---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I gazed at him. He was old enough to know…"
description: "\"“I gazed at him. He was old enough to know that few things were fair. Most five-year-olds had already discovered it.”\" — Dick Francis"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8a6/dick-francis-13976_fair_i-gazed-at-him-he-was-old-enough-to-know_3046476.jpg"
---

#  I gazed at him. He was old enough to know that few things…

![“I gazed at him. He was old enough to know that few things were fair. Most five-year-olds had already discovered it.” quote by Dick Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8a6/dick-francis-13976_fair_i-gazed-at-him-he-was-old-enough-to-know_3046476.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8a6/dick-francis-13976_fair_i-gazed-at-him-he-was-old-enough-to-know_3046476.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8a6/dick-francis-13976_fair_i-gazed-at-him-he-was-old-enough-to-know_3046476.jpg)

> ““I gazed at him. He was old enough to know that few things were fair. Most five-year-olds had already discovered it.””

[Dick Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-francis/)

## About This Quote

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

An old man recognizes the scarcity of fairness; even young children have learned this truth.

**In simple terms:** Fairness is rare, even kids notice.

Key Takeaway

Acknowledge and address unfairness.

Themes

justice experience youth perception

Mood

thoughtful serious

Type

philosophical reflective

When to use this quote

- workplace
- school settings
- community activism

Key Concepts

moral development social inequality

Questions to Reflect On

- What defines fairness for you?
- How can you promote equity?

A Different Perspective

Fairness may be subjective.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Fair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fair/) [Gazed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gazed-397806/) [Gazed Old](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gazed-old-5046350/) [Old enough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/old-enough/) [Olds Discovered](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/olds-discovered-5046351/) [Things Fair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/things-fair-328605/)

## Related quotes

> [“I don't know. It's the world we live in, I guess. Some things will never be fair.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-walden/i-don-t-know-it-s-the-world-we-live-in-i-guess-some-things-will-never/)

[S. Walden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-walden/)

> [To God all things are fair and good and right, but men hold some things wrong and some right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heraclitus/to-god-all-things-are-fair-and-good-and-right-but-men-hold-some/)

[Heraclitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heraclitus/)

> [No argument for things seem to be fair…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/unnati-patel/no-argument-for-things-seem-to-be-fair/)

[Unnati Patel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/unnati-patel/)

> [Men cannot conceive of a state of things so fair that it cannot be realized.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/men-cannot-conceive-of-a-state-of-things-so-fair-that-it-cannot-be/)

[Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/)

> [The skin and shell of things Though fair are not Thy wish nor prayer but got My meer despair of wings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-vaughan/the-skin-and-shell-of-things-though-fair-are-not-thy-wish-nor-prayer/)

[Henry Vaughan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-vaughan/)

> [Blessed be the night, which conceals and protects things fair and foul with the same indifferent mantle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-saramago/blessed-be-the-night-which-conceals-and-protects-things-fair-and-foul/)

[Jose Saramago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-saramago/)

> [If I am treated fairly, I like to do things in a fair manner. That is the way I have been all my career.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damon-hill/if-i-am-treated-fairly-i-like-to-do-things-in-a-fair-manner-that-is/)

[Damon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damon-hill/)

> [“Girls my age never use the word “fair”. Ordinary girls as young as I am are basically indifferent to whether things are fair or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/girls-my-age-never-use-the-word-fair-ordinary-girls-as-young-as-i-am/)

[Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/)

> [People classify things and that's fair enough. But if somebody wants to make something different, that doesn't make them any less of an artist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dizzee-rascal/people-classify-things-and-that-s-fair-enough-but-if-somebody-wants/)

[Dizzee Rascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dizzee-rascal/)

> [I try to approach things in a fair-minded way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-allred/i-try-to-approach-things-in-a-fair-minded-way/)

[Colin Allred](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-allred/)

> [How do you make things fair?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-sharpton/how-do-you-make-things-fair/)

[Al Sharpton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-sharpton/)

> [When things are not fair, I speak my mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-jackson/when-things-are-not-fair-i-speak-my-mind/)

[Stephen Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-jackson/)

> [“Always try to be good to people don't always put yourself first, and don't always expect things to be fair, because they won't be.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steffan-piper/always-try-to-be-good-to-people-don-t-always-put-yourself-first-and/)

