know what you're thinking... and you oughtta be ashamed of yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-preston/i-know-what-you-re-thinking-and-you-oughtta-be-ashamed-of-yourself/) [Robert Preston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-preston/) > [I would have done well as a gypsy child, I think. A circus baby. I coulda played a great street urchin or ragamuffin. Or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-lyonne/i-would-have-done-well-as-a-gypsy-child-i-think-a-circus-baby-i/) [Natasha Lyonne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-lyonne/) > [You will never know just how beautiful you are to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-will-never-know-just-how-beautiful-you-are-to-me/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I know how hard it is to be a woman, especially a black woman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-tyson/i-know-how-hard-it-is-to-be-a-woman-especially-a-black-woman/) [Mike Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-tyson/) > [I have always been a big meta guy because I think the way journalism is practiced in Washington, and the way everyone sort of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-leibovich/i-have-always-been-a-big-meta-guy-because-i-think-the-way-journalism/) [Mark Leibovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-leibovich/) > [“Take your time to find and understand what you don’t know and in the end, you shall know that it is not all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-agyemang-yeboah/take-your-time-to-find-and-understand-what-you-don-t-know-and-in-the/) [Ernest Agyemang Yeboah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-agyemang-yeboah/) > [What we're supposed to do as actors is be able to portray real human beings and emotions. And if you grow up in this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-browning/what-we-re-supposed-to-do-as-actors-is-be-able-to-portray-real-human/) [Emily Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-browning/) [Browse all 22,299 Know quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“To know who a person really is, I believe you have to know first who they were.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Anonymous" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-know-who-a-person-really-is-i-believe-you-have-to-know-first-who/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Know" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-know-who-a-person-really-is-i-believe-you-have-to-know-first-who/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/037/anonymous-1_mud-vein_to-know-who-a-person-really-is-i-believe_2158601.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/037/anonymous-1_mud-vein_to-know-who-a-person-really-is-i-believe_2158601.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/037/anonymous-1_mud-vein_to-know-who-a-person-really-is-i-believe_2158601.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“To know who a person really is, I believe you have to know first who they were.” — Anonymous", "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": "Anonymous", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“To know who a person really...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-know-who-a-person-really-is-i-believe-you-have-to-know-first-who/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-know-who-a-person-really-is-i-believe-you-have-to-know-first-who/#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 } } ] } ```