--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I can never understand someone by his…" description: "\"“I can never understand someone by his strengths. Nothing is revealed there. I can only understand people by their weaknesses.”\" — Michael Ondaatje" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2dd/michael-ondaatje-940_life-philosophy_i-can-never-understand-someone-by-his-st_2104955.png" --- # I can never understand someone by his strengths. Nothing… ![“I can never understand someone by his strengths. Nothing is revealed there. I can only understand people by their weaknesses.” quote by Michael Ondaatje](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2dd/michael-ondaatje-940_life-philosophy_i-can-never-understand-someone-by-his-st_2104955.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2dd/michael-ondaatje-940_life-philosophy_i-can-never-understand-someone-by-his-st_2104955.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2dd/michael-ondaatje-940_life-philosophy_i-can-never-understand-someone-by-his-st_2104955.png) > ““I can never understand someone by his strengths. Nothing is revealed there. I can only understand people by their weaknesses.”” [Michael Ondaatje](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ondaatje/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Understanding a person requires seeing their vulnerabilities, not just their strengths. **In simple terms:** Know people through their weaknesses. Key Takeaway Listen to hidden struggles. Themes empathy humanity vulnerability Mood thoughtful introspective Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - counseling - team building Key Concepts psychology literary analysis Questions to Reflect On - What hidden challenges do you overlook? - How can you foster safe spaces for vulnerability? A Different Perspective Focusing only on strengths can miss growth opportunities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Life philosophy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-philosophy/) [People Weaknesses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-weaknesses-829895/) [Strength](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strength/) [Strengths Revealed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strengths-revealed-4222876/) [Understand People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/understand-people/) [Understand Strengths](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/understand-strengths-516260/) [Weaknesses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weaknesses/) ## Related quotes > [The biggest challenge we all face is to learn about ourselves and to understand our strengths and weaknesses. We need to utilize our strengths,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-jemison/the-biggest-challenge-we-all-face-is-to-learn-about-ourselves-and-to/) [Mae Jemison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-jemison/) > [I can still discern people's weaknesses, but it doesn't make me want to exploit them; it makes me want to hug them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-febos/i-can-still-discern-people-s-weaknesses-but-it-doesn-t-make-me-want/) [Melissa Febos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-febos/) > [Cunning is the art of concealing our own defects, and discovering other people's weaknesses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-hazlitt/cunning-is-the-art-of-concealing-our-own-defects-and-discovering/) [William Hazlitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-hazlitt/) > [We all can relate to people's weaknesses. We might put up a facade that everything is perfect but none of us are. When we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-kinnaman/we-all-can-relate-to-people-s-weaknesses-we-might-put-up-a-facade/) [Joel Kinnaman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-kinnaman/) > [People have weaknesses, we should accept it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ballack/people-have-weaknesses-we-should-accept-it/) [Michael Ballack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ballack/) > [“Ironically, you’ll find that as you care less about what others think of you, you will care more about what others think of themselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-r-covey/ironically-you-ll-find-that-as-you-care-less-about-what-others-think/) [Stephen R. Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-r-covey/) > [We might impress people with our strengths, but we connect with people through our weaknesses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-groeschel/we-might-impress-people-with-our-strengths-but-we-connect-with-people/) [Craig Groeschel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-groeschel/) > [Memories are people's weaknesses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/memories-are-people-s-weaknesses/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [Never have I found good reasons to believe in people's weaknesses. But I've always found enough reasons to believe in their strengths. It doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-mark/never-have-i-found-good-reasons-to-believe-in-people-s-weaknesses-but/) [Terry Mark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-mark/) > [I have taken advantage of other people's weaknesses in order to cover my own.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/i-have-taken-advantage-of-other-people-s-weaknesses-in-order-to-cover/) [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) > [People with weaknesses get killed by the people who lack them. Notice I'm not dead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/people-with-weaknesses-get-killed-by-the-people-who-lack-them-notice/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [Isn't it a shame that some people's 'weaknesses' can be so strong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-victor-paskavich/isn-t-it-a-shame-that-some-people-s-weaknesses-can-be-so-strong/) [Stanley Victor Paskavich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-victor-paskavich/) > [People who have no weaknesses are terrible; there is no way of taking advantage of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anatole-france/people-who-have-no-weaknesses-are-terrible-there-is-no-way-of-taking/) [Anatole France](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anatole-france/) > [The things people call my weaknesses are my greatest strengths.