---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: But I've never met a racist yet who…"
description: "\"But I've never met a racist yet who thinks he's a racist. That's always the disturbing thing about when we begin to look at ourselves.\" — Norman Jewison"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/11d/norman-jewison-16408_disturbing_but-i-ve-never-met-a-racist-yet-who-thin_1462856.jpg"
---

#  But I've never met a racist yet who thinks he's a racist…

![“But I've never met a racist yet who thinks he's a racist. That's always the disturbing thing about when we begin to look at ourselves.” quote by Norman Jewison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/11d/norman-jewison-16408_disturbing_but-i-ve-never-met-a-racist-yet-who-thin_1462856.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/11d/norman-jewison-16408_disturbing_but-i-ve-never-met-a-racist-yet-who-thin_1462856.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/11d/norman-jewison-16408_disturbing_but-i-ve-never-met-a-racist-yet-who-thin_1462856.jpg)

> “But I've never met a racist yet who thinks he's a racist. That's always the disturbing thing about when we begin to look at ourselves.”

[Norman Jewison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-jewison/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

People often deny their own prejudice, making self‑examination difficult.

**In simple terms:** Denial of personal racism blocks self‑awareness.

Key Takeaway

Recognize and confront hidden biases.

Themes

self‑awareness prejudice honesty

Mood

reflective serious

Type

advice philosophical

When to use this quote

- personal reflection
- diversity training
- conflict resolution

Key Concepts

psychology social cognition

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you notice bias in yourself?
- What steps help you accept uncomfortable truths?

A Different Perspective

Self‑recognition can be uncomfortable and may trigger defensiveness.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Racism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/racism/) [Racist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/racist/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/)

## Related quotes

> [I like things that go into hidden, mysterious places, places I want to explore that are very disturbing. In that disturbing thing, there is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lynch/i-like-things-that-go-into-hidden-mysterious-places-places-i-want-to/)

[David Lynch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lynch/)

> [As a mom, what I found so disturbing were the things that were being said on a national stage - I mean, literally on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chelsea-clinton/as-a-mom-what-i-found-so-disturbing-were-the-things-that-were-being/)

[Chelsea Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chelsea-clinton/)

> [For those orderly folks who have life all neatly arranged in their heads, who do more accepting than questioning, unschooling is a disturbing thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-dodd/for-those-orderly-folks-who-have-life-all-neatly-arranged-in-their/)

[Sandra Dodd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-dodd/)

> [No argument can persuade me to like oysters if I do not like them. In other words, the disturbing thing about matters of taste…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-arendt/no-argument-can-persuade-me-to-like-oysters-if-i-do-not-like-them-in/)

[Hannah Arendt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-arendt/)

> [I've been demonized as a racist and an extremist. Now, no matter what I say, I mean, I've served in the military with people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-shea/i-ve-been-demonized-as-a-racist-and-an-extremist-now-no-matter-what-i/)

[Matt Shea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-shea/)

> [Theresa May, a Remainer, assumed that all of the Brexit voters are racist, thinks we will use this to kick British citizens out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-fox/theresa-may-a-remainer-assumed-that-all-of-the-brexit-voters-are/)

[Claire Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-fox/)

> [Don't let it bother you.Just Let It Go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/destiny-dreams/don-t-let-it-bother-you-just-let-it-go/)

[Destiny Dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/destiny-dreams/)

> [As with a wound on one's own body, it is possible to develop an intimacy with the most disturbing of things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kazuo-ishiguro/as-with-a-wound-on-one-s-own-body-it-is-possible-to-develop-an/)

[Kazuo Ishiguro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kazuo-ishiguro/)

> [One of the most disturbing things I heard was that women's issues weren't "hot." Which is so ironic, because women are constantly being judged…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-arquette/one-of-the-most-disturbing-things-i-heard-was-that-women-s-issues/)

[Patricia Arquette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-arquette/)

> [“Silence can often be more disturbing than noise, it reveals the complicated mechanism of our thoughts”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-rodrigues-migueis/silence-can-often-be-more-disturbing-than-noise-it-reveals-the/)

Jose Rodrigues Migueis

> [There is so much joy in native culture but so much poverty. It's very disturbing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buffy-sainte-marie/there-is-so-much-joy-in-native-culture-but-so-much-poverty-it-s-very/)

[Buffy Sainte-Marie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buffy-sainte-marie/)

