--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: People talked to me in a way I think they…" description: "\"People talked to me in a way I think they would not have talked to somebody who hadn't shared the experience; they gave me their papers, they gave me t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f3a/neil-sheehan-31920_diaries_people-talked-to-me-in-a-way-i-think-the_2361756.png" --- # People talked to me in a way I think they would not have… ![“People talked to me in a way I think they would not have talked to somebody who hadn't shared the experience; they gave me their papers, they gave me their diaries. I found people constantly opening up to me. And I think they did because I had shared that experience with them.” quote by Neil Sheehan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f3a/neil-sheehan-31920_diaries_people-talked-to-me-in-a-way-i-think-the_2361756.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f3a/neil-sheehan-31920_diaries_people-talked-to-me-in-a-way-i-think-the_2361756.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f3a/neil-sheehan-31920_diaries_people-talked-to-me-in-a-way-i-think-the_2361756.png) > “People talked to me in a way I think they would not have talked to somebody who hadn't shared the experience; they gave me their papers, they gave me their diaries. I found people constantly opening up to me. And I think they did because I had shared that experience with them.” [Neil Sheehan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-sheehan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Shared experience builds trust, prompting others to open up and exchange personal histories. **In simple terms:** Shared experience builds trust. Key Takeaway Foster common ground to deepen connections. Themes trust communication empathy Mood thoughtful empathetic Type journalistic inspirational When to use this quote - interviews - support groups - community building Key Concepts sociology storytelling human connection Questions to Reflect On - How does shared experience change dialogue? - What boundaries protect personal stories? A Different Perspective Trust can be fragile without genuine reciprocity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Diaries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/diaries/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) ## Related quotes > [The whole point of diaries is that other people find them and read what you've put. I did once take to writing my inner…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-fielding/the-whole-point-of-diaries-is-that-other-people-find-them-and-read/) [Helen Fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-fielding/) > [“Then he kissed me, with a hunger that might have shocked me if I hadn't shared it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-grover-swank/then-he-kissed-me-with-a-hunger-that-might-have-shocked-me-if-i-hadn/) [Denise Grover Swank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-grover-swank/) > [But I also believe there is enormous value in the piece of writing that goes no further than the one person for whom it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betsy-lerner/but-i-also-believe-there-is-enormous-value-in-the-piece-of-writing/) [Betsy Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betsy-lerner/) > [“Aron's training in worldliness was gained from a young man of no experience, which gave him the ability for generalization only the inexperienced can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/aron-s-training-in-worldliness-was-gained-from-a-young-man-of-no/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [It's not about me - it's like, "How can I help you?" And when you give like that, you receive so much. It was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gwen-stefani/it-s-not-about-me-it-s-like-how-can-i-help-you-and-when-you-give-like/) [Gwen Stefani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gwen-stefani/) > [I was done with wrestling and I was teaching with competition behind me. It was that experience that gave me confidence and propelled me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-brenneman/i-was-done-with-wrestling-and-i-was-teaching-with-competition-behind/) [Charlie Brenneman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-brenneman/) > [A lot of people talked down about my career at some point, which makes sense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-babel/a-lot-of-people-talked-down-about-my-career-at-some-point-which-makes/) [Ryan Babel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-babel/) > [Once upon a time people talked about the infallibility of the pope; today it is that of the merchant which they wish to establish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-fourier/once-upon-a-time-people-talked-about-the-infallibility-of-the-pope/) [Charles Fourier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-fourier/) > [Adventure! People talked about the idea as if it were something worthwhile, rather than a mess of bad food, no sleep and strange people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/adventure-people-talked-about-the-idea-as-if-it-were-something/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [People have always talked about me. People always made fun of me, my whole life. It's always something that's been there. I learned to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-bradley/people-have-always-talked-about-me-people-always-made-fun-of-me-my/) [Shawn Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-bradley/) > [Everybody here has a story. New Orleans was always a place where people talked too much even if they had nothing to say. Now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-rose/everybody-here-has-a-story-new-orleans-was-always-a-place-where/) [Chris Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-rose/) > [I got around a lot, and lots of people talked to me. I salted down stories by the barrel load.