--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When men understand what each other mean…" description: "\"When men understand what each other mean, they see, for the most part, that controversy is either superfluous or hopeless\" — John Henry Newman" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eff/john-henry-newman-2366_controversy_when-men-understand-what-each-other-mean_2226147.jpg" --- # When men understand what each other mean, they see, for… ![“When men understand what each other mean, they see, for the most part, that controversy is either superfluous or hopeless” quote by John Henry Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eff/john-henry-newman-2366_controversy_when-men-understand-what-each-other-mean_2226147.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eff/john-henry-newman-2366_controversy_when-men-understand-what-each-other-mean_2226147.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eff/john-henry-newman-2366_controversy_when-men-understand-what-each-other-mean_2226147.jpg) > “When men understand what each other mean, they see, for the most part, that controversy is either superfluous or hopeless” [John Henry Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-henry-newman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Understanding each other's perspectives reveals that many disputes are unnecessary or unsolvable. **In simple terms:** Mutual understanding reduces pointless conflict. Key Takeaway Seek to understand before arguing. Themes communication understanding conflict resolution Mood thoughtful analytical Type philosophical reflective When to use this quote - workplace meetings - political debates - family discussions - academic forums Key Concepts philosophy theology Questions to Reflect On - How can we improve mutual understanding? - When is conflict inevitable? A Different Perspective Some disagreements stem from deeper values. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Controversy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/controversy/) [Greatness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greatness/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) ## Related quotes > [Not all people can understand what you mean. Because we may have the same LANGUAGE but we don't have the same way of THINKING.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/not-all-people-can-understand-what-you-mean-because-we-may-have-the/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [You are the world to me, no one and nothing else matters, its me and you. I don't think you understand how much you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rowee/you-are-the-world-to-me-no-one-and-nothing-else-matters-its-me-and/) [Rowee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rowee/) > [I've never been able to understand what they mean by 'Pinteresque,'. I'm sure it's indefinable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-pinter/i-ve-never-been-able-to-understand-what-they-mean-by-pinteresque-i-m/) [Harold Pinter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-pinter/) > [I wish for one moment you could see through my eyes; just so you could understand how much you mean to me, because no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-wish-for-one-moment-you-could-see-through-my-eyes-just-so-you-could/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Everyone can't understand what you mean. We may have the same language, but we don't have the same way of thinking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/everyone-can-t-understand-what-you-mean-we-may-have-the-same-language/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The things we agree to call art are the shamanic tokens of our time. We value them beyond all reason because we can't really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jade-chang/the-things-we-agree-to-call-art-are-the-shamanic-tokens-of-our-time/) [Jade Chang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jade-chang/) > [Not all people can understand what you mean, we may have the same language but we don't have the same line of thinking! :)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mega/not-all-people-can-understand-what-you-mean-we-may-have-the-same/) Mega > [Theology is an attempt to explain a subject by men who do not understand it. The intent is not to tell the truth but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/theology-is-an-attempt-to-explain-a-subject-by-men-who-do-not/) [Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) > [The man who can put himself in the place of other men, who can understand the workings of their minds, need never worry about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/owen-d-young/the-man-who-can-put-himself-in-the-place-of-other-men-who-can/) [Owen D. Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/owen-d-young/) > [Men will not understand … that when they fulfil their duties to men, they fulfil thereby God's commandments; that they are consequently always in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/immanuel-kant/men-will-not-understand-that-when-they-fulfil-their-duties-to-men/) [Immanuel Kant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/immanuel-kant/) > [It is false to suggest that men must turn away from his desires in the interest of a higher duty. Men only responds to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/it-is-false-to-suggest-that-men-must-turn-away-from-his-desires-in/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [All men can understand what representation is; and that it must necessarily include a variety of knowledge and talents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/all-men-can-understand-what-representation-is-and-that-it-must/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [All strife concerning Christ's testaments cometh hence that men do not understand that Heaven wherein Christ sitteth at the right hand of God. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jakob-bohme/all-strife-concerning-christ-s-testaments-cometh-hence-that-men-do/) [Jakob Bohme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jakob-bohme/) > [Men are apt to overvalue the tongues, and to think they have made considerable progress in learning when they have once overcome these; yet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-d-baker/men-are-apt-to-overvalue-the-tongues-and-to-think-they-have-made/) [E.D. Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-d-baker/) > [We are different. We are equal in every way but our voices are important to each other and our need to want to listen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liv-ullmann/we-are-different-we-are-equal-in-every-way-but-our-voices-are/) [Liv Ullmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liv-ullmann/) ## More by John Henry Newman > [Fear not that thy life shall come to an end, but rather that it shall ever have a beginning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-henry-newman/fear-not-that-thy-life-shall-come-to-an-end-but-rather-that-it-shall/) [John Henry Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-henry-newman/) > [It is not God's way that great blessings should descend without the sacrifice first of great sufferings. If the truth is to be spread…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-henry-newman/it-is-not-god-s-way-that-great-blessings-should-descend-without-the/) [John Henry Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-henry-newman/) > [By a garden is meant mystically a place of spiritual repose, stillness, peace, refreshment, delight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-henry-newman/by-a-garden-is-meant-mystically-a-place-of-spiritual-repose-stillness/) [John Henry Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-henry-newman/) > [Fear not that thy life shall come to an end, but rather fear that it shall never have a beginning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-henry-newman/fear-not-that-thy-life-shall-come-to-an-end-but-rather-fear-that-it/) [John Henry Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-henry-newman/) > [“The minds of young people are pliable and elastic, and easily accommodate themselves to any one they fall in with.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-henry-newman/the-minds-of-young-people-are-pliable-and-elastic-and-easily/) [John Henry Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-henry-newman/) > [The love of our private friends is the only preparatory exercise for the love of all men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-henry-newman/the-love-of-our-private-friends-is-the-only-preparatory-exercise-for/) [John Henry Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-henry-newman/) > [A universityeducates the intellect to reason well in all matters, to reach out towards truth, and to grasp it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-henry-newman/a-universityeducates-the-intellect-to-reason-well-in-all-matters-to/) [John Henry Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-henry-newman/) > [Nothing would be done at all if one waited until one could do it so well that no one could find fault with it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-henry-newman/nothing-would-be-done-at-all-if-one-waited-until-one-could-do-it-so/) [John Henry Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-henry-newman/) > [Christ is already in that place of peace, which is all in all. He is on the right hand of God. He is hidden…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-henry-newman/christ-is-already-in-that-place-of-peace-which-is-all-in-all-he-is-on/) [John Henry Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-henry-newman/) > [Growth is the only evidence of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-henry-newman/growth-is-the-only-evidence-of-life/) [John Henry Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-henry-newman/) > [“Mr Kingsley begins then by exclaiming- 'O the chicanery, the wholesale fraud, the vile hypocrisy, the conscience-killing tyranny of Rome! We have not far…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-henry-newman/mr-kingsley-begins-then-by-exclaiming-o-the-chicanery-the-wholesale/) [John Henry Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-henry-newman/) > [There is in stillness oft a magic power To calm the breast when struggling passions lower, Touched by its influence, in the soul arise…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-henry-newman/there-is-in-stillness-oft-a-magic-power-to-calm-the-breast-when/) [John Henry Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-henry-newman/) > [Dear Lord...shine through me, and be so in me that every soul I come in contact with may feel Your presence in my soul...Let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-henry-newman/dear-lord-shine-through-me-and-be-so-in-me-that-every-soul-i-come-in/) [John Henry Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-henry-newman/) > [It is almost a definition of a gentleman to say that he is one who never inflicts pain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-henry-newman/it-is-almost-a-definition-of-a-gentleman-to-say-that-he-is-one-who/) [John Henry Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-henry-newman/) > [To be deep in history, is to cease to be Protestant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-henry-newman/to-be-deep-in-history-is-to-cease-to-be-protestant/) [John Henry Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-henry-newman/) [Explore all 168 John Henry Newman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-henry-newman/) ## More Controversy quotes > [If Melanchthon were alive today, he might not weep because of controversies that surround the Lord's Supper, but he might well sorrow because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erwin-w-lutzer/if-melanchthon-were-alive-today-he-might-not-weep-because-of/) [Erwin W. Lutzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erwin-w-lutzer/) > [ As we have seen after every other \[Donald\] Trump controversy, this one only increased their enthusiasm for