--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The dearest things I know are what you are." description: "\"The dearest things I know are what you are.\" — Oscar Hammerstein II" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ed6/oscar-hammerstein-ii-14802_dearest_the-dearest-things-i-know-are-what-you-a_1549774.png" --- # The dearest things I know are what you are. ![“The dearest things I know are what you are.” quote by Oscar Hammerstein II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ed6/oscar-hammerstein-ii-14802_dearest_the-dearest-things-i-know-are-what-you-a_1549774.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ed6/oscar-hammerstein-ii-14802_dearest_the-dearest-things-i-know-are-what-you-a_1549774.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ed6/oscar-hammerstein-ii-14802_dearest_the-dearest-things-i-know-are-what-you-a_1549774.png) > “The dearest things I know are what you are.” [Oscar Hammerstein II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-hammerstein-ii/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He expresses that the most cherished things are embodied in the person he addresses. **In simple terms:** The dearest things are you. Key Takeaway Value loved ones deeply. Themes love affection relationships music lyrics Mood warm intimate Type poetic romantic When to use this quote - personal letters - songwriting - public speaking Key Concepts emotional intimacy personal devotion artistic expression Questions to Reflect On - Who are the dearest things in your life? - How do you show appreciation? A Different Perspective May overlook self-love. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dearest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dearest/) [Dearest Things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dearest-things-5790277/) [Know](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know/) [Things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/things/) [Things Know](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/things-know/) ## Related quotes > [“Take your time to find and understand what you don’t know and in the end, you shall know that it is not all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-agyemang-yeboah/take-your-time-to-find-and-understand-what-you-don-t-know-and-in-the/) [Ernest Agyemang Yeboah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-agyemang-yeboah/) > [“Nosy people find out things they’d rather not know.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dinah-jefferies/nosy-people-find-out-things-they-d-rather-not-know/) [Dinah Jefferies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dinah-jefferies/) > [My dearest daughter, I see your loneliness and fear. I know your hurt and your heartaches. In a special bottle I am storing each…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/my-dearest-daughter-i-see-your-loneliness-and-fear-i-know-your-hurt/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“My dearest Tully— I am so sorry. I know how afraid you are of being alone, of being left behind, but God has His…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-hannah/my-dearest-tully-i-am-so-sorry-i-know-how-afraid-you-are-of-being/) [Kristin Hannah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-hannah/) > [Farewell, dearest friend, never to see one another any more till at the right hand of Christ.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-cargill/farewell-dearest-friend-never-to-see-one-another-any-more-till-at-the/) [Donald Cargill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-cargill/) > [I hate to see you go but I know that you must. Keep in touch my dearest friend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-hate-to-see-you-go-but-i-know-that-you-must-keep-in-touch-my/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Apologies in order, to Tyanna my daughter. If it was up to me you would be with me, sorta like Daddy Dearest, my vision…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-wallace/apologies-in-order-to-tyanna-my-daughter-if-it-was-up-to-me-you-would/) [Christopher Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-wallace/) > [My mother was the dearest, sweetest angel. She didn't talk; she sang. She was a tower of strength.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jayne-meadows/my-mother-was-the-dearest-sweetest-angel-she-didn-t-talk-she-sang-she/) [Jayne Meadows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jayne-meadows/) > [This is the first time I held your hand, and probably my last. In your eyes, I can see hope, courage, and the determination…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/faith-barroa/this-is-the-first-time-i-held-your-hand-and-probably-my-last-in-your/) [Faith Barroa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/faith-barroa/) > [“Dearest says that is the best kind of goodness; not to think about yourself, but to think about other people.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-hodgson-burnett/dearest-says-that-is-the-best-kind-of-goodness-not-to-think-about/) [Frances Hodgson Burnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-hodgson-burnett/) > [The Most Poisonous Word From The Dearest One Is 'Who Are You?' And The Most Sweetest Word From The Enemy Is 'How Are You?'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pacifiersucker/the-most-poisonous-word-from-the-dearest-one-is-who-are-you-and-the/) [Pacifiersucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pacifiersucker/) > [“To Beatrice- darling, dearest, dead.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lemony-snicket/to-beatrice-darling-dearest-dead/) [Lemony Snicket](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lemony-snicket/) > [“my joyous companion of the mornings. Who knows what pain we cause our dearest ones?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiran-nagarkar/my-joyous-companion-of-the-mornings-who-knows-what-pain-we-cause-our/) [Kiran Nagarkar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiran-nagarkar/) > [“My dearest Eden, I suppose, someday, after I have passed, you will dig through my journals and happen upon this letter. I pray that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-may-warren/my-dearest-eden-i-suppose-someday-after-i-have-passed-you-will-dig/) [Susan May Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-may-warren/) > [My dearest life, I know you are not mine forever; but do love me even if it’s for this moment. After that I shall…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rabindranath-tagore/my-dearest-life-i-know-you-are-not-mine-forever-but-do-love-me-even/) [Rabindranath Tagore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rabindranath-tagore/) ## More by Oscar Hammerstein II > [Why you were born and why you are living depend entirely on what you are getting out of this world and what you are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-hammerstein-ii/why-you-were-born-and-why-you-are-living-depend-entirely-on-what-you/) [Oscar Hammerstein II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-hammerstein-ii/) > [Be brave, young lovers, and follow your star.