--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: i have never understood. will probably…" description: "\"“i have never understood. will probably never understand. the white mans lust to eat the world. to eat the universe. (mars is next) why he was born wit..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df0/nayyirah-waheed-8336_born-this-way_i-have-never-understood-will-probably-ne_2446399.jpg" --- # i have never understood. will probably never understand… ![“i have never understood. will probably never understand. the white mans lust to eat the world. to eat the universe. (mars is next) why he was born with such a rabid starvation. why he feigns for power like crack rock. doing everything. and anything. to have it. no matter how deranged. why he is in…” quote by nayyirah waheed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df0/nayyirah-waheed-8336_born-this-way_i-have-never-understood-will-probably-ne_2446399.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df0/nayyirah-waheed-8336_born-this-way_i-have-never-understood-will-probably-ne_2446399.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df0/nayyirah-waheed-8336_born-this-way_i-have-never-understood-will-probably-ne_2446399.jpg) > ““i have never understood. will probably never understand. the white mans lust to eat the world. to eat the universe. (mars is next) why he was born with such a rabid starvation. why he feigns for power like crack rock. doing everything. and anything. to have it. no matter how deranged. why he is in so much pain he needs to rip the roots of happiness from the earth and burn them into his smile. what happened in his relationship with our mother. that he needs to set a person on fire. watch them burn. to feel powerful. not every white man is born this way, but, it stands to remain there are many who are.”” [nayyirah waheed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nayyirah-waheed/) ## 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 critiques a destructive, insatiable drive for dominance that harms humanity. **In simple terms:** Criticizes a greedy, violent desire for control. Key Takeaway Recognize and curb destructive impulses. Themes violence greed human nature Mood angry reflective Type poetic social When to use this quote - personal relationships - political movements - social media discourse Key Concepts psychology of power social critique colonialism Questions to Reflect On - What fuels such destructive cravings? - How can societies mitigate these tendencies? A Different Perspective Not all individuals share this trait; context matters. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Born this way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/born-this-way/) [Mars Born](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mars-born-531497/) [Rabid Starvation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rabid-starvation-531496/) [Understand White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/understand-white-531495/) [White man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/white-man/) [White Mans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/white-mans-531494/) ## Related quotes > [“Do not renounce your roots in order to sit on the white mans chair.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/surinam-proverb/do-not-renounce-your-roots-in-order-to-sit-on-the-white-mans-chair/) [Surinam proverb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/surinam-proverb/) > [The colored people of this country know and understand the white people better than the white people know and understand them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-weldon-johnson/the-colored-people-of-this-country-know-and-understand-the-white/) [James Weldon Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-weldon-johnson/) > [I believe it to be a fact that the colored people of this country know and understand the white people better than the white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-weldon-johnson/i-believe-it-to-be-a-fact-that-the-colored-people-of-this-country/) [James Weldon Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-weldon-johnson/) > [Now, then, in order to understand white supremacy we must dismiss the fallacious notion that white people can give anybody their freedom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stokely-carmichael/now-then-in-order-to-understand-white-supremacy-we-must-dismiss-the/) [Stokely Carmichael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stokely-carmichael/) > [It is increasingly hard for young white people to find jobs, and I can understand why white parents are worried about the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-suzman/it-is-increasingly-hard-for-young-white-people-to-find-jobs-and-i-can/) [Helen Suzman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-suzman/) > [“We also need to understand that white supremacy is at the heart of the problem—not just a racially associated economic inequality.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becky-bond/we-also-need-to-understand-that-white-supremacy-is-at-the-heart-of/) [Becky Bond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becky-bond/) > [White Privilege is the other side of racism. Unless we name it, we are in danger of wallowing in guilt or moral outrage with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-rothenberg/white-privilege-is-the-other-side-of-racism-unless-we-name-it-we-are/) [Paula Rothenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-rothenberg/) > [“There was nowhere to go. This hate was everywhere, even in my bedroom. I choked out a sob and wondered why everyone thought I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-nacht/there-was-nowhere-to-go-this-hate-was-everywhere-even-in-my-bedroom-i/) [Jackie Nacht](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-nacht/) > [No matter gay, straight or bi, lesbian, transgendered life, I'm on the right track baby I was born to survive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lady-gaga/no-matter-gay-straight-or-bi-lesbian-transgendered-life-i-m-on-the/) [Lady Gaga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lady-gaga/) > [“I am addicted to reading, I will never reach the end of my TBR list because it multiplies all by itself. It is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lani/i-am-addicted-to-reading-i-will-never-reach-the-end-of-my-tbr-list/) [Lani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lani/) > [I'm beautiful in my way 'cause God makes no mistakes. I'm on the right track