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hedda-hopper/i-got-around-a-lot-and-lots-of-people-talked-to-me-i-salted-down/) [Hedda Hopper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hedda-hopper/) > [Ultimately, a number of people I talked to were like, 'I would just love the day when I can be a pilot, and not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-barbaro/ultimately-a-number-of-people-i-talked-to-were-like-i-would-just-love/) [Monica Barbaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-barbaro/) > [People have talked down to me, and that fuels my fire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-miz/people-have-talked-down-to-me-and-that-fuels-my-fire/) [The Miz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-miz/) > [“Three kinds of people get talked about: The fascinating, the freaks and the nefarious.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-lynn-hope/three-kinds-of-people-get-talked-about-the-fascinating-the-freaks-and/) [Donna Lynn Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-lynn-hope/) ## More by Neil Sheehan > [The destruction of civilian hamlets, the killing and the wounding of civilians, became vastly greater than it had been before, and it was very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-sheehan/the-destruction-of-civilian-hamlets-the-killing-and-the-wounding-of/) [Neil Sheehan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-sheehan/) > [Just because you put higher-octane gasoline in your car doesn't mean you can break the speed limit. The speed limit's still 65.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-sheehan/just-because-you-put-higher-octane-gasoline-in-your-car-doesn-t-mean/) [Neil Sheehan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-sheehan/) > [We thought that whatever we wanted to do was right and good, simply because we were Americans, and we would succeed at it because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-sheehan/we-thought-that-whatever-we-wanted-to-do-was-right-and-good-simply/) [Neil Sheehan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-sheehan/) > [I never got away from the war. Not because I was obsessed with it in those years, but because it was the event of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-sheehan/i-never-got-away-from-the-war-not-because-i-was-obsessed-with-it-in/) [Neil Sheehan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-sheehan/) > [I think you have to remember that Americans saw their purpose as so innately good that they could excuse the pain they would inflict…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-sheehan/i-think-you-have-to-remember-that-americans-saw-their-purpose-as-so/) [Neil Sheehan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-sheehan/) > [World War II had been such a tremendous success story for this country that the political and military leadership began to assume that they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-sheehan/world-war-ii-had-been-such-a-tremendous-success-story-for-this/) [Neil Sheehan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-sheehan/) > [You remember all those phrases about how 'these people' - Asians - don't value human life like we do. Well if you spend any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-sheehan/you-remember-all-those-phrases-about-how-these-people-asians-don-t/) [Neil Sheehan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-sheehan/) > [We had a military and political leadership at that period which was genuinely deluded.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-sheehan/we-had-a-military-and-political-leadership-at-that-period-which-was/) [Neil Sheehan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-sheehan/) > [I went to Vietnam; it was my first assignment as a reporter for the UPI, and I never could get away from the war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-sheehan/i-went-to-vietnam-it-was-my-first-assignment-as-a-reporter-for-the/) [Neil Sheehan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-sheehan/) > [We wanted to see this country win the war just as much as those advisors did. We felt we would help to do that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-sheehan/we-wanted-to-see-this-country-win-the-war-just-as-much-as-those/) [Neil Sheehan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-sheehan/) > [At least I'm at peace with myself. I have done my best to write a book about what really happened there and why it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-sheehan/at-least-i-m-at-peace-with-myself-i-have-done-my-best-to-write-a-book/) [Neil Sheehan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-sheehan/) > [These men were wrongfully rejected, the veterans. The fighting man should never have been blamed for Vietnam.