--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: How many deaf people do you know in real…" description: "\"How many deaf people do you know in real life? Unless they live in a cave, or are 14, which seems to be true for most people in this business, what cou..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a3d/marlee-matlin-7644_being-true_how-many-deaf-people-do-you-know-in-real_2814894.jpg" --- # How many deaf people do you know in real life? Unless they… ![“How many deaf people do you know in real life? Unless they live in a cave, or are 14, which seems to be true for most people in this business, what could I possibly tell them that they don't already know?” quote by Marlee Matlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a3d/marlee-matlin-7644_being-true_how-many-deaf-people-do-you-know-in-real_2814894.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a3d/marlee-matlin-7644_being-true_how-many-deaf-people-do-you-know-in-real_2814894.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a3d/marlee-matlin-7644_being-true_how-many-deaf-people-do-you-know-in-real_2814894.jpg) > “How many deaf people do you know in real life? Unless they live in a cave, or are 14, which seems to be true for most people in this business, what could I possibly tell them that they don't already know?” [Marlee Matlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlee-matlin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker questions the value of explaining obvious facts to deaf people who already know them. **In simple terms:** Questioning the need to explain basics to deaf people. Key Takeaway Avoid redundant explanations. Themes communication inclusion awareness Mood empathetic inquisitive Type educational social When to use this quote - workplace meetings - educational settings - public speaking - media interviews Key Concepts disability studies social etiquette Questions to Reflect On - What assumptions do we make about others' knowledge? - How can we tailor communication respectfully? A Different Perspective Assumes all deaf individuals share the same knowledge gaps. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) [Caves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/caves/) [Deaf people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deaf-people/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Real life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real-life/) ## Related quotes > [Deaf people can do anything, except hear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlee-matlin/deaf-people-can-do-anything-except-hear/) [Marlee Matlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlee-matlin/) > [I hope I inspire people who hear. Hearing people have the ability to remove barriers that prevent deaf people from achieving their dreams.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlee-matlin/i-hope-i-inspire-people-who-hear-hearing-people-have-the-ability-to/) [Marlee Matlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlee-matlin/) > [There are many deaf people who couldn't imagine living in a marriage without someone who doesn't speak their language. For me, I believe that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlee-matlin/there-are-many-deaf-people-who-couldn-t-imagine-living-in-a-marriage/) [Marlee Matlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlee-matlin/) > [You cant possibly tell me you dont have feelings for me, I can tell you do by the way you look at me. 'cause…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-cant-possibly-tell-me-you-dont-have-feelings-for-me-i-can-tell/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Be open to suggestions, but don't let anyone dictate how you should tell your story. Who can possibly tell your story better than you?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giuseppe-bianco/be-open-to-suggestions-but-don-t-let-anyone-dictate-how-you-should/) [Giuseppe Bianco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giuseppe-bianco/) > [Music is universal too. Even deaf people like to dance, love rhythm, and can kind of pick it up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainn-wilson/music-is-universal-too-even-deaf-people-like-to-dance-love-rhythm-and/) [Rainn Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainn-wilson/) > [A lot of deaf people experience feeling left out. Feeling lonely.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-ayling-ellis/a-lot-of-deaf-people-experience-feeling-left-out-feeling-lonely/) [Rose Ayling-Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-ayling-ellis/) > [You throw all these obstacles in front of people, especially a lot of the deaf people that I've known in my life, you throw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-raci/you-throw-all-these-obstacles-in-front-of-people-especially-a-lot-of/) [Paul Raci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-raci/) > [“I was the only student she’d taught who’d actually known any deaf people. Most of the students in my courses were there because they’d…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-ann-walker/i-was-the-only-student-she-d-taught-who-d-actually-known-any-deaf/) [Lou Ann Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-ann-walker/) > [Policing of the disabled and how many deaf people get shot by cops is sort of insane. And it's not talked about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wyatt-cenac/policing-of-the-disabled-and-how-many-deaf-people-get-shot-by-cops-is/) [Wyatt Cenac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wyatt-cenac/) > [But so many Christians are like deaf people at a concert. They study the programme carefully, believe every statement make in it, speak respectfully…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-underhill/but-so-many-christians-are-like-deaf-people-at-a-concert-they-study/) [Evelyn Underhill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-underhill/) > [Hollywood is a small place, and historically there's only been room for one or two deaf people. That was the mindset for so many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-ridloff/hollywood-is-a-small-place-and-historically-there-s-only-been-room/) [Lauren Ridloff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-ridloff/) > [There is no relation to sound for deaf people. It is a totally different mental process.