baby, I was born this way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lady-gaga/i-m-beautiful-in-my-way-cause-god-makes-no-mistakes-i-m-on-the-right/) [Lady Gaga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lady-gaga/) > [My fashion is part of who I am, and though I was not born with these clothes on, I was born this way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lady-gaga/my-fashion-is-part-of-who-i-am-and-though-i-was-not-born-with-these/) [Lady Gaga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lady-gaga/) > [And it’s more. It’s about getting past that question of whats wrong with me, to knowing there’s nothing wrong, that you were born this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-anne-peters/and-it-s-more-it-s-about-getting-past-that-question-of-whats-wrong/) [Julie Anne Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-anne-peters/) > ['Born This Way' is shaping up to be creative ecstasy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurieann-gibson/born-this-way-is-shaping-up-to-be-creative-ecstasy/) [Laurieann Gibson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurieann-gibson/) > [Do not allow people to dim your shine because they are blinded. Tell them to put on some sunglasses because we were born this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lady-gaga/do-not-allow-people-to-dim-your-shine-because-they-are-blinded-tell/) [Lady Gaga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lady-gaga/) ## More by nayyirah waheed > [“healing begins the moment you want it to”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nayyirah-waheed/healing-begins-the-moment-you-want-it-to/) [Nayyirah Waheed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nayyirah-waheed/) > [“i am trying to remember you and let you go at the same time. — the mourn”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nayyirah-waheed/i-am-trying-to-remember-you-and-let-you-go-at-the-same-time-the-mourn/) [Nayyirah Waheed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nayyirah-waheed/) > [“there are feelings. you haven’t felt yet. give them time. they are almost here. – fresh”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nayyirah-waheed/there-are-feelings-you-haven-t-felt-yet-give-them-time-they-are/) [Nayyirah Waheed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nayyirah-waheed/) > [“to be waterdrugged into rejecting the nuances of my own bursting extraordinary self. and to have this be called education.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nayyirah-waheed/to-be-waterdrugged-into-rejecting-the-nuances-of-my-own-bursting/) [Nayyirah Waheed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nayyirah-waheed/) > [“i am writing my way back to you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nayyirah-waheed/i-am-writing-my-way-back-to-you/) [Nayyirah Waheed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nayyirah-waheed/) > [“when you meet that person. a person. one of your soulmates. let the connection. relationship. be what it is. it may be five mins.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nayyirah-waheed/when-you-meet-that-person-a-person-one-of-your-soulmates-let-the/) [Nayyirah Waheed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nayyirah-waheed/) > [“fell apart many times. so. what does that say about me besides i live through wars.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nayyirah-waheed/fell-apart-many-times-so-what-does-that-say-about-me-besides-i-live/) [Nayyirah Waheed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nayyirah-waheed/) > [“a friend. is someone who supports your breath.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nayyirah-waheed/a-friend-is-someone-who-supports-your-breath/) [Nayyirah Waheed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nayyirah-waheed/) > [“stay is a sensitive word. we wear who stayed and who left in our skin forever”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nayyirah-waheed/stay-is-a-sensitive-word-we-wear-who-stayed-and-who-left-in-our-skin/) [Nayyirah Waheed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nayyirah-waheed/) > [“black women breathe flowers, too. just because we are taught to grow them in the lining of our quiet (our grandmothers secret) does nor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nayyirah-waheed/black-women-breathe-flowers-too-just-because-we-are-taught-to-grow/) [Nayyirah Waheed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nayyirah-waheed/) > [“bleed every month. but do not die. how am i not magic. – the lie”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nayyirah-waheed/bleed-every-month-but-do-not-die-how-am-i-not-magic-the-lie/) [Nayyirah Waheed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nayyirah-waheed/) > [“i knew you before i met you. i’ve known you my whole life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nayyirah-waheed/i-knew-you-before-i-met-you-i-ve-known-you-my-whole-life/) [Nayyirah Waheed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nayyirah-waheed/) > [“sometimes the beauty of my people is so thick and intricate. i spend days trying to undo my eyes so i can sleep.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nayyirah-waheed/sometimes-the-beauty-of-my-people-is-so-thick-and-intricate-i-spend/) [nayyirah waheed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nayyirah-waheed/) > [“the truth is you were born for you. you were wanted by you. you came for you. you are here for you. your existence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nayyirah-waheed/the-truth-is-you-were-born-for-you-you-were-wanted-by-you-you-came/) [Nayyirah Waheed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nayyirah-waheed/) > [“i found flaws and they were beautiful. – ugly”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nayyirah-waheed/i-found-flaws-and-they-were-beautiful-ugly/) [Nayyirah Waheed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nayyirah-waheed/) [Explore all 81 nayyirah waheed quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nayyirah-waheed/) ## More Born this way quotes > [Do not allow people to dim your shine because they are blinded. Tell them to put on some sunglasses because we were born this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lady-gaga/do-not-allow-people-to-dim-your-shine-because-they-are-blinded-tell/) [Lady Gaga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lady-gaga/) > ['Born This Way' is shaping up to be creative