---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It seems you can ask any friend, any…"
description: "\"It seems you can ask any friend, any relative, and they'll be able to tell you about someone they know with autism.\" — Gary Cole"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0cb/gary-cole-9784_about_it-seems-you-can-ask-any-friend-any-rela_3167967.jpg"
---

#  It seems you can ask any friend, any relative, and they'll…

![“It seems you can ask any friend, any relative, and they'll be able to tell you about someone they know with autism.” quote by Gary Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0cb/gary-cole-9784_about_it-seems-you-can-ask-any-friend-any-rela_3167967.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0cb/gary-cole-9784_about_it-seems-you-can-ask-any-friend-any-rela_3167967.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0cb/gary-cole-9784_about_it-seems-you-can-ask-any-friend-any-rela_3167967.jpg)

> “It seems you can ask any friend, any relative, and they'll be able to tell you about someone they know with autism.”

[Gary Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-cole/)

## 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 personal know someone with autism, but true understanding requires deeper insight beyond casual acquaintance.

**In simple terms:** Knowing someone isn’t enough to grasp autism.

Key Takeaway

Seek deeper understanding, not just anecdotes.

Themes

awareness empathy neurodiversity communication

Mood

inquisitive concerned

Type

educational reflective

When to use this quote

- school discussions
- family conversations
- media representation
- advocacy training

Key Concepts

social perception neuropsychology education

Questions to Reflect On

- What does it truly mean to understand autism?
- How can you move from anecdote to empathy?

A Different Perspective

Relying on superficial knowledge can spread stereotypes.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Able Tell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/able-tell-322595/) [About](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/about/) [Ask Friend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ask-friend-318673/) [Autism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/autism/) [Friend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friend/) [Friend Relative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friend-relative-1881870/) [Friendship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship/) [Know Autism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know-autism-5176491/) [Seems](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seems/) [Someone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/someone/) [Tell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tell/)

## Related quotes

> [What do we know about autism in 2013? Autism symptoms generally emerge before age three and usually much earlier, often as language delays or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-r-insel/what-do-we-know-about-autism-in-2013-autism-symptoms-generally-emerge/)

[Thomas R. Insel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-r-insel/)

> [Today, it seems almost everyone knows a friend or relative who is gay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-velez-mitchell/today-it-seems-almost-everyone-knows-a-friend-or-relative-who-is-gay/)

[Jane Velez-Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-velez-mitchell/)

> [Until a friend or relative has applied a particular proverb to your own life, or until you've watched him apply the proverb to his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholson-baker/until-a-friend-or-relative-has-applied-a-particular-proverb-to-your/)

[Nicholson Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholson-baker/)

> [On everything you need to hear other people's opinions. It's the only way to do things. You ask a friend's advice and then between…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shmuel-yosef-agnon/on-everything-you-need-to-hear-other-people-s-opinions-it-s-the-only/)

[Shmuel Yosef Agnon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shmuel-yosef-agnon/)

> [They just knew. And I think that's all you can ever ask from a friend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-chbosky/they-just-knew-and-i-think-that-s-all-you-can-ever-ask-from-a-friend/)

[Stephen Chbosky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-chbosky/)

> [When you ask one friend to dine, Give him your best wine! When you ask two, The second best will do!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/when-you-ask-one-friend-to-dine-give-him-your-best-wine-when-you-ask/)

[Henry Wadsworth Longfellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/)

> [“Not anything specific really. They just knew. And I think that's all you can ever ask from a friend.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-chbosky/not-anything-specific-really-they-just-knew-and-i-think-that-s-all/)

[Stephen Chbosky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-chbosky/)

> [They who dare to ask anything of a friend, by their very request seem to imply that they would do anything for the sake…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/they-who-dare-to-ask-anything-of-a-friend-by-their-very-request-seem/)

[Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/)

> [I ask my friend -what is your story?- because I want to give the answer of mine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-ask-my-friend-what-is-your-story-because-i-want-to-give-the-answer/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [When I ask my husband, for example, if he's talked to his childhood best friend recently, he always tells me yes and that they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-cooper/when-i-ask-my-husband-for-example-if-he-s-talked-to-his-childhood/)

[Brett Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-cooper/)

