--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If we are honest with ourselves, we have…" description: "\"If we are honest with ourselves, we have to admit that sometimes our assumptions and preconceived notions are wrong, and therefore, our interpretation ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9bc/elizabeth-thornton-23967_assumptions_if-we-are-honest-with-ourselves-we-have_3152034.jpg" --- # If we are honest with ourselves, we have to admit that… ![“If we are honest with ourselves, we have to admit that sometimes our assumptions and preconceived notions are wrong, and therefore, our interpretation of events is incorrect. This causes us to overreact, to take things personally, or to judge people unfairly.” quote by Elizabeth Thornton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9bc/elizabeth-thornton-23967_assumptions_if-we-are-honest-with-ourselves-we-have_3152034.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9bc/elizabeth-thornton-23967_assumptions_if-we-are-honest-with-ourselves-we-have_3152034.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9bc/elizabeth-thornton-23967_assumptions_if-we-are-honest-with-ourselves-we-have_3152034.jpg) > “If we are honest with ourselves, we have to admit that sometimes our assumptions and preconceived notions are wrong, and therefore, our interpretation of events is incorrect. This causes us to overreact, to take things personally, or to judge people unfairly.” [Elizabeth Thornton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-thornton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Self‑deception leads to misinterpretation, overreaction, and unfair judgment of others. **In simple terms:** We misread events when we lie to ourselves. Key Takeaway Practice honest self‑assessment. Themes self‑awareness bias interpretation communication empathy Mood thoughtful introspective Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - conflict resolution - team meetings - personal growth workshops Key Concepts cognitive bias psychology mindfulness Questions to Reflect On - How often do you question your assumptions? - What steps help you see events clearly? A Different Perspective May ignore systemic factors influencing perception. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Admit Assumptions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/admit-assumptions-5662192/) [Assumptions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/assumptions/) [Assumptions Preconceived](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/assumptions-preconceived-5662193/) [Causes Overreact](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/causes-overreact-5252132/) [Notions Wrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/notions-wrong-3859530/) [Overreact Things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/overreact-things-2333396/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Preconceived notions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/preconceived-notions/) [Sometimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sometimes/) [Us](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/us/) ## Related quotes > [One of the greatest pains to human nature is the pain of a new idea. It...makes you think that after all, your favorite notions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-bagehot/one-of-the-greatest-pains-to-human-nature-is-the-pain-of-a-new-idea-2/) [Walter Bagehot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-bagehot/) > [Anything that causes you to overreact or underreact can control you, and often does.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-allen/anything-that-causes-you-to-overreact-or-underreact-can-control-you/) [David Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-allen/) > [This isn't the same Johnny Gargano that is going to overreact to things and let his emotions get the best of him. In 2019,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-gargano/this-isn-t-the-same-johnny-gargano-that-is-going-to-overreact-to/) [Johnny Gargano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-gargano/) > [“The beauty of chance is that it is not controlled by the bonds of fate. There is no structure, no preconceived notions. What will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-c-heller/the-beauty-of-chance-is-that-it-is-not-controlled-by-the-bonds-of/) [A.C. Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-c-heller/) > [“Sometimes grace is having the strength to persevere through the storm. Sometimes it's having the guts to rebuild, to take a chance, to follow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathleen-falsani/sometimes-grace-is-having-the-strength-to-persevere-through-the-storm/) [Cathleen Falsani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathleen-falsani/) > [ You have this preconceived notion of him \[Sly Stallone\] as a big, tough guy, but he speaks four languages and he likes to watercolor. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-leigh-cook/you-have-this-preconceived-notion-of-him-sly-stallone-as-a-big-tough/) [Rachael Leigh Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-leigh-cook/) > [I think most of us are raised with preconceived notions of the choices we're supposed to make.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-bullock/i-think-most-of-us-are-raised-with-preconceived-notions-of-the-2/) [Sandra Bullock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-bullock/) > [I want to be in a position where I get to start off fresh. I don't have any preconceived notion of how I should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trevor-noah/i-want-to-be-in-a-position-where-i-get-to-start-off-fresh-i-don-t/) [Trevor Noah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trevor-noah/) > [Music should come crashing out of your speakers and grab you, and the lyrics should challenge whatever preconceived notions that listener has.