--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: People think they know all these things…" description: "\"People think they know all these things about other people, and if you ask them why they think they know that, it'd be hard for them to be convincing.\"..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/20a/elliott-smith-8566_asks_people-think-they-know-all-these-things_198634.jpg" --- # People think they know all these things about other… ![“People think they know all these things about other people, and if you ask them why they think they know that, it'd be hard for them to be convincing.” quote by Elliott Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/20a/elliott-smith-8566_asks_people-think-they-know-all-these-things_198634.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/20a/elliott-smith-8566_asks_people-think-they-know-all-these-things_198634.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/20a/elliott-smith-8566_asks_people-think-they-know-all-these-things_198634.jpg) > “People think they know all these things about other people, and if you ask them why they think they know that, it'd be hard for them to be convincing.” [Elliott Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-smith/) ## 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 claim certainty about others without being able to justify it, revealing shallow understanding. **In simple terms:** People claim to know others but can't explain why. Key Takeaway Question assumptions about others. Themes perception knowledge humility Mood reflective critical Type philosophical observational When to use this quote - personal relationships - team meetings - conflict resolution Key Concepts epistemology social cognition Questions to Reflect On - Why do we feel confident about others' motives? - How can we verify our judgments? A Different Perspective Assumptions can be biased and harmful. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [Movie acting is harder than doing a play. You have to be entertaining but completely natural, like Jimmy Stewart and Cary Grant. They weren't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-lovitz/movie-acting-is-harder-than-doing-a-play-you-have-to-be-entertaining/) [Jon Lovitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-lovitz/) > [“He was a convinced but hardworked rationalist, always hard at it re-convincing himself of his convictions.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-goudge/he-was-a-convinced-but-hardworked-rationalist-always-hard-at-it-re/) [Elizabeth Goudge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-goudge/) > [I love how people think they know you! but they really have no idea what you are like and what you are going through!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tasia-high-hawk/i-love-how-people-think-they-know-you-but-they-really-have-no-idea/) [Tasia High Hawk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tasia-high-hawk/) > [Nobody knows diddly. They just think they do. And the people that think they know the most know the least.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clint-eastwood/nobody-knows-diddly-they-just-think-they-do-and-the-people-that-think/) [Clint Eastwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clint-eastwood/) > [A lot of people you think you know you don't know until you find out you don't know then it may be too late…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-clark/a-lot-of-people-you-think-you-know-you-don-t-know-until-you-find-out/) [Kenneth Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-clark/) > [“Most people inherit success and fame; if you have earned it piece by piece you will know how hard it is.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-f-moonzajer/most-people-inherit-success-and-fame-if-you-have-earned-it-piece-by/) [M.F. Moonzajer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-f-moonzajer/) > [I'm not naive. I know how hard it is to get along.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-lesser/i-m-not-naive-i-know-how-hard-it-is-to-get-along/) [Elizabeth Lesser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-lesser/) > [Once we know something, we find it hard to imagine what it was like not to know it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chip-heath/once-we-know-something-we-find-it-hard-to-imagine-what-it-was-like/) [Chip Heath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chip-heath/) > [I know how hard it is to shoot the basketball, so I've got great appreciation for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reggie-jackson/i-know-how-hard-it-is-to-shoot-the-basketball-so-i-ve-got-great/) [Reggie Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reggie-jackson/) > [Do you know how hard it is to not let hurtful words get to me?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/do-you-know-how-hard-it-is-to-not-let-hurtful-words-get-to-me/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I know it's hard to write, darling. But it's harder not to. The only way you'll find out if you "have it in you"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheryl-strayed/i-know-it-s-hard-to-write-darling-but-it-s-harder-not-to-the-only-way/) [Cheryl Strayed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheryl-strayed/) > [I know how hard it is to make it in the music business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-taylor/i-know-how-hard-it-is-to-make-it-in-the-music-business/) [Roger Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-taylor/) > [I know how hard it is to come back from a brutal KO.