---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Most people, I've noticed, are…"
description: "\"Most people, I've noticed, are instinctively harsh to strangers. They expect every approach to be an attack, every question to be an interruption.\" — D..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d8d/david-levithan-67_approach_most-people-i-ve-noticed-are-instinctive_2958466.jpg"
---

#  Most people, I've noticed, are instinctively harsh to…

![“Most people, I've noticed, are instinctively harsh to strangers. They expect every approach to be an attack, every question to be an interruption.” quote by David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d8d/david-levithan-67_approach_most-people-i-ve-noticed-are-instinctive_2958466.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d8d/david-levithan-67_approach_most-people-i-ve-noticed-are-instinctive_2958466.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d8d/david-levithan-67_approach_most-people-i-ve-noticed-are-instinctive_2958466.jpg)

> “Most people, I've noticed, are instinctively harsh to strangers. They expect every approach to be an attack, every question to be an interruption.”

[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.

People often assume strangers are threats, reacting defensively to interactions.

**In simple terms:** Strangers are seen as hostile.

Key Takeaway

Pause before judging strangers.

Themes

trust social anxiety empathy

Mood

cautious thoughtful

Type

reflective inspirational

When to use this quote

- customer service
- online dating
- public speaking

Key Concepts

cognitive bias social perception

Questions to Reflect On

- What evidence supports a kinder approach?
- How can you test this bias?

A Different Perspective

Assuming hostility can damage relationships.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Approach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/approach/) [Harsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/harsh/) [Harsh Strangers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/harsh-strangers-4493907/) [Instinctively Harsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/instinctively-harsh-4493906/) [Interruptions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interruptions/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Stranger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stranger/) [Strangers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strangers/) [Strangers Expect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strangers-expect-4493908/)

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