--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We are encouraged to see honest people as…" description: "\"“We are encouraged to see honest people as naive, as potential losers.”\" — Bell Hooks" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/068/bell-hooks-464_honest-people_we-are-encouraged-to-see-honest-people-a_855500.jpg" --- # We are encouraged to see honest people as naive, as… ![“We are encouraged to see honest people as naive, as potential losers.” quote by Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/068/bell-hooks-464_honest-people_we-are-encouraged-to-see-honest-people-a_855500.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/068/bell-hooks-464_honest-people_we-are-encouraged-to-see-honest-people-a_855500.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/068/bell-hooks-464_honest-people_we-are-encouraged-to-see-honest-people-a_855500.jpg) > ““We are encouraged to see honest people as naive, as potential losers.”” [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Society often mislabels honesty as naiveté, equating it with vulnerability and potential loss. **In simple terms:** Honesty seen as naive, risky Key Takeaway Value truth, resist labeling honest people as losers Themes social critique honesty vulnerability Mood critical empathetic Type sociological inspirational When to use this quote - workplace - friendship - political discourse - media Key Concepts naiveté loss Questions to Reflect On - Why do we fear honest voices? - How can we protect honest people? A Different Perspective Honesty can also be strategic, not always pure. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Honest people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honest-people/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) ## Related quotes > [“I’ve come to believe that wise people don’t tell us what to do; they start by witnessing our story. 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Add a holy name to worthless words and you end up with a gospel.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-edward-simone/i-have-found-most-people-to-be-naive-add-a-holy-name-to-worthless/) [Val Edward Simone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-edward-simone/) > [Some people are so naive they think people are what they appear to be](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diksha-khanchandani/some-people-are-so-naive-they-think-people-are-what-they-appear-to-be/) Diksha Khanchandani > [“Irene closed her book and stared at the older Van Holtz. “I don’t dislike him. But that was recent. I used to not like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelly-laurenston/irene-closed-her-book-and-stared-at-the-older-van-holtz-i-don-t/) [Shelly Laurenston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelly-laurenston/) > [Sometimes I'm just a little bit too honest. There was some things that were going on behind the scenes that I didn't like because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wale/sometimes-i-m-just-a-little-bit-too-honest-there-was-some-things-that/) [Wale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wale/) > [I've discovered that I love to be honest with people, that's it's brutal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevinterribly/i-ve-discovered-that-i-love-to-be-honest-with-people-that-s-it-s/) KevinTerribly > [How desperately difficult it is to be honest with oneself. It is much easier to be honest with other people.What is true is invisible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/how-desperately-difficult-it-is-to-be-honest-with-oneself-it-is-much/) [Antoine de Saint-Exupery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/) > [“Every day, on the roads of Delhi, some chauffeur is driving an empty car with a black suitcase sitting on the backseat. Inside that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aravind-adiga/every-day-on-the-roads-of-delhi-some-chauffeur-is-driving-an-empty/) [Aravind Adiga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aravind-adiga/) > [I'd wish the government took honest people into consideration, it shows enough consideration for scoundrels.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-grillparzer/i-d-wish-the-government-took-honest-people-into-consideration-it/) [Franz Grillparzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-grillparzer/) > [“Only honest people take you at your word. Liars and thieves expect the same in return. Unfortunately for him, I didn’t have a problem…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-augustine/only-honest-people-take-you-at-your-word-liars-and-thieves-expect-the/) [Donna Augustine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-augustine/) > [“You have to be yourself. Be very honest about who and what you are. And if people still like or love you, that's great.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sting/you-have-to-be-yourself-be-very-honest-about-who-and-what-you-are-and/) [Sting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sting/) > [“Plato argued that good people do not need laws to tell them to act responsibly, while bad people will always find a way around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-k-howard/plato-argued-that-good-people-do-not-need-laws-to-tell-them-to-act/) [Philip K. Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-k-howard/) > [I think that, you know, this is a different year than most years. We've got to tell the American people that we have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-buck/i-think-that-you-know-this-is-a-different-year-than-most-years-we-ve/) [Ken Buck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-buck/) > [Honest people don't hide their deeds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-bronte/honest-people-don-t-hide-their-deeds/) [Emily Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-bronte/) ## More by Bell Hooks > [Right now, for many Americans, class is being foregrounded like never before because of the economic situation. It doesn't mean that race doesn't matter,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/right-now-for-many-americans-class-is-being-foregrounded-like-never/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [“Most folks believe we are hardwired biologically to long for sex but they do not believe we are hardwired to long for love. Almost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/most-folks-believe-we-are-hardwired-biologically-to-long-for-sex-but/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [... we need to interrogate "reverence," for idolization can be another way one is objectified and not really taken seriously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/we-need-to-interrogate-reverence-for-idolization-can-be-another-way/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [Couples who rarely or never have sex can know lifelong love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/couples-who-rarely-or-never-have-sex-can-know-lifelong-love/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [The power of patriarchy has been to make maleness feared and to make men feel that it is better to be feared that to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/the-power-of-patriarchy-has-been-to-make-maleness-feared-and-to-make/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [“I feel enormously blessed to be a successful black woman writer in this culture, but I have found my small fame, such as it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/i-feel-enormously-blessed-to-be-a-successful-black-woman-writer-in/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [Language is also a place of struggle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/language-is-also-a-place-of-struggle/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [In this culture, the phrase 'black woman' is not synonymous with 'tender,' or 'gentle.' It's as if those words couldn't possibly speak to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/in-this-culture-the-phrase-black-woman-is-not-synonymous-with-tender/) [bell hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [It's interesting to look at all the aspects where everyday Americans, many of whom are not college educated, are thinking deeply now about