--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: One of the biggest lessons I've learned…" description: "\"One of the biggest lessons I've learned during my time on 'Oprah' is that everyone wants to be heard. We all want to have our humanity acknowledged - t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b5a/nate-berkus-8324_acknowledged_one-of-the-biggest-lessons-i-ve-learned_1923982.png" --- # One of the biggest lessons I've learned during my time on… ![“One of the biggest lessons I've learned during my time on 'Oprah' is that everyone wants to be heard. We all want to have our humanity acknowledged - to have others see us for who we truly are. We all want to know that we are valued, we are heard, we are understood.” quote by Nate Berkus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b5a/nate-berkus-8324_acknowledged_one-of-the-biggest-lessons-i-ve-learned_1923982.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b5a/nate-berkus-8324_acknowledged_one-of-the-biggest-lessons-i-ve-learned_1923982.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b5a/nate-berkus-8324_acknowledged_one-of-the-biggest-lessons-i-ve-learned_1923982.png) > “One of the biggest lessons I've learned during my time on 'Oprah' is that everyone wants to be heard. We all want to have our humanity acknowledged - to have others see us for who we truly are. We all want to know that we are valued, we are heard, we are understood.” [Nate Berkus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate-berkus/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People crave acknowledgment and validation; being heard affirms our humanity and self‑worth. **In simple terms:** Everyone wants to be heard and valued. Key Takeaway Listen actively and affirm others. Themes validation humanity communication Mood empathetic thoughtful Type inspirational reflective When to use this quote - team meetings - personal relationships - customer service Key Concepts empathy psychology Questions to Reflect On - How can you ensure you truly understand someone? - What actions show you value others? A Different Perspective Listening alone may not solve deeper relational problems. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Collaboration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/collaboration/) [Humanity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humanity/) [Lessons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lessons/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [I prefer big Oprah. I know Oprah wants to be skinny Oprah, but her head is too gigantic to fit on a skinny body.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-griffin/i-prefer-big-oprah-i-know-oprah-wants-to-be-skinny-oprah-but-her-head/) [Kathy Griffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-griffin/) > [I still want Oprah to play my best friend. I want to spend time with Oprah.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tina-fey/i-still-want-oprah-to-play-my-best-friend-i-want-to-spend-time-with/) [Tina Fey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tina-fey/) > [I want to spend time with Oprah, and I don't know what I need to do to make that happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tina-fey/i-want-to-spend-time-with-oprah-and-i-don-t-know-what-i-need-to-do-to/) [Tina Fey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tina-fey/) > [In my lifetime, I want to see humanity start being conscious of our waste, the things we buy, and how we can reuse and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-mraz/in-my-lifetime-i-want-to-see-humanity-start-being-conscious-of-our/) [Jason Mraz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-mraz/) > [“Humans do not want to be better. A person may want to swim better or have a better smile. But they don't want humanity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-cicero/humans-do-not-want-to-be-better-a-person-may-want-to-swim-better-or/) [Noah Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-cicero/) > [Here's what I would want for humanity, because this is what I have come to see is true: it's so simple when we listen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/byron-katie/here-s-what-i-would-want-for-humanity-because-this-is-what-i-have/) [Byron Katie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/byron-katie/) > [This is not about the aesthetics: there is a rule in a society: "Whoever you deal with, makes you become them", therefore watching the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janusz-korwin-mikke/this-is-not-about-the-aesthetics-there-is-a-rule-in-a-society-whoever/) [Janusz Korwin-Mikke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janusz-korwin-mikke/) > [As actors, we want to go find the humanity and make it more nuanced and fill in the colors, rather than just being suit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juliette-lewis/as-actors-we-want-to-go-find-the-humanity-and-make-it-more-nuanced/) [Juliette Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juliette-lewis/) > [Cornelius Castoriadis, the great French social philosopher of Greek origin, was asked once by an exasperated interviewer: "What do you want, Mr. Castoriadis -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zygmunt-bauman/cornelius-castoriadis-the-great-french-social-philosopher-of-greek/) [Zygmunt Bauman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zygmunt-bauman/) > [One of your biggest lessons so far in life has been to learn to forgive myself over and over again and not to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krishna-das/one-of-your-biggest-lessons-so-far-in-life-has-been-to-learn-to/) [Krishna Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krishna-das/) > [I learned at Yale, one of the biggest lessons was to learn how special I am and therefore how totally unspecial I am. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lupita-nyong-o/i-learned-at-yale-one-of-the-biggest-lessons-was-to-learn-how-special/) [Lupita Nyong'o](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lupita-nyong-o/) > [One of the biggest lessons I've learnt is patience. It's critical when raising a child.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rahul-dev/one-of-the-biggest-lessons-i-ve-learnt-is-patience-it-s-critical-when/) [Rahul Dev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rahul-dev/) > [One of the biggest lessons I've learned in my life is to never say somethin you don't mean... that can cause a problem that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/one-of-the-biggest-lessons-i-ve-learned-in-my-life-is-to-never-say/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“He'd learned a lot in the short time he'd been with the Cahills, and one of the biggest lessons was not to hold back.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-standiford/he-d-learned-a-lot-in-the-short-time-he-d-been-with-the-cahills-and/) [Natalie Standiford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-standiford/) > [One of my biggest lessons in life is, we heal at the speed of our forgiveness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/romany-malco/one-of-my-biggest-lessons-in-life-is-we-heal-at-the-speed-of-our/) [Romany Malco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/romany-malco/) ## More by Nate Berkus > [I really can't live without my In-N-Out burgers. Honestly, I can't. Even when I'm doing the whole no-carb thing occasionally, I make an exception…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate-berkus/i-really-can-t-live-without-my-in-n-out-burgers-honestly-i-can-t-even/) [Nate Berkus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate-berkus/) > [As a designer, everything is always about aesthetics mixed in with functionality and having that visual appeal. But you learn fast as a new…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate-berkus/as-a-designer-everything-is-always-about-aesthetics-mixed-in-with/) [Nate Berkus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate-berkus/) > [I have a large watch collection, and classic watches are especially important to me. I had a silver Rolex, and I actually gave it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate-berkus/i-have-a-large-watch-collection-and-classic-watches-are-especially/) [Nate Berkus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate-berkus/) > [You don't need to spend a lot of money on stuff when you have amazing architecture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate-berkus/you-don-t-need-to-spend-a-lot-of-money-on-stuff-when-you-have-amazing/) [Nate Berkus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate-berkus/) > [I knew that I was a gay boy fairly early; what was interesting to me was that my mother didn't know. She made me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate-berkus/i-knew-that-i-was-a-gay-boy-fairly-early-what-was-interesting-to-me/) [Nate Berkus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate-berkus/) > [Layering in different patterns will keep things from appearing too studied.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate-berkus/layering-in-different-patterns-will-keep-things-from-appearing-too/) [Nate Berkus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate-berkus/) > [I hate sets. I've always hated sets. I think that if you have a dining room set, break it up!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate-berkus/i-hate-sets-i-ve-always-hated-sets-i-think-that-if-you-have-a-dining/) [Nate Berkus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate-berkus/) > [Everywhere in my house are these little things that have meanings and make me think of great memories.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate-berkus/everywhere-in-my-house-are-these-little-things-that-have-meanings-and/) [Nate Berkus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate-berkus/) > [Thread count is actually a lie. Just because a thread count is 1,500 on a set of sheets doesn't mean that they're well-made sheets.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate-berkus/thread-count-is-actually-a-lie-just-because-a-thread-count-is-1-500/) [Nate Berkus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate-berkus/) > ['Priced to sell' - just the phrase makes me smile. When a dealer says all the items in his booth are priced to sell,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate-berkus/priced-to-sell-just-the-phrase-makes-me-smile-when-a-dealer-says-all/) [Nate Berkus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate-berkus/) > [I didn't grow up thinking I'd be a decorator. Design is my greatest passion, and it naturally just pulled me down the path. Same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate-berkus/i-didn-t-grow-up-thinking-i-d-be-a-decorator-design-is-my-greatest/) [Nate Berkus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate-berkus/) > [You can find a lot of reasonable buys at Wal-Mart. But one key to making it on a budget is by donating your time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate-berkus/you-can-find-a-lot-of-reasonable-buys-at-wal-mart-but-one-key-to/) [Nate Berkus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate-berkus/) > [In design-speak, 'a library' means a room lined with books, floor-to ceiling, but it all depends on the space you have. You may have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate-berkus/in-design-speak-a-library-means-a-room-lined-with-books-floor-to/) [Nate Berkus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate-berkus/) > [A lot of guys go in immediately for status, as