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-reed/music-should-come-crashing-out-of-your-speakers-and-grab-you-and-the/) [Lou Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-reed/) > [I wanted to make it a really strong point to not watch 'Battlestar Galactica' before starting 'Caprica' because I was afraid it was going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magda-apanowicz/i-wanted-to-make-it-a-really-strong-point-to-not-watch-battlestar/) [Magda Apanowicz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magda-apanowicz/) > [I understand people have preconceived notions of who I am or what I do. But I do find it a bit bizarre that people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-moore/i-understand-people-have-preconceived-notions-of-who-i-am-or-what-i/) [Mandy Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-moore/) > [So much good music has been looked over because of preconceived notions of genre.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamasi-washington/so-much-good-music-has-been-looked-over-because-of-preconceived/) [Kamasi Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamasi-washington/) > [“Are decisions really products of analysis of a situation; or are simply out of preconceived notions? I believe, at some point of one's existence,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ldr/are-decisions-really-products-of-analysis-of-a-situation-or-are/) [ldR](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ldr/) > [I think most of us are raised with preconceived notions of the choices we're supposed to make. We waste so much time making decisions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-bullock/i-think-most-of-us-are-raised-with-preconceived-notions-of-the/) [Sandra Bullock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-bullock/) > [Some architects have a preconceived notion of what a building should be](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-w-fentress/some-architects-have-a-preconceived-notion-of-what-a-building-should/) [Curtis W. Fentress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-w-fentress/) ## More by Elizabeth Thornton > [We perceive through our senses a person, a situation or an event, and in an instant, we project our mental models - our fears,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-thornton/we-perceive-through-our-senses-a-person-a-situation-or-an-event-and/) [Elizabeth Thornton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-thornton/) > [The truth is many of us have been socialized to think that if we are not the very best, if we are not at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-thornton/the-truth-is-many-of-us-have-been-socialized-to-think-that-if-we-are/) [Elizabeth Thornton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-thornton/) > [Our brains have the ability to reorganize themselves by forming new neural connections throughout our lives. This ability is called neuroplasticity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-thornton/our-brains-have-the-ability-to-reorganize-themselves-by-forming-new/) [Elizabeth Thornton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-thornton/) > [To be an effective leader and make sound decisions, you must be able to gather data by seeking out diverse perspectives and be willing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-thornton/to-be-an-effective-leader-and-make-sound-decisions-you-must-be-able/) [Elizabeth Thornton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-thornton/) > [We are not a victim of our emotions or thoughts. We can understand our triggers and use them as tools to help us respond…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-thornton/we-are-not-a-victim-of-our-emotions-or-thoughts-we-can-understand-our/) [Elizabeth Thornton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-thornton/) > [When we can see things as they are, without projecting our mental models and fears, we are being objective. When we can understand and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-thornton/when-we-can-see-things-as-they-are-without-projecting-our-mental/) [Elizabeth Thornton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-thornton/) > [The key to creating the mental space before responding is mindfulness. Mindfulness is a way of being present: paying attention to and accepting what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-thornton/the-key-to-creating-the-mental-space-before-responding-is-mindfulness/) [Elizabeth Thornton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-thornton/) > [Objective leaders identify their unproductive mental models and tweak them for greater effectiveness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-thornton/objective-leaders-identify-their-unproductive-mental-models-and-tweak/) [Elizabeth Thornton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-thornton/) > [The key to transforming mental models is to interrupt the automatic responses that are driven by the old model and respond differently based on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-thornton/the-key-to-transforming-mental-models-is-to-interrupt-the-automatic/) [Elizabeth Thornton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-thornton/) > [Sometimes our childhood experiences are emotionally intense, which can create strong mental models. These experiences and our assumptions about them are then reinforced in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-thornton/sometimes-our-childhood-experiences-are-emotionally-intense-which-can/) [Elizabeth Thornton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-thornton/) > [There are times when we are just not very kind to ourselves. The problem with our negative thoughts is that the latest science has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-thornton/there-are-times-when-we-are-just-not-very-kind-to-ourselves-the/) [Elizabeth Thornton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-thornton/) > [We all have mental models: the lens through which we see the world that drive our responses to everything we experience. Being aware of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-thornton/we-all-have-mental-models-the-lens-through-which-we-see-the-world/) [Elizabeth