our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/it-s-interesting-to-look-at-all-the-aspects-where-everyday-americans/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [The true teacher is within us. A good teacher is someone who can help you to go back and touch the true teacher within,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/the-true-teacher-is-within-us-a-good-teacher-is-someone-who-can-help/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [“Advancing the notion that there can be many "feminisms" has served the conservative and liberal political interests of women seeking status and privileged class…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/advancing-the-notion-that-there-can-be-many-feminisms-has-served-the/) [bell hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [I love my family, even as I critique their dysfunctionalities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/i-love-my-family-even-as-i-critique-their-dysfunctionalities/) [bell hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [You must have courage to love, you have to have a profound will to do what is right to love, and it does not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/you-must-have-courage-to-love-you-have-to-have-a-profound-will-to-do/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [To truly love we must learn to mix various ingredients - care, affection, recognition, respect, commitment, and trust, as well as honest and open…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/to-truly-love-we-must-learn-to-mix-various-ingredients-care-affection/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [“Often emphasis on identity and lifestyle is appealing because it creates a false sense that one is engaged in praxis. However, praxis within any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/often-emphasis-on-identity-and-lifestyle-is-appealing-because-it/) [bell hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) [Explore all 541 Bell Hooks quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) ## More Honest people quotes > [Honest people don't hide their deeds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-bronte/honest-people-don-t-hide-their-deeds/) [Emily Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-bronte/) > [I think that, you know, this is a different year than most years. We've got to tell the American people that we have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-buck/i-think-that-you-know-this-is-a-different-year-than-most-years-we-ve/) [Ken Buck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-buck/) > [“Plato argued that good people do not need laws to tell them to act responsibly, while bad people will always find a way around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-k-howard/plato-argued-that-good-people-do-not-need-laws-to-tell-them-to-act/) [Philip K. Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-k-howard/) > [“You have to be yourself. Be very honest about who and what you are. And if people still like or love you, that's great.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sting/you-have-to-be-yourself-be-very-honest-about-who-and-what-you-are-and/) [Sting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sting/) > [“Only honest people take you at your word. Liars and thieves expect the same in return. Unfortunately for him, I didn’t have a problem…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-augustine/only-honest-people-take-you-at-your-word-liars-and-thieves-expect-the/) [Donna Augustine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-augustine/) > [I'd wish the government took honest people into consideration, it shows enough consideration for scoundrels.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-grillparzer/i-d-wish-the-government-took-honest-people-into-consideration-it/) [Franz Grillparzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-grillparzer/) > [“Every day, on the roads of Delhi, some chauffeur is driving an empty car with a black suitcase sitting on the backseat. Inside that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aravind-adiga/every-day-on-the-roads-of-delhi-some-chauffeur-is-driving-an-empty/) [Aravind Adiga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aravind-adiga/) > [How desperately difficult it is to be honest with oneself. It is much easier to be honest with other people.What is true is invisible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/how-desperately-difficult-it-is-to-be-honest-with-oneself-it-is-much/) [Antoine de Saint-Exupery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/) > [I've discovered that I love to be honest with people, that's it's brutal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevinterribly/i-ve-discovered-that-i-love-to-be-honest-with-people-that-s-it-s/) KevinTerribly > [Sometimes I'm just a little bit too honest. There was some things that were going on behind the scenes that I didn't like because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wale/sometimes-i-m-just-a-little-bit-too-honest-there-was-some-things-that/) [Wale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wale/) > [“Irene closed her book and stared at the older Van Holtz. “I don’t dislike him. But that was recent. I used to not like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelly-laurenston/irene-closed-her-book-and-stared-at-the-older-van-holtz-i-don-t/) [Shelly Laurenston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelly-laurenston/) > [You've got to be who you are. You've got to be honest with people. If your views change on something, you've got to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudy-giuliani/you-ve-got-to-be-who-you-are-you-ve-got-to-be-honest-with-people-if/) [Rudy Giuliani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudy-giuliani/) > [How desperately difficult it is to be honest with oneself. It is much easier to be honest with other people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/how-desperately-difficult-it-is-to-be-honest-with-oneself-it-is-much-2/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The personal qualities necessary for attaining office are practically the opposite of those demanded by the office itself. The trouble with the damn system…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-p-hogan/the-personal-qualities-necessary-for-attaining-office-are-practically/) [James P. Hogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-p-hogan/) > [“Guadalupe Fuentes: --They're not paid to kill honest people, to shoot for no good reasons. Rubenia Fuentes: --Ah, my little girl, then why do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manlio-argueta/guadalupe-fuentes-they-re-not-paid-to-kill-honest-people-to-shoot-for/) [Manlio Argueta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manlio-argueta/) [Browse all 197 Honest people quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honest-people/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“We are encouraged to see honest people as naive, as potential losers.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Bell Hooks" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/we-are-encouraged-to-see-honest-people-as-naive-as-potential-losers/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Honest people" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/we-are-encouraged-to-see-honest-people-as-naive-as-potential-losers/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/068/bell-hooks-464_honest-people_we-are-encouraged-to-see-honest-people-a_855500.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/068/bell-hooks-464_honest-people_we-are-encouraged-to-see-honest-people-a_855500.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/068/bell-hooks-464_honest-people_we-are-encouraged-to-see-honest-people-a_855500.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“We are encouraged to see honest people as naive, as potential losers.” — Bell Hooks", "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": "Bell Hooks", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“We are encouraged to see honest...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/we-are-encouraged-to-see-honest-people-as-naive-as-potential-losers/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/we-are-encouraged-to-see-honest-people-as-naive-as-potential-losers/#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 } } ] } ```