--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Stephen could be highly critical of…" description: "\"Stephen could be highly critical of people other than his closest relatives... He considered my friends to be easy victims and had no compunction in mo..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a7d/jane-hawking-12947_conversation_stephen-could-be-highly-critical-of-peop_3186242.jpg" --- # Stephen could be highly critical of people other than his… ![“Stephen could be highly critical of people other than his closest relatives... He considered my friends to be easy victims and had no compunction in monopolizing the conversation at parties with his controversial opinions.” quote by Jane Hawking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a7d/jane-hawking-12947_conversation_stephen-could-be-highly-critical-of-peop_3186242.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a7d/jane-hawking-12947_conversation_stephen-could-be-highly-critical-of-peop_3186242.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a7d/jane-hawking-12947_conversation_stephen-could-be-highly-critical-of-peop_3186242.jpg) > “Stephen could be highly critical of people other than his closest relatives... He considered my friends to be easy victims and had no compunction in monopolizing the conversation at parties with his controversial opinions.” [Jane Hawking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-hawking/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The individual is highly critical, dominating conversations with controversial views, treating friends as easy targets. **In simple terms:** Critical, dominating, and controversial. Key Takeaway Practice respectful dialogue and empathy. Themes criticism social dynamics conversation controversy empathy Mood reflective cautious Type personal reflective When to use this quote - group discussions - family gatherings - debates - social media interactions Key Concepts psychology communication interpersonal relations Questions to Reflect On - How can you voice opinions without dominating? - What strategies foster inclusive dialogue? A Different Perspective Dominating conversation can alienate others. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Conversation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conversation/) [Friendship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship/) [Opinions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opinions/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) ## Related quotes > [I just have my characters say my controversial opinions and then hide behind them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mindy-kaling/i-just-have-my-characters-say-my-controversial-opinions-and-then-hide/) [Mindy Kaling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mindy-kaling/) > [There were people whom I considered friends or loved ones who either abandoned me or betrayed me in ways I'd never have suspected. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-goad/there-were-people-whom-i-considered-friends-or-loved-ones-who-either/) [Jim Goad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-goad/) > [A friend cannot be considered as friends until he is tested in three occasions; in time of need, behind your back and until after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ali-ibn-abbi-talib/a-friend-cannot-be-considered-as-friends-until-he-is-tested-in-three/) Ali Ibn Abbi Talib > [“How many times had she heard women in New York - maybe women everywhere, for all she knew - speak lyrically of how they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-quindlen/how-many-times-had-she-heard-women-in-new-york-maybe-women-everywhere/) [Anna Quindlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-quindlen/) > [When I considered how friends responded to me when I became chronically ill, I saw only two possibilities: those who stuck around cared about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kumar-anupam/when-i-considered-how-friends-responded-to-me-when-i-became/) [Kumar Anupam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kumar-anupam/) > [I try to keep myself on an even keel by trying to be as critical of myself as I am of other people. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damon-hill/i-try-to-keep-myself-on-an-even-keel-by-trying-to-be-as-critical-of/) [Damon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damon-hill/) > [I can say with great confidence that I was much more critical of the people I knew than of the people I didn't. Just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-lowell/i-can-say-with-great-confidence-that-i-was-much-more-critical-of-the/) [Chris Lowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-lowell/) > [I think that any woman who had a conversation with me and had an opportunity to truly understand my life story wouldn't view it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-davis/i-think-that-any-woman-who-had-a-conversation-with-me-and-had-an/) [Wendy Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-davis/) > [Somewhere in the mix, we forgot the very critical people who deliver the service.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-munoz/somewhere-in-the-mix-we-forgot-the-very-critical-people-who-deliver/) [Oscar Munoz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-munoz/) > [Arrogant or critical people are often people with low self-esteem who are afraid of taking risks. That's because, if you learn something new, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kiyosaki/arrogant-or-critical-people-are-often-people-with-low-self-esteem-who/) [Robert Kiyosaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kiyosaki/) > [That's when the great stuff happens, when you're not checking yourself all the time, being critical of yourself and what other people are doing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-kane/that-s-when-the-great-stuff-happens-when-you-re-not-checking-yourself/) [Carol Kane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-kane/) > [It's so critical for people frustrated with the economy, with changing tides in government, who aren't able to hear their voices, questions or their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-noory/it-s-so-critical-for-people-frustrated-with-the-economy-with-changing/) [George Noory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-noory/) > [I can feel pretty critical of people, and I understand that sort of feeling of when you're going through something that's painful, taking it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-baumbach/i-can-feel-pretty-critical-of-people-and-i-understand-that-sort-of/) [Noah Baumbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-baumbach/) > [“By talking others out of their dreams, critical people excuse themselves for staying in their comfort zones.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/by-talking-others-out-of-their-dreams-critical-people-excuse/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [There are many things that people do happily that I can't imagine why they would do it... But I have to say that even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mackaye/there-are-many-things-that-people-do-happily-that-i-can-t-imagine-why/) [Ian MacKaye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mackaye/) ## More by Jane Hawking > [When Stephen was first diagnosed, we weren't actually going out together, but I was already falling in love with him. He had beautiful eyes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-hawking/when-stephen-was-first-diagnosed-we-weren-t-actually-going-out/) [Jane Hawking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-hawking/) > [I felt that Stephen had become such a significant figure, a scientist of such international renown, that at some future date, someone would be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-hawking/i-felt-that-stephen-had-become-such-a-significant-figure-a-scientist/) [Jane Hawking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-hawking/) > [I had to be steadfast in my Christian beliefs, seeking strength from them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-hawking/i-had-to-be-steadfast-in-my-christian-beliefs-seeking-strength-from/) [Jane Hawking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-hawking/) > [We would look up at the night sky together, and although Stephen wasn't actually very good at detecting constellations, he would tell me about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-hawking/we-would-look-up-at-the-night-sky-together-and-although-stephen-wasn/) [Jane Hawking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-hawking/) > [The goddess Physics was Stephen's idol. I was not jealous of her, but she did give me some cause for concern.