[Steffan Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steffan-piper/)

> [It occurred to me, when I was old enough to make rules of my own, that they should be fair and simple.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moon-unit-zappa/it-occurred-to-me-when-i-was-old-enough-to-make-rules-of-my-own-that/)

[Moon Unit Zappa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moon-unit-zappa/)

> [“But as I looked up at him, I saw genuine worry in his eyes. I realized he really had thought I was hurt. “Mael,”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lesley-livingston/but-as-i-looked-up-at-him-i-saw-genuine-worry-in-his-eyes-i-realized/)

[Lesley Livingston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lesley-livingston/)

## More by Dick Francis

> [Historically, more people have died of religion than cancer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-francis/historically-more-people-have-died-of-religion-than-cancer/)

[Dick Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-francis/)

> [I guessed life was like that. You gained and you lost, and if you saved anything from the ruins, even if only a shred…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-francis/i-guessed-life-was-like-that-you-gained-and-you-lost-and-if-you-saved/)

[Dick Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-francis/)

> [“To be logical you have to dig up and face your own hidden motives and emotions, and of course they're hidden principally because you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-francis/to-be-logical-you-have-to-dig-up-and-face-your-own-hidden-motives-and/)

[Dick Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-francis/)

> [Some are born weird, some achieve it, others have weirdness thrust upon them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-francis/some-are-born-weird-some-achieve-it-others-have-weirdness-thrust-upon/)

[Dick Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-francis/)

> [“It's people with obsessions who do the real harm in the world.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-francis/it-s-people-with-obsessions-who-do-the-real-harm-in-the-world/)

[Dick Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-francis/)

> [“She said several times that Malcolm was a fiend who was determined to destroy his children, and that I was the devil incarnate helping…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-francis/she-said-several-times-that-malcolm-was-a-fiend-who-was-determined-to/)

[Dick Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-francis/)

> [“But what do you say if you're asked a direct question and you can't tell the truth and you can't tell a lie?' 'You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-francis/but-what-do-you-say-if-you-re-asked-a-direct-question-and-you-can-t/)

[Dick Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-francis/)

> [The dignity of man was everywhere tissue-paper thin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-francis/the-dignity-of-man-was-everywhere-tissue-paper-thin/)

[Dick Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-francis/)

> [Physics is the science of all the tremendously powerful invisibilities - of magnetism, electricity, gravity, light, sound, cosmic rays. Physics is the science of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-francis/physics-is-the-science-of-all-the-tremendously-powerful/)

[Dick Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-francis/)

> [“Gawd, he thought furiously, he hadn't expected it to be like this. Just a lousy walk down the yard to give a carrot to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-francis/gawd-he-thought-furiously-he-hadn-t-expected-it-to-be-like-this-just/)

[Dick Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-francis/)

> [“The bad scorn the good . . . and the crooked despise the straight." ~Greville”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-francis/the-bad-scorn-the-good-and-the-crooked-despise-the-straight-greville/)

[Dick Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-francis/)

> [“The house was dark. Upstairs, behind the black open window with the pale curtain flapping in the spartan air, slept Arthur Morrison, trainer of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-francis/the-house-was-dark-upstairs-behind-the-black-open-window-with-the/)

[Dick Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-francis/)

> [“He gave me a last dark look, not admitting defeat,not giving an inch .I watched him with unexpected regret. Watched him until the consciousness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-francis/he-gave-me-a-last-dark-look-not-admitting-defeat-not-giving-an-inch-i/)

[Dick Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-francis/)

> [“Mrs Palis­sey and I tend­ed to have the same con­ver­sa­tions over and over and slight­ly too of­ten. ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-francis/mrs-palis-sey-and-i-tend-ed-to-have-the-same-con-ver-sa-tions-over/)

[Dick Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-francis/)

> [Love's easy to learn. It's like taking a risk. You set your mind on it and refuse to be afraid, and in no time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-francis/love-s-easy-to-learn-it-s-like-taking-a-risk-you-set-your-mind-on-it/)

[Dick Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-francis/)

[Explore all 48 Dick Francis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-francis/)

## More Fair quotes

> [We'd always come into Syracuse for the Empire State Games and the stair fair.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beau-biden/we-d-always-come-into-syracuse-for-the-empire-state-games-and-the/)

