--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We think that we know a man or a woman…" description: "\"We think that we know a man or a woman, when so much of what we know is actually that man's or that woman's situation, his or her place on the board of..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ad/gene-wolfe-2530_armor_we-think-that-we-know-a-man-or-a-woman-w_2101298.jpg" --- # We think that we know a man or a woman, when so much of… ![“We think that we know a man or a woman, when so much of what we know is actually that man's or that woman's situation, his or her place on the board of life. Move the pawn to the last row and see her rise in armor, sword in hand.” quote by Gene Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ad/gene-wolfe-2530_armor_we-think-that-we-know-a-man-or-a-woman-w_2101298.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ad/gene-wolfe-2530_armor_we-think-that-we-know-a-man-or-a-woman-w_2101298.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ad/gene-wolfe-2530_armor_we-think-that-we-know-a-man-or-a-woman-w_2101298.jpg) > “We think that we know a man or a woman, when so much of what we know is actually that man's or that woman's situation, his or her place on the board of life. Move the pawn to the last row and see her rise in armor, sword in hand.” [Gene Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-wolfe/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. We often define people by their roles rather than their true selves, missing deeper identity. **In simple terms:** People are seen by status, not character. Key Takeaway Look beyond titles to understand individuals. Themes identity perception roles empathy Mood contemplative insightful Type philosophical observational When to use this quote - workplace - family gatherings - networking events - leadership meetings Key Concepts social psychology self-concept Questions to Reflect On - How do you see beyond someone's title? - What assumptions limit your understanding? A Different Perspective Roles can change; reducing assumptions may be uncomfortable. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Feminism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feminism/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Pawns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pawns/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [If a Woman know how to take A Man ,for who he is. A Man know how to give A Woman what she deserves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frenchqueen/if-a-woman-know-how-to-take-a-man-for-who-he-is-a-man-know-how-to/) Frenchqueen > [Don't fear Death. Fear Life, for you are a pawn in his game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/don-t-fear-death-fear-life-for-you-are-a-pawn-in-his-game/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I've worked with and talked to poor people my entire life, being in the pawn shop business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-harrison/i-ve-worked-with-and-talked-to-poor-people-my-entire-life-being-in/) [Rick Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-harrison/) > [“Why do you want to talk to me?” I ask, stalling for time. It’s a reasonable question. Any woman in this situation would be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-zaires/why-do-you-want-to-talk-to-me-i-ask-stalling-for-time-it-s-a/) [Anna Zaires](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-zaires/) > [A miscarriage is a natural and common event. All told, probably more women have lost a child from this world than haven't. Most don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-kingsolver/a-miscarriage-is-a-natural-and-common-event-all-told-probably-more/) [Barbara Kingsolver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-kingsolver/) > [There is a vulnerability that any woman has in a situation where you're surrounded by men in an enclosed space. You learn through time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katee-sackhoff/there-is-a-vulnerability-that-any-woman-has-in-a-situation-where-you/) [Katee Sackhoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katee-sackhoff/) > [“You’re the only woman I know that still looks incredible with your head in the toilet. That’s saying something.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-mcguire/you-re-the-only-woman-i-know-that-still-looks-incredible-with-your/) [Jamie McGuire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-mcguire/) > [“And even though I knew in my head there’s nothing a man can do that a woman can’t, I also knew in my heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pam-houston/and-even-though-i-knew-in-my-head-there-s-nothing-a-man-can-do-that-a/) [Pam Houston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pam-houston/) > [And looking into the face of ... one dead man we see two dead, the man and the life of the woman who gave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-howard-shaw/and-looking-into-the-face-of-one-dead-man-we-see-two-dead-the-man-and/) [Anna Howard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-howard-shaw/) > [“It took us two days to gather them! On foot! I will never hear the last of it! You call that no harm? Whatever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-anderson/it-took-us-two-days-to-gather-them-on-foot-i-will-never-hear-the-last/) [Catherine Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-anderson/) > [The image of the woman as we know it is an image created by men and fashioned to suit their needs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-millett/the-image-of-the-woman-as-we-know-it-is-an-image-created-by-men-and/) [Kate Millett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-millett/) > [“You know, Guinevere Mary, the kind of woman you could be, and I know it, too. And I won’t be satisfied until you are.”