---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: More often than not, labels dehumanise…"
description: "\"“More often than not, labels dehumanise people by reducing them to lazy stereotypes.”\" — Francesca Martínez"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c06/francesca-mart-nez-25883_stereotypes_more-often-than-not-labels-dehumanise-pe_3235099.jpg"
---

#  More often than not, labels dehumanise people by reducing…

![“More often than not, labels dehumanise people by reducing them to lazy stereotypes.” quote by Francesca Martínez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c06/francesca-mart-nez-25883_stereotypes_more-often-than-not-labels-dehumanise-pe_3235099.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c06/francesca-mart-nez-25883_stereotypes_more-often-than-not-labels-dehumanise-pe_3235099.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c06/francesca-mart-nez-25883_stereotypes_more-often-than-not-labels-dehumanise-pe_3235099.jpg)

> ““More often than not, labels dehumanise people by reducing them to lazy stereotypes.””

[Francesca Martínez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francesca-mart-nez/)

## About This Quote

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

Labels reduce individuals to oversimplified categories, stripping away their complexity and humanity.

**In simple terms:** Labels oversimplify people.

Key Takeaway

Avoid labeling; see the whole person.

Themes

identity stereotypes humanity

Mood

reflective concerned

Type

critical observational

When to use this quote

- workplace
- education
- media
- policy
- interpersonal relations

Key Concepts

social psychology bias dehumanization

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you challenge stereotypes in daily life?
- When have you felt reduced by a label?

A Different Perspective

Labels can sometimes help organize information, but risk reinforcing prejudice.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Stereotypes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stereotypes/)

## Related quotes

> [When we dehumanise and demonise our opponents, we abandon the possibility of peacefully resolving our differences, and seek to justify violence against them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/when-we-dehumanise-and-demonise-our-opponents-we-abandon-the/)

[Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/)

> [To support policies that dehumanise others is to dehumanise yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frankie-boyle/to-support-policies-that-dehumanise-others-is-to-dehumanise-yourself/)

[Frankie Boyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frankie-boyle/)

> [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/)

> [“I notice you didn’t include a blade with your new attire,” Royce said. “Not even a little jeweled dagger.” “Lords no.” Albert looked appalled.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-j-sullivan/i-notice-you-didn-t-include-a-blade-with-your-new-attire-royce-said/)

[Michael J. Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-j-sullivan/)

> [“The only measure of judging a human being is through that person’s character, because character is not determined by race, religion, gender or social…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/the-only-measure-of-judging-a-human-being-is-through-that-person-s/)

[Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/)

> [Despite the gender stereotypes in the '80s, my race-car-driving dad taught me that I could do whatever my brother could.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-de-cadenet/despite-the-gender-stereotypes-in-the-80s-my-race-car-driving-dad/)

[Amanda de Cadenet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-de-cadenet/)

> [I went to Eton, that's a slightly controversial issue, but it's an interesting subject to try and come across as likable and self-aware and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivo-graham/i-went-to-eton-that-s-a-slightly-controversial-issue-but-it-s-an/)

[Ivo Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivo-graham/)

> [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/)

> [“I do not know where Viktor and Rudolf were taken. I cannot find the records. I never Elisabeth or Iggie. It is possible that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-de-waal/i-do-not-know-where-viktor-and-rudolf-were-taken-i-cannot-find-the/)

[Edmund de Waal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-de-waal/)

> [When women are provided with training and entrepreneurial opportunities in distribution networks, they become role models in their communities, showing it is possible to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-polman/when-women-are-provided-with-training-and-entrepreneurial/)

[Paul Polman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-polman/)

> [“Valéry used to speak of those people who die in an accident because they are unwilling to let go of their umbrellas; how many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roland-barthes/val-ry-used-to-speak-of-those-people-who-die-in-an-accident-because/)

[Roland Barthes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roland-barthes/)

> [“If men could see us as we really are, they would be a little amazed; but the cleverest, the acutest men are often under…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/if-men-could-see-us-as-we-really-are-they-would-be-a-little-amazed/)

[Charlotte Brontë](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/)

## More by Francesca Martínez

> [“Their sole purpose is to make you feel bad about your life because you’re not rich and famous.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francesca-mart-nez/their-sole-purpose-is-to-make-you-feel-bad-about-your-life-because/)

[Francesca Martínez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francesca-mart-nez/)

> [“Eventually, I managed to peel it off, bit by bit, scratching at each piece until it was finally gone.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francesca-mart-nez/eventually-i-managed-to-peel-it-off-bit-by-bit-scratching-at-each/)

[Francesca Martínez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francesca-mart-nez/)

> [“Reading celebrity magazines is like eating poo. Don’t do it: it’s bad for your health.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francesca-mart-nez/reading-celebrity-magazines-is-like-eating-poo-don-t-do-it-it-s-bad/)

[Francesca Martínez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francesca-mart-nez/)

> [“Our culture has the power to convince skinny people they are fat, young people they are old, old people they can be young, beautiful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francesca-mart-nez/our-culture-has-the-power-to-convince-skinny-people-they-are-fat/)

[Francesca Martínez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francesca-mart-nez/)

> [“It’s a shame that much of the media have emphatically refused, for a very long time, to represent diversity, because they play a crucial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francesca-mart-nez/it-s-a-shame-that-much-of-the-media-have-emphatically-refused-for-a/)

[Francesca Martínez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francesca-mart-nez/)

> [Accepting yourself as you are is an act of civil disobedience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francesca-mart-nez/accepting-yourself-as-you-are-is-an-act-of-civil-disobedience/)

[Francesca Martinez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francesca-mart-nez/)

> [“It’s inescapable – we live in a world where what’s seen as successful, fashionable or beautiful is heavily shaped by a power base with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francesca-mart-nez/it-s-inescapable-we-live-in-a-world-where-what-s-seen-as-successful/)

