--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The best way to know what people want is…" description: "\"The best way to know what people want is not by asking them, but by understanding them,\" — Niels Diffrient" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/357/niels-diffrient-50167_asking_the-best-way-to-know-what-people-want-is_161282.jpg" --- # The best way to know what people want is not by asking… ![“The best way to know what people want is not by asking them, but by understanding them,” quote by Niels Diffrient](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/357/niels-diffrient-50167_asking_the-best-way-to-know-what-people-want-is_161282.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/357/niels-diffrient-50167_asking_the-best-way-to-know-what-people-want-is_161282.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/357/niels-diffrient-50167_asking_the-best-way-to-know-what-people-want-is_161282.jpg) > “The best way to know what people want is not by asking them, but by understanding them,” [Niels Diffrient](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niels-diffrient/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Understanding people's desires requires observing behavior, not just asking them. **In simple terms:** Know what people want by observing, not just asking. Key Takeaway Observe to understand needs. Themes behavior empathy communication design psychology Mood analytical curious Type advice inspirational When to use this quote - product design - customer service - market research Key Concepts User research nonverbal cues contextual insight Questions to Reflect On - What behaviors reveal true preferences? - How do you validate observations? A Different Perspective Observations can be misinterpreted. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Best way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/best-way/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Understanding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/understanding/) ## Related quotes > [“I wonder if she is asking me for something, for some understanding. Some type of compassion or empathy. I’m not good at those emotions,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kaira-rouda/i-wonder-if-she-is-asking-me-for-something-for-some-understanding/) [Kaira Rouda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kaira-rouda/) > [What you want if you're asking that question is a specific time in your life to come back to you, and that will never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-stump/what-you-want-if-you-re-asking-that-question-is-a-specific-time-in/) [Patrick Stump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-stump/) > [What do you want most to do? That's what I have to keep asking myself, in the face of difficulties.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-mansfield/what-do-you-want-most-to-do-that-s-what-i-have-to-keep-asking-myself/) [Katherine Mansfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-mansfield/) > [We can do whatever we wish to do provided our wish is strong enough. But the tremendous effort needed- one doesn't always want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-mansfield/we-can-do-whatever-we-wish-to-do-provided-our-wish-is-strong-enough/) [Katherine Mansfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-mansfield/) > [All I want is everything. Am I asking too much?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/def-leppard/all-i-want-is-everything-am-i-asking-too-much/) [Def Leppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/def-leppard/) > [Many things are lost for want of asking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-herbert/many-things-are-lost-for-want-of-asking/) [George Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-herbert/) > [What counts is knowing who you want to be and asking for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-wilkinson/what-counts-is-knowing-who-you-want-to-be-and-asking-for-it/) [Bruce Wilkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-wilkinson/) > [“If in doubt, go back to the earlier exercise where you asked yourself three questions: “Who am I?” “What do I want?” “What is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-roth/if-in-doubt-go-back-to-the-earlier-exercise-where-you-asked-yourself/) Bernard Roth > [“I might not get what I want out of her by asking, but I have other methods of making this little bird sing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georgia-cates/i-might-not-get-what-i-want-out-of-her-by-asking-but-i-have-other/) [Georgia Cates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georgia-cates/) > [“People want to believe they know other people. Parents want to believe they know their kids. Wives want to believe they know their husbands.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gillian-flynn/people-want-to-believe-they-know-other-people-parents-want-to-believe/) [Gillian Flynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gillian-flynn/) > [It's really hard to know what people want around here sometimes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimi-hendrix/it-s-really-hard-to-know-what-people-want-around-here-sometimes/) [Jimi Hendrix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimi-hendrix/) > [I know all too well that people only see what they want to see and remember only what they want to remember.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cl/i-know-all-too-well-that-people-only-see-what-they-want-to-see-and/) CL > [Football is the best way to get to know a people and a city.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ardal-o-hanlon/football-is-the-best-way-to-get-to-know-a-people-and-a-city/) [Ardal O'Hanlon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ardal-o-hanlon/) > [Asking questions is one of the best ways to grow as a human being.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-hyatt/asking-questions-is-one-of-the-best-ways-to-grow-as-a-human-being/) [Michael Hyatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-hyatt/) > [Going online and asking questions is the best way to learn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-felton/going-online-and-asking-questions-is-the-best-way-to-learn/) [Tom Felton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-felton/) ## More by Niels Diffrient > [Today the telephone takes precedence over everything. It reaches a point of terrorism, particularly at dinnertime.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niels-diffrient/today-the-telephone-takes-precedence-over-everything-it-reaches-a/) [Niels Diffrient](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niels-diffrient/) > [The less there is of a phone, the more I like it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niels-diffrient/the-less-there-is-of-a-phone-the-more-i-like-it/) [Niels Diffrient](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niels-diffrient/) > [It looks like a galosh with electronics in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niels-diffrient/it-looks-like-a-galosh-with-electronics-in-it/) [Niels Diffrient](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niels-diffrient/) > [My ideal office wouldn't have a chair. You would do two things there: stand up or lie down. These are the body's most natural…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niels-diffrient/my-ideal-office-wouldn-t-have-a-chair-you-would-do-two-things-there/) [Niels Diffrient](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niels-diffrient/) > [Why would you design something if it didn't improve the human condition?