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-kodokian/the-things-people-call-my-weaknesses-are-my-greatest-strengths/) [David Kodokian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-kodokian/) > [Nations need to understand their own strengths and weaknesses, and India's tradition of dissent and democratic debate is a positive aspect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosabeth-moss-kanter/nations-need-to-understand-their-own-strengths-and-weaknesses-and/) [Rosabeth Moss Kanter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosabeth-moss-kanter/) ## More by Michael Ondaatje > [“In spite of this, our table's status on the Oronsay continued to be minimal, while those at the Captain's Table were constantly toasting to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ondaatje/in-spite-of-this-our-table-s-status-on-the-oronsay-continued-to-be/) [Michael Ondaatje](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ondaatje/) > [He will hear the rain before he feels it, a clicking on the dry grass, on the olive leaves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ondaatje/he-will-hear-the-rain-before-he-feels-it-a-clicking-on-the-dry-grass/) [Michael Ondaatje](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ondaatje/) > [“Whenever her father was alone with a dog in a house he would lean over and smell the skin at the base of its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ondaatje/whenever-her-father-was-alone-with-a-dog-in-a-house-he-would-lean/) [Michael Ondaatje](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ondaatje/) > [“...those who had risked everything at a riverbend on a left turn and so discovered a fortune.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ondaatje/those-who-had-risked-everything-at-a-riverbend-on-a-left-turn-and-so/) [Michael Ondaatje](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ondaatje/) > [“All over the world there must be people like us, Anna had said then, wounded in some way by falling in love - seemingly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ondaatje/all-over-the-world-there-must-be-people-like-us-anna-had-said-then/) [Michael Ondaatje](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ondaatje/) > [Her father had taught her about hands. About a dog's paws. Whenever her father was alone with a dog in a house he would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ondaatje/her-father-had-taught-her-about-hands-about-a-dog-s-paws-whenever-her/) [Michael Ondaatje](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ondaatje/) > [What is interesting and important happens mostly in secret, in places where there is no power. Nothing much of lasting value ever happens at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ondaatje/what-is-interesting-and-important-happens-mostly-in-secret-in-places/) [Michael Ondaatje](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ondaatje/) > [There's more danger in the violence you don't face.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ondaatje/there-s-more-danger-in-the-violence-you-don-t-face/) [Michael Ondaatje](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ondaatje/) > [From this point on, she whispered, we will either find or lose our souls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ondaatje/from-this-point-on-she-whispered-we-will-either-find-or-lose-our-souls/) [Michael Ondaatje](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ondaatje/) > [“You know it is the most relaxed thing when you when you sit with a best friend and you know there is nothing you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ondaatje/you-know-it-is-the-most-relaxed-thing-when-you-when-you-sit-with-a/) [Michael Ondaatje](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ondaatje/) > [“There was no control except the " mood of his power... and it is for this reason it is good you never heard him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ondaatje/there-was-no-control-except-the-mood-of-his-power-and-it-is-for-this/) [Michael Ondaatje](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ondaatje/) > [You're getting everyone's point of view at the same time, which for me, is the perfect state for a novel: a cubist state, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ondaatje/you-re-getting-everyone-s-point-of-view-at-the-same-time-which-for-me/) [Michael Ondaatje](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ondaatje/) > [I see the poem or the novel ending with an open door.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ondaatje/i-see-the-poem-or-the-novel-ending-with-an-open-door/) [Michael Ondaatje](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ondaatje/) > [“The Time Around Scars: A girl whom I've not spoken to or shared coffee with for several years writes of an old scar. On…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ondaatje/the-time-around-scars-a-girl-whom-i-ve-not-spoken-to-or-shared-coffee/) [Michael Ondaatje](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ondaatje/) > [“- Daca ti-as incredinta viata mea, ai scapa-o pe jos. Nu-i asa?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ondaatje/daca-ti-as-incredinta-viata-mea-ai-scapa-o-pe-jos-nu-i-asa/) [Michael Ondaatje](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ondaatje/) [Explore all 322 Michael Ondaatje quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ondaatje/) ## More Life philosophy quotes > [“Don't allow money to become the yardstick by which you measure the worth of the world around you!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-james-pritchard/don-t-allow-money-to-become-the-yardstick-by-which-you-measure-the/) [Andrew James Pritchard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-james-pritchard/) > [“Failing to meet your true destiny is a tragic act of free will.