--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What if I told you that that which makes…" description: "\"“What if I told you that that which makes you fundamentally human is something that you share with another people, a people so different from you that ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a4/john-scalzi-2071_terrify_what-if-i-told-you-that-that-which-makes_2304848.jpg" --- # What if I told you that that which makes you fundamentally… ![“What if I told you that that which makes you fundamentally human is something that you share with another people, a people so different from you that they might appear strange or frightening at first glance. A people who might terrify you from appearance alone. Could you make the jump, and…” quote by John Scalzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a4/john-scalzi-2071_terrify_what-if-i-told-you-that-that-which-makes_2304848.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a4/john-scalzi-2071_terrify_what-if-i-told-you-that-that-which-makes_2304848.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a4/john-scalzi-2071_terrify_what-if-i-told-you-that-that-which-makes_2304848.jpg) > ““What if I told you that that which makes you fundamentally human is something that you share with another people, a people so different from you that they might appear strange or frightening at first glance. A people who might terrify you from appearance alone. Could you make the jump, and understand that inside, they are not so different at all?”” [John Scalzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-scalzi/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Recognizing shared humanity across differences can bridge fear and foster empathy, revealing commonality despite outward strangeness. **In simple terms:** Shared humanity bridges differences. Key Takeaway Seek common ground with the unfamiliar. Themes empathy humanity diversity fear of other Mood hopeful introspective Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - cross‑cultural interaction - conflict resolution - team building Key Concepts psychology social cohesion Questions to Reflect On - What assumptions prevent you from seeing commonality? - How can you practice empathy with strangers? A Different Perspective Empathy may not overcome deep‑rooted prejudice. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet ## Related quotes > [A lot of times, in a store, clothes appear strange to me, their cuts or flourishes arbitrary. Why is this look stylish now? How…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-sittenfeld/a-lot-of-times-in-a-store-clothes-appear-strange-to-me-their-cuts-or/) [Curtis Sittenfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-sittenfeld/) > [The whole movement of an essay is propelled by a fundamentally human impulse to want to figure things out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-d-agata/the-whole-movement-of-an-essay-is-propelled-by-a-fundamentally-human/) [John D'Agata](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-d-agata/) > [I am not fundamentally a musician, I am fundamentally a human being.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbie-hancock/i-am-not-fundamentally-a-musician-i-am-fundamentally-a-human-being/) [Herbie Hancock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbie-hancock/) > [Entrepreneurship is the ability to create and build from a vision practically anything; fundamentally it is a human, creative act.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffry-a-timmons/entrepreneurship-is-the-ability-to-create-and-build-from-a-vision/) Jeffry A Timmons > [“But surely the idea that one might slip away unseen and take up another life is nearly universal. Is there anything more fundamentally human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-finney-boylan/but-surely-the-idea-that-one-might-slip-away-unseen-and-take-up/) [Jennifer Finney Boylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-finney-boylan/) > [“Is there anything more fundamentally human than the desire to live in another world, as someone other than our own earthbound selves?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-finney-boylan/is-there-anything-more-fundamentally-human-than-the-desire-to-live-in/) [Jennifer Finney Boylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-finney-boylan/) > [“Apollo has something to teach us as we enter a new century of genetic modification, artificial intelligence, nanotechnology. It's a cautionary tale about that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-smith/apollo-has-something-to-teach-us-as-we-enter-a-new-century-of-genetic/) [Andrew Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-smith/) > [“The search for purpose and meaning is fundamentally human; the uniting trait of our species.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-mercurio/the-search-for-purpose-and-meaning-is-fundamentally-human-the-uniting/) Zach Mercurio > [Over time, our inescapable, systemic, fundamentally human impurity gives us the capacity to do what has not been done before: to make creative leaps…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohsin-hamid/over-time-our-inescapable-systemic-fundamentally-human-impurity-gives/) [Mohsin Hamid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohsin-hamid/) > [“Anyone that has the power to open up your heart without you even knowing, should terrify you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/calia-read/anyone-that-has-the-power-to-open-up-your-heart-without-you-even/) [Calia Read](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/calia-read/) > [“Don't entertain fear; it does not entertain you either; it only scares you!