ecstasy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurieann-gibson/born-this-way-is-shaping-up-to-be-creative-ecstasy/) [Laurieann Gibson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurieann-gibson/) > [And it’s more. It’s about getting past that question of whats wrong with me, to knowing there’s nothing wrong, that you were born this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-anne-peters/and-it-s-more-it-s-about-getting-past-that-question-of-whats-wrong/) [Julie Anne Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-anne-peters/) > [My fashion is part of who I am, and though I was not born with these clothes on, I was born this way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lady-gaga/my-fashion-is-part-of-who-i-am-and-though-i-was-not-born-with-these/) [Lady Gaga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lady-gaga/) > [I'm beautiful in my way 'cause God makes no mistakes. I'm on the right track baby, I was born this way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lady-gaga/i-m-beautiful-in-my-way-cause-god-makes-no-mistakes-i-m-on-the-right/) [Lady Gaga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lady-gaga/) > [“I am addicted to reading, I will never reach the end of my TBR list because it multiplies all by itself. It is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lani/i-am-addicted-to-reading-i-will-never-reach-the-end-of-my-tbr-list/) [Lani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lani/) > [No matter gay, straight or bi, lesbian, transgendered life, I'm on the right track baby I was born to survive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lady-gaga/no-matter-gay-straight-or-bi-lesbian-transgendered-life-i-m-on-the/) [Lady Gaga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lady-gaga/) > [“There was nowhere to go. This hate was everywhere, even in my bedroom. I choked out a sob and wondered why everyone thought I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-nacht/there-was-nowhere-to-go-this-hate-was-everywhere-even-in-my-bedroom-i/) [Jackie Nacht](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-nacht/) > [I'm black because I was born this way. I'm proud of it. Thank God I am who I am.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darius-rucker/i-m-black-because-i-was-born-this-way-i-m-proud-of-it-thank-god-i-am/) [Darius Rucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darius-rucker/) > [I've created, directed and choreographed for Lady Gaga since the beginning, so 'Born This Way,' this was musically such an amazing evolution and such…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurieann-gibson/i-ve-created-directed-and-choreographed-for-lady-gaga-since-the/) [Laurieann Gibson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurieann-gibson/) > [There's nothing I can do about looking short. I'm born this way. And my face is on the long side so I look even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seungri/there-s-nothing-i-can-do-about-looking-short-i-m-born-this-way-and-my/) [Seungri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seungri/) > [My mama told me when I was young we're all born SUPERSTARS!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lady-gaga/my-mama-told-me-when-i-was-young-we-re-all-born-superstars/) [Lady Gaga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lady-gaga/) > [Choices lead to habits. Habits become talents. Talents are labeled gifts. You’re not born this way, you get this way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/choices-lead-to-habits-habits-become-talents-talents-are-labeled/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [I think my personality is not because I was born this way but because I was raised this way. I was raised with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-anthony-towns/i-think-my-personality-is-not-because-i-was-born-this-way-but-because/) [Karl-Anthony Towns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-anthony-towns/) > [I'm a heterosexual. I don't know why I'm like this. I was just born this way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roseanne-barr/i-m-a-heterosexual-i-don-t-know-why-i-m-like-this-i-was-just-born/) [Roseanne Barr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roseanne-barr/) [Browse all 77 Born this way quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/born-this-way/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“i have never understood. will probably never understand. the white mans lust to eat the world. to eat the universe. (mars is next) why he was born with such a rabid starvation. why he feigns for power like crack rock. doing everything. and anything. to have it. no matter how deranged. why he is in so much pain he needs to rip the roots of happiness from the earth and burn them into his smile. what happened in his relationship with our mother. that he needs to set a person on fire. watch them burn. to feel powerful. not every white man is born this way, but, it stands to remain there are many who are.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "nayyirah waheed" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nayyirah-waheed/i-have-never-understood-will-probably-never-understand-the-white-mans/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Born this way" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nayyirah-waheed/i-have-never-understood-will-probably-never-understand-the-white-mans/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df0/nayyirah-waheed-8336_born-this-way_i-have-never-understood-will-probably-ne_2446399.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df0/nayyirah-waheed-8336_born-this-way_i-have-never-understood-will-probably-ne_2446399.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df0/nayyirah-waheed-8336_born-this-way_i-have-never-understood-will-probably-ne_2446399.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“i have never understood. will probably never understand. the white mans lust to eat the world. to eat the…” — nayyirah waheed", "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": "nayyirah waheed", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nayyirah-waheed/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“i have never understood. will probably...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nayyirah-waheed/i-have-never-understood-will-probably-never-understand-the-white-mans/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nayyirah-waheed/i-have-never-understood-will-probably-never-understand-the-white-mans/#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 } } ] } ```