--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Sometimes when I generalize, I am saying…" description: "\"Sometimes when I generalize, I am saying, 'Let's pretend I am God,' and of course the other person argues that point endlessly. But I notice that if th..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c9d/hugh-prather-3404_arguing_sometimes-when-i-generalize-i-am-saying_46145.jpg" --- # Sometimes when I generalize, I am saying, 'Let's pretend I… ![“Sometimes when I generalize, I am saying, 'Let's pretend I am God,' and of course the other person argues that point endlessly. But I notice that if the other person takes a stand for himself and states his thoughts as his thoughts, I pay more attention to what he is saying and look deeper in…” quote by Hugh Prather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c9d/hugh-prather-3404_arguing_sometimes-when-i-generalize-i-am-saying_46145.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c9d/hugh-prather-3404_arguing_sometimes-when-i-generalize-i-am-saying_46145.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c9d/hugh-prather-3404_arguing_sometimes-when-i-generalize-i-am-saying_46145.jpg) > “Sometimes when I generalize, I am saying, 'Let's pretend I am God,' and of course the other person argues that point endlessly. But I notice that if the other person takes a stand for himself and states his thoughts as his thoughts, I pay more attention to what he is saying and look deeper in myself.” [Hugh Prather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-prather/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker reflects on how assuming an omniscient stance hinders genuine dialogue, while listening to another's personal perspective fosters deeper self‑examination. **In simple terms:** Listening to personal viewpoints deepens self‑awareness. Key Takeaway Own your perspective, hear others. Themes self‑awareness dialogue humility perspective authenticity Mood thoughtful introspective curious Type philosophical advice personal When to use this quote - conflict resolution - coaching sessions - team meetings - personal therapy - philosophical discussions Key Concepts ego empathy introspection Practical Applications - improve interpersonal communication - enhance reflective practice Questions to Reflect On - How does adopting another's viewpoint change your self‑perception? - What habits keep you from truly hearing others? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Attention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attention/) [Thoughts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thoughts/) ## Related quotes > [I'm always a bit suspicious of the sort of person who argues by saying 'What would Jesus have said?' 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If they understand that no human being can represent God, then sure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khaled-abou-el-fadl/if-human-beings-pretend-to-be-god-then-forget-about-democracy-if-they/) [Khaled Abou El Fadl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khaled-abou-el-fadl/) > [If you pretend to be someone, god will not bless you!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dub-tepper/if-you-pretend-to-be-someone-god-will-not-bless-you/) DUB$TEPPER > [So where does Stan fit in this equation?... 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Speak and act…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/we-are-what-we-think-and-all-that-we-are-rises-with-our-thoughts-with/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [What we think, we become. All that we are arises with our thoughts. With our thoughts, we make the world. -](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kemis-khan/what-we-think-we-become-all-that-we-are-arises-with-our-thoughts-with/) [Kemis Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kemis-khan/) > [“Thoughts are only thoughts.They are not you, you belong to yourself even when your thoughts don't.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/thoughts-are-only-thoughts-they-are-not-you-you-belong-to-yourself/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [First Thoughts are the everyday thoughts. Everyone has those. Second Thoughts are the thoughts you think about the way you think. People who enjoy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/first-thoughts-are-the-everyday-thoughts-everyone-has-those-second/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [We are what we think. All that we are arises with our thoughts. With our thoughts, we make the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buddha/we-are-what-we-think-all-that-we-are-arises-with-our-thoughts-with/) [Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buddha/) > [What are your thoughts?' 'My thoughts?' I replied, before I even realized what I was saying. 'My thoughts created my world.' Mac sat up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-mccafferty/what-are-your-thoughts-my-thoughts-i-replied-before-i-even-realized/) [Megan McCafferty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-mccafferty/) > [I believe your thoughts are your thoughts, but are you a human being in front of the camera, or an actor? They are two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-lloyd/i-believe-your-thoughts-are-your-thoughts-but-are-you-a-human-being/) [Harry Lloyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-lloyd/) ## More by Hugh Prather > [Ultimately, my character is defined by the quality of my sensitivity to other people. I exist in equilibrium. I am here to the degree…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-prather/ultimately-my-character-is-defined-by-the-quality-of-my-sensitivity/) [Hugh Prather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-prather/) > [“I wish" assumes that I know what is the opposite of my present experience.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-prather/i-wish-assumes-that-i-know-what-is-the-opposite-of-my-present/) [Hugh Prather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-prather/) > [If the ocean was pure mind and I was a wave, I would be in terror if Itried to distinguish myself fromthe water that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-prather/if-the-ocean-was-pure-mind-and-i-was-a-wave-i-would-be-in-terror-if/) [Hugh Prather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-prather/) > [I don't need a "reason" to be happy. I don't have to consult the future to know how happy I feel now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-prather/i-don-t-need-a-reason-to-be-happy-i-don-t-have-to-consult-the-future/) [Hugh Prather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-prather/) > [“In order to see, I have to be willing to be seen.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-prather/in-order-to-see-i-have-to-be-willing-to-be-seen/) [Hugh Prather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-prather/) > [No matter what we talk about, we are talking about ourselves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-prather/no-matter-what-we-talk-about-we-are-talking-about-ourselves/) [Hugh Prather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-prather/) > [Love itself is not an act of will, but sometimes I need the force of my volition to break with my habitual responses and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-prather/love-itself-is-not-an-act-of-will-but-sometimes-i-need-the-force-of/) [Hugh Prather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-prather/) > [I can not 'make my mark' for all time - those concepts are mutually exclusive. 