> [I find in working always the disturbing intrusion of elements not a part of my most interested vision, and the inevitable obliteration and replacement…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-hopper/i-find-in-working-always-the-disturbing-intrusion-of-elements-not-a/)

[Edward Hopper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-hopper/)

> [I rejoice to live in such a splendidly disturbing time!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/i-rejoice-to-live-in-such-a-splendidly-disturbing-time/)

[Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/)

> [Jeff Chu's pilgrimage across America to discover his own place as a gay man in the Christian church as well as attitudes about being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-freitas/jeff-chu-s-pilgrimage-across-america-to-discover-his-own-place-as-a/)

[Donna Freitas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-freitas/)

> [When you lived it for years and years and years and seen different characters just get pummeled and squashed because 'I said so,' it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arn-anderson/when-you-lived-it-for-years-and-years-and-years-and-seen-different/)

[Arn Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arn-anderson/)

## More by Norman Jewison

> [I was really excited to have the opportunity to make Fiddler.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-jewison/i-was-really-excited-to-have-the-opportunity-to-make-fiddler/)

[Norman Jewison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-jewison/)

> [As you know, in America there's no rights for the artist, so whatever films I've made kind of belong to the studio, so if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-jewison/as-you-know-in-america-there-s-no-rights-for-the-artist-so-whatever/)

[Norman Jewison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-jewison/)

> [I think you get better as you get older.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-jewison/i-think-you-get-better-as-you-get-older/)

[Norman Jewison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-jewison/)

> [I work with a lot of movie stars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-jewison/i-work-with-a-lot-of-movie-stars/)

[Norman Jewison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-jewison/)

> [Moonstruck... was one of the few romantic comedies to be nominated for a Best Picture Oscar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-jewison/moonstruck-was-one-of-the-few-romantic-comedies-to-be-nominated-for-a/)

[Norman Jewison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-jewison/)

> [I try to find stories that I would think that everyone would find interesting, and just a good entertaining story, and then if I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-jewison/i-try-to-find-stories-that-i-would-think-that-everyone-would-find/)

[Norman Jewison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-jewison/)

> [Michael Caine is a movie star, but he's also a great actor. I can't say that about every movie star. It's the concentration he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-jewison/michael-caine-is-a-movie-star-but-he-s-also-a-great-actor-i-can-t-say/)

[Norman Jewison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-jewison/)

> [I don't like to think that maybe I'm just getting old. I'm not too excited about watching a huge explosion. I'm more interested in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-jewison/i-don-t-like-to-think-that-maybe-i-m-just-getting-old-i-m-not-too/)

[Norman Jewison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-jewison/)

> [Do what you're told, and everything will be all right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-jewison/do-what-you-re-told-and-everything-will-be-all-right/)

[Norman Jewison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-jewison/)

> [I'm in the mood for another Moonstruck experience, for another romantic comedy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-jewison/i-m-in-the-mood-for-another-moonstruck-experience-for-another/)

[Norman Jewison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-jewison/)

> [When you deal with a film that takes place in Europe, and you're going to work in English, you'd better work with European actors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-jewison/when-you-deal-with-a-film-that-takes-place-in-europe-and-you-re-going/)

[Norman Jewison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-jewison/)

> [Betrayal... is my favorite subject.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-jewison/betrayal-is-my-favorite-subject/)

[Norman Jewison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-jewison/)

> [I don't make films to win prizes. I make films to make films.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-jewison/i-don-t-make-films-to-win-prizes-i-make-films-to-make-films/)

[Norman Jewison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-jewison/)

> [And I think all Nazis didn't see themselves as bad people. I've never met a racist yet who thought he was a racist. Or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-jewison/and-i-think-all-nazis-didn-t-see-themselves-as-bad-people-i-ve-never/)

[Norman Jewison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-jewison/)

> [Well, you know the old line - to be nominated is what it's all about. I think that I've done pretty well - I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-jewison/well-you-know-the-old-line-to-be-nominated-is-what-it-s-all-about-i/)

[Norman Jewison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-jewison/)

[Explore all 40 Norman Jewison quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-jewison/)

## More Disturbing quotes

> [When you lived it for years and years and years and seen different characters just get pummeled and squashed because 'I said so,' it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arn-anderson/when-you-lived-it-for-years-and-years-and-years-and-seen-different/)

[Arn Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arn-anderson/)

> [Jeff Chu's pilgrimage across America to discover his own place as a gay man in the Christian church as well as attitudes about being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-freitas/jeff-chu-s-pilgrimage-across-america-to-discover-his-own-place-as-a/)

