--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It was like everyone suddenly knew what…" description: "\"It was like everyone suddenly knew what mattered. Money didn't matter. Politics didn't matter. Tabloid news didn't matter. No-compassion mattered. Calm..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/04d/david-levithan-67_calm_it-was-like-everyone-suddenly-knew-what_1488192.jpg" --- # It was like everyone suddenly knew what mattered. Money… ![“It was like everyone suddenly knew what mattered. Money didn't matter. Politics didn't matter. Tabloid news didn't matter. No-compassion mattered. Calm mattered. Respect mattered. Did it really take something of this magnitude to make us realize this?” quote by David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/04d/david-levithan-67_calm_it-was-like-everyone-suddenly-knew-what_1488192.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/04d/david-levithan-67_calm_it-was-like-everyone-suddenly-knew-what_1488192.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/04d/david-levithan-67_calm_it-was-like-everyone-suddenly-knew-what_1488192.jpg) > “It was like everyone suddenly knew what mattered. Money didn't matter. Politics didn't matter. Tabloid news didn't matter. No-compassion mattered. Calm mattered. Respect mattered. Did it really take something of this magnitude to make us realize this?” [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. When material concerns fade, simple human values like calm and respect become central. **In simple terms:** Simple values matter more than money. Key Takeaway Prioritize calm and respect. Themes values simplicity humanity Mood contemplative hopeful Type novel reflective When to use this quote - stressful work - conflict resolution - personal crisis Key Concepts existentialism minimalism Questions to Reflect On - What values sustain you in crisis? - How can you foster calm in others? A Different Perspective People may still cling to superficial concerns. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Calm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/calm/) [Compassion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compassion/) [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) [News](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/news/) [No compassion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/no-compassion/) [Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Respect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/respect/) [Tabloids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tabloids/) ## Related quotes > [From the first time we met, we knew everything that mattered about each other, didn't we? We just knew. I guess that's what best…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-hannah/from-the-first-time-we-met-we-knew-everything-that-mattered-about/) [Kristin Hannah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-hannah/) > [“His arms closed around them. While the storm raged outside,he held them protectively. Anna buried her face in one side of his neck,David in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-brown/his-arms-closed-around-them-while-the-storm-raged-outside-he-held/) [Sandra Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-brown/) > [Suffering cracks open the shell of ego, and then comes a point when it has served its purpose. Suffering is necessary until you realize…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/suffering-cracks-open-the-shell-of-ego-and-then-comes-a-point-when-it/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [Is suffering really necessary? Yes and no. If you had not suffered as you have, there would be no depth to you, no humility,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/is-suffering-really-necessary-yes-and-no-if-you-had-not-suffered-as/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [I don't fault business. If you run a corporation, your job is to maximize the return on investment for your investors. Good for you.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-simmons/i-don-t-fault-business-if-you-run-a-corporation-your-job-is-to/) [Russell Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-simmons/) > [You know, it's trying to put toothpaste back in the tube. Not only are there a lot of outsiders intervening but this also involves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kasich/you-know-it-s-trying-to-put-toothpaste-back-in-the-tube-not-only-are/) [John Kasich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kasich/) > [Compassion is the antitoxin of the soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/compassion-is-the-antitoxin-of-the-soul/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [In times such as these, people should recognize that evil knows no borders, knows no limits and knows no compassion. Those around the globe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/in-times-such-as-these-people-should-recognize-that-evil-knows-no/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [They learned no compassion from their own anguish. thus their suffering was wasted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-smith/they-learned-no-compassion-from-their-own-anguish-thus-their/) [Betty Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-smith/) > [Can you be compassionate even to those who have no compassion? If so, there is no finer karma that you can create.