--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's a terrific privilege to be able to…" description: "\"It's a terrific privilege to be able to see into somebody else's life.\" — Helen Garner" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d6/helen-garner-12280_able_it-s-a-terrific-privilege-to-be-able-to_2274826.jpg" --- # It's a terrific privilege to be able to see into somebody… ![“It's a terrific privilege to be able to see into somebody else's life.” quote by Helen Garner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d6/helen-garner-12280_able_it-s-a-terrific-privilege-to-be-able-to_2274826.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d6/helen-garner-12280_able_it-s-a-terrific-privilege-to-be-able-to_2274826.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d6/helen-garner-12280_able_it-s-a-terrific-privilege-to-be-able-to_2274826.jpg) > “It's a terrific privilege to be able to see into somebody else's life.” [Helen Garner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-garner/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Understanding another's life offers deep empathy and insight, a privilege that expands one's perspective. **In simple terms:** Seeing others' lives teaches empathy. Key Takeaway Seek to understand others deeply. Themes empathy insight privilege perspective life stories Mood reflective appreciative Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - reading biographies - interviewing - volunteering - storytelling Key Concepts human connection narrative empathy Questions to Reflect On - What have you learned from another's story? - How does this privilege affect your own life? A Different Perspective It may be invasive if boundaries are ignored. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Privilege](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/privilege/) ## Related quotes > [You're able to get into somebody's brain through song.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phillipa-soo/you-re-able-to-get-into-somebody-s-brain-through-song/) [Phillipa Soo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phillipa-soo/) > [Only when we recognise our privilege, we will be able to make a change for others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/atishi/only-when-we-recognise-our-privilege-we-will-be-able-to-make-a-change/) [Atishi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/atishi/) > [The poet enjoys the incomparable privilege of being able to be himself and others, as he wishes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-baudelaire/the-poet-enjoys-the-incomparable-privilege-of-being-able-to-be/) [Charles Baudelaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-baudelaire/) > [This is a privilege, what we get to do. To be able to tell stories. It's a luxury. So I have a business-like approach…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-david-washington/this-is-a-privilege-what-we-get-to-do-to-be-able-to-tell-stories-it-s/) [John David Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-david-washington/) > [I can barely walk, but it's a privilege to be able to move at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/i-can-barely-walk-but-it-s-a-privilege-to-be-able-to-move-at-all/) [Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/) > [I always feel like it is a privilege to be able to be an artist and to be able to exhibit my work all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-drain/i-always-feel-like-it-is-a-privilege-to-be-able-to-be-an-artist-and/) [Jim Drain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-drain/) > [I feel that it's nothing if not an incredible privilege to be able to get up on stage and play for people, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-chapin-carpenter/i-feel-that-it-s-nothing-if-not-an-incredible-privilege-to-be-able-to/) [Mary Chapin Carpenter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-chapin-carpenter/) > [I think it's a privilege to be able to fly to somewhere where people want to see my show.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-burr/i-think-it-s-a-privilege-to-be-able-to-fly-to-somewhere-where-people/) [Bill Burr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-burr/) > [We were allowed to make mistakes. I mean that is a real privilege, to be able to go your own way, find your voice,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoya-akhtar/we-were-allowed-to-make-mistakes-i-mean-that-is-a-real-privilege-to/) [Zoya Akhtar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoya-akhtar/) > [White Privilege is being able to take pride in your race, people assuming your poor because your white but you still have dreams as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/white-privilege-is-being-able-to-take-pride-in-your-race-people/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It's a privilege to be able to have an idea and go into a group of executives and say, "I really want to write…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-t-murphy/it-s-a-privilege-to-be-able-to-have-an-idea-and-go-into-a-group-of/) [Ryan T. Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-t-murphy/) > [It's a privilege to be able to take care of yourself and not have to be constantly on the treadmill.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meena-harris/it-s-a-privilege-to-be-able-to-take-care-of-yourself-and-not-have-to/) [Meena Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meena-harris/) > [It's an incredible privilege to be able to sit in front of a computer and spend a few hours just thinking and writing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-blaemire/it-s-an-incredible-privilege-to-be-able-to-sit-in-front-of-a-computer/) [Nick Blaemire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-blaemire/) > [“I think of the privilege it is to be able to speak life over these hurting people and believe in new life for them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-davis-majors/i-think-of-the-privilege-it-is-to-be-able-to-speak-life-over-these/) [Katie Davis Majors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-davis-majors/) > [These opportunities don't come around too often. It's quite an honor and a privilege to be able to sit here today saying that I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-anthony/these-opportunities-don-t-come-around-too-often-it-s-quite-an-honor/) [Marc Anthony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-anthony/) ## More by Helen Garner > [Tentatively I stood a great lump of wood on the chopping block and bought the axe down on it. It flew into two perfect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-garner/tentatively-i-stood-a-great-lump-of-wood-on-the-chopping-block-and/) [Helen Garner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-garner/) > [To slide into the domed reading room at ten each morning, specially in summer, off the hot street outside, was a sensation as delicious…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-garner/to-slide-into-the-domed-reading-room-at-ten-each-morning-specially-in/) [Helen Garner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-garner/) > [“But I’ve been reading A Very Easy Death, about Simone de Beauvoir’s mother dying of cancer – it’s just brilliant. It really helped me.’…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-garner/but-i-ve-been-reading-a-very-easy-death-about-simone-de-beauvoir-s/) [Helen Garner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-garner/) > [“The two big cities of Australia are tonally as distinct from each other as Boston is from L.A. or Lyon from Marseilles.