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-hawking/the-goddess-physics-was-stephen-s-idol-i-was-not-jealous-of-her-but/) [Jane Hawking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-hawking/) > [I felt it was terribly important, for Stephen and the children, to keep the family together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-hawking/i-felt-it-was-terribly-important-for-stephen-and-the-children-to-keep/) [Jane Hawking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-hawking/) > [Don't ever believe what you see in films.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-hawking/don-t-ever-believe-what-you-see-in-films/) [Jane Hawking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-hawking/) > [Stephen's the great survivor, isn't he? He just goes on and on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-hawking/stephen-s-the-great-survivor-isn-t-he-he-just-goes-on-and-on/) [Jane Hawking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-hawking/) > [As Stephen's fame began to take off in a big way, and because he was so immersed in physics, it was becoming more and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-hawking/as-stephen-s-fame-began-to-take-off-in-a-big-way-and-because-he-was/) [Jane Hawking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-hawking/) > [I felt very committed to Stephen, and I didn't think he could manage without me. I wanted him to carry on doing his amazing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-hawking/i-felt-very-committed-to-stephen-and-i-didn-t-think-he-could-manage/) [Jane Hawking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-hawking/) > [Of course I don't think any of the past will go away. The thing is, with me and Stephen, for many years, I put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-hawking/of-course-i-don-t-think-any-of-the-past-will-go-away-the-thing-is/) [Jane Hawking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-hawking/) > [Gardening is one of my enduring, favourite, and most rewarding pastimes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-hawking/gardening-is-one-of-my-enduring-favourite-and-most-rewarding-pastimes/) [Jane Hawking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-hawking/) > [We were under scrutiny when Stephen became rich and famous. The media were in the house, and camera leads were absolutely everywhere - it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-hawking/we-were-under-scrutiny-when-stephen-became-rich-and-famous-the-media/) [Jane Hawking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-hawking/) > [I was very anxious that Stephen should have every opportunity to fulfil himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-hawking/i-was-very-anxious-that-stephen-should-have-every-opportunity-to/) [Jane Hawking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-hawking/) > [I couldn't let him die; I was the agent of life for Stephen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-hawking/i-couldn-t-let-him-die-i-was-the-agent-of-life-for-stephen/) [Jane Hawking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-hawking/) [Explore all 52 Jane Hawking quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-hawking/) ## More Conversation quotes > [We should have a conversation when we hang up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benedict-cumberbatch/we-should-have-a-conversation-when-we-hang-up/) [Benedict Cumberbatch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benedict-cumberbatch/) > [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/) > [I've been in a serious conversation with one of my children, and a fan has come up. I've been in a public bathroom and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-reddy/i-ve-been-in-a-serious-conversation-with-one-of-my-children-and-a-fan/) [Helen Reddy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-reddy/) > [Disability, in general, hasn't been included in the conversation about inclusivity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-winston-george/disability-in-general-hasn-t-been-included-in-the-conversation-about/) [Jason Winston George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-winston-george/) > [“Build a bridge over shame by teaching kids about sexual abuse. Give them a chance to run to us should they encounter it. Be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-byers-ruch/build-a-bridge-over-shame-by-teaching-kids-about-sexual-abuse-give/) [Carolyn Byers Ruch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-byers-ruch/) > [“Having to talk to people was the one thing, but soliciting conversation was something else. If I acted squirmy or didn't make eye contact,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-thayer-hamann/having-to-talk-to-people-was-the-one-thing-but-soliciting/) [Hilary Thayer Hamann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-thayer-hamann/) > [In recent years my understanding of God had evolved into increasingly remote abstractions. I'd come to think of God in terms like Divine Reality,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-monk-kidd/in-recent-years-my-understanding-of-god-had-evolved-into-increasingly/) [Sue Monk Kidd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-monk-kidd/) > [If, for instance, they have heard something from the postman, they attribute it to a semi-official statement; if they have fallen into conversation with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-waugh/if-for-instance-they-have-heard-something-from-the-postman-they/) [Evelyn Waugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-waugh/) > [After a few mouthfuls of moon-flavored air, even the stubbornly drowsy can find themselves wide-eyed.. All the normal noises of life were gone, leaving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-d-wilson/after-a-few-mouthfuls-of-moon-flavored-air-even-the-stubbornly-drowsy/) [N.D. 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I don't want the wage gap issue to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-arquette/it-concerns-me-when-people-frame-the-conversation-about-equal-pay/) [Patricia Arquette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-arquette/) > [Things happen too quickly, crisis follows crisis, the soil of our minds is perpetually disturbed. Each of us, to relieve his feelings, broadcasts his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-struther/things-happen-too-quickly-crisis-follows-crisis-the-soil-of-our-minds/) [Jan Struther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-struther/) > [Challenging is good, like good conversation, yes? Who wants to have dinner with the same old easy listening music sounding friends all the time?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilton-als/challenging-is-good-like-good-conversation-yes-who-wants-to-have/) [Hilton Als](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilton-als/) > [Don’t let yourself be. Find something new to try, something to change. 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