--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We are great mysteries. No matter what we…" description: "\"We are great mysteries. No matter what we imagine we may know, even for all the facts we might gather, we don't know each other. Never do, probably nev..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/48e/garrison-keillor-1037_bases_we-are-great-mysteries-no-matter-what-we_2330139.jpg" --- # We are great mysteries. No matter what we imagine we may… ![“We are great mysteries. No matter what we imagine we may know, even for all the facts we might gather, we don't know each other. Never do, probably never will. Our reputations depend on the opinions of the ill informed. We all have better moments than anybody ever knows, and so do all the others…” quote by Garrison Keillor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/48e/garrison-keillor-1037_bases_we-are-great-mysteries-no-matter-what-we_2330139.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/48e/garrison-keillor-1037_bases_we-are-great-mysteries-no-matter-what-we_2330139.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/48e/garrison-keillor-1037_bases_we-are-great-mysteries-no-matter-what-we_2330139.jpg) > “We are great mysteries. No matter what we imagine we may know, even for all the facts we might gather, we don't know each other. Never do, probably never will. Our reputations depend on the opinions of the ill informed. We all have better moments than anybody ever knows, and so do all the others. We are, each one of us, books that are read by critics who only glanced at the chapter headings and the jacket flap. Each one of us is a secret, and on that basis we ought to treat each other with the deepest respect.” [Garrison Keillor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrison-keillor/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Human beings are fundamentally unknowable, and we often judge each other superficially, so we should treat everyone with deep respect. **In simple terms:** People are mysterious and should be respected. Key Takeaway Respect others deeply. Themes mystery respect human nature Mood contemplative thoughtful Type reflective philosophical When to use this quote - personal relationships - teamwork - conflict resolution - leadership - social media Key Concepts philosophy psychology ethics Questions to Reflect On - How can you look beyond first impressions? - What does deep respect look like in daily life? A Different Perspective Superficial judgments can still influence decisions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Facts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/facts/) [Getting to know each other](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/getting-to-know-each-other/) [Ill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ill/) [Moments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moments/) [Mysteries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mysteries/) [Mystery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mystery/) [Opinion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opinion/) [Philosophy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy/) [Reputation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reputation/) [Respect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/respect/) [Respecting others](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/respecting-others/) [Secret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/secret/) ## Related quotes > [I spent many years of my childhood pondering the great mysteries like, 'Are aliens real?' and 'Why won't girls talk to me?'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-hirsch/i-spent-many-years-of-my-childhood-pondering-the-great-mysteries-like/) [Alex Hirsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-hirsch/) > [People are such great mysteries. Just when we think we have understood them, a wonderful new aspect shows in them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/people-are-such-great-mysteries-just-when-we-think-we-have-understood/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Great mysteries inhabit the threshold of my being.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fernando-pessoa/great-mysteries-inhabit-the-threshold-of-my-being/) [Fernando Pessoa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fernando-pessoa/) > [The history of science shows that great mysteries get solved. It may be that there's an answer that humans are too stupid to understand.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/the-history-of-science-shows-that-great-mysteries-get-solved-it-may/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [You know, what a producer does is one of the great mysteries in life, so anyone can be one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-olyphant/you-know-what-a-producer-does-is-one-of-the-great-mysteries-in-life/) [Timothy Olyphant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-olyphant/) > [“There are some great mysteries here, which each of us is better placed to understand than any sceptical scientist or religious zealot, simply because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mellor/there-are-some-great-mysteries-here-which-each-of-us-is-better-placed/) John Mellor > [What were we spending so much time doing if not getting to know each other?