---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We're going to need to intentionally be…"
description: "\"“We're going to need to intentionally be with people who are different than us. We're going to have to sign up, join, and take a seat at the table. We'..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b7/bren-brown-280_communication_we-re-going-to-need-to-intentionally-be_650180.jpg"
---

#  We're going to need to intentionally be with people who…

![“We're going to need to intentionally be with people who are different than us. We're going to have to sign up, join, and take a seat at the table. We're going to have to learn how to listen, have hard conversations, look for joy, share pain, and be more curious than defensive, all while seeking…” quote by Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b7/bren-brown-280_communication_we-re-going-to-need-to-intentionally-be_650180.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b7/bren-brown-280_communication_we-re-going-to-need-to-intentionally-be_650180.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b7/bren-brown-280_communication_we-re-going-to-need-to-intentionally-be_650180.jpg)

> ““We're going to need to intentionally be with people who are different than us. We're going to have to sign up, join, and take a seat at the table. We're going to have to learn how to listen, have hard conversations, look for joy, share pain, and be more curious than defensive, all while seeking moments of togetherness.””

[Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

True connection requires intentional effort to engage with diverse perspectives, listen deeply, and hold space for both joy and pain.

**In simple terms:** Connect by seeking diverse, honest conversations.

Key Takeaway

Seek diverse voices and practice deep listening.

Themes

connection diversity vulnerability dialogue

Mood

inspirational empathetic thoughtful

Type

advice philosophical

When to use this quote

- team meetings
- community workshops
- family gatherings
- online forums

Key Concepts

empathy courage inclusion

Questions to Reflect On

- Who can you invite to broaden your perspective?
- How will you handle discomfort in tough conversations?

A Different Perspective

Fear of conflict may hinder honest dialogue.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Communication](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communication/) [Community](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/community/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Togetherness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/togetherness/)

## Related quotes

> [“The special courage it takes to experience true belonging is not just about braving the wilderness, it’s about becoming the wilderness. It’s about breaking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/the-special-courage-it-takes-to-experience-true-belonging-is-not-just-2/)

[Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/)

> [“Whose maps are we trying to read? And what are we trying to draw? It's so common to live in a place without truly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-solnit/whose-maps-are-we-trying-to-read-and-what-are-we-trying-to-draw-it-s/)

[Rebecca Solnit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-solnit/)

> [“When all are one sentience, Language withers and fades away. Let's sit together and speak in silence, Let's be light to each other's way.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/when-all-are-one-sentience-language-withers-and-fades-away-let-s-sit/)

[Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/)

> [Hard work and togetherness. They go hand in hand. You need the hard work because it's such a tough atmosphere... to win week in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-dungy/hard-work-and-togetherness-they-go-hand-in-hand-you-need-the-hard/)

[Tony Dungy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-dungy/)

> [One situation – maybe one alone – could drive me to murder: family life, togetherness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-highsmith/one-situation-maybe-one-alone-could-drive-me-to-murder-family-life/)

[Patricia Highsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-highsmith/)

> [“It turns out to be the place of true belonging, and it's the bravest and most sacred place you'll stand.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/it-turns-out-to-be-the-place-of-true-belonging-and-it-s-the-bravest/)

[Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/)

> [There will always be people with different views from yours. Learn to respect their right to a different view.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-will-always-be-people-with-different-views-from-yours-learn-to/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Different people have different duties assigned them by Nature; Nature has given one the power or the desire to do this, the other that.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henrik-ibsen/different-people-have-different-duties-assigned-them-by-nature-nature/)

[Henrik Ibsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henrik-ibsen/)

> [People have a different idea of how movies are made than they really are. On a certain level, everyone throws ideas into the hopper.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-gere/people-have-a-different-idea-of-how-movies-are-made-than-they-really/)

[Richard Gere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-gere/)

> [Two entirely different people. They were from two different worlds. Somehow, somewhere.. They crated their own!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hanae-el-kherchi/two-entirely-different-people-they-were-from-two-different-worlds/)

[Hanae El Kherchi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hanae-el-kherchi/)

