--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think knowing people by first names…" description: "\"I think knowing people by first names, not by what they do sexually, is really what it's about. Not being afraid. Fear is the enemy. I've always been c..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/01b/herb-ritts-20522_being-afraid_i-think-knowing-people-by-first-names-no_1559029.jpg" --- # I think knowing people by first names, not by what they do… ![“I think knowing people by first names, not by what they do sexually, is really what it's about. Not being afraid. Fear is the enemy. I've always been comfortable with being gay.” quote by Herb Ritts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/01b/herb-ritts-20522_being-afraid_i-think-knowing-people-by-first-names-no_1559029.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/01b/herb-ritts-20522_being-afraid_i-think-knowing-people-by-first-names-no_1559029.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/01b/herb-ritts-20522_being-afraid_i-think-knowing-people-by-first-names-no_1559029.jpg) > “I think knowing people by first names, not by what they do sexually, is really what it's about. Not being afraid. Fear is the enemy. I've always been comfortable with being gay.” [Herb Ritts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-ritts/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Emphasizes seeing people as individuals beyond sexual identity, encouraging fearlessness and authenticity. **In simple terms:** See people as individuals, not labels. Key Takeaway Value personal identity over stereotypes. Themes identity authenticity fear acceptance Mood reflective encouraging Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal relationships - public speaking - community building Key Concepts human dignity sexual orientation social perception Questions to Reflect On - How do you practice seeing beyond labels? - What fears limit authentic connections? A Different Perspective May overlook systemic issues affecting sexual minorities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Afraid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afraid/) [Afraid Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afraid-fear/) [Being afraid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-afraid/) [Being gay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-gay/) [Comfortable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comfortable/) [Comfortable Gay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comfortable-gay-5113026/) [Enemy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemy/) [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Firsts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/) [Gay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gay/) [Homosexuality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/homosexuality/) [Knowing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowing/) [Knowing people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowing-people/) [Names](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/names/) [Names Sexually](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/names-sexually-5844898/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Sexually](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sexually/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [You can't live life being afraid, because fear censors ambition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erol-alkan/you-can-t-live-life-being-afraid-because-fear-censors-ambition/) [Erol Alkan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erol-alkan/) > [So my son... with Nicky, I would always - in case he was gay I wanted to make sure he felt comfortable being gay.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-dubrow/so-my-son-with-nicky-i-would-always-in-case-he-was-gay-i-wanted-to/) [Terry Dubrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-dubrow/) > [I'm completely comfortable with gay marriage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-edwards/i-m-completely-comfortable-with-gay-marriage/) [Elizabeth Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-edwards/) > [I am comfortable being gay. Most of my adult life, it's never been a secret. I knew I was gay when I was in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-quest/i-am-comfortable-being-gay-most-of-my-adult-life-it-s-never-been-a/) [Richard Quest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-quest/) > [“Terry was cool, cooler then Ig would ever be, but he was afraid. His fear narrowed his vision so that he couldn't see anything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-hill/terry-was-cool-cooler-then-ig-would-ever-be-but-he-was-afraid-his/) [Joe Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-hill/) > [I’m afraid of everything. Fear of being alone, fear of being hurt, fear of being made a fool of, fear of failure... Still, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tiffanie-debartolo/i-m-afraid-of-everything-fear-of-being-alone-fear-of-being-hurt-fear/) [Tiffanie DeBartolo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tiffanie-debartolo/) > [The only thing I am afraid of is fear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-only-thing-i-am-afraid-of-is-fear/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When I was a kid, FDR on the radio said, 'We have nothing to fear but fear itself.' We should be afraid of fear,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-bean/when-i-was-a-kid-fdr-on-the-radio-said-we-have-nothing-to-fear-but/) [Orson Bean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-bean/) > [There is no fear in love, but perfect love casteth out fear. Fear is a painful emotion that arises at the thought that we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/there-is-no-fear-in-love-but-perfect-love-casteth-out-fear-fear-is-a/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [“He wasn’t afraid. Fear was reserved for those who had something to live for”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-j-roberts/he-wasn-t-afraid-fear-was-reserved-for-those-who-had-something-to/) [C.J. Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-j-roberts/) > [“Instead of being afraid, I could become something to fear.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-black/instead-of-being-afraid-i-could-become-something-to-fear/) [Holly Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-black/) > [“I knew that if I allowed fear to overtake me, my journey was doomed. Fear, to a great extent, is born of a story…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheryl-strayed/i-knew-that-if-i-allowed-fear-to-overtake-me-my-journey-was-doomed/) [Cheryl Strayed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheryl-strayed/) > [“Jules: Emma, everyone's afraid of something. We fear things because we value them. We fear losing people because we love them. We fear dying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/jules-emma-everyone-s-afraid-of-something-we-fear-things-because-we/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [In my past, it looked like I could get into trouble in Russia - but I was not afraid then, and I'm not afraid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pavel-durov/in-my-past-it-looked-like-i-could-get-into-trouble-in-russia-but-i/) [Pavel Durov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pavel-durov/) > [“It is important you understand how fear affects you and how it drives human behavior so you can start to see situations and people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberly-giles/it-is-important-you-understand-how-fear-affects-you-and-how-it-drives/) [Kimberly Giles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimberly-giles/) ## More by Herb Ritts > [And what excites me most is the type of public, the fact that the Parisian people have a broader cultural understanding than many Americans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-ritts/and-what-excites-me-most-is-the-type-of-public-the-fact-that-the/) [Herb Ritts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-ritts/) > [Within two hours of where I live, you have mountains and desert as location. I like the natural elements that abstract into light, texture,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-ritts/within-two-hours-of-where-i-live-you-have-mountains-and-desert-as/) [Herb Ritts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-ritts/) > [To me it's just going for the moment that counts. Sometimes, I'll have all the elements there, and I like to play and push…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-ritts/to-me-it-s-just-going-for-the-moment-that-counts-sometimes-i-ll-have/) [Herb Ritts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-ritts/) > [I abstract it in my photographs: I like large planes and spaces, areas of texture and light, like deserts or oceans or monumental places.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-ritts/i-abstract-it-in-my-photographs-i-like-large-planes-and-spaces-areas/) [Herb Ritts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-ritts/) > [Many people who excel are self-taught.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-ritts/many-people-who-excel-are-self-taught/) [Herb Ritts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-ritts/) > [What I particularly liked was that, coming from California and not being involved in the New York scene, I developed my personal way, in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-ritts/what-i-particularly-liked-was-that-coming-from-california-and-not/) [Herb Ritts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-ritts/) > [For me, the most important thing I learned was just honing my eye. I think I had a good eye.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-ritts/for-me-the-most-important-thing-i-learned-was-just-honing-my-eye-i/) [Herb Ritts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-ritts/) > [The education, the cultural awareness, is different in Europe, especially in France, from that in the United States. So I think the public will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-ritts/the-education-the-cultural-awareness-is-different-in-europe/) [Herb Ritts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-ritts/) > [I think a lot of the time these days people are so concerned about having the right camera and the right film and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-ritts/i-think-a-lot-of-the-time-these-days-people-are-so-concerned-about/) [Herb Ritts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-ritts/) > [I did grow up next door to Steve McQueen, who was a very famous movie star at the time, but as a kid it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-ritts/i-did-grow-up-next-door-to-steve-mcqueen-who-was-a-very-famous-movie/) [Herb Ritts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-ritts/) > [It's important to let your subjects be themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-ritts/it-s-important-to-let-your-subjects-be-themselves/) [Herb Ritts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-ritts/) > [Actually, when I first started dabbling in photography, I was still working for my parents as a salesman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-ritts/actually-when-i-first-started-dabbling-in-photography-i-was-still/) [Herb Ritts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-ritts/) > [I like form and shape and strength in pictures.