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-sheehan/these-men-were-wrongfully-rejected-the-veterans-the-fighting-man/) [Neil Sheehan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-sheehan/) > [The unthinkable occurred: two communist countries went to war with each other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-sheehan/the-unthinkable-occurred-two-communist-countries-went-to-war-with/) [Neil Sheehan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-sheehan/) > [“When Gene Crutchfield brought his troubled friend to Hopkins in 1938, Hopkins was twenty-four years old and in charge of LeKies Memorial, the Methodist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-sheehan/when-gene-crutchfield-brought-his-troubled-friend-to-hopkins-in-1938/) [Neil Sheehan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-sheehan/) > [Americans, particularly after World War II, tended to romanticize war because in World War II our cause was the cause of humanity, and our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-sheehan/americans-particularly-after-world-war-ii-tended-to-romanticize-war/) [Neil Sheehan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-sheehan/) [Explore all 16 Neil Sheehan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-sheehan/) ## More Diaries quotes > [My life always came first. When I got nominated for Diary of a Mad Housewife, I didn't think, 'Aah, now I'll get more money.'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-snodgress/my-life-always-came-first-when-i-got-nominated-for-diary-of-a-mad/) [Carrie Snodgress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-snodgress/) > ['Dirt Road Diaries,' in my mind, is a perfect country guy song. It speaks to the hard-working guy, and I'm excited for the fans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-bryan/dirt-road-diaries-in-my-mind-is-a-perfect-country-guy-song-it-speaks/) [Luke Bryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-bryan/) > [I don't want to be singing my diary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norah-jones/i-don-t-want-to-be-singing-my-diary/) [Norah Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norah-jones/) > [Experience is the only real teacher and if you keep a diary you get three bites at educating yourself - when it happens, when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-benn/experience-is-the-only-real-teacher-and-if-you-keep-a-diary-you-get/) [Tony Benn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-benn/) > [ I went to NYU graduate film school and met Pam \[Romanowsky\], and after doing a few things with her I thought she had the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-franco/i-went-to-nyu-graduate-film-school-and-met-pam-romanowsky-and-after/) [James Franco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-franco/) > [After Princess Diaries, I was labeled a good girl, and for the first eight years of my career I had to fight to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-hathaway/after-princess-diaries-i-was-labeled-a-good-girl-and-for-the-first/) [Anne Hathaway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-hathaway/) > [I've found myself moved by letters and diaries in archives as well as trashy, summer blockbusters. It's possible to make a connection with any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-sheridan/i-ve-found-myself-moved-by-letters-and-diaries-in-archives-as-well-as/) [Sara Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-sheridan/) > [A man's diary is a record in youth of his sentiments, in middle age of his actions, in old age of his reflections.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-quincy-adams/a-man-s-diary-is-a-record-in-youth-of-his-sentiments-in-middle-age-of/) [John Quincy Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-quincy-adams/) > [There are two types of encryption: one that will prevent your sister from reading your diary and one that will prevent your government.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-schneier/there-are-two-types-of-encryption-one-that-will-prevent-your-sister/) [Bruce Schneier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-schneier/) > [I keep a diary - one for each film and foreign land I travel to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-mcconaughey/i-keep-a-diary-one-for-each-film-and-foreign-land-i-travel-to/) [Matthew McConaughey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-mcconaughey/) > [Don't read my diary when I'm gone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-cobain/don-t-read-my-diary-when-i-m-gone/) [Kurt Cobain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-cobain/) > [Memory is the diary that chronicles things that never happened or couldn't possibly have happened.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/memory-is-the-diary-that-chronicles-things-that-never-happened-or/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [I need a moment of time for myself every day, like a child playing with his things. When I travel, I routinely find a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orhan-pamuk/i-need-a-moment-of-time-for-myself-every-day-like-a-child-playing/) [Orhan Pamuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orhan-pamuk/) > [I don't keep diaries anymore; They're quite incriminating. I just keep all the dirt road diaries in my head.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-bryan/i-don-t-keep-diaries-anymore-they-re-quite-incriminating-i-just-keep/) [Luke Bryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-bryan/) > [Though with Bridget Jones's Baby: the Diaries, I'd like to make it clear that I did not ever get pregnant by two men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-fielding/though-with-bridget-jones-s-baby-the-diaries-i-d-like-to-make-it/) [Helen Fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-fielding/) [Browse all 502 Diaries quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/diaries/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "People talked to me in a way I think they would not have talked to somebody who hadn't shared the experience; they gave me their papers, they gave me their diaries. I found people constantly opening up to me. 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