[Donna Freitas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-freitas/)

> [I rejoice to live in such a splendidly disturbing time!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/i-rejoice-to-live-in-such-a-splendidly-disturbing-time/)

[Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/)

> [I find in working always the disturbing intrusion of elements not a part of my most interested vision, and the inevitable obliteration and replacement…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-hopper/i-find-in-working-always-the-disturbing-intrusion-of-elements-not-a/)

[Edward Hopper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-hopper/)

> [There is so much joy in native culture but so much poverty. It's very disturbing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buffy-sainte-marie/there-is-so-much-joy-in-native-culture-but-so-much-poverty-it-s-very/)

[Buffy Sainte-Marie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buffy-sainte-marie/)

> [“Silence can often be more disturbing than noise, it reveals the complicated mechanism of our thoughts”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-rodrigues-migueis/silence-can-often-be-more-disturbing-than-noise-it-reveals-the/)

Jose Rodrigues Migueis

> [Some guy once sent me a care package with lingerieand a seminude photo of himself. That was disturbing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giuliana-rancic/some-guy-once-sent-me-a-care-package-with-lingerieand-a-seminude/)

[Giuliana Rancic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giuliana-rancic/)

> [I just remember that disturbing feeling of walking into that prison, the complete loss of privacy, the complete loss of stimulation, dignity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cybill-shepherd/i-just-remember-that-disturbing-feeling-of-walking-into-that-prison/)

[Cybill Shepherd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cybill-shepherd/)

> [You can go to a play that is enjoyable because it's funny, and then on the next night you can go to a play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wallace-shawn/you-can-go-to-a-play-that-is-enjoyable-because-it-s-funny-and-then-on/)

[Wallace Shawn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wallace-shawn/)

> [The theme of the party was Neverland Ranch, so guests were asked to come as anyone or anything associated with Michael Jackson. It was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/april-winchell/the-theme-of-the-party-was-neverland-ranch-so-guests-were-asked-to/)

[April Winchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/april-winchell/)

> [I'm aware that because America is so powerful - with its tentacles reaching out to the world - one doesn't escape it by leaving.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randall-robinson/i-m-aware-that-because-america-is-so-powerful-with-its-tentacles/)

[Randall Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randall-robinson/)

> [Deeply disturbing in a way that only the most honest stories are, YACCUB is a fiercely written, daring journey through America's urban wilderness and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-massey/deeply-disturbing-in-a-way-that-only-the-most-honest-stories-are/)

Brandon Massey

> [I am fascinated by the idea of employing beautiful images as a device to convey something extremely disturbing in an apparently harmless way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurizio-cattelan/i-am-fascinated-by-the-idea-of-employing-beautiful-images-as-a-device/)

[Maurizio Cattelan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurizio-cattelan/)

> [Compassion automatically brings happiness and calmness. Then, even if you receive disturbing news, it will be easier to take, as your mind is still.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/compassion-automatically-brings-happiness-and-calmness-then-even-if/)

[Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/)

> [He continues to smile expectantly. I take a step back. I don't want to catch whatever he has. He is a disturbing out-of-uniform Santa.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augusten-burroughs/he-continues-to-smile-expectantly-i-take-a-step-back-i-don-t-want-to/)

[Augusten Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augusten-burroughs/)

Browse all 535 Disturbing quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "But I've never met a racist yet who thinks he's a racist. That's always the disturbing thing about when we begin to look at ourselves.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Norman Jewison"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-jewison/but-i-ve-never-met-a-racist-yet-who-thinks-he-s-a-racist-that-s/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Disturbing"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-jewison/but-i-ve-never-met-a-racist-yet-who-thinks-he-s-a-racist-that-s/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/11d/norman-jewison-16408_disturbing_but-i-ve-never-met-a-racist-yet-who-thin_1462856.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/11d/norman-jewison-16408_disturbing_but-i-ve-never-met-a-racist-yet-who-thin_1462856.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/11d/norman-jewison-16408_disturbing_but-i-ve-never-met-a-racist-yet-who-thin_1462856.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“But I've never met a racist yet who thinks he's a racist. That's always the disturbing thing about when we…” — Norman Jewison",
                "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": "Norman Jewison",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-jewison/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "But I've never met a racist...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-jewison/but-i-ve-never-met-a-racist-yet-who-thinks-he-s-a-racist-that-s/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-jewison/but-i-ve-never-met-a-racist-yet-who-thinks-he-s-a-racist-that-s/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