[Beau Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beau-biden/)

> [If China someday gains a more fair, just, and accountable system of government, it will be due to the hard work and efforts of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-mackinnon/if-china-someday-gains-a-more-fair-just-and-accountable-system-of/)

[Rebecca MacKinnon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-mackinnon/)

> [“All fair in love and bonus round”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-charters/all-fair-in-love-and-bonus-round/)

[David Charters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-charters/)

> [Do not complain of life's unfairness. It is never fair - at best it is impartial.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-gemmell/do-not-complain-of-life-s-unfairness-it-is-never-fair-at-best-it-is/)

[David Gemmell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-gemmell/)

> [Our own distrust gives a fair pretence for the knavery of other people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/our-own-distrust-gives-a-fair-pretence-for-the-knavery-of-other-people/)

[Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/)

> ['Vanity Fair' is a left-wing rag.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ailes/vanity-fair-is-a-left-wing-rag/)

[Roger Ailes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ailes/)

> [Marylanders have led the nation in adopting a balanced approach to revenues and investments because we know that in order to maintain and build…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-o-malley/marylanders-have-led-the-nation-in-adopting-a-balanced-approach-to/)

[Martin O'Malley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-o-malley/)

> [We did a 'Vanity Fair' spread for 'The Hunger Games,' and we were on set, and I saw a little head pop up from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-ludwig/we-did-a-vanity-fair-spread-for-the-hunger-games-and-we-were-on-set/)

[Alexander Ludwig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-ludwig/)

> [It's encouraging to watch bipartisan leaders from different states recognize the need for fair and rational legislation focused on creating second chances for those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-g-rubin/it-s-encouraging-to-watch-bipartisan-leaders-from-different-states/)

[Michael G. Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-g-rubin/)

> [There's nothing fair nor beautiful, but takes Something from thee, that makes it beautiful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/there-s-nothing-fair-nor-beautiful-but-takes-something-from-thee-that/)

[Henry Wadsworth Longfellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/)

> [I believe that free but fair trade is an absolute imperative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-e-james/i-believe-that-free-but-fair-trade-is-an-absolute-imperative/)

[John E. James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-e-james/)

> ['Fair' is, like, this incredibly overused term in negotiations: 'I just want what's fair.' 'What's the fair market price?'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-voss/fair-is-like-this-incredibly-overused-term-in-negotiations-i-just/)

[Christopher Voss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-voss/)

> [“Sometimes I feel that the only concept of fairness in our society is creams like fair &amp; lovely or fair &amp; handsome.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeroninio-almeida/sometimes-i-feel-that-the-only-concept-of-fairness-in-our-society-is/)

[Jeroninio Almeida](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeroninio-almeida/)

> [When President Obama first came into office in 2009, I spent a fair amount of time in Michigan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-deese/when-president-obama-first-came-into-office-in-2009-i-spent-a-fair/)

[Brian Deese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-deese/)

> [I suggest you to do war but never love because in war either you live or you die. But in love neither you live…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-hitler/i-suggest-you-to-do-war-but-never-love-because-in-war-either-you-live/)

[Adolf Hitler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-hitler/)

[Browse all 1,541 Fair quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fair/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“I gazed at him. He was old enough to know that few things were fair. Most five-year-olds had already discovered it.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Dick Francis"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-francis/i-gazed-at-him-he-was-old-enough-to-know-that-few-things-were-fair/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Fair"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-francis/i-gazed-at-him-he-was-old-enough-to-know-that-few-things-were-fair/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8a6/dick-francis-13976_fair_i-gazed-at-him-he-was-old-enough-to-know_3046476.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8a6/dick-francis-13976_fair_i-gazed-at-him-he-was-old-enough-to-know_3046476.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8a6/dick-francis-13976_fair_i-gazed-at-him-he-was-old-enough-to-know_3046476.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I gazed at him. He was old enough to know that few things were fair. Most five-year-olds had already…” — Dick Francis",
                "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": "Dick Francis",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-francis/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“I gazed at him. He was...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-francis/i-gazed-at-him-he-was-old-enough-to-know-that-few-things-were-fair/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-francis/i-gazed-at-him-he-was-old-enough-to-know-that-few-things-were-fair/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