> [You'll always be my sister; I only ask that you be my friend, too!!!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-ll-always-be-my-sister-i-only-ask-that-you-be-my-friend-too/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [And he was my friend. Not that he wouldn't kill me if things turned out that way, but he wouldn't like doing it. With…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephenie-meyer/and-he-was-my-friend-not-that-he-wouldn-t-kill-me-if-things-turned/)

[Stephenie Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephenie-meyer/)

> [What you lend is lost; when you ask for it back, you may find a friend made an enemy by your kindness. If you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plautus/what-you-lend-is-lost-when-you-ask-for-it-back-you-may-find-a-friend/)

[Plautus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plautus/)

> [It is an odd mode of diminishing one's own weakness to ask a friend to lend us the equal force of his.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-laman-blanchard/it-is-an-odd-mode-of-diminishing-one-s-own-weakness-to-ask-a-friend/)

[Samuel Laman Blanchard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-laman-blanchard/)

> [“creating a trail of things i wasn't able to tell you”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-safran-foer/creating-a-trail-of-things-i-wasn-t-able-to-tell-you/)

[Jonathan Safran Foer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-safran-foer/)

## More by Gary Cole

> [It was really executed well, from the art direction to the wardrobe to everyone else. And I have to say, two really exceptional directors…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-cole/it-was-really-executed-well-from-the-art-direction-to-the-wardrobe-to/)

[Gary Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-cole/)

> [The one nice thing about doing a character for a long time is, you begin to feel more comfortable, and you are thinking less…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-cole/the-one-nice-thing-about-doing-a-character-for-a-long-time-is-you/)

[Gary Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-cole/)

> [Christopher Walken could literally read a phone book and fill a theater, and it would be interesting to watch. I've often wanted to produce…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-cole/christopher-walken-could-literally-read-a-phone-book-and-fill-a/)

[Gary Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-cole/)

> [Other than advances in technology and equipment, making a movie is the same as it was when I started, at least. I don't go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-cole/other-than-advances-in-technology-and-equipment-making-a-movie-is-the/)

[Gary Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-cole/)

> [A lot of actors in my age bracket look at being still standing as pretty good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-cole/a-lot-of-actors-in-my-age-bracket-look-at-being-still-standing-as/)

[Gary Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-cole/)

> [Clint Eastwood is a very soft-spoken, humble guy, actually, which helped put somebody like me at ease, who had never worked with somebody as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-cole/clint-eastwood-is-a-very-soft-spoken-humble-guy-actually-which-helped/)

[Gary Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-cole/)

> [When you make a movie, it's up to so many things and so many people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-cole/when-you-make-a-movie-it-s-up-to-so-many-things-and-so-many-people/)

[Gary Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-cole/)

> [Television is a big roulette table on so many levels. That's all it is for actors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-cole/television-is-a-big-roulette-table-on-so-many-levels-that-s-all-it-is/)

[Gary Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-cole/)

> [I just don't eat too much. That's never been my problem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-cole/i-just-don-t-eat-too-much-that-s-never-been-my-problem/)

[Gary Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-cole/)

> [I am also a drummer of sorts. I've got an electronic set sitting in my bedroom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-cole/i-am-also-a-drummer-of-sorts-i-ve-got-an-electronic-set-sitting-in-my/)

[Gary Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-cole/)

> [I don't think anyone sets out to do something bad, it's just that it's very difficult.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-cole/i-don-t-think-anyone-sets-out-to-do-something-bad-it-s-just-that-it-s/)

[Gary Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-cole/)

> [Improv is not something I had a lot of experience with, because for a long time, my only experience in front of a camera…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-cole/improv-is-not-something-i-had-a-lot-of-experience-with-because-for-a/)

[Gary Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-cole/)

> [Then, at some point, you get identified with certain things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-cole/then-at-some-point-you-get-identified-with-certain-things/)

[Gary Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-cole/)

> [I still like to listen to the people that I came of age on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-cole/i-still-like-to-listen-to-the-people-that-i-came-of-age-on/)

[Gary Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-cole/)

> ['Office Space' I loved doing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-cole/office-space-i-loved-doing/)

[Gary Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-cole/)

[Explore all 70 Gary Cole quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-cole/)

## More About 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/)

> [Joking about violence is not funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perez-hilton/joking-about-violence-is-not-funny/)