opposed to comfort and allowing their home to tell a story about them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate-berkus/a-lot-of-guys-go-in-immediately-for-status-as-opposed-to-comfort-and/) [Nate Berkus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate-berkus/) > [Design, to me, is part psychology, part sociology, and part magic. A good decorator should know what's going on in someone's marriage and how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate-berkus/design-to-me-is-part-psychology-part-sociology-and-part-magic-a-good/) [Nate Berkus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate-berkus/) [Explore all 82 Nate Berkus quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate-berkus/) ## More Acknowledged quotes > [The CIA has acknowledged that it has detained about 100 terrorists since 9/11, and about a third of them have been subjected to what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-o-brennan/the-cia-has-acknowledged-that-it-has-detained-about-100-terrorists/) [John O. Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-o-brennan/) > [I have this thing about being acknowledged and accepted by institutions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitski/i-have-this-thing-about-being-acknowledged-and-accepted-by/) [Mitski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitski/) > [I think every player wants to be acknowledged for what they have done. I think every player eligible for the Hall Of Fame feels…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-larkin/i-think-every-player-wants-to-be-acknowledged-for-what-they-have-done/) [Barry Larkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-larkin/) > [There were a couple Aborigines in my primary school, but we never spoke to them. They kept to themselves, and we never really even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phillip-noyce/there-were-a-couple-aborigines-in-my-primary-school-but-we-never/) [Phillip Noyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phillip-noyce/) > [Lord Kane," the king acknowledged. "Before the proceedings begin, we must say how thrilled we were to meet your PMS." Uh..."My what?" "Your personal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gena-showalter/lord-kane-the-king-acknowledged-before-the-proceedings-begin-we-must/) [Gena Showalter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gena-showalter/) > [Youre doing a good job here, and I want you to know that your presence and work are acknowledged and they are helping us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/youre-doing-a-good-job-here-and-i-want-you-to-know-that-your-presence/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Everybody has their own rules, and so do I. I have always lived on my own terms. As far as mistakes are concerned, I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kajol/everybody-has-their-own-rules-and-so-do-i-i-have-always-lived-on-my/) [Kajol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kajol/) > [If you a hoe, you a hoe, don't get mad at me because I acknowledged it... Hoe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bella/if-you-a-hoe-you-a-hoe-don-t-get-mad-at-me-because-i-acknowledged-it/) [Bella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bella/) > [It's really humbling to be acknowledged by such established names like CMT and Billboard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelsea-ballerini/it-s-really-humbling-to-be-acknowledged-by-such-established-names/) [Kelsea Ballerini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelsea-ballerini/) > [Being acknowledged as one of the best is enough for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-daddy-kane/being-acknowledged-as-one-of-the-best-is-enough-for-me/) [Big Daddy Kane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-daddy-kane/) > [It's kind of nice to be acknowledged, and that people think enough of you that they want to give you something. So I appreciate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-uggams/it-s-kind-of-nice-to-be-acknowledged-and-that-people-think-enough-of/) [Leslie Uggams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-uggams/) > [Whatever your thoughts may be, if you dont say them, none of it will be acknowledged by others](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/card-captor-sakura/whatever-your-thoughts-may-be-if-you-dont-say-them-none-of-it-will-be/) Card Captor Sakura > [Novelists who pretend to understand what keeps them scribbling are really just guessing. A profound, unmet childish need to be acknowledged? Maybe. It hardly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-kirn/novelists-who-pretend-to-understand-what-keeps-them-scribbling-are/) [Walter Kirn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-kirn/) > [In one sense, the stories I read betrayed me. Too few gave me back my mirror image. Fewer still spoke to, or acknowledged, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikki-grimes/in-one-sense-the-stories-i-read-betrayed-me-too-few-gave-me-back-my/) [Nikki Grimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikki-grimes/) > [Sometimes, quite out of the blue, sport will throw up a tender moment, when hostility ceases and an opponent is acknowledged.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harsha-bhogle/sometimes-quite-out-of-the-blue-sport-will-throw-up-a-tender-moment/) [Harsha Bhogle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harsha-bhogle/) Browse all 64 Acknowledged quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "One of the biggest lessons I've learned during my time on 'Oprah' is that everyone wants to be heard. We all want to have our humanity acknowledged - to have others see us for who we truly are. 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