--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The only way you can know someone is…" description: "\"The only way you can know someone is through their actions - you can never know what's going on inside them.\" — Leila Slimani" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8c/leila-slimani-14140_going_the-only-way-you-can-know-someone-is-thr_214121.jpg" --- # The only way you can know someone is through their actions… ![“The only way you can know someone is through their actions - you can never know what's going on inside them.” quote by Leila Slimani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8c/leila-slimani-14140_going_the-only-way-you-can-know-someone-is-thr_214121.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8c/leila-slimani-14140_going_the-only-way-you-can-know-someone-is-thr_214121.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8c/leila-slimani-14140_going_the-only-way-you-can-know-someone-is-thr_214121.jpg) > “The only way you can know someone is through their actions - you can never know what's going on inside them.” [Leila Slimani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leila-slimani/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People reveal their true selves through behavior, not thoughts. **In simple terms:** Actions show who someone is. Key Takeaway Observe deeds, not words. Themes character behavior perception Mood cautious reflective Type observational philosophical When to use this quote - relationships - teamwork - leadership - parenting - friendship Key Concepts psychology human nature Questions to Reflect On - How do you distinguish genuine intent from superficial actions? - What biases affect our judgment of others? A Different Perspective Someone may act kindly but hide harmful intentions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet ## Related quotes > [We are responsible for what we are, and whatever we wish ourselves to be, we have the power to make ourselves. If what we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/we-are-responsible-for-what-we-are-and-whatever-we-wish-ourselves-to/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [“You have no idea who he is, Suzanne. If you judge him by his actions, you will never know him.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tiffany-reisz/you-have-no-idea-who-he-is-suzanne-if-you-judge-him-by-his-actions/) [Tiffany Reisz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tiffany-reisz/) > [Be careful of your actions. You never know when you're creating a memory...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/be-careful-of-your-actions-you-never-know-when-you-re-creating-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Be careful of your actions. You never know when youre creating a memory.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/be-careful-of-your-actions-you-never-know-when-youre-creating-a-memory/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Never judge a man's actions until you know his motives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikas-swarup/never-judge-a-man-s-actions-until-you-know-his-motives/) [Vikas Swarup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikas-swarup/) > [“Your actions show what you know, and your replies to obstacles give clarity into what you will learn.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-sara/your-actions-show-what-you-know-and-your-replies-to-obstacles-give/) [Grace Sara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-sara/) > [Stop worrying about what you don't know. Focus instead on what you already know even if they don't add up to much. Because you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-foo/stop-worrying-about-what-you-don-t-know-focus-instead-on-what-you/) Mark Foo > [You never know where your actions will lead to. But if you don't do anything they will lead you nowhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/you-never-know-where-your-actions-will-lead-to-but-if-you-don-t-do/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [“Nobody knows what you learned but people comes to know about it through your actions”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/waqas-zaki/nobody-knows-what-you-learned-but-people-comes-to-know-about-it/) Waqas Zaki > [You need to know it's your actions that will make you a good person, not desire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-quick/you-need-to-know-it-s-your-actions-that-will-make-you-a-good-person/) [Matthew Quick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-quick/) > [I wish you knew what I have in my heart for you, but there is no way for you to know except by my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/i-wish-you-knew-what-i-have-in-my-heart-for-you-but-there-is-no-way/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [“The secret of success is before attempting anything, be very clear about why you are doing it.” If you don’t know your objective or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bohdi-sanders/the-secret-of-success-is-before-attempting-anything-be-very-clear/) [Bohdi Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bohdi-sanders/) > [“We know when our actions fail to match our inner thoughts and feelings, but we often forget that this knowledge is not available to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-medina/we-know-when-our-actions-fail-to-match-our-inner-thoughts-and/) [John Medina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-medina/) > [“It is the responsiblity of every human to know their actions and the consequences of their actions and to ask questions and to question…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-the-responsiblity-of-every-human-to-know-their-actions-and-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [People act like they know everything about you but then their actions shows nothing about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-mark/people-act-like-they-know-everything-about-you-but-then-their-actions/) [Terry Mark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-mark/) ## More by Leila Slimani > [I don't listen to music. I know it's weird, and I have no explanation for that. But I never do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leila-slimani/i-don-t-listen-to-music-i-know-it-s-weird-and-i-have-no-explanation/) [Leila Slimani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leila-slimani/) > [All fiction is based on truth - 'Madame Bovary' is based on a true story!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leila-slimani/all-fiction-is-based-on-truth-madame-bovary-is-based-on-a-true-story/) [Leila Slimani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leila-slimani/) > [I think maternal instinct is a male construct that has been used for centuries to keep women in their place, at home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leila-slimani/i-think-maternal-instinct-is-a-male-construct-that-has-been-used-for/) [Leila Slimani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leila-slimani/) > [You want your children to love the nanny, but at the same time, you want to stay the mother, and you want to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leila-slimani/you-want-your-children-to-love-the-nanny-but-at-the-same-time-you/) [Leila Slimani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leila-slimani/) > [Human darkness fascinates me; I find it intriguing. And there are few female characters who are explored in this light.