--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We can never see our own faces directly…" description: "\"“We can never see our own faces directly, never look straight into our own eyes.”\" — Jean Hegland" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ea/jean-hegland-17612_eyes_we-can-never-see-our-own-faces-directly_1289532.png" --- # We can never see our own faces directly, never look… ![“We can never see our own faces directly, never look straight into our own eyes.” quote by Jean Hegland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ea/jean-hegland-17612_eyes_we-can-never-see-our-own-faces-directly_1289532.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ea/jean-hegland-17612_eyes_we-can-never-see-our-own-faces-directly_1289532.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ea/jean-hegland-17612_eyes_we-can-never-see-our-own-faces-directly_1289532.png) > ““We can never see our own faces directly, never look straight into our own eyes.”” [Jean Hegland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-hegland/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. We cannot directly perceive ourselves; self-awareness requires indirect reflection and others’ feedback. **In simple terms:** We can’t see ourselves directly. Key Takeaway Seek external perspectives. Themes self-awareness perception identity Mood reflective thoughtful Type philosophical psychological When to use this quote - therapy - coaching - journaling - peer review Key Concepts mirror metaphor subjectivity Questions to Reflect On - How do you verify your self‑image? - Who provides honest feedback? A Different Perspective Self-deception can distort reflection. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Directly Look](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/directly-look-3926719/) [Eyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eyes/) [Faces Directly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faces-directly-4196052/) [Look Straight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/look-straight-295082/) [Straight Eyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/straight-eyes-707364/) ## Related quotes > [You have to look straight through her eyes, all the way down to her heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-wright/you-have-to-look-straight-through-her-eyes-all-the-way-down-to-her/) [Kevin Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-wright/) > [If nothing else, one day you can look someone straight in the eyes and say, But I lived through it. And it made me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iain-thomas/if-nothing-else-one-day-you-can-look-someone-straight-in-the-eyes-and/) [Iain Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iain-thomas/) > [Father told me that if I ever met a lady in a dress like yours, I must look her straight in the eyes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prince-charles/father-told-me-that-if-i-ever-met-a-lady-in-a-dress-like-yours-i-must/) [Prince Charles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prince-charles/) > [“If he is not going anywhere in life, then look him straight in the eyes and inform him that you are not going anywhere…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moffat-machingura/if-he-is-not-going-anywhere-in-life-then-look-him-straight-in-the/) [Moffat Machingura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moffat-machingura/) > [“You can only conclude that you're over him if you can directly look into his eyes and can state something straightly.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/she/you-can-only-conclude-that-you-re-over-him-if-you-can-directly-look/) [she](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/she/) > [I've looked straight into your eyes and turned my head for the last time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/as-i-lay-dying/i-ve-looked-straight-into-your-eyes-and-turned-my-head-for-the-last/) [As I Lay Dying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/as-i-lay-dying/) > [“You can’t drive straight if your eyes are fixed on the rearview mirror”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-budzinski/you-can-t-drive-straight-if-your-eyes-are-fixed-on-the-rearview-mirror/) [Karen Budzinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-budzinski/) > [When life stares you straight in the eyes, don't be afraid to smile and wave hi.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-s-sharp/when-life-stares-you-straight-in-the-eyes-don-t-be-afraid-to-smile/) [David S Sharp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-s-sharp/) > [When you look me straight in the eyes and smile that cute smile of yours, my heart does a quadruple back-flip and I can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/when-you-look-me-straight-in-the-eyes-and-smile-that-cute-smile-of/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [One day I can look straight into your eyes and say, I'm going on with my life without you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nica-escover/one-day-i-can-look-straight-into-your-eyes-and-say-i-m-going-on-with/) [Nica Escover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nica-escover/) > [“Above all else, guard your heart, for it affects everything you do. 24 Avoid all perverse talk; stay far from corrupt speech. 25 Look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-fike/above-all-else-guard-your-heart-for-it-affects-everything-you-do-24/) [Al Fike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-fike/) > [A hound will die for you, but never lie to you. And he'll look you straight in the face.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-hound-will-die-for-you-but-never-lie-to-you-and-he-ll-look-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [My personality was always such that I always look straight forward, never behind or to the side.