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-dodd/you-know-guinevere-mary-the-kind-of-woman-you-could-be-and-i-know-it/) [Christina Dodd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-dodd/) > [Tell us what it is to be a woman so that we may know what it is to be a man. What moves at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-morrison/tell-us-what-it-is-to-be-a-woman-so-that-we-may-know-what-it-is-to-be/) [Toni Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-morrison/) > [“No matter the size of your husband's penis, no other woman should know it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chika-unigwe/no-matter-the-size-of-your-husband-s-penis-no-other-woman-should-know/) [Chika Unigwe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chika-unigwe/) > [What a woman should know -When to just let him zone out on video games, his computer, or phone. -When to let him control…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-love-hewitt/what-a-woman-should-know-when-to-just-let-him-zone-out-on-video-games/) [Jennifer Love Hewitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-love-hewitt/) ## More by Gene Wolfe > [Some writers say they cannot write in front of a window; many say they cannot function without almost perfect quiet. A writer with only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-wolfe/some-writers-say-they-cannot-write-in-front-of-a-window-many-say-they/) [Gene Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-wolfe/) > [“Sometimes driven aground by the photon storms, by the swirling of the galaxies, clockwise and counterclockwise, ticking with light down the dark sea-corridors lined…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-wolfe/sometimes-driven-aground-by-the-photon-storms-by-the-swirling-of-the/) [Gene Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-wolfe/) > [Ambiguity is necessary in some of my stories, not in all. In those, it certainly contributes to the richness of the story. I doubt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-wolfe/ambiguity-is-necessary-in-some-of-my-stories-not-in-all-in-those-it/) [Gene Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-wolfe/) > [“There are beings—and artifacts—against which we batter our intelligence raw, and in the end make peace with reality only by saying, “It was an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-wolfe/there-are-beings-and-artifacts-against-which-we-batter-our/) [Gene Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-wolfe/) > [Science has so accustomed us to devising and accepting theories to account for the facts we observe, however fantastic, that our minds must begin…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-wolfe/science-has-so-accustomed-us-to-devising-and-accepting-theories-to/) [Gene Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-wolfe/) > [“The experienced feel love or desire, or both. The inexperienced are sick with a thousand feelings, most of them unformed: fearful that they may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-wolfe/the-experienced-feel-love-or-desire-or-both-the-inexperienced-are/) [Gene Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-wolfe/) > [“For those who have never attended a science fiction convention, masquerades are features of most of the larger ones. Awards are presented for best…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-wolfe/for-those-who-have-never-attended-a-science-fiction-convention/) [Gene Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-wolfe/) > [“He had a wild yellow beard and long, tangled hair that stood out from his head in a way that made it seem too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-wolfe/he-had-a-wild-yellow-beard-and-long-tangled-hair-that-stood-out-from/) [Gene Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-wolfe/) > [ ...in some situations winning consist\[s\] of disentangling oneself. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-wolfe/in-some-situations-winning-consist-s-of-disentangling-oneself/) [Gene Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-wolfe/) > [“For after all, if the lives of most men are examined in detail, it will be found that they have been experts of immense…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-wolfe/for-after-all-if-the-lives-of-most-men-are-examined-in-detail-it-will/) [Gene Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-wolfe/) > [You never learn how to write a novel. You just learn how to write the novel that you're writing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-wolfe/you-never-learn-how-to-write-a-novel-you-just-learn-how-to-write-the/) [Gene Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-wolfe/) > [There is no magic. There is only knowledge, more or less hidden.