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-hatton/i-know-how-hard-it-is-to-come-back-from-a-brutal-ko/) [Ricky Hatton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-hatton/) > [“Not know it was hard;knowing it was harder”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-morrison/not-know-it-was-hard-knowing-it-was-harder/) [Toni Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-morrison/) > [I know how hard it is to be a woman, especially a black woman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-tyson/i-know-how-hard-it-is-to-be-a-woman-especially-a-black-woman/) [Mike Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-tyson/) ## More by Elliott Smith > [Somewhere where people aren't so mad would be nice, but I don't know if there is anywhere like that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-smith/somewhere-where-people-aren-t-so-mad-would-be-nice-but-i-don-t-know/) [Elliott Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-smith/) > [I actually don't think that I'm gonna sell a lot of records.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-smith/i-actually-don-t-think-that-i-m-gonna-sell-a-lot-of-records/) [Elliott Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-smith/) > [Because God only knows why people like what they like and don't like something else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-smith/because-god-only-knows-why-people-like-what-they-like-and-don-t-like/) [Elliott Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-smith/) > [My girlfriend at the time convinced me to send these songs to Cavity Search. When they wanted to put out my record I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-smith/my-girlfriend-at-the-time-convinced-me-to-send-these-songs-to-cavity/) [Elliott Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-smith/) > [I didn't think I was gonna be playing on the Oscars or anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-smith/i-didn-t-think-i-was-gonna-be-playing-on-the-oscars-or-anything/) [Elliott Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-smith/) > [All your secret wishes could right now be coming true.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-smith/all-your-secret-wishes-could-right-now-be-coming-true/) [Elliott Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-smith/) > [I can't think of anything off the top of my head that seems more important than something designed to raise money to keep something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-smith/i-can-t-think-of-anything-off-the-top-of-my-head-that-seems-more/) [Elliott Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-smith/) > [I went walking around the city some more, people watching with a cold, blank stare. And I saw your face in everyone, I swear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-smith/i-went-walking-around-the-city-some-more-people-watching-with-a-cold/) [Elliott Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-smith/) > [There are lots of things I like about playing in a band, the things I can't do by myself you know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-smith/there-are-lots-of-things-i-like-about-playing-in-a-band-the-things-i/) [Elliott Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-smith/) > [The band's filter, but playing live is a lot of fun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-smith/the-band-s-filter-but-playing-live-is-a-lot-of-fun/) [Elliott Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-smith/) > [Well, I try not to think about the general public since I have no idea what the general public is and I don't think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-smith/well-i-try-not-to-think-about-the-general-public-since-i-have-no-idea/) [Elliott Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-smith/) > [People can be chaos but it's hard to fit it into some creative piece that you made. It's hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-smith/people-can-be-chaos-but-it-s-hard-to-fit-it-into-some-creative-piece/) [Elliott Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-smith/) > [“Tired of dancing on a pot of gold flake paint”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-smith/tired-of-dancing-on-a-pot-of-gold-flake-paint/) [Elliott Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-smith/) > [A lot of people are kind of depressed. I'm happy some of the time, and some of the time I'm not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-smith/a-lot-of-people-are-kind-of-depressed-i-m-happy-some-of-the-time-and/) [Elliott Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-smith/) > [I didn't know how many people knew who Ferdinand was.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-smith/i-didn-t-know-how-many-people-knew-who-ferdinand-was/) [Elliott Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-smith/) [Explore all 80 Elliott Smith quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-smith/) ## More Asks quotes > [If you ask an introvert a question, wait until she thinks about it. Introverts think before speaking, not through speaking. If you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-helgoe/if-you-ask-an-introvert-a-question-wait-until-she-thinks-about-it/) [Laurie Helgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-helgoe/) > [I don't wear a watch because I want my arms to weigh the same. So if somebody asks me what time it is, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-hedberg/i-don-t-wear-a-watch-because-i-want-my-arms-to-weigh-the-same-so-if/) [Mitch Hedberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-hedberg/) > [I am a practicing Catholic, but my lineage is Jewish, so if someone asks me if I'm Jewish, I say yes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neve-campbell/i-am-a-practicing-catholic-but-my-lineage-is-jewish-so-if-someone/) [Neve Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neve-campbell/) > [Freedom in every sense but primarily political sense, a rise in repression that stems from a repression of sexuality. It's AIDS, it's herpes, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicholson/freedom-in-every-sense-but-primarily-political-sense-a-rise-in/) [Jack Nicholson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicholson/) > [Why did Erich von Stronheim leave Germany? Why did Hitchcock leave England? If you were a director you'd like to work in Hollywood too.