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grant-achatz/my-personality-was-always-such-that-i-always-look-straight-forward/) [Grant Achatz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grant-achatz/) > [From a distance it might look straight, but when you get close up, you can always see the line waver. And I think that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-kilgallen/from-a-distance-it-might-look-straight-but-when-you-get-close-up-you/) [Margaret Kilgallen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-kilgallen/) > [Look down to me, you will se a fool. Look up to heaven, you will see God. Look straight to me, you will see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/binh/look-down-to-me-you-will-se-a-fool-look-up-to-heaven-you-will-see-god/) [Binh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/binh/) ## More by Jean Hegland > [“tragedy is suffering elevated into art, it’s art that helps humans endure—and sometimes even transcend—their suffering. It’s”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-hegland/tragedy-is-suffering-elevated-into-art-it-s-art-that-helps-humans/) [Jean Hegland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-hegland/) > [“Humanism, he continued, leaning toward his colleagues with the zeal of his conviction even as he stumbled over his words, that holds as its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-hegland/humanism-he-continued-leaning-toward-his-colleagues-with-the-zeal-of/) [Jean Hegland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-hegland/) > [“He knows a sweep of gratitude, soft as another voice, and so wide and deep he believes he might drown in it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-hegland/he-knows-a-sweep-of-gratitude-soft-as-another-voice-and-so-wide-and/) [Jean Hegland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-hegland/) > [“And humanism—that transcendent vision that spans centuries and religions in its celebration of reason, responsibility, art, and examined lives—has been tossed out like old…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-hegland/and-humanism-that-transcendent-vision-that-spans-centuries-and/) [Jean Hegland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-hegland/) > [“They do not die ignorant of either their own follies or of life’s worth. Instead, they die in the fullest possible knowledge of who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-hegland/they-do-not-die-ignorant-of-either-their-own-follies-or-of-life-s/) [Jean Hegland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-hegland/) > [“Beyond us I could see the mountains rising blue and hazy, and I knew I had only to cross them and keep on walking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-hegland/beyond-us-i-could-see-the-mountains-rising-blue-and-hazy-and-i-knew-i/) [Jean Hegland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-hegland/) > [“In some ways we were more remote than strangers because strangers at least have the possibility of yet unmade connections.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-hegland/in-some-ways-we-were-more-remote-than-strangers-because-strangers-at/) [Jean Hegland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-hegland/) > [“Each … breeze,” he says, watching the ripple of the bright, unfurling leaves, “will be me, missing. You.” Smiling”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-hegland/each-breeze-he-says-watching-the-ripple-of-the-bright-unfurling/) [Jean Hegland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-hegland/) > [“It’s a physical urge, stronger than thirst or sex. Halfway back on the left side of my head there is a spot that longs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-hegland/it-s-a-physical-urge-stronger-than-thirst-or-sex-halfway-back-on-the/) [Jean Hegland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-hegland/) > [It's a physical urge, huger and stronger than thirst or sex. Halfway back on the left side of my head there is a spot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-hegland/it-s-a-physical-urge-huger-and-stronger-than-thirst-or-sex-halfway/) [Jean Hegland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-hegland/) > [“In sooth, I know not why I am so sad.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-hegland/in-sooth-i-know-not-why-i-am-so-sad/) [Jean Hegland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-hegland/) > [“It is the size of the characters’ desires that helps to make a sad story a tragedy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-hegland/it-is-the-size-of-the-characters-desires-that-helps-to-make-a-sad/) [Jean Hegland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-hegland/) > [“Guys were first effigies, then urchins. But always male,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-hegland/guys-were-first-effigies-then-urchins-but-always-male/) [Jean Hegland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-hegland/) > [This body is yours. No one can ever take it from you, if only you will accept yourself, claim it again--your arms, your spine,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-hegland/this-body-is-yours-no-one-can-ever-take-it-from-you-if-only-you-will/) [Jean Hegland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-hegland/) > [“We heard the United States had a new president, that she was arranging for a loan from the Commonwealth to bail us out. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-hegland/we-heard-the-united-states-had-a-new-president-that-she-was-arranging/) [Jean Hegland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-hegland/) [Explore all 36 Jean Hegland quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-hegland/) ## More Eyes quotes > [My father longed for a better life for us, and when I was nine he got a job as a heart surgeon in Belfast.