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-wolfe/there-is-no-magic-there-is-only-knowledge-more-or-less-hidden/) [Gene Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-wolfe/) > [“...the progress of science depends much less upon either theoretical considerations or systematic investigation than is commonly believed, but rather on the transmittal of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-wolfe/the-progress-of-science-depends-much-less-upon-either-theoretical/) [Gene Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-wolfe/) > [“Whatever we may say, all of us suffer from disturbed sleep at times. Some in truth hardly sleep, though some who sleep copiously swear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-wolfe/whatever-we-may-say-all-of-us-suffer-from-disturbed-sleep-at-times/) [Gene Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-wolfe/) > [“. . .Consciousness came and went. Consciousness went and came like the errant winds of spring, and I, who so often have had difficulty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-wolfe/consciousness-came-and-went-consciousness-went-and-came-like-the/) [Gene Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-wolfe/) [Explore all 160 Gene Wolfe quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-wolfe/) ## More Armor quotes > [We will make sure our troops have all that is necessary to complete their missions. That's why I went to the Congress last September…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/we-will-make-sure-our-troops-have-all-that-is-necessary-to-complete/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [“Tonight, I'll strip off all this armor and let it be as it was before..”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-stockett/tonight-i-ll-strip-off-all-this-armor-and-let-it-be-as-it-was-before/) [Kathryn Stockett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-stockett/) > [In other words,when GOD is finish, he will be a REAL MAN, but a Man of armor.''](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-poet-of-agent-times/in-other-words-when-god-is-finish-he-will-be-a-real-man-but-a-man-of/) [The Poet Of Agent Times](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-poet-of-agent-times/) > [My grandmother had six kids - one died as an infant - and she was dirt-poor, and all her kids got an education. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucy-alibar/my-grandmother-had-six-kids-one-died-as-an-infant-and-she-was-dirt/) [Lucy Alibar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucy-alibar/) > [It's a question of dropping the armor and getting up and doing the work you want to do. And film at first is frightening…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-dowd/it-s-a-question-of-dropping-the-armor-and-getting-up-and-doing-the/) [Ann Dowd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-dowd/) > [She looked at me. "What? Is there something wrong with my idea?" "It's not very heroic," I said dismissively. "I was expecting something with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/she-looked-at-me-what-is-there-something-wrong-with-my-idea-it-s-not/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [In any story, the villain is the catalyst. The hero's not a person who will bend the rules or show the cracks in his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-manson/in-any-story-the-villain-is-the-catalyst-the-hero-s-not-a-person-who/) [Marilyn Manson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-manson/) > [“It’s our own individual pattern of defenses, rationalizations, paradigms—our ways of responding to anything that threatens our comfort. Unless we’re careful to remain open…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-s-our-own-individual-pattern-of-defenses-rationalizations/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“They can't touch us. We're the Vikings. We go into battle without armor for the flush and the blood of it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-fitch/they-can-t-touch-us-we-re-the-vikings-we-go-into-battle-without-armor/) [Janet Fitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-fitch/) > [He shone all over. Only Magnus, Simon thought resignedly, would have access to sequined battle armor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/he-shone-all-over-only-magnus-simon-thought-resignedly-would-have/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [Wait a while; there will come to you mounts, carrying lions in shining armor, battalions followed by battalions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalid-ibn-al-walid/wait-a-while-there-will-come-to-you-mounts-carrying-lions-in-shining/) [Khalid ibn al-Walid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalid-ibn-al-walid/) > [“The weight of armor and shield will tire even the strongest man.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin/the-weight-of-armor-and-shield-will-tire-even-the-strongest-man/) [George R.R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin/) > [Is there a wrong way to say "I don't know"? Yes. When we declare ignorance, it should be a) honest and b) in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leah-hager-cohen/is-there-a-wrong-way-to-say-i-don-t-know-yes-when-we-declare/) [Leah Hager Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leah-hager-cohen/) > [Successful people are able to rise above crises by relaxing no matter what the external situation. Their belief in themselves, the strength of their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxwell-maltz/successful-people-are-able-to-rise-above-crises-by-relaxing-no-matter/) [Maxwell Maltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxwell-maltz/) > [I put on an act sometimes, and people think I’m insensitive. Really, it’s like a kind of armor because I’m too sensitive. If there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlon-brando/i-put-on-an-act-sometimes-and-people-think-i-m-insensitive-really-it/) [Marlon Brando](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlon-brando/) Browse all 390 Armor quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We think that we know a man or a woman, when so much of what we know is actually that man's or that woman's situation, his or her place on the board of life. 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