> [Smart people are no different than anyone else. Sometimes they exercise bad judgment, like we all do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-smith/smart-people-are-no-different-than-anyone-else-sometimes-they/)

[Judy Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-smith/)

> [But when we're helping children understand how people from different walks of life can coexist, prioritizing common ground too often obscures or erases uncommon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meena-harris/but-when-we-re-helping-children-understand-how-people-from-different/)

[Meena Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meena-harris/)

> [The clashes of people and the clashes of cultures have assisted me in learning the openness you have to be a part of in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kissey/the-clashes-of-people-and-the-clashes-of-cultures-have-assisted-me-in/)

[Kissey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kissey/)

> [People go through different stages of their lives at different times. If you're out of sync with your friend group, that gets exploded once…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-hamm/people-go-through-different-stages-of-their-lives-at-different-times/)

[Jon Hamm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-hamm/)

> [You know, it brings in a lot of different people; you take people off the street, and kids, and people from all different walks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michele-lamy/you-know-it-brings-in-a-lot-of-different-people-you-take-people-off/)

[Michele Lamy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michele-lamy/)

## More by Brené Brown

> [We're raising children who have little tolerance for disappointment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/we-re-raising-children-who-have-little-tolerance-for-disappointment/)

[Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/)

> [“always put off writing by reorganizing my entire house and spending way too much time and money buying office supplies and organizing systems. Every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/always-put-off-writing-by-reorganizing-my-entire-house-and-spending/)

[Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/)

> [When you ask people about love, they tell you about heartbreak.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/when-you-ask-people-about-love-they-tell-you-about-heartbreak/)

[Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/)

> [“I can recognize shame when it’s happening.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/i-can-recognize-shame-when-it-s-happening/)

[Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/)

> [I carry a small sheet of paper in my wallet that has written on it the names of people whose opinions of me matter.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/i-carry-a-small-sheet-of-paper-in-my-wallet-that-has-written-on-it/)

[Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/)

> [Courage starts with showing up and letting ourselves be seen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/courage-starts-with-showing-up-and-letting-ourselves-be-seen/)

[Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/)

> [Waking up every day and loving someone who may or may not love us back, whose safety we can't ensure, who may stay in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/waking-up-every-day-and-loving-someone-who-may-or-may-not-love-us/)

[Brene Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/)

> [“No matter how separated we are by what we think and believe, we are part of the same spiritual story.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/no-matter-how-separated-we-are-by-what-we-think-and-believe-we-are/)

[Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/)

> [Perfectionism is self-destructive simply because there is no such thing as perfect. Perfection is an unattainable goal. Additionally, perfectionism is more about perception -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/perfectionism-is-self-destructive-simply-because-there-is-no-such/)

[Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/)

> [Shame corrodes the very part of us that believes we are capable of change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/shame-corrodes-the-very-part-of-us-that-believes-we-are-capable-of/)

[Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/)

> [If you're also in the arena and you're putting your ideas out and you're owning them and you're saying "I disagree with you about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/if-you-re-also-in-the-arena-and-you-re-putting-your-ideas-out-and-you/)

[Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/)

> [“I found that men and women with high levels of shame resilience share these four elements: They understand shame and recognize what messages and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/i-found-that-men-and-women-with-high-levels-of-shame-resilience-share/)

[Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/)

> [Connection gives purpose and meaning to our lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/connection-gives-purpose-and-meaning-to-our-lives/)

[Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/)

> [“But here’s the tricky part about compassion and connecting: We can’t call just anyone. It’s not that simple. I have a lot of good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/but-here-s-the-tricky-part-about-compassion-and-connecting-we-can-t/)

[Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/)

> [“It turns out to be the place of true belonging, and it's the bravest and most sacred place you'll stand.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/it-turns-out-to-be-the-place-of-true-belonging-and-it-s-the-bravest/)

[Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/)

[Explore all 759 Brené Brown quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/)

## More Communication quotes

> [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. It makes a mockery of freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-robison/some-people-still-believe-you-should-just-fall-in-line-with-what-s/)

[Emily Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-robison/)

> [The problem posed by indirect speech acts is the problem of how it is possible for the speaker to say one thing and mean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-searle/the-problem-posed-by-indirect-speech-acts-is-the-problem-of-how-it-is/)