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-safran-foer/what-were-we-spending-so-much-time-doing-if-not-getting-to-know-each/) [Jonathan Safran Foer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-safran-foer/) > [ Steve \[Jobs\] and I spent months getting to know each other before I joined Apple. He had no exposure to marketing other than what… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-sculley/steve-jobs-and-i-spent-months-getting-to-know-each-other-before-i/) [John Sculley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-sculley/) > [I've always appreciated working with people I have chemistry with, who are friends, and where you feel that the work is growing while you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bjork/i-ve-always-appreciated-working-with-people-i-have-chemistry-with-who/) [Bjork](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bjork/) > [A deadness occurs in relationships when people are no longer willing to tell each other how they really feel. When people first fall in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shakti-gawain/a-deadness-occurs-in-relationships-when-people-are-no-longer-willing/) [Shakti Gawain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shakti-gawain/) > [As we continued to talk, going through the motions of getting to know each other, I realized that we already did know each other,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-cline/as-we-continued-to-talk-going-through-the-motions-of-getting-to-know/) [Ernest Cline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-cline/) > [But I gotta say, oh, baby, oh baby, why is this so familiar? Just met her, already feel like I know the real her.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drake/but-i-gotta-say-oh-baby-oh-baby-why-is-this-so-familiar-just-met-her/) [Drake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drake/) > [The best diplomacy starts with getting to know each other](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/the-best-diplomacy-starts-with-getting-to-know-each-other/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [I'm spontaneous. I jump in. I kind of like getting married and then getting to know each other; I know that it sounds incredibly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-kidman/i-m-spontaneous-i-jump-in-i-kind-of-like-getting-married-and-then/) [Nicole Kidman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-kidman/) > [ What's cool is that in the story of the movie \[The Hangover\] our characters are also really kind of getting to know each other… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-helms/what-s-cool-is-that-in-the-story-of-the-movie-the-hangover-our/) [Ed Helms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-helms/) ## More by Garrison Keillor > [God writes a lot of comedy... the trouble is, he's stuck with so many bad actors who don't know how to play funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrison-keillor/god-writes-a-lot-of-comedy-the-trouble-is-he-s-stuck-with-so-many-bad/) [Garrison Keillor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrison-keillor/) > [The socially redeeming aspect of golf lies in the vast number of lawyers and bankers and managers who play it, and when you think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrison-keillor/the-socially-redeeming-aspect-of-golf-lies-in-the-vast-number-of/) [Garrison Keillor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrison-keillor/) > [God plays a lot of jokes on us to get our attention.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrison-keillor/god-plays-a-lot-of-jokes-on-us-to-get-our-attention/) [Garrison Keillor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrison-keillor/) > [Ha! Easy for nuns to talk about giving up things. That's what they do for a living.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrison-keillor/ha-easy-for-nuns-to-talk-about-giving-up-things-that-s-what-they-do/) [Garrison Keillor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrison-keillor/) > [This is the big reason most humorists fail. Drunks don't read books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrison-keillor/this-is-the-big-reason-most-humorists-fail-drunks-don-t-read-books/) [Garrison Keillor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrison-keillor/) > [Before the world was made, when it was only darkness and mist and waters, God was well aware of Lake Wobegon, my family, our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrison-keillor/before-the-world-was-made-when-it-was-only-darkness-and-mist-and/) [Garrison Keillor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrison-keillor/) > [On investments, 1998: Where I'm from we don't trust paper. Wealth is what's here on the premises. If I open a cupboard and see,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrison-keillor/on-investments-1998-where-i-m-from-we-don-t-trust-paper-wealth-is/) [Garrison Keillor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrison-keillor/) > [“The rich can afford to be progressive. Poor people have reason to be afraid of the future.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrison-keillor/the-rich-can-afford-to-be-progressive-poor-people-have-reason-to-be/) [Garrison Keillor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrison-keillor/) > [English is the perfect language for preachers because it allows you to talk until you think of what to say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrison-keillor/english-is-the-perfect-language-for-preachers-because-it-allows-you/) [Garrison Keillor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrison-keillor/) > [“If you can't read a simple goddam sign and follow one simple goddam instruction then get your fat butt the hell out of here.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrison-keillor/if-you-can-t-read-a-simple-goddam-sign-and-follow-one-simple-goddam/) [Garrison Keillor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrison-keillor/) > [“The Gospel is meant to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrison-keillor/the-gospel-is-meant-to-comfort-the-afflicted-and-afflict-the/) [Garrison Keillor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrison-keillor/) > [I don't want them to be told to remember me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrison-keillor/i-don-t-want-them-to-be-told-to-remember-me/) [Garrison Keillor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrison-keillor/) > [Childhood is the small town everyone came from.