--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We have nearly complete misunderstanding…" description: "\"We have nearly complete misunderstanding between people of different faiths in Lake Wobegon, and that's probably one reason why we get along so very we..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c96/garrison-keillor-1037_breaths_we-have-nearly-complete-misunderstanding_3181172.jpg" --- # We have nearly complete misunderstanding between people of… ![“We have nearly complete misunderstanding between people of different faiths in Lake Wobegon, and that's probably one reason why we get along so very well. It's when you are trying to convince another person to think the same way that you do that there is friction and trouble between people. But…” quote by Garrison Keillor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c96/garrison-keillor-1037_breaths_we-have-nearly-complete-misunderstanding_3181172.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c96/garrison-keillor-1037_breaths_we-have-nearly-complete-misunderstanding_3181172.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c96/garrison-keillor-1037_breaths_we-have-nearly-complete-misunderstanding_3181172.jpg) > “We have nearly complete misunderstanding between people of different faiths in Lake Wobegon, and that's probably one reason why we get along so very well. It's when you are trying to convince another person to think the same way that you do that there is friction and trouble between people. But when you feel that the other person is dumber than dirt, too dumb for words - why waste your breath - you get along pretty well. There's no bond between people that's quite so strong as when people each feel slightly superior towards the other one.” [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. People bond more when they feel slightly superior to each other, while attempts to convince others of the same view create friction. **In simple terms:** Superiority fosters easy rapport; trying to convince creates conflict. Key Takeaway Recognize humility to reduce conflict. Themes superiority communication conflict humility Mood ironic thoughtful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - political debates - interfaith dialogues - team meetings - online forums Key Concepts social dynamics psychology group identity Questions to Reflect On - Why do we feel better when we think we are smarter? - How can humility improve relationships? A Different Perspective Assuming superiority can blind you to others' perspectives. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Breaths](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/breaths/) [Convince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/convince/) [Different](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/different/) [Different faiths](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/different-faiths/) [Dirt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dirt/) [Dirt Dumb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dirt-dumb-1181491/) [Dumb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dumb/) [Feels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feels/) [Friction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friction/) [Lake wobegon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lake-wobegon/) [Lakes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lakes/) [Misunderstanding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/misunderstanding/) [Misunderstanding People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/misunderstanding-people-2738242/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [People Different](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-different-236144/) [Persons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/persons/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [Reason why](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason-why/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Strong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strong/) [Superiors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/superiors/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Trouble](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trouble/) [Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying/) [Trying hard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying-hard/) [Waste](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/waste/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) [Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wells/) ## Related quotes > [“He's a two-faced, cutthroat, dirt-dumb, chicken shit, slimy, little bastard with a bright future in politics.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-grisham/he-s-a-two-faced-cutthroat-dirt-dumb-chicken-shit-slimy-little/) [John Grisham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-grisham/) > [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/) > [I write for a radio show that, no matter what, will go on the air Saturday at five o'clock central time. You learn to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrison-keillor/i-write-for-a-radio-show-that-no-matter-what-will-go-on-the-air/) [Garrison Keillor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrison-keillor/) > [A boy wrote me once to say that he loved it when the news from Lake Wobegon came on the radio because it meant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrison-keillor/a-boy-wrote-me-once-to-say-that-he-loved-it-when-the-news-from-lake/) [Garrison Keillor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrison-keillor/) > [Lake Wobegon, the little town that time forgot and the decades cannot improve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrison-keillor/lake-wobegon-the-little-town-that-time-forgot-and-the-decades-cannot/) [Garrison Keillor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrison-keillor/) > [In Lake Wobegon, we don't forget mistakes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrison-keillor/in-lake-wobegon-we-don-t-forget-mistakes/) [Garrison Keillor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrison-keillor/) > [When the country goes temporarily to the dogs, cats must learn to be circumspect, walk on fences, sleep in trees, and have faith that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrison-keillor/when-the-country-goes-temporarily-to-the-dogs-cats-must-learn-to-be/) [Garrison Keillor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrison-keillor/) > [Welcome to Lake Wobegon, where all the women are strong, all the men are good-looking, and all the children are above average.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrison-keillor/welcome-to-lake-wobegon-where-all-the-women-are-strong-all-the-men/) [Garrison Keillor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrison-keillor/) > [“Might there come a time when people of different faiths did not kill one another?