--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Sometimes people look at people with…" description: "\"Sometimes people look at people with disabilities and there's a moment where they just feel sorry for them.\" — Jessica Long" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a0d/jessica-long-6319_look_sometimes-people-look-at-people-with-dis_1334454.jpg" --- # Sometimes people look at people with disabilities and… ![“Sometimes people look at people with disabilities and there's a moment where they just feel sorry for them.” quote by Jessica Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a0d/jessica-long-6319_look_sometimes-people-look-at-people-with-dis_1334454.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a0d/jessica-long-6319_look_sometimes-people-look-at-people-with-dis_1334454.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a0d/jessica-long-6319_look_sometimes-people-look-at-people-with-dis_1334454.jpg) > “Sometimes people look at people with disabilities and there's a moment where they just feel sorry for them.” [Jessica Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-long/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People often react with pity toward disability, but this can reduce individuals to objects of charity rather than recognizing their agency. **In simple terms:** Pity can be demeaning. Key Takeaway Respect autonomy over sympathy. Themes empathy disability awareness human dignity Mood thoughtful inspirational Type advocacy educational When to use this quote - community events - workplace diversity training - educational curricula Key Concepts social perception inclusion empowerment Questions to Reflect On - How can you shift from pity to genuine support? - What actions demonstrate respect for ability? A Different Perspective Pity may unintentionally reinforce stereotypes and limit empowerment. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Disabilities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disabilities/) [Moment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moment/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [People with disabilities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-with-disabilities/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [A lot of roles for people with disabilities are quite patronising. It's a real pity when they are just used to give dull PC…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-haddon/a-lot-of-roles-for-people-with-disabilities-are-quite-patronising-it/) [Mark Haddon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-haddon/) > [A lot of society tries to put people with disabilities into one cube, and when you think about it, many, many people have different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/itzhak-perlman/a-lot-of-society-tries-to-put-people-with-disabilities-into-one-cube/) [Itzhak Perlman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/itzhak-perlman/) > [The problem for many people with disabilities is not that we are not able to work a certain number of hours a week. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stella-young/the-problem-for-many-people-with-disabilities-is-not-that-we-are-not/) [Stella Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stella-young/) > [People with disabilities can grow up thinking they have a weakness because they are told,You will never do this properly; you will never walk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rj-mitte/people-with-disabilities-can-grow-up-thinking-they-have-a-weakness/) [RJ Mitte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rj-mitte/) > [People with disabilities ROCK! Each are different ... expect it, respect it, and accept it!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-moores/people-with-disabilities-rock-each-are-different-expect-it-respect-it/) [Sarah Moores](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-moores/) > [Those we most often exclude from the normal life of society, people with disabilities, have profound lessons to teach us](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-vanier/those-we-most-often-exclude-from-the-normal-life-of-society-people/) [Jean Vanier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-vanier/) > [Throughout history people with disabilities have been institutionalized and segregated, which tends to make you think that it's a group in need of charity.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-ruderman/throughout-history-people-with-disabilities-have-been/) [Jay Ruderman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-ruderman/) > [“Social justice is for everyone, including people with disabilities.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlee-matlin/social-justice-is-for-everyone-including-people-with-disabilities/) [Marlee Matlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlee-matlin/) > [People with disabilities and health conditions have enough challenges in life. Dealing with my department should not be one of them. So my ambition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amber-rudd/people-with-disabilities-and-health-conditions-have-enough-challenges/) [Amber Rudd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amber-rudd/) > [Believe me, people with disabilities are just as concerned about benefit fraud as anyone else. Money spent on those who are not in need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stella-young/believe-me-people-with-disabilities-are-just-as-concerned-about/) [Stella Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stella-young/) > [I get so many tweets and emails from young people with disabilities or disfigurements who also want to act, or do TV or do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-pearson/i-get-so-many-tweets-and-emails-from-young-people-with-disabilities/) [Adam Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-pearson/) > [“In 1996, when Senator Bob Dole runs against President Clinton, it’s a historic moment for people with disabilities. No one with a visible disability…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-mattlin/in-1996-when-senator-bob-dole-runs-against-president-clinton-it-s-a/) Ben