--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We think of strangers as stronger and…" description: "\"We think of strangers as stronger and better than we are.\" — John Steinbeck" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/368/john-steinbeck-71_stranger_we-think-of-strangers-as-stronger-and-be_105841.jpg" --- # We think of strangers as stronger and better than we are. ![“We think of strangers as stronger and better than we are.” quote by John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/368/john-steinbeck-71_stranger_we-think-of-strangers-as-stronger-and-be_105841.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/368/john-steinbeck-71_stranger_we-think-of-strangers-as-stronger-and-be_105841.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/368/john-steinbeck-71_stranger_we-think-of-strangers-as-stronger-and-be_105841.jpg) > “We think of strangers as stronger and better than we are.” [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People tend to idealize outsiders, assuming they possess qualities they lack themselves, which can distort self‑assessment and social interaction. **In simple terms:** We overvalue strangers. Key Takeaway Idealization skews self‑perception. Themes psychology self‑esteem social perception bias Mood reflective thoughtful Type observational psychological When to use this quote - team building - counseling - online dating Key Concepts projection social comparison Practical Applications - Encourage realistic peer feedback - Teach self‑compassion Questions to Reflect On - Why do we project strengths onto unknown people? - How can we balance admiration with realistic appraisal? A Different Perspective Occasionally, strangers can truly inspire growth; blanket skepticism may hinder learning. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Stranger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stranger/) [Strangers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strangers/) [Strangers Stronger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strangers-stronger-1271422/) [Stronger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stronger/) [Stronger Better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stronger-better-645610/) [Think Strangers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-strangers-1271423/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [“ 'Maybe you out to go back there.' 'Can't. Gotta stay where... where I know what's what.' Where I don't forget what I am,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-henry/maybe-you-out-to-go-back-there-can-t-gotta-stay-where-where-i-know/) [Lisa Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-henry/) > [Think of strangers as friends you not met yet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/think-of-strangers-as-friends-you-not-met-yet/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [It is scary to think that those strangers you walk by in the street could one day become your closest friend. Yet it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-scary-to-think-that-those-strangers-you-walk-by-in-the-street/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [ I think that too many strangers were in her \[Nina Simone's\] life, and not enough people that she knew and loved. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikki-giovanni/i-think-that-too-many-strangers-were-in-her-nina-simone-s-life-and/) [Nikki Giovanni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikki-giovanni/) > [“If Neil hadn't known Andrew spent the last year and a half fiercely protective and territorial of Kevin, he'd think they were strangers.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-sakavic/if-neil-hadn-t-known-andrew-spent-the-last-year-and-a-half-fiercely/) [Nora Sakavic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-sakavic/) > [Shoes tell you a lot about someone. Think of 'Strangers on a Train.' The first thing we see are Bruno's shoes. We know right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-osborne/shoes-tell-you-a-lot-about-someone-think-of-strangers-on-a-train-the/) [Lawrence Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-osborne/) > [Yes! it get's hard But what's best, Is what's true. Whatever come's that you stay happy about, Let stay, Even through the worst. Life's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hailey-morgan/yes-it-get-s-hard-but-what-s-best-is-what-s-true-whatever-come-s-that/) [Hailey Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hailey-morgan/) > [People will knock you down and make fun of you but you can't stay down. Show them that you're stronger than them…show them that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/people-will-knock-you-down-and-make-fun-of-you-but-you-can-t-stay/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [A dog is a bond between strangers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/a-dog-is-a-bond-between-strangers/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [The desire to believe the best of people is a prerequisite for intercourse with strangers; suspicion is reserved for friends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-mccarthy/the-desire-to-believe-the-best-of-people-is-a-prerequisite-for/) [Mary McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-mccarthy/) > [“It is true I am a complete stranger to these people, but they are not strangers to me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoevsky/it-is-true-i-am-a-complete-stranger-to-these-people-but-they-are-not/) [Fyodor Dostoevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoevsky/) > [Good things happen when you meet strangers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yo-yo-ma/good-things-happen-when-you-meet-strangers/) [Yo-Yo Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yo-yo-ma/) > [“Our bodies aren't strangers,' he said, his voice ragged. 'Our spirits aren't strangers'. He held her face in his hands. 'Tell me what part…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melina-marchetta/our-bodies-aren-t-strangers-he-said-his-voice-ragged-our-spirits-aren/) [Melina Marchetta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melina-marchetta/) > [It’s sad when friends become enemies. But what’s even worse is when they become strangers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hayley-williams/it-s-sad-when-friends-become-enemies-but-what-s-even-worse-is-when/) [Hayley Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hayley-williams/) > [A place has almost the shyness of a person, with strangers; and its secret is not to be surprised by a too direct interrogation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-symons/a-place-has-almost-the-shyness-of-a-person-with-strangers-and-its/) [Arthur Symons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-symons/) ## More by John Steinbeck > [ Teaching might even be the greatest of the arts since the medium is the human mind and spirit. My three \[great teachers\] did not… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/teaching-might-even-be-the-greatest-of-the-arts-since-the-medium-is/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [Prayer never brought in no side-meat. Takes a shoat to bring in pork.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/prayer-never-brought-in-no-side-meat-takes-a-shoat-to-bring-in-pork/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [“And now submarines are armed with mass murder, our silly, only way of deterring mass murder.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/and-now-submarines-are-armed-with-mass-murder-our-silly-only-way-of/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [“I’d think there are degrees of greatness,” Adam said. “I don’t think so,” said Samuel. “That would be like saying there is a little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/i-d-think-there-are-degrees-of-greatness-adam-said-i-don-t-think-so/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [“He was forever inventing a new way of doing an old thing and doing it better and quicker, but he never in his whole…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/he-was-forever-inventing-a-new-way-of-doing-an-old-thing-and-doing-it/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [“You come back a changed man. Samuel, you don’t change him. He changes you. I can see the look of him in your face.”