[John Searle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-searle/)

> [We should have a conversation when we hang up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benedict-cumberbatch/we-should-have-a-conversation-when-we-hang-up/)

[Benedict Cumberbatch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benedict-cumberbatch/)

> [Sing like no one's listening, love like you've never been hurt, dance like nobody's watching, and live like its heaven on earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/sing-like-no-one-s-listening-love-like-you-ve-never-been-hurt-dance/)

[Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/)

> [A poet is wounded into speech, and he examines these wounds, meticulously, to discover how to heal them. The bad poet harangues at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-r-delany/a-poet-is-wounded-into-speech-and-he-examines-these-wounds/)

[Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/)

> [“To engage in dialogue is to serve others via whatever is real inside you; to engage in debate is to ultimately serve the illusions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oli-anderson/to-engage-in-dialogue-is-to-serve-others-via-whatever-is-real-inside/)

[Oli Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oli-anderson/)

> [What it comes down to for me is this: Will the technologies of communication in our culture, serve to enlighten us and help us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-waters/what-it-comes-down-to-for-me-is-this-will-the-technologies-of/)

[Roger Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-waters/)

> [In dialogue, there is opposition, yes, but no head-on collision. Smashing heads does not open minds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-tannen/in-dialogue-there-is-opposition-yes-but-no-head-on-collision-smashing/)

[Deborah Tannen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-tannen/)

> [A dialogue is very important. It is a form of communication in which question and answer continue till a question is left without an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/a-dialogue-is-very-important-it-is-a-form-of-communication-in-which/)

[Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/)

> [I get afraid of the dark if I'm in a great deal of dark, and I have to move around inside of that fear...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emil-ferris/i-get-afraid-of-the-dark-if-i-m-in-a-great-deal-of-dark-and-i-have-to/)

[Emil Ferris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emil-ferris/)

> [I've been in a serious conversation with one of my children, and a fan has come up. I've been in a public bathroom and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-reddy/i-ve-been-in-a-serious-conversation-with-one-of-my-children-and-a-fan/)

[Helen Reddy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-reddy/)

> [Life as we know it is fundamentally unsatisfying. I think most folks feel this to be true. They know that a life of aimless…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-yates/life-as-we-know-it-is-fundamentally-unsatisfying-i-think-most-folks/)

[Michael Yates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-yates/)

> [Disability, in general, hasn't been included in the conversation about inclusivity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-winston-george/disability-in-general-hasn-t-been-included-in-the-conversation-about/)

[Jason Winston George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-winston-george/)

> [“Women will be at least 50 percent of the communications community workforce … from executive suite to interns. Why? The “integrated” agency will be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yoram-wind/women-will-be-at-least-50-percent-of-the-communications-community/)

Yoram Wind

> [There are certain things you must not say in spite of the fact that supposedly democracy means free speech. No. You are not allowed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-eubank-sr/there-are-certain-things-you-must-not-say-in-spite-of-the-fact-that/)

[Chris Eubank Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-eubank-sr/)

[Browse all 21,506 Communication quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communication/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“We're going to need to intentionally be with people who are different than us. We're going to have to sign up, join, and take a seat at the table. We're going to have to learn how to listen, have hard conversations, look for joy, share pain, and be more curious than defensive, all while seeking moments of togetherness.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Brené Brown"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/we-re-going-to-need-to-intentionally-be-with-people-who-are-different/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Communication"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/we-re-going-to-need-to-intentionally-be-with-people-who-are-different/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b7/bren-brown-280_communication_we-re-going-to-need-to-intentionally-be_650180.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b7/bren-brown-280_communication_we-re-going-to-need-to-intentionally-be_650180.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b7/bren-brown-280_communication_we-re-going-to-need-to-intentionally-be_650180.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“We're going to need to intentionally be with people who are different than us. We're going to have to sign…” — Brené Brown",
                "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": "Brené Brown",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“We're going to need to intentionally...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/we-re-going-to-need-to-intentionally-be-with-people-who-are-different/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/we-re-going-to-need-to-intentionally-be-with-people-who-are-different/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