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-follett/might-there-come-a-time-when-people-of-different-faiths-did-not-kill/) [Ken Follett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-follett/) > [Shallow understanding from people of good will is more frustrating than absolute misunderstanding from people of ill will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/shallow-understanding-from-people-of-good-will-is-more-frustrating/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [A 3rd person never creates misunderstanding between 2 people, but misunderstandings between 2 people create space for a 3rd person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/a-3rd-person-never-creates-misunderstanding-between-2-people-but/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [“Shallow understanding from people of goodwill is more frustrating than absolute misunderstanding from people of ill will. Lukewarm acceptance is much more bewildering than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/shallow-understanding-from-people-of-goodwill-is-more-frustrating/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Our intentions tend to be much more real to us than our actions, and this can lead to a great deal of misunderstanding with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-f-schumacher/our-intentions-tend-to-be-much-more-real-to-us-than-our-actions-and/) [E. F. Schumacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-f-schumacher/) > [Sometimes a small misunderstanding between two people become such a big crack that life ends, but then does not finish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/sometimes-a-small-misunderstanding-between-two-people-become-such-a/) [Mak\_786](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mak-786/) > [3rd person never creates misunderstanding between 2 people But, misunderstanding between 2 people creates space for 3rd person](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/3rd-person-never-creates-misunderstanding-between-2-people-but/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## 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 Breaths quotes > [Don't let a breath escape from your body without Krishna's name. That should be our determination throughout our life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/radhanath-swami/don-t-let-a-breath-escape-from-your-body-without-krishna-s-name-that/) [Radhanath Swami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/radhanath-swami/) > [Jazz is the music of the body. The breath comes through brass. It is the body's breath, and the strings' wails and moans are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/jazz-is-the-music-of-the-body-the-breath-comes-through-brass-it-is/) [Anais Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/) > [Many years ago I was fishing, and as I was reeling in the poor fish, I realised, 'I am killing him - all for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-mccartney/many-years-ago-i-was-fishing-and-as-i-was-reeling-in-the-poor-fish-i/) [Paul McCartney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-mccartney/) > [Aging is like enlightenment at gunpoint. Before I had cancer, I lived my life for my art. After I had cancer, I lived my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-halprin/aging-is-like-enlightenment-at-gunpoint-before-i-had-cancer-i-lived/) [Anna Halprin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-halprin/) > [God is greater than anything that man can do or has done. He is not undone by just a train of powder. "Our God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/errol-morris/god-is-greater-than-anything-that-man-can-do-or-has-done-he-is-not/) [Errol Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/errol-morris/) > [One day I was running around playing with my son Connor when afterwards I was sweating, tired and out of breath. I was embarrassed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-carey/one-day-i-was-running-around-playing-with-my-son-connor-when/) [Drew Carey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-carey/) > [Dave Wann's recipes from his own experience in Simple Prosperity are a breath of fresh air, and just what we need for a saner…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hazel-henderson/dave-wann-s-recipes-from-his-own-experience-in-simple-prosperity-are/) [Hazel Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hazel-henderson/) > [Poetry should be vital--either stirring our blood by its divine movements or snatching our breath by its divine perfection. To do both is supreme…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augustine-birrell/poetry-should-be-vital-either-stirring-our-blood-by-its-divine/) [Augustine Birrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augustine-birrell/) > [Tic Tacs are the maracas of breath mints.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demetri-martin/tic-tacs-are-the-maracas-of-breath-mints/) [Demetri Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demetri-martin/) > [The river is motion, turmoil, rage. As the river flows, it wonders what it would be like to be so still, to take a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kekla-magoon/the-river-is-motion-turmoil-rage-as-the-river-flows-it-wonders-what/) [Kekla Magoon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kekla-magoon/) > [Remember that no matter how selfish, how cruel, how unfeeling you have been today, every time you take a breath, you make a flower…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mort-sahl/remember-that-no-matter-how-selfish-how-cruel-how-unfeeling-you-have/) [Mort Sahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mort-sahl/) > [The trees are white with dust, that o'er their sleep Wave their broad curtains in the south-wind's breath, While underneath such leafy tents they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/the-trees-are-white-with-dust-that-o-er-their-sleep-wave-their-broad/) [Henry Wadsworth Longfellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/) > [“Listen to this, Nimit. Follow Coleman Hawkins' improvised lines very carefully. He is using them to tell us something. Pay very close attention. He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/listen-to-this-nimit-follow-coleman-hawkins-improvised-lines-very/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [Every body resisted (the slaughterer) in its own fashion, tried to escape and seemed to argue with the Creator to its last breath.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-bashevis-singer/every-body-resisted-the-slaughterer-in-its-own-fashion-tried-to/) [Isaac Bashevis Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-bashevis-singer/) > [We had a dog, Apples. He was 13 years old, toothless, blind and had the worst breath this side of Jabba the Hut. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlee-matlin/we-had-a-dog-apples-he-was-13-years-old-toothless-blind-and-had-the/) [Marlee Matlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlee-matlin/) [Browse all 1,609 Breaths quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/breaths/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We have nearly complete misunderstanding between people of different faiths in Lake Wobegon, and that's probably one reason why we get along so very well. It's when you are trying to convince another person to think the same way that you do that there is friction and trouble between people. But when you feel that the other person is dumber than dirt, too dumb for words - why waste your breath - you get along pretty well. 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