--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Never have I met a person doing terrible…" description: "\"Never have I met a person doing terrible things who would meet my own eyes peacefully. To gaze into another person's face is to do two things: to recog..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/877/lawrence-hill-19203_eye_never-have-i-met-a-person-doing-terrible_1121052.png" --- # Never have I met a person doing terrible things who would… ![“Never have I met a person doing terrible things who would meet my own eyes peacefully. To gaze into another person's face is to do two things: to recognize their humanity, and to assert your own.” quote by Lawrence Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/877/lawrence-hill-19203_eye_never-have-i-met-a-person-doing-terrible_1121052.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/877/lawrence-hill-19203_eye_never-have-i-met-a-person-doing-terrible_1121052.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/877/lawrence-hill-19203_eye_never-have-i-met-a-person-doing-terrible_1121052.png) > “Never have I met a person doing terrible things who would meet my own eyes peacefully. To gaze into another person's face is to do two things: to recognize their humanity, and to assert your own.” [Lawrence Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-hill/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Seeing another’s face forces us to acknowledge their humanity and affirm our own identity. **In simple terms:** Recognize others, affirm self. Key Takeaway Look, recognize, assert. Themes humanity empathy identity Mood reflective thoughtful Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - conflict resolution - interpersonal communication - social justice - mental health Key Concepts recognition self-awareness Questions to Reflect On - How does eye contact change perception? - What does asserting self mean in this context? A Different Perspective It may be hard to see humanity in those who harm us. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Faces](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faces/) [Humanity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humanity/) [Terrible things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/terrible-things/) ## Related quotes > [“To gaze into another person's face is to do two things: to recognize their humanity, and to assert your own.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-hill/to-gaze-into-another-person-s-face-is-to-do-two-things-to-recognize/) [Lawrence Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-hill/) > [“It was the gaze of a person who yearns for something and refuses to believe it will never be hers, because hope is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-lix-j-palma/it-was-the-gaze-of-a-person-who-yearns-for-something-and-refuses-to/) [Félix J. Palma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-lix-j-palma/) > [It gives us hope when we recognize ourselves in our humanity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akil-johnson/it-gives-us-hope-when-we-recognize-ourselves-in-our-humanity/) Akil Johnson > [I think the real understanding comes when we recognize our humanity in each other. That's not just between blacks and whites. That's between all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phylicia-rashad/i-think-the-real-understanding-comes-when-we-recognize-our-humanity/) [Phylicia Rashad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phylicia-rashad/) > [Unless we can join forces and recognize each other's humanity, how can we do business together, let alone make progress on the increasingly complex…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-lubetzky/unless-we-can-join-forces-and-recognize-each-other-s-humanity-how-can/) [Daniel Lubetzky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-lubetzky/) > [I never considered myself a patriot. I like to think I recognize only humanity as my nation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/i-never-considered-myself-a-patriot-i-like-to-think-i-recognize-only/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) > [You cannot reason with people who don't recognize the humanity in all of us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roxane-gay/you-cannot-reason-with-people-who-don-t-recognize-the-humanity-in-all/) [Roxane Gay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roxane-gay/) > [Both class and race survive education, and neither should. What is education then? If it doesn't help a human being to recognize that humanity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beah-richards/both-class-and-race-survive-education-and-neither-should-what-is/) [Beah Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beah-richards/) > [“There is now a battle between the culture of love, reciprocity, and compassion and the culture of division, hate, and fear. Only movements like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-women-s-march-organizers/there-is-now-a-battle-between-the-culture-of-love-reciprocity-and/) [The Women's March Organizers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-women-s-march-organizers/) > [“Like anyone would fall in love that fast. It’s the whole clichéd love-at-first-sight bit, right?” Vince said. “So, you don’t believe in love at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georgina-guthrie/like-anyone-would-fall-in-love-that-fast-it-s-the-whole-clich-d-love/) [Georgina Guthrie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georgina-guthrie/) > [You have no idea what it is like to constantly disappoint people. You see it the moment you meet them. You see in their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/you-have-no-idea-what-it-is-like-to-constantly-disappoint-people-you/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [“I’m not expecting it to be… look at me” he says and I look up to meet his eyes “I’ve lost everyone expect for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-tetterton/i-m-not-expecting-it-to-be-look-at-me-he-says-and-i-look-up-to-meet/) [Nicole Tetterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-tetterton/) > [“Poem - I meet your eyes. You don't even see me. You hardly respond when I whisper hello. Could be my soul mate, two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-asher/poem-i-meet-your-eyes-you-don-t-even-see-me-you-hardly-respond-when-i/) [Jay Asher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-asher/) > [Katniss?" Peeta says. I meet his eyes, knowing my face must be some shade of green. He mouths the words. "How about that kiss?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/katniss-peeta-says-i-meet-his-eyes-knowing-my-face-must-be-some-shade/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [“Do you mean to stay on at Caldwell?" "For a time," he replied. It took all her courage and determination to meet his eyes.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alissa-johnson/do-you-mean-to-stay-on-at-caldwell-for-a-time-he-replied-it-took-all/) [Alissa Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alissa-johnson/) ## More by Lawrence Hill > [“I remember wondering, within a year or two of taking my first steps, why only men sat to drink tea and converse, and why…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-hill/i-remember-wondering-within-a-year-or-two-of-taking-my-first-steps/) [Lawrence Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-hill/) > [“In the absence of an audience, I will write down my story so that it waits like a restful beast with lungs breathing and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-hill/in-the-absence-of-an-audience-i-will-write-down-my-story-so-that-it/) [Lawrence Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-hill/) > [Redemption is invented by the sinner.