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-zukav/can-you-be-compassionate-even-to-those-who-have-no-compassion-if-so/) [Gary Zukav](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-zukav/) > [I should have no compassion on these witches; I should burn them all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/i-should-have-no-compassion-on-these-witches-i-should-burn-them-all/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [Make no judgments where you have no compassion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-mccaffrey/make-no-judgments-where-you-have-no-compassion/) [Anne McCaffrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-mccaffrey/) > [We have no compassion and we ask no compassion from you. When our turn comes, we shall not make excuses for the terror.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-marx/we-have-no-compassion-and-we-ask-no-compassion-from-you-when-our-turn/) [Karl Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-marx/) > [I was never a Republican, because those gentlemen, distinguished as they are, have only one real interest, and that is the making of special…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-j-tilden/i-was-never-a-republican-because-those-gentlemen-distinguished-as/) Samuel J. Tilden > [Common sense! It's nothing more than common sense for the preservation of our culture, the preservation of our country, the preservation and growth of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/common-sense-it-s-nothing-more-than-common-sense-for-the-preservation/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) ## More by David Levithan > [“When you jump, all you're going to do is fall. But leaping? Leaping is when you think there's something on the other side.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/when-you-jump-all-you-re-going-to-do-is-fall-but-leaping-leaping-is/) [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) > [“The past and the future are what's complicated. It's the present that's simple. And the simplicity is the sensation of it being just her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/the-past-and-the-future-are-what-s-complicated-it-s-the-present-that/) [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) > [“I hate the way you talk to me And the way you cut your hair I hate the way you drive my car I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/i-hate-the-way-you-talk-to-me-and-the-way-you-cut-your-hair-i-hate/) [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) > [You could be the leaf that never falls from the tree you could be the sun that never leaves the sky this might be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/you-could-be-the-leaf-that-never-falls-from-the-tree-you-could-be-the/) [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) > [“Patrick: Is she worth the trouble? Cameron: I thought she was- Patrick: Either she is, or she isn't. So give it a shot, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/patrick-is-she-worth-the-trouble-cameron-i-thought-she-was-patrick/) [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) > [“We saw our friends die. But we also see our friends live. So many of them live, and we often toast their long and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/we-saw-our-friends-die-but-we-also-see-our-friends-live-so-many-of/) [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) > [maybe tonight you're scared of falling, and maybe there's somebody here or somewhere else you're thinking about, worrying over, fretting over, trying to figure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/maybe-tonight-you-re-scared-of-falling-and-maybe-there-s-somebody/) [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) > [“You never told me what you saw in him, not convincingly.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/you-never-told-me-what-you-saw-in-him-not-convincingly/) [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) > [“i nod to the other will grayson, up onstage. he nods to me. we have something between us, him and me. but the truth?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/i-nod-to-the-other-will-grayson-up-onstage-he-nods-to-me-we-have/) [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) > [The terrorists-those nineteen people, with hundreds or maybe thousands behind them-did the worst thing you can possibly imagine. But tens of millions people did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/the-terrorists-those-nineteen-people-with-hundreds-or-maybe-thousands/) [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) > [But I still has enough longing for that concept that I didn't want to dispel it completely. Meaning: I didn't want to tell Lily…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/but-i-still-has-enough-longing-for-that-concept-that-i-didn-t-want-to/) [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) > [“When you break someone's heart, you also break yours.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/when-you-break-someone-s-heart-you-also-break-yours/) [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) > [“Because toward the end all the words started leaving. Except for the ones that had to lock up at the end of the night.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/because-toward-the-end-all-the-words-started-leaving-except-for-the/) [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) > [“ misgivings , n . Last night, I got up the courage to ask you if you regretted us. "There are things I miss,"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/misgivings-n-last-night-i-got-up-the-courage-to-ask-you-if-you/) [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) > [“Saving others is always more important than saving yourself. It has to be, or none of us would do any good.