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/you-come-back-a-changed-man-samuel-you-don-t-change-him-he-changes/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [I find out of long experience that I admire all nations and hate all governments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/i-find-out-of-long-experience-that-i-admire-all-nations-and-hate-all/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [At about 10 o'clock in the morning the sun threw a bright dust-laden bar through one of the side windows and in and out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/at-about-10-o-clock-in-the-morning-the-sun-threw-a-bright-dust-laden/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [I have noticed that there is no dissatisfaction like that of the rich. Feed a man, clothe him, put him in a good house,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/i-have-noticed-that-there-is-no-dissatisfaction-like-that-of-the-rich/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [“Who in his mind has not probe the dark water?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/who-in-his-mind-has-not-probe-the-dark-water/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [Sometimes, a lie is told in kindness. I don't believe it ever works kindly. The quick pain of truth can pass away, but the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/sometimes-a-lie-is-told-in-kindness-i-don-t-believe-it-ever-works/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [People like you to be something, preferably what they are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/people-like-you-to-be-something-preferably-what-they-are/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [“Suddenly he knew joy and sorrow felted into one fabric. Courage and fear were one thing too. He found that he had started to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/suddenly-he-knew-joy-and-sorrow-felted-into-one-fabric-courage-and/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [I am writing this from what we Americans call Yurrp. In Yurrp writers are taken as seriously as Lana Turner's legs are in America…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/i-am-writing-this-from-what-we-americans-call-yurrp-in-yurrp-writers/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [I write because I like to write. I find joy in the texture and tone and rhythm of words. It is a satisfaction like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/i-write-because-i-like-to-write-i-find-joy-in-the-texture-and-tone/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) [Explore all 1,589 John Steinbeck quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) ## More Stranger quotes > [I know always that I am an outsider; a stranger in this century and among those who are still men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-know-always-that-i-am-an-outsider-a-stranger-in-this-century-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Jobs and money are never the primary cause of stress. Thinking, negative thinking causes stress. The real cause of all problems lie in our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/jobs-and-money-are-never-the-primary-cause-of-stress-thinking/) [Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/) > [A place has almost the shyness of a person, with strangers; and its secret is not to be surprised by a too direct interrogation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-symons/a-place-has-almost-the-shyness-of-a-person-with-strangers-and-its/) [Arthur Symons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-symons/) > [Even with clothing naked animals, there were people who wanted to send in money. A woman in Santa Barbara, California, sent a $40,000 check.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-abel/even-with-clothing-naked-animals-there-were-people-who-wanted-to-send/) [Alan Abel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-abel/) > [I admire President Obama's ability to trust strangers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-gutfeld/i-admire-president-obama-s-ability-to-trust-strangers/) [Greg Gutfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-gutfeld/) > [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/) > [It’s sad when friends become enemies. But what’s even worse is when they become strangers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hayley-williams/it-s-sad-when-friends-become-enemies-but-what-s-even-worse-is-when/) [Hayley Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hayley-williams/) > [The sense that in this universe we are treated as strangers, the longing to be acknowledged, to meet with some response, to bridge some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-sense-that-in-this-universe-we-are-treated-as-strangers-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Standing as a witness in all things means being kind in all things, being the first to say hello, being the first to smile,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-d-nadauld/standing-as-a-witness-in-all-things-means-being-kind-in-all-things/) [Margaret D. Nadauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-d-nadauld/) > [Most neuroses and some psychoses can be traced to the unnecessary and unhealthy habit of daily wallowing in the troubles and sins of five…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/most-neuroses-and-some-psychoses-can-be-traced-to-the-unnecessary-and/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [It is part of God's plan for us that Christ shall come to us in everyone; it is in their particular role that we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caryll-houselander/it-is-part-of-god-s-plan-for-us-that-christ-shall-come-to-us-in/) [Caryll Houselander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caryll-houselander/) > [Naked in front of strangers? I can barely be naked in front of my lovers; in front of myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clara/naked-in-front-of-strangers-i-can-barely-be-naked-in-front-of-my/) [Clara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clara/) > [Cameras are a lifesaver for very shy people who have nowhere else to hide. Behind a lens they can disguise the fact that they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-conroy/cameras-are-a-lifesaver-for-very-shy-people-who-have-nowhere-else-to/) [Pat Conroy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-conroy/) > [We were at a Giants game, and my manager told me, 'Sadie, you have an audition for a show called 'Stranger Things,'' and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sadie-sink/we-were-at-a-giants-game-and-my-manager-told-me-sadie-you-have-an/) [Sadie Sink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sadie-sink/) > [One can show no greater respect than to weep for a stranger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-saramago/one-can-show-no-greater-respect-than-to-weep-for-a-stranger/) [Jose Saramago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-saramago/) [Browse all 2,663 Stranger quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stranger/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We think of strangers as stronger and better than we are.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Steinbeck" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/we-think-of-strangers-as-stronger-and-better-than-we-are/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Stranger" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/we-think-of-strangers-as-stronger-and-better-than-we-are/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/368/john-steinbeck-71_stranger_we-think-of-strangers-as-stronger-and-be_105841.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/368/john-steinbeck-71_stranger_we-think-of-strangers-as-stronger-and-be_105841.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/368/john-steinbeck-71_stranger_we-think-of-strangers-as-stronger-and-be_105841.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“We think of strangers as stronger and better than we are.” — John Steinbeck", "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 Steinbeck", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "We think of strangers as stronger...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/we-think-of-strangers-as-stronger-and-better-than-we-are/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/we-think-of-strangers-as-stronger-and-better-than-we-are/#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 } } ] } ```