Mattlin > [I was introduced to 7 Charming Sisters at an Emmy Award Show event. When they approached me to become a brand ambassador, I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-brewer/i-was-introduced-to-7-charming-sisters-at-an-emmy-award-show-event/) [Jamie Brewer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-brewer/) > [Disabled people need more invested in their education, housing, job training, transportation, assistive technology, and independent-living facilities. Governments earn back this investment - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-ventura/disabled-people-need-more-invested-in-their-education-housing-job/) [Jesse Ventura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-ventura/) > [I think one in five Americans has a disability of some sort. That's 20% of the population, and yet we rarely ever see people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hong-chau/i-think-one-in-five-americans-has-a-disability-of-some-sort-that-s-20/) [Hong Chau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hong-chau/) ## More by Jessica Long > [Growing up, I was one of those energetic kids who never sat still.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-long/growing-up-i-was-one-of-those-energetic-kids-who-never-sat-still/) [Jessica Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-long/) > [There was a time I used to focus on just being skinny, and now I really think about how can I be strong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-long/there-was-a-time-i-used-to-focus-on-just-being-skinny-and-now-i/) [Jessica Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-long/) > [Each year the excitement and the build-up for the Paralympics Games has grown more and more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-long/each-year-the-excitement-and-the-build-up-for-the-paralympics-games/) [Jessica Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-long/) > [I have trained so so hard to be where I am at - I train with Olympic athletes and if I'm struggling to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-long/i-have-trained-so-so-hard-to-be-where-i-am-at-i-train-with-olympic/) [Jessica Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-long/) > [There was so much pain. Every time I grew, I had to go back in for a surgery. And I remember just being really,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-long/there-was-so-much-pain-every-time-i-grew-i-had-to-go-back-in-for-a/) [Jessica Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-long/) > [Everyone had a loss or lost something during COVID. I allowed myself to take long baths, watch cheesy movies, and just tried to slow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-long/everyone-had-a-loss-or-lost-something-during-covid-i-allowed-myself/) [Jessica Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-long/) > [In 2018 I really hurt my back, my lower back, and it's been a couple of years where we finally found out that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-long/in-2018-i-really-hurt-my-back-my-lower-back-and-it-s-been-a-couple-of/) [Jessica Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-long/) > [I'd love to see the 200s, the 50s, the 400 IM. I would do so many events.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-long/i-d-love-to-see-the-200s-the-50s-the-400-im-i-would-do-so-many-events/) [Jessica Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-long/) > [I think here in the U.S., we have a hard time accepting disabilities. That's why I think it's really good to share and let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-long/i-think-here-in-the-u-s-we-have-a-hard-time-accepting-disabilities/) [Jessica Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-long/) > [Swimming forced me to deal with the things I wanted to escape. It helped me work through a lot of feelings and frustrations, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-long/swimming-forced-me-to-deal-with-the-things-i-wanted-to-escape-it/) [Jessica Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-long/) > [The idea that I got to be on a team with Trischa Zorn - as a 12-year-old - is wild to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-long/the-idea-that-i-got-to-be-on-a-team-with-trischa-zorn-as-a-12-year/) [Jessica Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-long/) > [Putting on shoes with my prosthetic legs is still hard for me, but at the end of the day, I'm just putting on really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-long/putting-on-shoes-with-my-prosthetic-legs-is-still-hard-for-me-but-at/) [Jessica Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-long/) > [When I first began competing, brands were quite hesitant to feature disabled athletes in advertisements, perhaps due to a fear of offending consumers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-long/when-i-first-began-competing-brands-were-quite-hesitant-to-feature/) [Jessica Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-long/) > [I was never bullied as a kid, and I didn't know that I was going to be bullied by adults because I park in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-long/i-was-never-bullied-as-a-kid-and-i-didn-t-know-that-i-was-going-to-be/) [Jessica Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-long/) > [At age 4 I started in gymnastics and used that as an outlet for my endless energy for several years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-long/at-age-4-i-started-in-gymnastics-and-used-that-as-an-outlet-for-my/) [Jessica Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-long/) [Explore all 99 Jessica Long quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-long/) ## More Disabilities quotes > [Regarding lack of vision or disabilities of the organ of sight, it has long been known among researchers that it is the effect of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-heindel/regarding-lack-of-vision-or-disabilities-of-the-organ-of-sight-it-has/) [Max Heindel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-heindel/) > [It feels amazing to