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrison-keillor/childhood-is-the-small-town-everyone-came-from/) [Garrison Keillor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrison-keillor/) > [I have taken so many wrong turns and been so careless with precious things and managed to lose, or break, or leave out in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrison-keillor/i-have-taken-so-many-wrong-turns-and-been-so-careless-with-precious/) [Garrison Keillor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrison-keillor/) > [Where I'm from we don't trust paper. Wealth is what's here on the premises. If I open a cupboard and see, say, thirty cans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrison-keillor/where-i-m-from-we-don-t-trust-paper-wealth-is-what-s-here-on-the/) [Garrison Keillor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrison-keillor/) [Explore all 304 Garrison Keillor quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrison-keillor/) ## More Bases quotes > [Self-respect and a clear conscience are powerful components of integrity and are the basis for enriching your relationships with others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-waitley/self-respect-and-a-clear-conscience-are-powerful-components-of/) [Denis Waitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-waitley/) > [If my campaign is not in the debate, we will not be talking about how we really fix this problem of endless and expanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/if-my-campaign-is-not-in-the-debate-we-will-not-be-talking-about-how/) [Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/) > [I don't want to go into space because of war. I think we would if it was triggered. If China said they want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/i-don-t-want-to-go-into-space-because-of-war-i-think-we-would-if-it/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [The United States cannot and should not discriminate on the basis of religion. The free exercise of religion is at the very heart of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-pence/the-united-states-cannot-and-should-not-discriminate-on-the-basis-of/) [Mike Pence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-pence/) > [According to the best research, less than 3% of Americans have written goals, and less than 1% review and rewrite their goals on a daily basis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/according-to-the-best-research-less-than-3-of-americans-have-written/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [When the Lord Jesus Christ became my surety . . . He went to Calvary's cross, and all my guilt was charged against Him.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-allen-ironside/when-the-lord-jesus-christ-became-my-surety-he-went-to-calvary-s/) [Henry Allen Ironside](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-allen-ironside/) > [I'm in a business where there's complete anarchy. You can't control it - you can only react to it. The control that people traditionally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-sorrell/i-m-in-a-business-where-there-s-complete-anarchy-you-can-t-control-it/) [Martin Sorrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-sorrell/) > [This tendency to avoid problems and the emotional suffering inherent in them is the primary basis of all human mental illness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-r-swindoll/this-tendency-to-avoid-problems-and-the-emotional-suffering-inherent/) [Charles R. Swindoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-r-swindoll/) > [There are dangers in consensus: it could be an attempt to satisfy people holding no particular views about anything. ... No great party can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-thatcher/there-are-dangers-in-consensus-it-could-be-an-attempt-to-satisfy/) [Margaret Thatcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-thatcher/) > [There's no way to have a peace agreement unless the mediator or negotiator looks at both sides from an equal basis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-carter/there-s-no-way-to-have-a-peace-agreement-unless-the-mediator-or/) [Jimmy Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-carter/) > [Coercion is the basis of every law in the universe,--human or divine. A law is not law without coercion behind it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/coercion-is-the-basis-of-every-law-in-the-universe-human-or-divine-a/) [James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/) > [Each Act of Parliament intended to address harassment and discrimination has faced objections on the basis of 'you'll never be able to prove...' and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-field/each-act-of-parliament-intended-to-address-harassment-and/) [Tim Field](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-field/) > [If you want good behavior, don't pay on a commission basis. Our judges aren't paid so much a case. We keep them pretty well…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/if-you-want-good-behavior-don-t-pay-on-a-commission-basis-our-judges/) [Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/) > [My favorite thing about being a mom is just what a better person it makes you on a daily basis,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-barrymore/my-favorite-thing-about-being-a-mom-is-just-what-a-better-person-it/) [Drew Barrymore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-barrymore/) > [We have committed ourselves to pursue joint policies, but then national governments say, "We aren't bound by that." That is a dramatic situation, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-schulz/we-have-committed-ourselves-to-pursue-joint-policies-but-then/) [Martin Schulz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-schulz/) Browse all 2,701 Bases quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We are great mysteries. 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