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/saving-others-is-always-more-important-than-saving-yourself-it-has-to/) [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) [Explore all 1,648 David Levithan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) ## More Calm quotes > [Grandma, please. It’s okay. Dad’s doing a great job. I give him kudos for at least being calm and rational, and not losing his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/grandma-please-it-s-okay-dad-s-doing-a-great-job-i-give-him-kudos-for/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [You practice mindfulness, on the one hand, to be calm and peaceful. On the other hand, as you practice mindfulness and live a life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-practice-mindfulness-on-the-one-hand-to-be-calm-and-peaceful-on/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“After the storm, reigns the calm.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simdi-onuora/after-the-storm-reigns-the-calm/) Simdi Onuora > [So mightiest powers buy deepest calms are fed, And sleep, how oft, in things that gentlest be!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-procter/so-mightiest-powers-buy-deepest-calms-are-fed-and-sleep-how-oft-in/) [Bryan Procter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-procter/) > [KEEP CALM and HAVE A SUGAR CUBE](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/keep-calm-and-have-a-sugar-cube/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [To practice Aikido fully you must calm the spirit and go back to the origin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morihei-ueshiba/to-practice-aikido-fully-you-must-calm-the-spirit-and-go-back-to-the/) [Morihei Ueshiba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morihei-ueshiba/) > [You imagine that I look back on my life's work with calm satisfaction. But from nearby it looks quite different. There is not a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/you-imagine-that-i-look-back-on-my-life-s-work-with-calm-satisfaction/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [Don't get divorced after your first argument! I have a lot of friends that have one fight and that's it, they get divorced. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-ripa/don-t-get-divorced-after-your-first-argument-i-have-a-lot-of-friends/) [Kelly Ripa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-ripa/) > [The goal of the operation is to send Gaza back to the Middle Ages, only then will Israel be calm for the next 40 years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ben-ari/the-goal-of-the-operation-is-to-send-gaza-back-to-the-middle-ages/) Michael Ben-Ari > [No physiologist who calmly considers the question in connection with the general truths of his science, can long resist the conviction that different parts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/no-physiologist-who-calmly-considers-the-question-in-connection-with/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [When I was a child I truly loved: Unthinking love as calm and deep As the North Sea. But I have lived, And now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gardner/when-i-was-a-child-i-truly-loved-unthinking-love-as-calm-and-deep-as/) [John Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gardner/) > [~Keep Calm and Swagger On~](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/im-nothing/keep-calm-and-swagger-on/) Im Nothing > [Ride your horse calm, forward and then make him straight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-zettl/ride-your-horse-calm-forward-and-then-make-him-straight/) [Walter Zettl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-zettl/) > [Life appears to me too short to be spent in nursing animosity, or registering wrongs. With this creed, revenge never worries my heart, degradation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/life-appears-to-me-too-short-to-be-spent-in-nursing-animosity-or/) [Charlotte Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/) > [Religious work is one of the best ways to keep from facing your reality if you are Christian, if you are using it to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-miller/religious-work-is-one-of-the-best-ways-to-keep-from-facing-your/) [Keith Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-miller/) [Browse all 3,074 Calm quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/calm/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It was like everyone suddenly knew what mattered. Money didn't matter. Politics didn't matter. Tabloid news didn't matter. No-compassion mattered. Calm mattered. Respect mattered. Did it really take something of this magnitude to make us realize this?", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "David Levithan" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/it-was-like-everyone-suddenly-knew-what-mattered-money-didn-t-matter/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Calm" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/it-was-like-everyone-suddenly-knew-what-mattered-money-didn-t-matter/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/04d/david-levithan-67_calm_it-was-like-everyone-suddenly-knew-what_1488192.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/04d/david-levithan-67_calm_it-was-like-everyone-suddenly-knew-what_1488192.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/04d/david-levithan-67_calm_it-was-like-everyone-suddenly-knew-what_1488192.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It was like everyone suddenly knew what mattered. Money didn't matter. Politics didn't matter. Tabloid news…” — David Levithan", "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": "David Levithan", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It was like everyone suddenly knew...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/it-was-like-everyone-suddenly-knew-what-mattered-money-didn-t-matter/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/it-was-like-everyone-suddenly-knew-what-mattered-money-didn-t-matter/#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 } } ] } ```