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niels-diffrient/why-would-you-design-something-if-it-didn-t-improve-the-human/) [Niels Diffrient](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niels-diffrient/) > [When design springs from an understanding of the people who are going to use a product, you begin to see forms that you would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niels-diffrient/when-design-springs-from-an-understanding-of-the-people-who-are-going/) [Niels Diffrient](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niels-diffrient/) [Explore all 7 Niels Diffrient quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niels-diffrient/) ## More Asking quotes > [Why did Erich von Stronheim leave Germany? Why did Hitchcock leave England? If you were a director you'd like to work in Hollywood too.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roman-polanski/why-did-erich-von-stronheim-leave-germany-why-did-hitchcock-leave/) [Roman Polanski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roman-polanski/) > [And in your new lives you'll have to live entirely for that one sensation-that of imminent truth. And you're going to have to holler…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-coupland/and-in-your-new-lives-you-ll-have-to-live-entirely-for-that-one/) [Douglas Coupland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-coupland/) > [“Stop asking yourself how or why and tell yourself you can." - Charmainism”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charmaine-smith-ladd/stop-asking-yourself-how-or-why-and-tell-yourself-you-can-charmainism/) [Charmaine Smith Ladd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charmaine-smith-ladd/) > [Closing his eyes, he sent up a prayer to anyone who was listening, asking please, for God's sake, stop sending him signals that they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/closing-his-eyes-he-sent-up-a-prayer-to-anyone-who-was-listening/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [People will identify with a persecuted minority without asking themselves what they are identifying with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-mantel/people-will-identify-with-a-persecuted-minority-without-asking/) [Hilary Mantel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-mantel/) > [If you're having a bad day already and everybody is just asking you petty questions, it drives people to the edge, or something really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jess-weixler/if-you-re-having-a-bad-day-already-and-everybody-is-just-asking-you/) [Jess Weixler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jess-weixler/) > [You never give away your heart; you lend it from time to time. If it were not so, how could we take it back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeanette-winterson/you-never-give-away-your-heart-you-lend-it-from-time-to-time-if-it/) [Jeanette Winterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeanette-winterson/) > [I'm not asking people to feel sorry for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-abramoff/i-m-not-asking-people-to-feel-sorry-for-me/) [Jack Abramoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-abramoff/) > [The boldness of asking deep questions may require unforeseen flexibility if we are to accept the answers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-greene/the-boldness-of-asking-deep-questions-may-require-unforeseen/) [Brian Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-greene/) > [Use Google Before Asking A Stupid Question.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muskaan/use-google-before-asking-a-stupid-question/) [Muskaan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muskaan/) > [There were people asking 'Can women be funny?' People still ask that. It's like asking: 'Can women breathe in and out?'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-walters/there-were-people-asking-can-women-be-funny-people-still-ask-that-it/) [Julie Walters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-walters/) > [Whether that's speaking up in your job or asking for a promotion or saying, 'I think I can do that.' Using your voice in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-shriver/whether-that-s-speaking-up-in-your-job-or-asking-for-a-promotion-or/) [Maria Shriver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-shriver/) > [Love cannot be had for the asking; it comes only as a gift from the heart of another](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paramahansa-yogananda/love-cannot-be-had-for-the-asking-it-comes-only-as-a-gift-from-the/) [Paramahansa Yogananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paramahansa-yogananda/) > [The Baseball Hall of Fame is something every player dreams about, but being a member of God's Hall of Fame is the greatest achievement…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-carter/the-baseball-hall-of-fame-is-something-every-player-dreams-about-but/) [Gary Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-carter/) > [“In such a regime, I say you died a good death if your life had inspired someone to come forward and shoot your murdered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe/in-such-a-regime-i-say-you-died-a-good-death-if-your-life-had/) [Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinua-achebe/) Browse all 3,313 Asking quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The best way to know what people want is not by asking them, but by understanding them,", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Niels Diffrient" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niels-diffrient/the-best-way-to-know-what-people-want-is-not-by-asking-them-but-by/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Asking" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niels-diffrient/the-best-way-to-know-what-people-want-is-not-by-asking-them-but-by/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/357/niels-diffrient-50167_asking_the-best-way-to-know-what-people-want-is_161282.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/357/niels-diffrient-50167_asking_the-best-way-to-know-what-people-want-is_161282.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/357/niels-diffrient-50167_asking_the-best-way-to-know-what-people-want-is_161282.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The best way to know what people want is not by asking them, but by understanding them,” — Niels Diffrient", "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": "Niels Diffrient", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niels-diffrient/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The best way to know what...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niels-diffrient/the-best-way-to-know-what-people-want-is-not-by-asking-them-but-by/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niels-diffrient/the-best-way-to-know-what-people-want-is-not-by-asking-them-but-by/#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 } } ] } ```