Thornton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-thornton/) > [To be an objective leader means aligning your models with the needs of the organization. There is no question anymore that collaboration, seeking out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-thornton/to-be-an-objective-leader-means-aligning-your-models-with-the-needs/) [Elizabeth Thornton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-thornton/) > [New Year's Resolutions come and go. Some we keep, some we don't. In order to make lasting changes in our lives, we must first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-thornton/new-year-s-resolutions-come-and-go-some-we-keep-some-we-don-t-in/) [Elizabeth Thornton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-thornton/) > [One of the most powerful transformational catalysts is knowledge, new information, or logic that defies old mental models and ways of thinking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-thornton/one-of-the-most-powerful-transformational-catalysts-is-knowledge-new/) [Elizabeth Thornton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-thornton/) [Explore all 25 Elizabeth Thornton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-thornton/) ## More Assumptions quotes > [There was a lot of stress and assumptions made without me even saying anything, which was very upsetting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-stevens/there-was-a-lot-of-stress-and-assumptions-made-without-me-even-saying/) [Craig Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-stevens/) > [When assumptions were made that I was going to bail out there was a little part of my brain that thought 'I am going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-stevens/when-assumptions-were-made-that-i-was-going-to-bail-out-there-was-a/) [Craig Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-stevens/) > [“One should not make more assumptions than are absolutely necessary.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-kerner/one-should-not-make-more-assumptions-than-are-absolutely-necessary/) [Ian Kerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-kerner/) > [I think facts remove assumptions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monty-williams/i-think-facts-remove-assumptions/) [Monty Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monty-williams/) > [“While you judge me by my outward appearance I am silently doing the same to you, even though there's a ninety-percent chance that in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/while-you-judge-me-by-my-outward-appearance-i-am-silently-doing-the/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [“Civilizaton rests on the assumption that the universe is kindly disposed towards mankind and intended for our benefit. Imagine the upheaval were it to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-lovegrove/civilizaton-rests-on-the-assumption-that-the-universe-is-kindly/) [James Lovegrove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-lovegrove/) > [For me, filmmaking is not about making statements but about exposing human behavior so people are eager enough to start thinking on their own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yorgos-lanthimos/for-me-filmmaking-is-not-about-making-statements-but-about-exposing/) [Yorgos Lanthimos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yorgos-lanthimos/) > [“The problem with making assumptions is that we believe they are the truth. We could swear they are real.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-ruiz/the-problem-with-making-assumptions-is-that-we-believe-they-are-the/) [Miguel Ruiz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-ruiz/) > [People just assume, over the years, that soccer players are not too intelligent. As with most assumptions, they're wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-beckham/people-just-assume-over-the-years-that-soccer-players-are-not-too/) [David Beckham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-beckham/) > [The explanation requiring the fewest assumptions is most likely to be correct.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-explanation-requiring-the-fewest-assumptions-is-most-likely-to-be/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Words in the head are sticky and social creatures – when you finally pull one out, you're liable to get lots of bits of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-carlson/words-in-the-head-are-sticky-and-social-creatures-when-you-finally/) [Greg Carlson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-carlson/) > [“The professor argues against measuring effectiveness in the shallow short-term in the "fierce humanities," for teaching that seeks not merely learning, but unlearning, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cary-nelson/the-professor-argues-against-measuring-effectiveness-in-the-shallow/) [Cary Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cary-nelson/) > [I'm like anyone; I make a lot of my assumptions about actors I don't know from what I read about them. And then I'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-strong/i-m-like-anyone-i-make-a-lot-of-my-assumptions-about-actors-i-don-t/) [Mark Strong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-strong/) > [One thing that irritates me is when people kind of make assumptions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-pegg/one-thing-that-irritates-me-is-when-people-kind-of-make-assumptions/) [Simon Pegg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-pegg/) > [“To assume is to presume.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jude-morgan/to-assume-is-to-presume/) [Jude Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jude-morgan/) [Browse all 393 Assumptions quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/assumptions/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If we are honest with ourselves, we have to admit that sometimes our assumptions and preconceived notions are wrong, and therefore, our interpretation of events is incorrect. 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