--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In general, I think audiences are a lot…" description: "\"In general, I think audiences are a lot smarter than people think. So, it's not \"know your audience\", it's \"respect your audience, and really know your..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd2/edward-tufte-10613_audience_in-general-i-think-audiences-are-a-lot-s_2515853.jpg" --- # In general, I think audiences are a lot smarter than… ![“In general, I think audiences are a lot smarter than people think. So, it's not "know your audience", it's "respect your audience, and really know your content".” quote by Edward Tufte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd2/edward-tufte-10613_audience_in-general-i-think-audiences-are-a-lot-s_2515853.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd2/edward-tufte-10613_audience_in-general-i-think-audiences-are-a-lot-s_2515853.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd2/edward-tufte-10613_audience_in-general-i-think-audiences-are-a-lot-s_2515853.jpg) > “In general, I think audiences are a lot smarter than people think. So, it's not "know your audience", it's "respect your audience, and really know your content".” [Edward Tufte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-tufte/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Encourages treating audiences as intelligent, urging respect and deep content knowledge rather than superficial targeting. **In simple terms:** Respect your audience and know your material. Key Takeaway Prioritize depth and respect in communication. Themes communication audience respect knowledge Mood analytical thoughtful Type educational inspirational When to use this quote - presentations - educational workshops - media production Key Concepts cognitive psychology information design Questions to Reflect On - How do we balance respect with accessibility? - What methods ensure content depth without alienating? A Different Perspective Assuming audience expertise may overlook diverse backgrounds. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Audience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/audience/) [Audience Really](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/audience-really/) [Audience Respect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/audience-respect-988196/) [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Know Audience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know-audience/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Respect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/respect/) [Respect Audience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/respect-audience-788295/) [Smarter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smarter/) [Think Audiences](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-audiences-414113/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [If people are talking about my weight cut all the time and are telling me how skinny I like, you have to respect the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-tucker/if-people-are-talking-about-my-weight-cut-all-the-time-and-are/) [Jonathan Tucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-tucker/) > [Nothing runs forever. How you handle it, the most important thing is how you respect your audience, how you respect your cast, and being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-tassler/nothing-runs-forever-how-you-handle-it-the-most-important-thing-is/) [Nina Tassler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nina-tassler/) > [For me, until I know that the audience really gets what I'm trying to communicate I'm not done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judd-apatow/for-me-until-i-know-that-the-audience-really-gets-what-i-m-trying-to/) [Judd Apatow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judd-apatow/) > [For artists like me nothing matters more than the audience's respect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-lever/for-artists-like-me-nothing-matters-more-than-the-audience-s-respect/) [Johnny Lever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-lever/) > [I just respect audiences to understand that that's what goes on in movies. I just try to make movies that respect the intelligence of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-maddin/i-just-respect-audiences-to-understand-that-that-s-what-goes-on-in/) [Guy Maddin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-maddin/) > [It's a privilege to play music fora living. Even more, it's a privilege to have an audience. Respect that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-lefsetz/it-s-a-privilege-to-play-music-fora-living-even-more-it-s-a-privilege/) [Bob Lefsetz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-lefsetz/) > [Try to find the right balance of keeping things exciting and treating your audience with respect, and also treating yourself as an artist with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trent-reznor/try-to-find-the-right-balance-of-keeping-things-exciting-and-treating/) [Trent Reznor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trent-reznor/) > [“I'm always trying to gain and keep the audience's respect. I always want them to know that the show doesn't think they're stupid for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-harmon/i-m-always-trying-to-gain-and-keep-the-audience-s-respect-i-always/) [Dan Harmon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-harmon/) > [With the Tonys it's a little tricky because a lot of the funnier jokes are more insider, so people watching at home may not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-patrick-harris/with-the-tonys-it-s-a-little-tricky-because-a-lot-of-the-funnier/) [Neil Patrick Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-patrick-harris/) > [I like to really respect the audience and let them come through on answers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-haggis/i-like-to-really-respect-the-audience-and-let-them-come-through-on/) [Paul Haggis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-haggis/) > [You have to respect your audience. Without them, you're essentially standing alone, singing to yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-d-lang/you-have-to-respect-your-audience-without-them-you-re-essentially/) [K. D. Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-d-lang/) > [If you respect the audience enough, they can take onboard many things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-park/if-you-respect-the-audience-enough-they-can-take-onboard-many-things/) [Nick Park](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-park/) > [I feel the best way to respect my audience is to not give them what they expect from me... 'cause it's fun that way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-garratt/i-feel-the-best-way-to-respect-my-audience-is-to-not-give-them-what/) [Jack Garratt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-garratt/) > [When I make movies, I have a lot of respect for my audience. I think my audience is smart. If there's a way to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-pitt/when-i-make-movies-i-have-a-lot-of-respect-for-my-audience-i-think-my/) [Michael Pitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-pitt/) > [The society that produced The Who, The Stones, Dylan, Paul McCartney and later on people, like myself, is over. The materialistic society that produces…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-mclean/the-society-that-produced-the-who-the-stones-dylan-paul-mccartney-and/) [Don McLean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-mclean/) ## More by Edward Tufte > [If you’re told what to look for, you can’t see anything else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-tufte/if-you-re-told-what-to-look-for-you-can-t-see-anything-else/) [Edward Tufte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-tufte/) > [“Comparisons must be enforced within the scope of the eyespan, a fundamental point occasionally forgotten in practice.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-tufte/comparisons-must-be-enforced-within-the-scope-of-the-eyespan-a/) [Edward Tufte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-tufte/) > [If there is a well thought-out design standard, it should be followed. In practice, great design comes from great designers. That is empirically the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-tufte/if-there-is-a-well-thought-out-design-standard-it-should-be-followed/) [Edward Tufte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-tufte/) > [The point of the essay is to change things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-tufte/the-point-of-the-essay-is-to-change-things/) [Edward Tufte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-tufte/) > [Here's the general theory: To clarify, add detail. Imagine that. To clarify, add detail. And clutter and overload are not an attribute of information,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-tufte/here-s-the-general-theory-to-clarify-add-detail-imagine-that-to/) [Edward Tufte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-tufte/) > [My idea here is that, inasmuch as certain cognitive tasks and principles are tied to nature's laws, these tasks and principles are indifferent to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-tufte/my-idea-here-is-that-inasmuch-as-certain-cognitive-tasks-and/) [Edward Tufte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-tufte/) > [Clutter and confusion are failures of design, not attributes of information.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-tufte/clutter-and-confusion-are-failures-of-design-not-attributes-of/) [Edward Tufte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-tufte/) > [Confusion and clutter are failures of design, not attributes of information. And so the point is to find design strategies that reveal detail and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-tufte/confusion-and-clutter-are-failures-of-design-not-attributes-of/) [Edward Tufte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-tufte/) > [We've drifted into this presentation mode without realizing the cost to the content and the audience in the process.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-tufte/we-ve-drifted-into-this-presentation-mode-without-realizing-the-cost/) [Edward Tufte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-tufte/) > [If your words or images are not on point, making them dance in color won't make them relevant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-tufte/if-your-words-or-images-are-not-on-point-making-them-dance-in-color/) [Edward Tufte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-tufte/) > [I hope that I am generous and tolerant, but certainly on the intellectual side I think that there are discoverable truths, and some things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-tufte/i-hope-that-i-am-generous-and-tolerant-but-certainly-on-the/) [Edward Tufte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-tufte/) > [“If the statistics are boring, then you've got the wrong numbers.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-tufte/if-the-statistics-are-boring-then-you-ve-got-the-wrong-numbers/) [Edward Tufte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-tufte/) > [Good design is a lot like clear thinking made visual.