be a role model for people with and without disabilities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-potter/it-feels-amazing-to-be-a-role-model-for-people-with-and-without/) [Lauren Potter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-potter/) > [There's a wide variety of diversity, with people that have disabilities from R.J. Mitte in 'Breaking Bad' to Danny Woodburn being a little man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-brewer/there-s-a-wide-variety-of-diversity-with-people-that-have/) [Jamie Brewer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-brewer/) > [“Disabilities are not inspiration, they are messages that need to be addressed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-david-o-brien/disabilities-are-not-inspiration-they-are-messages-that-need-to-be/) Marc David O'Brien > [Autistic people's disabilities are widely known, but one of their best-established strengths is their attention to detail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-baron-cohen/autistic-people-s-disabilities-are-widely-known-but-one-of-their-best/) [Simon Baron-Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-baron-cohen/) > [A lot of roles for people with disabilities are quite patronising. It's a real pity when they are just used to give dull PC…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-haddon/a-lot-of-roles-for-people-with-disabilities-are-quite-patronising-it/) [Mark Haddon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-haddon/) > [What has become of society now these days? It's not simple anymore; well life has never been simple though. Why can't people just accept…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abigail-hough/what-has-become-of-society-now-these-days-it-s-not-simple-anymore/) Abigail Hough > [Barring extreme physical and mental disabilities, each and every one of us is where we are today -- be it poor or wealthy, happy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-boortz/barring-extreme-physical-and-mental-disabilities-each-and-every-one/) [Neal Boortz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-boortz/) > [Our real disabilities come from inside us, don't tell yourself you can't do something, keep on trying and if one way doesn't work try…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rashida-rowe/our-real-disabilities-come-from-inside-us-don-t-tell-yourself-you-can/) [Rashida Rowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rashida-rowe/) > [Whether you know it or not, when you leave one of my shows, you have a different understanding of disabilities and what disability is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-blue/whether-you-know-it-or-not-when-you-leave-one-of-my-shows-you-have-a/) [Josh Blue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-blue/) > [There are people with physical disabilities that prevent them from having any hope - in some cases any actual hope and in other cases…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallin-h-oaks/there-are-people-with-physical-disabilities-that-prevent-them-from/) [Dallin H. Oaks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallin-h-oaks/) > [Learning disabilities cannot be cured, but they can be treated successfully and children with LD can go on to live happy, successful lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-ford/learning-disabilities-cannot-be-cured-but-they-can-be-treated/) Anne Ford > [The ADA allows persons with disabilities the opportunity to participate in the world around them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tammy-duckworth/the-ada-allows-persons-with-disabilities-the-opportunity-to/) [Tammy Duckworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tammy-duckworth/) > [Through the 'It's About Ability' campaign and with parents and other members of society, we have created a social family for children with disabilities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/igor-luksic/through-the-it-s-about-ability-campaign-and-with-parents-and-other/) [Igor Luksic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/igor-luksic/) > [“Not being able to talk sucks. There's no doubt about that. There's a lot of times when I almost feel like I'm trapped inside…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keary-taylor/not-being-able-to-talk-sucks-there-s-no-doubt-about-that-there-s-a/) [Keary Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keary-taylor/) [Browse all 170 Disabilities quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disabilities/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Sometimes people look at people with disabilities and there's a moment where they just feel sorry for them.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jessica Long" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-long/sometimes-people-look-at-people-with-disabilities-and-there-s-a/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Disabilities" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-long/sometimes-people-look-at-people-with-disabilities-and-there-s-a/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a0d/jessica-long-6319_look_sometimes-people-look-at-people-with-dis_1334454.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a0d/jessica-long-6319_look_sometimes-people-look-at-people-with-dis_1334454.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a0d/jessica-long-6319_look_sometimes-people-look-at-people-with-dis_1334454.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Sometimes people look at people with disabilities and there's a moment where they just feel sorry for them.” — Jessica Long", "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": "Jessica Long", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-long/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Sometimes people look at people with...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-long/sometimes-people-look-at-people-with-disabilities-and-there-s-a/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-long/sometimes-people-look-at-people-with-disabilities-and-there-s-a/#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 } } ] } ```