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-garner/the-two-big-cities-of-australia-are-tonally-as-distinct-from-each/) [Helen Garner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-garner/) > [It's much more interesting for me to think that taking a chunk of experience and mushing it up together with other things that are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-garner/it-s-much-more-interesting-for-me-to-think-that-taking-a-chunk-of/) [Helen Garner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-garner/) > [On Melbourne summer mornings the green trams go rolling in stately progress down tunnels thick with leaves: the bright air carries along the avenue…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-garner/on-melbourne-summer-mornings-the-green-trams-go-rolling-in-stately/) [Helen Garner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-garner/) > [It's disturbing at my age to look at a young woman's destructive behaviour and hear the echoes of it, of one's own destructiveness in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-garner/it-s-disturbing-at-my-age-to-look-at-a-young-woman-s-destructive/) [Helen Garner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-garner/) > [I'm very disturbed by violence against women when it is violence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-garner/i-m-very-disturbed-by-violence-against-women-when-it-is-violence/) [Helen Garner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-garner/) > [I just... my childhood seems, when I look back, to be largely composed of reading, lying on the bed. I mean, my mother was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-garner/i-just-my-childhood-seems-when-i-look-back-to-be-largely-composed-of/) [Helen Garner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-garner/) > [I'm full of restlessness. Not lonely, exactly - my head is racing with ideas. But it is that old treacherous feeling that real life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-garner/i-m-full-of-restlessness-not-lonely-exactly-my-head-is-racing-with/) [Helen Garner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-garner/) > [“I realised I had a stream of thoughts about him which ran for the most part below conscious level. I noticed jets spurting up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-garner/i-realised-i-had-a-stream-of-thoughts-about-him-which-ran-for-the/) [Helen Garner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-garner/) > [“It was early summer. And everything, as it always does, began to heave and change.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-garner/it-was-early-summer-and-everything-as-it-always-does-began-to-heave/) [Helen Garner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-garner/) > [Maybe this is pathetic, but I still dread producing a book that doesn't earn back its advance. I hate obligations that are financially foggy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-garner/maybe-this-is-pathetic-but-i-still-dread-producing-a-book-that-doesn/) [Helen Garner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-garner/) > [At the time it seemed like a natural development of my interest in what was going on around me in society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-garner/at-the-time-it-seemed-like-a-natural-development-of-my-interest-in/) [Helen Garner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-garner/) > [Courts are supposed to be places of reason. But this, of course, is a fantasy. I mean, there is reason being used as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-garner/courts-are-supposed-to-be-places-of-reason-but-this-of-course-is-a/) [Helen Garner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-garner/) [Explore all 55 Helen Garner quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-garner/) ## More Able quotes > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) > [I have observed this in my experience of slavery, - that whenever my condition was improved, instead of its increasing my contentment, it only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-have-observed-this-in-my-experience-of-slavery-that-whenever-my/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [In the '80s, the way radio was programmed, if you didn't have a hit record you weren't going to be able to make any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huey-lewis/in-the-80s-the-way-radio-was-programmed-if-you-didn-t-have-a-hit/) [Huey Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huey-lewis/) > [I think I've had the longest career of strength, focus, and still being able to sell records. I think I'm that guy. I'm still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-think-i-ve-had-the-longest-career-of-strength-focus-and-still-being/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) > [I have that need in me, I want everyone to love me, but I'm embarrassed by that need, so I wanted to cover it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-jeselnik/i-have-that-need-in-me-i-want-everyone-to-love-me-but-i-m-embarrassed/) [Anthony Jeselnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-jeselnik/) > [Thinking about the things that happened, I don't know any other ball player would could have done what he (Jackie Robinson) did. To be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pee-wee-reese/thinking-about-the-things-that-happened-i-don-t-know-any-other-ball/) [Pee Wee Reese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pee-wee-reese/) > [I wanted to remember in order to be able to return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/i-wanted-to-remember-in-order-to-be-able-to-return/) [Anais Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/) > [Government schools, with your tax money, now discourage the teaching of multiplication tables by rote memorization but teach reading by the 'look-and-say' method which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-perry/government-schools-with-your-tax-money-now-discourage-the-teaching-of/) Greg Perry > [I don't know if I would qualify as mainstream. I think I have managed to function pretty successfully on the fringes of the music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-metheny/i-don-t-know-if-i-would-qualify-as-mainstream-i-think-i-have-managed/) [Pat Metheny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-metheny/) > [What we're supposed to do as actors is be able to portray real human beings and emotions. And if you grow up in this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-browning/what-we-re-supposed-to-do-as-actors-is-be-able-to-portray-real-human/) [Emily Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-browning/) > [The reason that Apple is able to create products like iPad is because we always try to be at the intersection of technology and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/the-reason-that-apple-is-able-to-create-products-like-ipad-is-because/) [Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/) > [It was an important period for us, because even though we weren't a "punk band", and what became a model for a punk band,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-mallinder/it-was-an-important-period-for-us-because-even-though-we-weren-t-a/) [Stephen Mallinder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-mallinder/) > [- You look fine. - Right. I look fine. Except I don't, said Zora, tugging sadly at her man's nightshirt. 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