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-melua/my-father-longed-for-a-better-life-for-us-and-when-i-was-nine-he-got/) [Katie Melua](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-melua/) > [When I was a teen, I would draw a really, really long line around my eyes with eyeliner, like Lola Flores.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosalia/when-i-was-a-teen-i-would-draw-a-really-really-long-line-around-my/) [Rosalia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosalia/) > [It's a great story for us whenever an entrepreneur makes a crazy amount of money and we get to tell the world about it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-lacy/it-s-a-great-story-for-us-whenever-an-entrepreneur-makes-a-crazy/) [Sarah Lacy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-lacy/) > [Human beings should stick together. Honestly, if I see a red-haired person with blue eyes now, I say, 'Is your granny black?'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-jones/human-beings-should-stick-together-honestly-if-i-see-a-red-haired/) [Grace Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-jones/) > [It's similar to basketball: when you go to different gyms and win or lose, you learn something new. So when kids get out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-iguodala/it-s-similar-to-basketball-when-you-go-to-different-gyms-and-win-or/) [Andre Iguodala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-iguodala/) > [When I see things through my eyes, I don't want to ever just be really negative towards someone's performance. There are many ways to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stone-cold-steve-austin/when-i-see-things-through-my-eyes-i-don-t-want-to-ever-just-be-really/) [Stone Cold Steve Austin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stone-cold-steve-austin/) > [My only trick to having wing liner sharp enough to cut is be careful and take your time! I have hooded eyes, so I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-charles/my-only-trick-to-having-wing-liner-sharp-enough-to-cut-is-be-careful/) [James Charles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-charles/) > [“I fell in love with your eyes first because I looked into their depths and saw the other half of my soul.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-k-lilley/i-fell-in-love-with-your-eyes-first-because-i-looked-into-their/) [R.K. Lilley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-k-lilley/) > [I think, reading about yourself through somebody else's eyes, you're always going to have your own story.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-sestero/i-think-reading-about-yourself-through-somebody-else-s-eyes-you-re/) [Greg Sestero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-sestero/) > [For the Russian masses, the proletarians, knew for certain, and already saw during the war, and in part before their very eyes, that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-gorter/for-the-russian-masses-the-proletarians-knew-for-certain-and-already/) [Herman Gorter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-gorter/) > [Don't fire until you see the whites of their eyes!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-h-prescott/don-t-fire-until-you-see-the-whites-of-their-eyes/) [William H. Prescott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-h-prescott/) > [Evertime I close my eyes it doesnt matter where, I always see you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patience/evertime-i-close-my-eyes-it-doesnt-matter-where-i-always-see-you/) [Patience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patience/) > [Look with all your eyes, look.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jules-verne/look-with-all-your-eyes-look/) [Jules Verne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jules-verne/) > [It's not your mistake if you cant read the eyes which cheats you. But it's really your mistake if you cant read the eyes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ally-mbululo/it-s-not-your-mistake-if-you-cant-read-the-eyes-which-cheats-you-but/) [Ally Mbululo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ally-mbululo/) > [Kiss me with your eyes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-warhol/kiss-me-with-your-eyes/) [Andy Warhol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-warhol/) [Browse all 3,942 Eyes quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eyes/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“We can never see our own faces directly, never look straight into our own eyes.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jean Hegland" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-hegland/we-can-never-see-our-own-faces-directly-never-look-straight-into-our/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Eyes" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-hegland/we-can-never-see-our-own-faces-directly-never-look-straight-into-our/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ea/jean-hegland-17612_eyes_we-can-never-see-our-own-faces-directly_1289532.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ea/jean-hegland-17612_eyes_we-can-never-see-our-own-faces-directly_1289532.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ea/jean-hegland-17612_eyes_we-can-never-see-our-own-faces-directly_1289532.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“We can never see our own faces directly, never look straight into our own eyes.” — Jean Hegland", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Jean Hegland", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-hegland/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“We can never see our own...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-hegland/we-can-never-see-our-own-faces-directly-never-look-straight-into-our/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-hegland/we-can-never-see-our-own-faces-directly-never-look-straight-into-our/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```