[Perez Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perez-hilton/)

> [I talk to my mates about our kids, being too tired and being worn out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-willoughby/i-talk-to-my-mates-about-our-kids-being-too-tired-and-being-worn-out/)

[Holly Willoughby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-willoughby/)

> [With 'Pretty Girls,' I saw the opportunity to talk not just about crime but what crime leaves behind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karin-slaughter/with-pretty-girls-i-saw-the-opportunity-to-talk-not-just-about-crime/)

[Karin Slaughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karin-slaughter/)

> [I write about presidents. That means I write about guys - so far. I'm interested in the people closest to them, the people they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-kearns-goodwin/i-write-about-presidents-that-means-i-write-about-guys-so-far-i-m/)

[Doris Kearns Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-kearns-goodwin/)

> [That's something a lot of folks don't know about me - I'm pretty darn funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jai-white/that-s-something-a-lot-of-folks-don-t-know-about-me-i-m-pretty-darn/)

[Michael Jai White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jai-white/)

> [I learned a lot about myself at Oakmont.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-lowry/i-learned-a-lot-about-myself-at-oakmont/)

[Shane Lowry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-lowry/)

> [I don't think about the press or the crowds or the other leaders of the race. The focus is only on myself. As soon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magdalena-neuner/i-don-t-think-about-the-press-or-the-crowds-or-the-other-leaders-of/)

[Magdalena Neuner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magdalena-neuner/)

> [Sport is not just about entertainment. It is equally about winning and losing, pooling and galvanising the energy of the youth, upgrading people's physical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nita-ambani/sport-is-not-just-about-entertainment-it-is-equally-about-winning-and/)

[Nita Ambani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nita-ambani/)

> [One of the ways that I discovered my confidence and my ability to overpower is becoming a mother. Suddenly, my world wasn't about myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lights/one-of-the-ways-that-i-discovered-my-confidence-and-my-ability-to/)

[Lights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lights/)

> [I didn't want to do 'Fashion Police' because I thought, 'This is stupid, this is beneath me, who wants to talk about fashion?' It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-rivers/i-didn-t-want-to-do-fashion-police-because-i-thought-this-is-stupid/)

[Joan Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-rivers/)

> [I just worried about my weight. Worried about my appearance and thought I wan't pretty enough to be a pop star. It was very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-durham/i-just-worried-about-my-weight-worried-about-my-appearance-and/)

[Judith Durham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-durham/)

> [I read a couple of books about neuroscience and the relationship between the mind and the body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-kinnaman/i-read-a-couple-of-books-about-neuroscience-and-the-relationship/)

[Joel Kinnaman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-kinnaman/)

> [There are a lot of kids out there copying and distributing movies - not because they care about seeing the movies or sharing them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-perry-barlow/there-are-a-lot-of-kids-out-there-copying-and-distributing-movies-not/)

[John Perry Barlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-perry-barlow/)

> [I have no physical genius about me. I can't dribble a ball and run at the same time, I can't do lay-ups - I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-mullins/i-have-no-physical-genius-about-me-i-can-t-dribble-a-ball-and-run-at/)

[Rich Mullins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-mullins/)

[Browse all 26,122 About quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/about/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "It seems you can ask any friend, any relative, and they'll be able to tell you about someone they know with autism.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Gary Cole"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-cole/it-seems-you-can-ask-any-friend-any-relative-and-they-ll-be-able-to/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "About"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-cole/it-seems-you-can-ask-any-friend-any-relative-and-they-ll-be-able-to/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0cb/gary-cole-9784_about_it-seems-you-can-ask-any-friend-any-rela_3167967.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0cb/gary-cole-9784_about_it-seems-you-can-ask-any-friend-any-rela_3167967.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0cb/gary-cole-9784_about_it-seems-you-can-ask-any-friend-any-rela_3167967.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“It seems you can ask any friend, any relative, and they'll be able to tell you about someone they know with…” — Gary Cole",
                "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": "Gary Cole",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-cole/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "It seems you can ask any...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-cole/it-seems-you-can-ask-any-friend-any-relative-and-they-ll-be-able-to/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-cole/it-seems-you-can-ask-any-friend-any-relative-and-they-ll-be-able-to/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