him. His supporters thought the idea of… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-inskeep/as-we-have-seen-after-every-other-donald-trump-controversy-this-one/) [Steve Inskeep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-inskeep/) > [My pride is the length of time I have worked in the industry without any major controversy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sajid-nadiadwala/my-pride-is-the-length-of-time-i-have-worked-in-the-industry-without/) [Sajid Nadiadwala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sajid-nadiadwala/) > [Controversy equalizes fools and wise men in the same way - and the fools know it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-wendell-holmes-sr-2/controversy-equalizes-fools-and-wise-men-in-the-same-way-and-the/) [Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-wendell-holmes-sr-2/) > [Some people want to have controversy between the races.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-rodman/some-people-want-to-have-controversy-between-the-races/) [Dennis Rodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-rodman/) > [Controversy for the sake of controversy is sin. Controversy for the sake of truth is a divine command.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-martin/controversy-for-the-sake-of-controversy-is-sin-controversy-for-the/) [Walter Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-martin/) > [Sometimes as a player you do not want to get into a controversy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sourav-ganguly/sometimes-as-a-player-you-do-not-want-to-get-into-a-controversy/) [Sourav Ganguly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sourav-ganguly/) > [Science does not enter a chaotic society to put order into it anymore, to simplify its composition, and to put an end to controversies.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruno-latour/science-does-not-enter-a-chaotic-society-to-put-order-into-it-anymore/) [Bruno Latour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruno-latour/) > [I am disappointed by this controversy surrounding A Million Little Pieces because I rely on the publishers to define the category that a book…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/i-am-disappointed-by-this-controversy-surrounding-a-million-little/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [My stress on the truth in sexual stereotypes and on the biologic basis of sex differences is sure to cause controversy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/my-stress-on-the-truth-in-sexual-stereotypes-and-on-the-biologic/) [Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/) > [Controversy sells, politics sell, all that type of stuff sells.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jadakiss/controversy-sells-politics-sell-all-that-type-of-stuff-sells/) [Jadakiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jadakiss/) > [Please don't think that I got married on TV for publicity. I already enjoyed a huge fan following, courtesy my character in Bidaai.' Instead,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-khan/please-don-t-think-that-i-got-married-on-tv-for-publicity-i-already/) [Sara Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-khan/) > [There's a lot of controversy online, some people say i'm a genius and other say i'm hugely talented.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-kindler/there-s-a-lot-of-controversy-online-some-people-say-i-m-a-genius-and/) [Andy Kindler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-kindler/) > [Gossip is never fatal until it is denied. Gossip goes on about every human being alive and about all the dead that are alive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/booth-tarkington/gossip-is-never-fatal-until-it-is-denied-gossip-goes-on-about-every/) [Booth Tarkington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/booth-tarkington/) > [I think controversy is an interesting thing in that it usually goes hand in hand with starting conversations that surround taboo or under-discussed topics…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-sharp/i-think-controversy-is-an-interesting-thing-in-that-it-usually-goes/) [Alex Sharp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-sharp/) [Browse all 604 Controversy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/controversy/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When men understand what each other mean, they see, for the most part, that controversy is either superfluous or hopeless", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Henry Newman" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-henry-newman/when-men-understand-what-each-other-mean-they-see-for-the-most-part/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Controversy" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-henry-newman/when-men-understand-what-each-other-mean-they-see-for-the-most-part/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eff/john-henry-newman-2366_controversy_when-men-understand-what-each-other-mean_2226147.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eff/john-henry-newman-2366_controversy_when-men-understand-what-each-other-mean_2226147.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eff/john-henry-newman-2366_controversy_when-men-understand-what-each-other-mean_2226147.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When men understand what each other mean, they see, for the most part, that controversy is either…” — John Henry Newman", "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": "John Henry Newman", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-henry-newman/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "When men understand what each other...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-henry-newman/when-men-understand-what-each-other-mean-they-see-for-the-most-part/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-henry-newman/when-men-understand-what-each-other-mean-they-see-for-the-most-part/#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 } } ] } ```