--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Because if you don't know someone all…" description: "\"Because if you don't know someone all that well, you react to their surface qualities, the superficial stereotypes-they throw off like sparks. But once..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e65/dorothy-west-36708_bigs_because-if-you-don-t-know-someone-all-th_1415607.jpg" --- # Because if you don't know someone all that well, you react… ![“Because if you don't know someone all that well, you react to their surface qualities, the superficial stereotypes-they throw off like sparks. But once you fight through the sparks and get to the person, you find just that, a person, a big jumble of likes, dislikes, fears, and desires.” quote by Dorothy West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e65/dorothy-west-36708_bigs_because-if-you-don-t-know-someone-all-th_1415607.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e65/dorothy-west-36708_bigs_because-if-you-don-t-know-someone-all-th_1415607.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e65/dorothy-west-36708_bigs_because-if-you-don-t-know-someone-all-th_1415607.jpg) > “Because if you don't know someone all that well, you react to their surface qualities, the superficial stereotypes-they throw off like sparks. But once you fight through the sparks and get to the person, you find just that, a person, a big jumble of likes, dislikes, fears, and desires.” [Dorothy West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-west/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. We often judge people by superficial traits, but deeper understanding reveals their complex humanity. **In simple terms:** Look beyond surface traits to see the whole person. Key Takeaway Seek depth in relationships. Themes stereotypes understanding humanity Mood reflective empathetic Type analytical inspirational When to use this quote - first meetings - team building - conflict resolution Key Concepts social psychology identity Questions to Reflect On - How can you move past first impressions? - What methods help uncover deeper traits? A Different Perspective Stereotypes can persist despite effort. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bigs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bigs/) [Desire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire/) [Dislike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dislike/) [Fighting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fighting/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Likes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/likes/) [Likes Dislikes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/likes-dislikes-386103/) [Persons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/persons/) [Qualities Superficial](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/qualities-superficial-5000095/) [Quality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/quality/) [Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sparks/) [Stereotype](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stereotype/) [Stereotypes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stereotypes/) [Stereotypes Throw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stereotypes-throw-5000096/) [Superficial](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/superficial/) [Superficial Stereotypes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/superficial-stereotypes-5000094/) [Surface](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surface/) [Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wells/) ## Related quotes > [People who would never think of dealing in racial or sexual stereotypes will still throw in a fat joke because it's still OK. Really?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-roker/people-who-would-never-think-of-dealing-in-racial-or-sexual/) [Al Roker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-roker/) > [We've got these stereotypes, and I think there can be some trouble when we force these on people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-heughan/we-ve-got-these-stereotypes-and-i-think-there-can-be-some-trouble/) [Sam Heughan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-heughan/) > [Since I've been in this industry, it's been a constant fight; "Oh, he's white, he's Cuban." "He's tryin' to do hip-hop and he's too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pitbull/since-i-ve-been-in-this-industry-it-s-been-a-constant-fight-oh-he-s/) [Pitbull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pitbull/) > [The reliance on stereotypes is in part the result of a structural problem within the media. Most newspapers have a business beat, with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sasha-abramsky/the-reliance-on-stereotypes-is-in-part-the-result-of-a-structural/) [Sasha Abramsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sasha-abramsky/) > [ \[One task of intellectuals is\] to break down the stereotypes and reductive categories that are . . . limiting to human thought and communication. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-said/one-task-of-intellectuals-is-to-break-down-the-stereotypes-and/) [Edward Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-said/) > [Unless you do the same thing, it's tough for stereotypes to stick. That said, whatever you've done that's most popular at a given moment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-reilly/unless-you-do-the-same-thing-it-s-tough-for-stereotypes-to-stick-that/) [John C. Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-reilly/) > [There are certain stereotypes that are offensive. Some of them don't worry me, though. For instance, I have always thought that Mammy character in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-elizabeth-delany/there-are-certain-stereotypes-that-are-offensive-some-of-them-don-t/) [Annie Elizabeth Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-elizabeth-delany/) > [The gender stereotypes introduced in childhood are reinforced throughout our lives and become self-fulfilling prophesies. Most leadership positions are held by men, so women…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheryl-sandberg/the-gender-stereotypes-introduced-in-childhood-are-reinforced/) [Sheryl Sandberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheryl-sandberg/) > [I think there's a stereotype of what a biker is, and I think that's one of the reasons people are shocked when they find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marisa-miller/i-think-there-s-a-stereotype-of-what-a-biker-is-and-i-think-that-s/) [Marisa Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marisa-miller/) > [There are a lot of stereotypes to be broken which I think a lot of us are doing. What I do is, as soon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-chen/there-are-a-lot-of-stereotypes-to-be-broken-which-i-think-a-lot-of-us/) [Joan Chen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-chen/) > [If I see a black kid in a hoodie and it's late at night, I'm walking to the other side of the street. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-cuban/if-i-see-a-black-kid-in-a-hoodie-and-it-s-late-at-night-i-m-walking/) [Mark Cuban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-cuban/) > [Every time you hear anyone talk about the Caribbean, whether it's Caribbeans themselves or people outside, there's always talk about women's bodies. Talk about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junot-diaz/every-time-you-hear-anyone-talk-about-the-caribbean-whether-it-s/) [Junot Diaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junot-diaz/) > [Stereotypes have their roots in truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-walton-hamilton/stereotypes-have-their-roots-in-truth/) [Emma Walton Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-walton-hamilton/) > [Perhaps some are confused because they have stereotypes of how blacks should be and I respectfully decline, as I did in my youth, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-thomas/perhaps-some-are-confused-because-they-have-stereotypes-of-how-blacks/) [Clarence Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-thomas/) > [Yeah, I'm sure there are stereotypes of Asian people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-iha/yeah-i-m-sure-there-are-stereotypes-of-asian-people/) [James Iha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-iha/) ## More by Dorothy West > [“She would grace his home with her charm and beauty and she would make his bed joyous, all without ever having to shame his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-west/she-would-grace-his-home-with-her-charm-and-beauty-and-she-would-make/) [Dorothy West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-west/) > [I'm a writer. I don't cook and I don't clean.