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roman-polanski/why-did-erich-von-stronheim-leave-germany-why-did-hitchcock-leave/) [Roman Polanski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roman-polanski/) > [There is nothing more I ask of this life than this moment, exactly so. And suddenly forever seems like too short a time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-andreas/there-is-nothing-more-i-ask-of-this-life-than-this-moment-exactly-so/) [Brian Andreas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-andreas/) > [Success will come when the societal attitude changes and not a single woman in America asks herself the question 'What did I do?'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/success-will-come-when-the-societal-attitude-changes-and-not-a-single/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [The most fundamental question we can ever ask ourselves is whether or not the universe we live in is friendly or hostile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/the-most-fundamental-question-we-can-ever-ask-ourselves-is-whether-or/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [The rich people are apparently leaving America. They're giving up their citizenship. These great lovers of America who made their money in this country-when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/the-rich-people-are-apparently-leaving-america-they-re-giving-up/) [Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/) > [There is a way to be a woman, ask for what we deserve and be able to negotiate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracee-ellis-ross/there-is-a-way-to-be-a-woman-ask-for-what-we-deserve-and-be-able-to/) [Tracee Ellis Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracee-ellis-ross/) > [For someone to ask 'Who did you play for' and to be able to answer a single name 'Liverpool' that would be brilliant...I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-carragher/for-someone-to-ask-who-did-you-play-for-and-to-be-able-to-answer-a/) [Jamie Carragher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-carragher/) > [I have no hesitation in saying that although the American woman never leaves her domestic sphere and is in some respects very dependent within…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-de-tocqueville/i-have-no-hesitation-in-saying-that-although-the-american-woman-never/) [Alexis de Tocqueville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-de-tocqueville/) > [Ask God for temp'rance. That's th' appliance only Which your disease requires.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/ask-god-for-temp-rance-that-s-th-appliance-only-which-your-disease/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [I don't know how to say it exactly. Only...I want to die as myself. Does that make any sense?' he asks. I shake my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/i-don-t-know-how-to-say-it-exactly-only-i-want-to-die-as-myself-does/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [Physicist Isador Isaac Rabi, who won a Nobel Prize for inventing a technique that permitted scientists to probe the structure of atoms and molecules…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-saul-wurman/physicist-isador-isaac-rabi-who-won-a-nobel-prize-for-inventing-a/) [Richard Saul Wurman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-saul-wurman/) Browse all 7,138 Asks quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "People think they know all these things about other people, and if you ask them why they think they know that, it'd be hard for them to be convincing.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Elliott Smith" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-smith/people-think-they-know-all-these-things-about-other-people-and-if-you/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Asks" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-smith/people-think-they-know-all-these-things-about-other-people-and-if-you/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/20a/elliott-smith-8566_asks_people-think-they-know-all-these-things_198634.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/20a/elliott-smith-8566_asks_people-think-they-know-all-these-things_198634.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/20a/elliott-smith-8566_asks_people-think-they-know-all-these-things_198634.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“People think they know all these things about other people, and if you ask them why they think they know…” — Elliott Smith", "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": "Elliott Smith", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-smith/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "People think they know all these...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-smith/people-think-they-know-all-these-things-about-other-people-and-if-you/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-smith/people-think-they-know-all-these-things-about-other-people-and-if-you/#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 } } ] } ```