'Lasting effect' is a self-contradictory term. Meaning does not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-prather/i-can-not-make-my-mark-for-all-time-those-concepts-are-mutually/) [Hugh Prather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-prather/) > [Today I don't want to live for, I want to live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-prather/today-i-don-t-want-to-live-for-i-want-to-live/) [Hugh Prather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-prather/) > [Love, the magician, knows this little trick whereby two people walk in different directions yet always remain side by side…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-prather/love-the-magician-knows-this-little-trick-whereby-two-people-walk-in/) [Hugh Prather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-prather/) > [Books seek us out. They slip themselves into our hands just at the time we are ready for a new self-concept.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-prather/books-seek-us-out-they-slip-themselves-into-our-hands-just-at-the/) [Hugh Prather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-prather/) > [If I work toward an end, meantime I am confined to a process.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-prather/if-i-work-toward-an-end-meantime-i-am-confined-to-a-process/) [Hugh Prather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-prather/) > [Happiness is gentleness, peace, concentration, simplicity, forgiveness, humor, fearlessness, trust, and now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-prather/happiness-is-gentleness-peace-concentration-simplicity-forgiveness/) [Hugh Prather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-prather/) > [One element of maturity is the realization that we don't get away with anything. Any advantage gained or convenience taken, any private procrastination or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-prather/one-element-of-maturity-is-the-realization-that-we-don-t-get-away/) [Hugh Prather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-prather/) > [I can't be found in myself; I discover myself in others. That much is clear. And I suspect that I also love and care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-prather/i-can-t-be-found-in-myself-i-discover-myself-in-others-that-much-is/) [Hugh Prather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-prather/) [Explore all 130 Hugh Prather quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-prather/) ## More Arguing quotes > [I do wish you wouldn't argue with me when I'm knitting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-durrell/i-do-wish-you-wouldn-t-argue-with-me-when-i-m-knitting/) [Gerald Durrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-durrell/) > [Any comprehensive doctrine, religious or secular, can be introduced into any political argument at any time, but I argue that people who do this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-rawls/any-comprehensive-doctrine-religious-or-secular-can-be-introduced/) [John Rawls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-rawls/) > [It's fine to talk about politics with people you agree with. But it is rude to argue about politics with people you disagree with.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-lessig/it-s-fine-to-talk-about-politics-with-people-you-agree-with-but-it-is/) [Lawrence Lessig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-lessig/) > [Men are fair, and they have learned not to personalize anger - they can disagree with you and argue to the bone, but afterward…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-farrell/men-are-fair-and-they-have-learned-not-to-personalize-anger-they-can/) [Warren Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-farrell/) > [When Eudæmonidas heard a philosopher arguing that only a wise man can be a good general, "This is a wonderful speech," said he; "but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/when-eud-monidas-heard-a-philosopher-arguing-that-only-a-wise-man-can/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [Fasting is required, staying away from fighting and arguing and bombing of masjids is still going on. Hatred is still manifested between Sunni and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-farrakhan/fasting-is-required-staying-away-from-fighting-and-arguing-and/) [Louis Farrakhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-farrakhan/) > [The problem for the Left, however, is that the moment it stops painting the Right as vile, it has to argue the issues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-prager/the-problem-for-the-left-however-is-that-the-moment-it-stops-painting/) [Dennis Prager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-prager/) > [To argue with a person who has renounced the use of reason is like administering medicine to the dead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/to-argue-with-a-person-who-has-renounced-the-use-of-reason-is-like/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [You can argue that the Terminator movies reboot their world each time they go back in time, but that doesn't negate the value of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hayter/you-can-argue-that-the-terminator-movies-reboot-their-world-each-time/) [David Hayter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hayter/) > [We may argue eloquently that 'Honesty is the best Policy' - unfortunately, the moment honesty is adopted for the sake of policy it mysteriously…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-l-sayers/we-may-argue-eloquently-that-honesty-is-the-best-policy-unfortunately/) [Dorothy L. Sayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-l-sayers/) > [I'm a very serious person, but I don't take myself very seriously and I would rather laugh all day than argue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stone-cold-steve-austin/i-m-a-very-serious-person-but-i-don-t-take-myself-very-seriously-and/) [Stone Cold Steve Austin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stone-cold-steve-austin/) > [These eyes, tho' clear To outward view of blemish or of spot, Bereft of light, their seeing have forgot, Nor to their idle orbs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/these-eyes-tho-clear-to-outward-view-of-blemish-or-of-spot-bereft-of/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [There's crucial distinction that has to be drawn between the Shari'a, which is this hugely expansive vision of cosmic order that I've been describing,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sadakat-kadri/there-s-crucial-distinction-that-has-to-be-drawn-between-the-shari-a/) [Sadakat Kadri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sadakat-kadri/) > [Only fools argue whether to eat meat or not. They don't understand truth nor do they meditate on it. Who can define what is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guru-nanak/only-fools-argue-whether-to-eat-meat-or-not-they-don-t-understand/) [Guru Nanak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guru-nanak/) > [The surest sign that you haven't any sense is to argue with one who hasn't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-j-peter/the-surest-sign-that-you-haven-t-any-sense-is-to-argue-with-one-who/) [Laurence J. Peter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-j-peter/) Browse all 1,908 Arguing quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Sometimes when I generalize, I am saying, 'Let's pretend I am God,' and of course the other person argues that point endlessly. 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