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leila-slimani/human-darkness-fascinates-me-i-find-it-intriguing-and-there-are-few/) [Leila Slimani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leila-slimani/) > [I want to say that I can be Moroccan and speak about someone without speaking about his nationality. Because, you know, I have the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leila-slimani/i-want-to-say-that-i-can-be-moroccan-and-speak-about-someone-without/) [Leila Slimani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leila-slimani/) > [My two sisters and I had a very nice nanny at home in Morocco until I was 13. I remember my parents saying how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leila-slimani/my-two-sisters-and-i-had-a-very-nice-nanny-at-home-in-morocco-until-i/) [Leila Slimani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leila-slimani/) > [Authors have a nationality; books do not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leila-slimani/authors-have-a-nationality-books-do-not/) [Leila Slimani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leila-slimani/) > [As a mother, you're only allowed to talk about the 'good' moments - not the ones when you've had enough and want to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leila-slimani/as-a-mother-you-re-only-allowed-to-talk-about-the-good-moments-not/) [Leila Slimani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leila-slimani/) > [I had a nanny growing up in Morocco, and my parents encouraged me to put myself in her shoes sometimes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leila-slimani/i-had-a-nanny-growing-up-in-morocco-and-my-parents-encouraged-me-to/) [Leila Slimani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leila-slimani/) > [Motherhood is not only something very pure and very full of love, it can be full of dark things, too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leila-slimani/motherhood-is-not-only-something-very-pure-and-very-full-of-love-it/) [Leila Slimani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leila-slimani/) > [You have to fight against all the things that will keep you out of writing, because life doesn't go with writing. You will always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leila-slimani/you-have-to-fight-against-all-the-things-that-will-keep-you-out-of/) [Leila Slimani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leila-slimani/) > [When I was a little girl, my first link to the world was as a reader. Sometimes, I feel a nostalgia for those times,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leila-slimani/when-i-was-a-little-girl-my-first-link-to-the-world-was-as-a-reader/) [Leila Slimani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leila-slimani/) > [For me, it is freedom, freedom from everything: when I write, I'm not a woman. I'm not a Muslim. I'm not a Moroccan. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leila-slimani/for-me-it-is-freedom-freedom-from-everything-when-i-write-i-m-not-a/) [Leila Slimani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leila-slimani/) > [People don't want to treat their nannies subserviently. They don't want to act like bosses. And so nobody quite knows how to behave, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leila-slimani/people-don-t-want-to-treat-their-nannies-subserviently-they-don-t/) [Leila Slimani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leila-slimani/) [Explore all 45 Leila Slimani quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leila-slimani/) ## More Going quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. It makes a mockery of freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-robison/some-people-still-believe-you-should-just-fall-in-line-with-what-s/) [Emily Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-robison/) > [At the very beginning, I was a page at Letterman, and I freelanced for any place that would let me write any word. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-schwartz/at-the-very-beginning-i-was-a-page-at-letterman-and-i-freelanced-for/) [Ben Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-schwartz/) > [Keep the faith, and keep going strong!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doreen-virtue/keep-the-faith-and-keep-going-strong/) [Doreen Virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doreen-virtue/) > [Nobody has a crystal ball, and part of evolving a business plan is to say, 'I might have said we're going left, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-kavanaugh/nobody-has-a-crystal-ball-and-part-of-evolving-a-business-plan-is-to/) [Ryan Kavanaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-kavanaugh/) > [Think of these things, whence you came, where you are going, and to whom you must account.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/think-of-these-things-whence-you-came-where-you-are-going-and-to-whom/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [I really enjoy going to play for the national team and be with the guys.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cedi-osman/i-really-enjoy-going-to-play-for-the-national-team-and-be-with-the/) [Cedi Osman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cedi-osman/) > [“I’m not even going to ask you where you got that.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-mackey/i-m-not-even-going-to-ask-you-where-you-got-that/) Mark Mackey > [This is how McGregor is, waging mental warfare before the fights. There's no way that guy is going to get in my head.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chad-mendes/this-is-how-mcgregor-is-waging-mental-warfare-before-the-fights-there/) [Chad Mendes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chad-mendes/) > [For me, going to Minneapolis is like going to Mecca.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-pastis/for-me-going-to-minneapolis-is-like-going-to-mecca/) [Stephan Pastis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-pastis/) > [It's going to be used in the last days to get people to come against Christ, and that's the issue: they come against the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-lahaye/it-s-going-to-be-used-in-the-last-days-to-get-people-to-come-against/) [Tim LaHaye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-lahaye/) > [It definitely helps to have the acting experience going into singing, because when you're singing, you have to portray the emotion you were feeling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-newman/it-definitely-helps-to-have-the-acting-experience-going-into-singing/) Ryan Newman > [What I do miss that I don't get anymore? You're going to think I'm crazy, but you want the truth, so here it is.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-mandrell/what-i-do-miss-that-i-don-t-get-anymore-you-re-going-to-think-i-m/) [Barbara Mandrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-mandrell/) > [Any position I was going to be in, I was going to make the best of it. I always do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-bledsoe/any-position-i-was-going-to-be-in-i-was-going-to-make-the-best-of-it/) [Eric Bledsoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-bledsoe/) > [I want to help people struggling with whatever it is they're going through.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/santan-dave/i-want-to-help-people-struggling-with-whatever-it-is-they-re-going/) [Santan Dave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/santan-dave/) Browse all 15,485 Going quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The only way you can know someone is through their actions - you can never know what's going on inside them.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Leila Slimani" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leila-slimani/the-only-way-you-can-know-someone-is-through-their-actions-you-can/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Going" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leila-slimani/the-only-way-you-can-know-someone-is-through-their-actions-you-can/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8c/leila-slimani-14140_going_the-only-way-you-can-know-someone-is-thr_214121.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8c/leila-slimani-14140_going_the-only-way-you-can-know-someone-is-thr_214121.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8c/leila-slimani-14140_going_the-only-way-you-can-know-someone-is-thr_214121.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The only way you can know someone is through their actions - you can never know what's going on inside them.” — Leila Slimani", "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": "Leila Slimani", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leila-slimani/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The only way you can know...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leila-slimani/the-only-way-you-can-know-someone-is-through-their-actions-you-can/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leila-slimani/the-only-way-you-can-know-someone-is-through-their-actions-you-can/#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 } } ] } ```