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-masur/there-is-no-relation-to-sound-for-deaf-people-it-is-a-totally/) [Richard Masur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-masur/) > [I know deaf people. I have discussed the issues with them I've also thought about them a lot so I have some insights that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-masur/i-know-deaf-people-i-have-discussed-the-issues-with-them-i-ve-also/) [Richard Masur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-masur/) > [Most profoundly deaf people have speech that is very difficult to understand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-masur/most-profoundly-deaf-people-have-speech-that-is-very-difficult-to/) [Richard Masur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-masur/) ## More by Marlee Matlin > [Looking back now, thinking about that moment in the lights, with my heart pounding, Oscar in my hand, all I can say is I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlee-matlin/looking-back-now-thinking-about-that-moment-in-the-lights-with-my/) [Marlee Matlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlee-matlin/) > [I'm tired of seeing listings of programs I want to watch that aren't closed captioned. And I'm tired of looking for the symbol on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlee-matlin/i-m-tired-of-seeing-listings-of-programs-i-want-to-watch-that-aren-t/) [Marlee Matlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlee-matlin/) > [We had a dog, Apples. He was 13 years old, toothless, blind and had the worst breath this side of Jabba the Hut. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlee-matlin/we-had-a-dog-apples-he-was-13-years-old-toothless-blind-and-had-the/) [Marlee Matlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlee-matlin/) > [What the Bleep Do We Know was not written with a deaf person in mind, but when they met me, it clicked with them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlee-matlin/what-the-bleep-do-we-know-was-not-written-with-a-deaf-person-in-mind/) [Marlee Matlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlee-matlin/) > [I like to say that the greatest handicap of deafness does not lie in the ear, it lies in the mind. 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For me, I believe that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlee-matlin/there-are-many-deaf-people-who-couldn-t-imagine-living-in-a-marriage/) [Marlee Matlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlee-matlin/) > [Watch me when people say deaf and dumb, or deaf mute, and I give them a look like you might get if you called…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlee-matlin/watch-me-when-people-say-deaf-and-dumb-or-deaf-mute-and-i-give-them-a/) [Marlee Matlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlee-matlin/) > [YouTube is akin to having my own network.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlee-matlin/youtube-is-akin-to-having-my-own-network/) [Marlee Matlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlee-matlin/) > [I hope I inspire people who hear. Hearing people have the ability to remove barriers that prevent deaf people from achieving their dreams.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlee-matlin/i-hope-i-inspire-people-who-hear-hearing-people-have-the-ability-to/) [Marlee Matlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlee-matlin/) > [I learned to speak first, and then to sign. I have never really known what it was like to hear, so I cant compare…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlee-matlin/i-learned-to-speak-first-and-then-to-sign-i-have-never-really-known/) [Marlee Matlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlee-matlin/) > [It was ability that mattered, not disability, which is a word I'm not crazy about using.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlee-matlin/it-was-ability-that-mattered-not-disability-which-is-a-word-i-m-not/) [Marlee Matlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlee-matlin/) > [“Social justice is for everyone, including people with disabilities.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlee-matlin/social-justice-is-for-everyone-including-people-with-disabilities/) [Marlee Matlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlee-matlin/) > [The only thing I can't do is hear. I can drive, I have a life with four kids, I work on TV, I do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlee-matlin/the-only-thing-i-can-t-do-is-hear-i-can-drive-i-have-a-life-with-four/) [Marlee Matlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlee-matlin/) [Explore all 89 Marlee Matlin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlee-matlin/) ## More Being true quotes > [Life as we know it is fundamentally unsatisfying. I think most folks feel this to be true. They know that a life of aimless…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-yates/life-as-we-know-it-is-fundamentally-unsatisfying-i-think-most-folks/) [Michael Yates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-yates/) > [Whatever your conscious mind assumes and believes to be true, your subconscious mind will accept and bring to pass. 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The concept is flawed. It implies that there is only one way people are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-johnson/there-is-no-normal-i-ve-never-met-a-normal-person-the-concept-is/) [Maureen Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-johnson/) > [I learned a tremendous amount about what was important to me as a head coach in that I was not in charge. 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This is one thing that I know to be true.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonnie-raitt/you-create-the-happiness-and-the-balance-that-you-have-and-your-own/) [Bonnie Raitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonnie-raitt/) > [Being true to yourself means living in truth with each person in your life. It means refusing to say or do something that you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/being-true-to-yourself-means-living-in-truth-with-each-person-in-your/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [History is nothing but gossip about the past, with the hope that it might be true.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/history-is-nothing-but-gossip-about-the-past-with-the-hope-that-it/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [It is not the responsibility of the enlightened teacher to bring the student to enlightenment. 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