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-hill/redemption-is-invented-by-the-sinner/) [Lawrence Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-hill/) > [“Reading felt like a daytime dream in a secret land. Nobody but I knew how to get there, and nobody but I owned that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-hill/reading-felt-like-a-daytime-dream-in-a-secret-land-nobody-but-i-knew/) [Lawrence Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-hill/) > [Sometimes a deal with the devil is better than no deal at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-hill/sometimes-a-deal-with-the-devil-is-better-than-no-deal-at-all/) [Lawrence Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-hill/) > [“I concluded that no place in the world was entirely safe for an African, and that for many of us, survival depended on perpetual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-hill/i-concluded-that-no-place-in-the-world-was-entirely-safe-for-an/) [Lawrence Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-hill/) > [beware the clever man that makes the wrong look right](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-hill/beware-the-clever-man-that-makes-the-wrong-look-right/) [Lawrence Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-hill/) > [But I have long loved the written word, and come to see in it the power of the sleeping lion. This is my name.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-hill/but-i-have-long-loved-the-written-word-and-come-to-see-in-it-the/) [Lawrence Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-hill/) > [“To gaze into another person's face is to do two things: to recognize their humanity, and to assert your own.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-hill/to-gaze-into-another-person-s-face-is-to-do-two-things-to-recognize/) [Lawrence Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-hill/) > [“I looked up from the street and again at the wretched captives. I vowed not to let the noises of the city drown out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-hill/i-looked-up-from-the-street-and-again-at-the-wretched-captives-i/) [Lawrence Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-hill/) > [I remember wondering, within a year or two of taking my first my first steps, why only men sat to drink tea and converse,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-hill/i-remember-wondering-within-a-year-or-two-of-taking-my-first-my-first/) [Lawrence Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-hill/) > [“I don't govern my life according to danger”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-hill/i-don-t-govern-my-life-according-to-danger/) [Lawrence Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-hill/) > [“Let me begin with a caveat to any and all who find these pages. Do not trust large bodies of water, and do not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-hill/let-me-begin-with-a-caveat-to-any-and-all-who-find-these-pages-do-not/) [Lawrence Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-hill/) > [To gaze into another persons face is to do two things: to recognise their humanity and to assert your own.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-hill/to-gaze-into-another-persons-face-is-to-do-two-things-to-recognise/) [Lawrence Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-hill/) > [“She asked why I was so black. I asked why she was so white. She said she was born that way. Same here, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-hill/she-asked-why-i-was-so-black-i-asked-why-she-was-so-white-she-said/) [Lawrence Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-hill/) [Explore all 32 Lawrence Hill quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-hill/) ## More Eye quotes > [I need a bath." He chuckled. "You smell of smoke, as do I." The duke turned, leaning heavily on his cane. "Jameson, open the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-hawkins/i-need-a-bath-he-chuckled-you-smell-of-smoke-as-do-i-the-duke-turned/) [Karen Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-hawkins/) > [If you take your eye off the ball or lose focus for even a minute you can lose a game against any team.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felipe-anderson/if-you-take-your-eye-off-the-ball-or-lose-focus-for-even-a-minute-you/) [Felipe Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felipe-anderson/) > [“He blinked. His eyes fell as he processed her response. Then he lifted his chin and attempted a grin that was almost painfully dejected.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marissa-meyer/he-blinked-his-eyes-fell-as-he-processed-her-response-then-he-lifted/) [Marissa Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marissa-meyer/) > [How could anybody confuse truth with beauty, I thought as I looked at him. Truth came with sunken eyes, bony or scarred, decayed. Its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-fitch/how-could-anybody-confuse-truth-with-beauty-i-thought-as-i-looked-at/) [Janet Fitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-fitch/) > [I wrote when I was a young teen, but I didn't put an eye on the available markets until I was seventeen. The next…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reed/i-wrote-when-i-was-a-young-teen-but-i-didn-t-put-an-eye-on-the/) [Robert Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reed/) > [Changes before your eyes, things you can do and things you can't. My attitude is always let it keep rolling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrence-malick/changes-before-your-eyes-things-you-can-do-and-things-you-can-t-my/) [Terrence Malick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrence-malick/) > [But editors are still the world's readers. And thus the eyes of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betsy-lerner/but-editors-are-still-the-world-s-readers-and-thus-the-eyes-of-the/) [Betsy Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betsy-lerner/) > [Quotations can be valuable, like raisins in the rice pudding, for adding iron as well as eye appeal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peg-bracken/quotations-can-be-valuable-like-raisins-in-the-rice-pudding-for/) [Peg Bracken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peg-bracken/) > [Clearly, when we baptize, our eyes should gaze beyond the baptismal font to the holy temple. The great garner into which the sheaves should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/clearly-when-we-baptize-our-eyes-should-gaze-beyond-the-baptismal/) [Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) > [At the end of night, before you close your eyes, be content with what you've done and be proud of who you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-almond/at-the-end-of-night-before-you-close-your-eyes-be-content-with-what/) [Steve Almond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-almond/) > [Be neither too early in the fashion, nor too long out of it, nor too precisely in it; what custom hath civilized is become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/be-neither-too-early-in-the-fashion-nor-too-long-out-of-it-nor-too/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) > [It lies around us like a cloud- A world we do not see; Yet the sweet closing of an eye May bring us there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-beecher-stowe/it-lies-around-us-like-a-cloud-a-world-we-do-not-see-yet-the-sweet/) [Harriet Beecher Stowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-beecher-stowe/) > [A man cannot speak but he judges himself. 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They were made of kindness, and silver.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/liesel-observed-the-strangeness-of-her-foster-father-s-eyes-they-were/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) Browse all 16,237 Eye quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Never have I met a person doing terrible things who would meet my own eyes peacefully. 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