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-tufte/good-design-is-a-lot-like-clear-thinking-made-visual/) [Edward Tufte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-tufte/) > [I think it is important for software to avoiding imposing a cognitive style on workers and their work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-tufte/i-think-it-is-important-for-software-to-avoiding-imposing-a-cognitive/) [Edward Tufte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-tufte/) > [The essential test of design is how well it assists the understanding of the content, not how stylish it is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-tufte/the-essential-test-of-design-is-how-well-it-assists-the-understanding/) [Edward Tufte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-tufte/) [Explore all 64 Edward Tufte quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-tufte/) ## More Audience quotes > [If the audience likes your work, if they like you, they don't think whether you are married or have children or not. I made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dimple-kapadia/if-the-audience-likes-your-work-if-they-like-you-they-don-t-think/) [Dimple Kapadia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dimple-kapadia/) > [It's those moments, those odd moments that you look for and sometimes by creating this kind of loose atmosphere you find those little moments…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-levinson/it-s-those-moments-those-odd-moments-that-you-look-for-and-sometimes/) [Barry Levinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-levinson/) > [I can skate beautifully. While performing on ice I always try to please the audience and to win as well. Being artistic is very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evgeni-plushenko/i-can-skate-beautifully-while-performing-on-ice-i-always-try-to/) [Evgeni Plushenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evgeni-plushenko/) > [One of the best moments of any Liars show is hearing the crowd squawk 'We're doomed! We're doomed!' on cue during 'We Fenced Other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-sheffield/one-of-the-best-moments-of-any-liars-show-is-hearing-the-crowd-squawk/) [Rob Sheffield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-sheffield/) > [It's the adrenaline rush you only get from being in front of an audience. It's addictive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raphael-saadiq/it-s-the-adrenaline-rush-you-only-get-from-being-in-front-of-an/) [Raphael Saadiq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raphael-saadiq/) > [If I had to speak in front of a Korean audience, I would be hard pressed to sound other than a little girl.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/an-na/if-i-had-to-speak-in-front-of-a-korean-audience-i-would-be-hard/) [An Na](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/an-na/) > [The liveness of theater, and the excitement of experiencing it alongside an audience, is something you can't get at home. That makes the theater…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-blaemire/the-liveness-of-theater-and-the-excitement-of-experiencing-it/) [Nick Blaemire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-blaemire/) > [One of the things that touches me most when I play for an audience is that although we may be unable to communicate in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hough/one-of-the-things-that-touches-me-most-when-i-play-for-an-audience-is/) [Stephen Hough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hough/) > [I have to feel the audience. I enjoy that feeling of community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-gahan/i-have-to-feel-the-audience-i-enjoy-that-feeling-of-community/) [Dave Gahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-gahan/) > [When you lived it for years and years and years and seen different characters just get pummeled and squashed because 'I said so,' it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arn-anderson/when-you-lived-it-for-years-and-years-and-years-and-seen-different/) [Arn Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arn-anderson/) > [“During the first few minutes of your presentation, your job is to assure the audience members that you are not going to waste their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-ludwig-and-greg-owen-boger/during-the-first-few-minutes-of-your-presentation-your-job-is-to/) [Dale Ludwig and Greg Owen-Boger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-ludwig-and-greg-owen-boger/) > [Donald Trump is a different ball of wax. I've been trying to say for I don't know how many months now that the traditional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/donald-trump-is-a-different-ball-of-wax-i-ve-been-trying-to-say-for-i/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [I don't think about who the audience is for my books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling-2/i-don-t-think-about-who-the-audience-is-for-my-books/) [J. K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling-2/) > [I feel I have been playing all primary characters. And if your character forms a connect with the audience, it doesn't matter if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angad-bedi/i-feel-i-have-been-playing-all-primary-characters-and-if-your/) [Angad Bedi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angad-bedi/) > [When I was playing piano, it was like, 'I'm going to write a song using all the white keys.' My music director, who knew…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-tesh/when-i-was-playing-piano-it-was-like-i-m-going-to-write-a-song-using/) [John Tesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-tesh/) [Browse all 9,118 Audience quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/audience/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "In general, I think audiences are a lot smarter than people think. 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