[Francesca Martínez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francesca-mart-nez/)

> [“My disability, it transpired, was the least of my problems. The real question became: how do I defend myself against the constant onslaught of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francesca-mart-nez/my-disability-it-transpired-was-the-least-of-my-problems-the-real/)

[Francesca Martínez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francesca-mart-nez/)

> [“I’m not quite sure what a normal life is. Surely everyone’s life is normal to them?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francesca-mart-nez/i-m-not-quite-sure-what-a-normal-life-is-surely-everyone-s-life-is/)

[Francesca Martínez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francesca-mart-nez/)

> [“I can’t help noticing that the few people I’ve met in my life who haven’t ‘suffered’ much have also been monumentally boring.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francesca-mart-nez/i-can-t-help-noticing-that-the-few-people-i-ve-met-in-my-life-who/)

[Francesca Martínez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francesca-mart-nez/)

> [Tune into your own capacities and always make time for sleep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francesca-mart-nez/tune-into-your-own-capacities-and-always-make-time-for-sleep/)

[Francesca Martinez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francesca-mart-nez/)

> [“And, in order to make us buy things we don’t need, advertisers have to make us believe that we need them. Desperately. So they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francesca-mart-nez/and-in-order-to-make-us-buy-things-we-don-t-need-advertisers-have-to/)

[Francesca Martínez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francesca-mart-nez/)

> [“Happiness is always one more purchase away, one more promotion away, one more investment away, but numerous studies show that once a person’s basic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francesca-mart-nez/happiness-is-always-one-more-purchase-away-one-more-promotion-away/)

[Francesca Martínez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francesca-mart-nez/)

> [“Now, I think of fashion as the ultimate mode of conformity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francesca-mart-nez/now-i-think-of-fashion-as-the-ultimate-mode-of-conformity/)

[Francesca Martínez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francesca-mart-nez/)

> [We won the lottery in life and life is such a beautiful, precious gift, and we have to savor it, because as far as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francesca-mart-nez/we-won-the-lottery-in-life-and-life-is-such-a-beautiful-precious-gift/)

[Francesca Martinez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francesca-mart-nez/)

[Explore all 22 Francesca Martínez quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francesca-mart-nez/)

## More Stereotypes quotes

> [“If men could see us as we really are, they would be a little amazed; but the cleverest, the acutest men are often under…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/if-men-could-see-us-as-we-really-are-they-would-be-a-little-amazed/)

[Charlotte Brontë](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/)

> [“Valéry used to speak of those people who die in an accident because they are unwilling to let go of their umbrellas; how many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roland-barthes/val-ry-used-to-speak-of-those-people-who-die-in-an-accident-because/)

[Roland Barthes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roland-barthes/)

> [When women are provided with training and entrepreneurial opportunities in distribution networks, they become role models in their communities, showing it is possible to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-polman/when-women-are-provided-with-training-and-entrepreneurial/)

[Paul Polman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-polman/)

> [“I do not know where Viktor and Rudolf were taken. I cannot find the records. I never Elisabeth or Iggie. It is possible that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-de-waal/i-do-not-know-where-viktor-and-rudolf-were-taken-i-cannot-find-the/)

[Edmund de Waal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-de-waal/)

> [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/)

> [I went to Eton, that's a slightly controversial issue, but it's an interesting subject to try and come across as likable and self-aware and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivo-graham/i-went-to-eton-that-s-a-slightly-controversial-issue-but-it-s-an/)

[Ivo Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivo-graham/)

> [Despite the gender stereotypes in the '80s, my race-car-driving dad taught me that I could do whatever my brother could.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-de-cadenet/despite-the-gender-stereotypes-in-the-80s-my-race-car-driving-dad/)

[Amanda de Cadenet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-de-cadenet/)

> [“The only measure of judging a human being is through that person’s character, because character is not determined by race, religion, gender or social…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/the-only-measure-of-judging-a-human-being-is-through-that-person-s/)

[Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/)

> [“I notice you didn’t include a blade with your new attire,” Royce said. “Not even a little jeweled dagger.” “Lords no.” Albert looked appalled.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-j-sullivan/i-notice-you-didn-t-include-a-blade-with-your-new-attire-royce-said/)

[Michael J. Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-j-sullivan/)

> [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/)

> [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/)

> [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/)

> [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/)

> [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/)

> [“It was the way he wore the place. You expected him any moment to break into the kind of song that has suspicious rhymes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/it-was-the-way-he-wore-the-place-you-expected-him-any-moment-to-break/)

[Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/)

[Browse all 555 Stereotypes quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stereotypes/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“More often than not, labels dehumanise people by reducing them to lazy stereotypes.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Francesca Martínez"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francesca-mart-nez/more-often-than-not-labels-dehumanise-people-by-reducing-them-to-lazy/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Stereotypes"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francesca-mart-nez/more-often-than-not-labels-dehumanise-people-by-reducing-them-to-lazy/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c06/francesca-mart-nez-25883_stereotypes_more-often-than-not-labels-dehumanise-pe_3235099.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c06/francesca-mart-nez-25883_stereotypes_more-often-than-not-labels-dehumanise-pe_3235099.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c06/francesca-mart-nez-25883_stereotypes_more-often-than-not-labels-dehumanise-pe_3235099.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“More often than not, labels dehumanise people by reducing them to lazy stereotypes.” — Francesca Martínez",
                "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": "Francesca Martínez",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francesca-mart-nez/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“More often than not, labels dehumanise...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francesca-mart-nez/more-often-than-not-labels-dehumanise-people-by-reducing-them-to-lazy/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francesca-mart-nez/more-often-than-not-labels-dehumanise-people-by-reducing-them-to-lazy/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```