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-west/i-m-a-writer-i-don-t-cook-and-i-don-t-clean/) [Dorothy West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-west/) > [I never knew a man who got so hurt in his pocketbook.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-west/i-never-knew-a-man-who-got-so-hurt-in-his-pocketbook/) [Dorothy West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-west/) > [Beauty is but skin deep, ugly to the bone. And when beauty fades away, ugly claims its own.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-west/beauty-is-but-skin-deep-ugly-to-the-bone-and-when-beauty-fades-away/) [Dorothy West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-west/) > [Identity is not inherent. It is shaped by circumstance and sensitivity and resistance to self-pity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-west/identity-is-not-inherent-it-is-shaped-by-circumstance-and-sensitivity/) [Dorothy West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-west/) > [“He had been taught that bread unshared is bread unblessed when someone else is hungry, whether man or beast, friend or stranger.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-west/he-had-been-taught-that-bread-unshared-is-bread-unblessed-when/) [Dorothy West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-west/) > [There is no life that does not contribute to history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-west/there-is-no-life-that-does-not-contribute-to-history/) [Dorothy West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-west/) > [It is a rule of mine never to ask unsolicited questions of people over twenty-one. I am only giving them the option of lying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-west/it-is-a-rule-of-mine-never-to-ask-unsolicited-questions-of-people/) [Dorothy West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-west/) > [If the Best is yet to come, the Present will blend with it Beautifully.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-west/if-the-best-is-yet-to-come-the-present-will-blend-with-it-beautifully/) [Dorothy West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-west/) > [To know how much there is to know is the beginning of learning to live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-west/to-know-how-much-there-is-to-know-is-the-beginning-of-learning-to-live/) [Dorothy West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-west/) > [Once various forms were signed, I was separated from my free will, led down the corridors into a room which was now to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-west/once-various-forms-were-signed-i-was-separated-from-my-free-will-led/) [Dorothy West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-west/) [Explore all 12 Dorothy West quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-west/) ## More Bigs quotes > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) > [It is said that history turns on small hinges. A human career, too, results from an accumulating series of decisions about large and small…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/it-is-said-that-history-turns-on-small-hinges-a-human-career-too/) [Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/) > [I'm a true believer in prayer, a big believer in prayer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-jackson/i-m-a-true-believer-in-prayer-a-big-believer-in-prayer/) [Janet Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-jackson/) > [The biggest change for me as a mom was realizing I needed to put someone else before me. Now the hardest part about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-alexis/the-biggest-change-for-me-as-a-mom-was-realizing-i-needed-to-put/) [Kim Alexis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-alexis/) > [I'm a big fan of all the Boston guys that are acting - Matt Damon , Ben Affleck, Mark Wahlberg - they made a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-wormald/i-m-a-big-fan-of-all-the-boston-guys-that-are-acting-matt-damon-ben/) [Kenny Wormald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-wormald/) > [The only regret I have in my career, is my managers wanted a big payday, and I wanted four or five more fights before…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-cooney/the-only-regret-i-have-in-my-career-is-my-managers-wanted-a-big/) [Gerry Cooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-cooney/) > [It goes to show you how we in the press so often miss the big stories that are right under our noses. There is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ebert/it-goes-to-show-you-how-we-in-the-press-so-often-miss-the-big-stories/) [Roger Ebert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ebert/) > [Okay, so I'll admit I'm curious. Big deal. We both know what that leads to. Dead cat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-elizabeth-phillips/okay-so-i-ll-admit-i-m-curious-big-deal-we-both-know-what-that-leads/) [Susan Elizabeth Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-elizabeth-phillips/) > [I don't want this to be a distraction. This has been distracting enough. I'm not going to rehash this going forward. I'm sure other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jayson-werth/i-don-t-want-this-to-be-a-distraction-this-has-been-distracting/) [Jayson Werth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jayson-werth/) > [I didn't get how big it was until I went home, turned on the television and saw it on all the news, and later…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-simon/i-didn-t-get-how-big-it-was-until-i-went-home-turned-on-the/) [Paul Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-simon/) > [It’s a small thing to help one animal, but to that one animal it’s a big thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-baur/it-s-a-small-thing-to-help-one-animal-but-to-that-one-animal-it-s-a/) [Gene Baur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-baur/) > [Since I was a little child, my nose - I think it's too big.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/celine-dion/since-i-was-a-little-child-my-nose-i-think-it-s-too-big/) [Celine Dion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/celine-dion/) > [People forget that there is a big difference between coercion and persuasion. The idea that evangelism is coercive is nonsense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-dever/people-forget-that-there-is-a-big-difference-between-coercion-and/) [Mark Dever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-dever/) > [I turn a lot of stuff down - big, big movies, the kind I wouldn't want to go to the cinema to see.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-fox/i-turn-a-lot-of-stuff-down-big-big-movies-the-kind-i-wouldn-t-want-to/) [Matthew Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-fox/) > [I got in trouble my whole life for having a big mouth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-tyler/i-got-in-trouble-my-whole-life-for-having-a-big-mouth/) [Steven Tyler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-tyler/) [Browse all 15,539 Bigs quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bigs/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Because if you don't know someone all that well, you react to their surface qualities, the superficial stereotypes-they throw off like sparks. 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