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthon-st-maarten/failing-to-meet-your-true-destiny-is-a-tragic-act-of-free-will/) [Anthon St. Maarten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthon-st-maarten/) > [“Today if anything is trying to hold you back, give no attention to it. Get your hopes up, get your faith up, look up,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germany-kent/today-if-anything-is-trying-to-hold-you-back-give-no-attention-to-it/) [Germany Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germany-kent/) > [“Everything's a painting, anyway," Fawn said. "That's what I think. We live inside a giant painting, only we can't see who's holding the paintbrush.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-christo/everything-s-a-painting-anyway-fawn-said-that-s-what-i-think-we-live/) [Rose Christo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-christo/) > [“It's who you is when folks knocks at the door of your heart what counts. Hide the past and it gives them what's jealous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryce-courtenay/it-s-who-you-is-when-folks-knocks-at-the-door-of-your-heart-what/) [Bryce Courtenay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryce-courtenay/) > [“No," said Blackwell, "she won't, because that would be a violation of the very personal terms I will have established in our conversation. That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-gibson/no-said-blackwell-she-won-t-because-that-would-be-a-violation-of-the/) [William Gibson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-gibson/) > [“take free food or tea from anyone talking about God and find Heaven its gotta be out there for there must be God and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dito-montiel/take-free-food-or-tea-from-anyone-talking-about-god-and-find-heaven/) [Dito Montiel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dito-montiel/) > [“we are like puppets synchronized by god…”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mayank-prasad/we-are-like-puppets-synchronized-by-god/) [mayank prasad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mayank-prasad/) > [“Sometimes we don't know where we are going until we get there.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacqueline-simon-gunn/sometimes-we-don-t-know-where-we-are-going-until-we-get-there/) [Jacqueline Simon Gunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacqueline-simon-gunn/) > [“Self-pity is the worst disability a person can have, Callie. It's crippling.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelley-terrell/self-pity-is-the-worst-disability-a-person-can-have-callie-it-s/) [Shelley Terrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelley-terrell/) > [“Every day you are the teacher for someone, what are you teaching, choose to influence everyone around you. ~Janiece Rendon Transition Strategist”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janiece-rendon/every-day-you-are-the-teacher-for-someone-what-are-you-teaching/) [Janiece Rendon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janiece-rendon/) > [“Because we trust, we love, and because we love, we trust.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-benedict-zumbo/because-we-trust-we-love-and-because-we-love-we-trust/) [David Benedict Zumbo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-benedict-zumbo/) > [“While we go through our lives looking for the puzzle pieces to complete our story, we are unknowingly creating them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garry-fitchett/while-we-go-through-our-lives-looking-for-the-puzzle-pieces-to/) [Garry Fitchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garry-fitchett/) > [“Runnin's not a bad thing, sir, so long as you're runnin' towards somethin' good.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-auxier/runnin-s-not-a-bad-thing-sir-so-long-as-you-re-runnin-towards/) [Jonathan Auxier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-auxier/) > [“I travel to know the life of great souls in the pages of a book.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/i-travel-to-know-the-life-of-great-souls-in-the-pages-of-a-book/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) [Browse all 1,288 Life philosophy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-philosophy/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I can never understand someone by his strengths. Nothing is revealed there. I can only understand people by their weaknesses.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Michael Ondaatje" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ondaatje/i-can-never-understand-someone-by-his-strengths-nothing-is-revealed/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Life philosophy" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ondaatje/i-can-never-understand-someone-by-his-strengths-nothing-is-revealed/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2dd/michael-ondaatje-940_life-philosophy_i-can-never-understand-someone-by-his-st_2104955.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2dd/michael-ondaatje-940_life-philosophy_i-can-never-understand-someone-by-his-st_2104955.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2dd/michael-ondaatje-940_life-philosophy_i-can-never-understand-someone-by-his-st_2104955.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I can never understand someone by his strengths. Nothing is revealed there. I can only understand people by…” — Michael Ondaatje", "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": "Michael Ondaatje", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ondaatje/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“I can never understand someone by...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ondaatje/i-can-never-understand-someone-by-his-strengths-nothing-is-revealed/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ondaatje/i-can-never-understand-someone-by-his-strengths-nothing-is-revealed/#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 } } ] } ```