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/don-t-entertain-fear-it-does-not-entertain-you-either-it-only-scares/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [When the lightning strikes but one, not one only does it terrify.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/when-the-lightning-strikes-but-one-not-one-only-does-it-terrify/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [“Look, we are dealing with the possibility of an army of demons. I don’t know about you guys, but those words are right up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-hawkins/look-we-are-dealing-with-the-possibility-of-an-army-of-demons-i-don-t/) [Rachel Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hawkins/) > [For me, comedians are like the epitome for everything great, and they terrify me. I just want to be them. I want to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tatiana-maslany/for-me-comedians-are-like-the-epitome-for-everything-great-and-they/) [Tatiana Maslany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tatiana-maslany/) > [“What about you? What do you do?” I needed to ask questions, draw him out. I needed to find out all the information I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-avery-ellison/what-about-you-what-do-you-do-i-needed-to-ask-questions-draw-him-out/) [Kate Avery Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-avery-ellison/) ## More by John Scalzi > [“To everyone who thinks writing a sequel should be easy because you've already clreated the universe: Bwa ha ha ha ha ha ha! Heh.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-scalzi/to-everyone-who-thinks-writing-a-sequel-should-be-easy-because-you-ve/) [John Scalzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-scalzi/) > [When you're a kid all you want to do is be somewhere else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-scalzi/when-you-re-a-kid-all-you-want-to-do-is-be-somewhere-else/) [John Scalzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-scalzi/) > [Being poor is people wondering why you didn't leave.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-scalzi/being-poor-is-people-wondering-why-you-didn-t-leave/) [John Scalzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-scalzi/) > [“It’s a hell of a thing to say good-bye to your whole life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-scalzi/it-s-a-hell-of-a-thing-to-say-good-bye-to-your-whole-life/) [John Scalzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-scalzi/) > [“That as far as I can tell,” Jenkins said, “it’s not actually a very good show.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-scalzi/that-as-far-as-i-can-tell-jenkins-said-it-s-not-actually-a-very-good/) [John Scalzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-scalzi/) > [I both love and am terrified by Greg Van Eekhout's vision of Los Angeles. I already want to go back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-scalzi/i-both-love-and-am-terrified-by-greg-van-eekhout-s-vision-of-los/) [John Scalzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-scalzi/) > [There's always been a little bit of tension between the writers of science fiction literature and then science-fiction televised shows or movies, partly because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-scalzi/there-s-always-been-a-little-bit-of-tension-between-the-writers-of/) [John Scalzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-scalzi/) > [“I mean that you and I know that in this universe, God is a hack," he said. "He's a writer on an awful science…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-scalzi/i-mean-that-you-and-i-know-that-in-this-universe-god-is-a-hack-he/) [John Scalzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-scalzi/) > [“The diagnostics and modifications screens. Ugly and utilitarian, just like they have been since the very beginnings of visual user interface. They were beautiful.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-scalzi/the-diagnostics-and-modifications-screens-ugly-and-utilitarian-just/) [John Scalzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-scalzi/) > [“You can’t afford anthropomorphic biases when some of the aliens most like us would rather make human hamburgers than peace.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-scalzi/you-can-t-afford-anthropomorphic-biases-when-some-of-the-aliens-most/) [John Scalzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-scalzi/) > [Ultimately the first, best step in getting your work noticed is to write good work. If people don't engage in your writing, no amount…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-scalzi/ultimately-the-first-best-step-in-getting-your-work-noticed-is-to/) [John Scalzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-scalzi/) > [“It was this philosophy that had Harvey taking the hovercraft Sagan had stolen, mounting it, and, after a few moments to glean the fundamentals…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-scalzi/it-was-this-philosophy-that-had-harvey-taking-the-hovercraft-sagan/) [John Scalzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-scalzi/) > [I tell people the first time I decided to write a novel I was in my mid-20s, and it was, 'Well, it's time to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-scalzi/i-tell-people-the-first-time-i-decided-to-write-a-novel-i-was-in-my/) [John Scalzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-scalzi/) > [“I don't think food safety laws are going to protect you from a third carnitas burrito," Hanson said. "That's not about food safety. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-scalzi/i-don-t-think-food-safety-laws-are-going-to-protect-you-from-a-third/) [John Scalzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-scalzi/) > [I did two things on my seventy-fifth birthday. I visited my wife's grave. Then I joined the army.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-scalzi/i-did-two-things-on-my-seventy-fifth-birthday-i-visited-my-wife-s/) [John Scalzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-scalzi/) [Explore all 187 John Scalzi quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-scalzi/) ## More Terrify quotes > [“What about you? What do you do?” I needed to ask questions, draw him out. I needed to find out all the information I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-avery-ellison/what-about-you-what-do-you-do-i-needed-to-ask-questions-draw-him-out/) [Kate Avery Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-avery-ellison/) > [For me, comedians are like the epitome for everything great, and they terrify me. I just want to be them. I want to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tatiana-maslany/for-me-comedians-are-like-the-epitome-for-everything-great-and-they/) [Tatiana Maslany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tatiana-maslany/) > [“Look, we are dealing with the possibility of an army of demons. I don’t know about you guys, but those words are right up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-hawkins/look-we-are-dealing-with-the-possibility-of-an-army-of-demons-i-don-t/) [Rachel Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hawkins/) > [When the lightning strikes but one, not one only does it terrify.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/when-the-lightning-strikes-but-one-not-one-only-does-it-terrify/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [“Don't entertain fear; it does not entertain you either; it only scares you!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/don-t-entertain-fear-it-does-not-entertain-you-either-it-only-scares/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [“Anyone that has the power to open up your heart without you even knowing, should terrify you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/calia-read/anyone-that-has-the-power-to-open-up-your-heart-without-you-even/) [Calia Read](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/calia-read/) > [“You trusted me to do things that terrify you because it's what I needed. I can do the same for you. I can hold…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-m-ward/you-trusted-me-to-do-things-that-terrify-you-because-it-s-what-i/) [H.M. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-m-ward/) > [The word 'forever' used to terrify me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-kahan/the-word-forever-used-to-terrify-me/) [Noah Kahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-kahan/) > [These Songs are not meant to be understood, you understand. They are only meant to terrify & comfort.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-berryman/these-songs-are-not-meant-to-be-understood-you-understand-they-are/) [John Berryman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-berryman/) > ['Re-Mit' is going to terrify people. It's quite horrible. The Fall have had enough and we're coming for you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-e-smith/re-mit-is-going-to-terrify-people-it-s-quite-horrible-the-fall-have/) [Mark E. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-e-smith/) > [For me, the best thing about Cyberpunk is that it taught me how to enjoy shopping malls, which used to terrify me. Now I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudy-rucker/for-me-the-best-thing-about-cyberpunk-is-that-it-taught-me-how-to/) [Rudy Rucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudy-rucker/) > [I am a big scaredy-cat; horror films terrify me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-panabaker/i-am-a-big-scaredy-cat-horror-films-terrify-me/) [Danielle Panabaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-panabaker/) > [In a rabbit-fear I may hurl myself under the wheels of the car because the lights terrify me, and under the dark blind death…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-plath/in-a-rabbit-fear-i-may-hurl-myself-under-the-wheels-of-the-car/) [Sylvia Plath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-plath/) > [“Nature has another power besides the power to terrify.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-leach/nature-has-another-power-besides-the-power-to-terrify/) [Amy Leach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-leach/) > [God grant you all your desires and accept my own hearty thanks for all your attention to me. Although indeed, those attentions have tried…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/god-grant-you-all-your-desires-and-accept-my-own-hearty-thanks-for/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) Browse all 58 Terrify quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“What if I told you that that which makes you fundamentally human is something that you share with another people, a people so different from you that they might appear strange or frightening at first glance. A people who might terrify you from appearance alone. 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