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-ritts/i-like-form-and-shape-and-strength-in-pictures/) [Herb Ritts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-ritts/) > [Being an American is about having the right to be who you are. Sometimes that doesn't happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-ritts/being-an-american-is-about-having-the-right-to-be-who-you-are/) [Herb Ritts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-ritts/) > [I was an economics major, which I enjoyed because I had a good business sense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-ritts/i-was-an-economics-major-which-i-enjoyed-because-i-had-a-good/) [Herb Ritts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-ritts/) [Explore all 30 Herb Ritts quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-ritts/) ## More Afraid quotes > [It took me 20 years to buy an electric typewriter, because I was afraid it would be too sensitive. I like to bang the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/it-took-me-20-years-to-buy-an-electric-typewriter-because-i-was/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [“Carrie Fisher. “Stay afraid, but do it anyway.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-union/carrie-fisher-stay-afraid-but-do-it-anyway/) [Gabrielle Union](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-union/) > [I used to be afraid of my temper, but it turns out I don't really have one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-bell/i-used-to-be-afraid-of-my-temper-but-it-turns-out-i-don-t-really-have/) [Zoe Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-bell/) > [I get afraid of the dark if I'm in a great deal of dark, and I have to move around inside of that fear...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emil-ferris/i-get-afraid-of-the-dark-if-i-m-in-a-great-deal-of-dark-and-i-have-to/) [Emil Ferris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emil-ferris/) > [I am not afraid of praise, for I have practiced it on myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/i-am-not-afraid-of-praise-for-i-have-practiced-it-on-myself/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [I'm a pretty fearless person. I'm afraid of, like, creepy men in white vans and sidewalks with no streetlights. But I'm not afraid to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josie-totah/i-m-a-pretty-fearless-person-i-m-afraid-of-like-creepy-men-in-white/) [Josie Totah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josie-totah/) > [I will support my party when they are right on an issue, but am not afraid to stand up to party bosses who are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darlene-senger/i-will-support-my-party-when-they-are-right-on-an-issue-but-am-not/) [Darlene Senger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darlene-senger/) > [Why am I so afraid to loose you,when you're not even mine?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/why-am-i-so-afraid-to-loose-you-when-you-re-not-even-mine/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I want to tell you, but I cant, becuase I'm afraid if I do you'll never treat me same the again](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cristina-orante/i-want-to-tell-you-but-i-cant-becuase-i-m-afraid-if-i-do-you-ll-never/) [Cristina Orante](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cristina-orante/) > [Mistakes I've made in the past make me afraid to try new things in the future. I want to be perfect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-altucher/mistakes-i-ve-made-in-the-past-make-me-afraid-to-try-new-things-in/) [James Altucher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-altucher/) > [“Humans are naturally scared and confused beings. They not only fear the unknown, as they live fearing themselves... ☥”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-marques/humans-are-naturally-scared-and-confused-beings-they-not-only-fear/) [Luis Marques](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-marques/) > [If you are too afraid of failure, you cant possibly do what needs to be done to succeed in living a fulfilling life. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melchor-lim/if-you-are-too-afraid-of-failure-you-cant-possibly-do-what-needs-to/) [Melchor Lim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melchor-lim/) > [We cannot be afraid of the dark that they live in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/burnie-burns/we-cannot-be-afraid-of-the-dark-that-they-live-in/) [Burnie Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/burnie-burns/) > [“I think the reason we're cruel sometimes is that we're afraid we're going to like something.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-berg/i-think-the-reason-we-re-cruel-sometimes-is-that-we-re-afraid-we-re/) [Elizabeth Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-berg/) > [I'm still with that feeling that I am afraid of doing the wrong thing, because somebody is going to punish me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eartha-kitt/i-m-still-with-that-feeling-that-i-am-afraid-of-doing-the-wrong-thing/) [Eartha Kitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eartha-kitt/) [Browse all 5,519 Afraid quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afraid/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I think knowing people by first names, not by what they do sexually, is really what it's about. 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