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-hammerstein-ii/be-brave-young-lovers-and-follow-your-star/) [Oscar Hammerstein II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-hammerstein-ii/) > [Some enchanted evening, you may see a stranger Across a crowded room.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-hammerstein-ii/some-enchanted-evening-you-may-see-a-stranger-across-a-crowded-room/) [Oscar Hammerstein II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-hammerstein-ii/) > [For when I fool the people I fear, I fool myself as well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-hammerstein-ii/for-when-i-fool-the-people-i-fear-i-fool-myself-as-well/) [Oscar Hammerstein II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-hammerstein-ii/) > [“The last time I saw Paris. Her heart was warm and gay.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-hammerstein-ii/the-last-time-i-saw-paris-her-heart-was-warm-and-gay/) [Oscar Hammerstein II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-hammerstein-ii/) > [A bell's not a bell 'til you ring it, A song's not a song 'til you sing it, Love in your heart wasn't put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-hammerstein-ii/a-bell-s-not-a-bell-til-you-ring-it-a-song-s-not-a-song-til-you-sing/) [Oscar Hammerstein II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-hammerstein-ii/) > [It is a modern tragedy that despair has so many spokesmen, and hope so few.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-hammerstein-ii/it-is-a-modern-tragedy-that-despair-has-so-many-spokesmen-and-hope-so/) [Oscar Hammerstein II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-hammerstein-ii/) > [Walk on, walk on with hope in your heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-hammerstein-ii/walk-on-walk-on-with-hope-in-your-heart/) [Oscar Hammerstein II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-hammerstein-ii/) > [These are a few of my favorite things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-hammerstein-ii/these-are-a-few-of-my-favorite-things/) [Oscar Hammerstein II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-hammerstein-ii/) > [Oklahoma Where the wind comes sweepin' down the plain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-hammerstein-ii/oklahoma-where-the-wind-comes-sweepin-down-the-plain/) [Oscar Hammerstein II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-hammerstein-ii/) > [When the dog bites, when the bee stings, when I'm feeling sad, I simply remember my favorite things and then I don't feel so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-hammerstein-ii/when-the-dog-bites-when-the-bee-stings-when-i-m-feeling-sad-i-simply/) [Oscar Hammerstein II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-hammerstein-ii/) > [Hello, Young Lovers, Wherever You Are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-hammerstein-ii/hello-young-lovers-wherever-you-are/) [Oscar Hammerstein II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-hammerstein-ii/) > [You've got to be taught to be afraid Of people whose eyes are oddly made, Of people whose skin is a different shade. You've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-hammerstein-ii/you-ve-got-to-be-taught-to-be-afraid-of-people-whose-eyes-are-oddly/) [Oscar Hammerstein II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-hammerstein-ii/) > [I'd let my golden chances pass me by.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-hammerstein-ii/i-d-let-my-golden-chances-pass-me-by/) [Oscar Hammerstein II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-hammerstein-ii/) > [There is a very real relationship, both quantitatively and qualitatively, between what you contribute and what you get out of this world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-hammerstein-ii/there-is-a-very-real-relationship-both-quantitatively-and/) [Oscar Hammerstein II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-hammerstein-ii/) [Explore all 45 Oscar Hammerstein II quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-hammerstein-ii/) ## More Dearest quotes > [“My dearest Eden, I suppose, someday, after I have passed, you will dig through my journals and happen upon this letter. I pray that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-may-warren/my-dearest-eden-i-suppose-someday-after-i-have-passed-you-will-dig/) [Susan May Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-may-warren/) > [“my joyous companion of the mornings. Who knows what pain we cause our dearest ones?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiran-nagarkar/my-joyous-companion-of-the-mornings-who-knows-what-pain-we-cause-our/) [Kiran Nagarkar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiran-nagarkar/) > [“To Beatrice- darling, dearest, dead.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lemony-snicket/to-beatrice-darling-dearest-dead/) [Lemony Snicket](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lemony-snicket/) > [The Most Poisonous Word From The Dearest One Is 'Who Are You?' And The Most Sweetest Word From The Enemy Is 'How Are You?'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pacifiersucker/the-most-poisonous-word-from-the-dearest-one-is-who-are-you-and-the/) [Pacifiersucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pacifiersucker/) > [“Dearest says that is the best kind of goodness; not to think about yourself, but to think about other people.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-hodgson-burnett/dearest-says-that-is-the-best-kind-of-goodness-not-to-think-about/) [Frances Hodgson Burnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-hodgson-burnett/) > [This is the first time I held your hand, and probably my last. In your eyes, I can see hope, courage, and the determination…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/faith-barroa/this-is-the-first-time-i-held-your-hand-and-probably-my-last-in-your/) [Faith Barroa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/faith-barroa/) > [My mother was the dearest, sweetest angel. She didn't talk; she sang. She was a tower of strength.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jayne-meadows/my-mother-was-the-dearest-sweetest-angel-she-didn-t-talk-she-sang-she/) [Jayne Meadows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jayne-meadows/) > [Apologies in order, to Tyanna my daughter. If it was up to me you would be with me, sorta like Daddy Dearest, my vision…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-wallace/apologies-in-order-to-tyanna-my-daughter-if-it-was-up-to-me-you-would/) [Christopher Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-wallace/) > [I hate to see you go but I know that you must. Keep in touch my dearest friend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-hate-to-see-you-go-but-i-know-that-you-must-keep-in-touch-my/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Farewell, dearest friend, never to see one another any more till at the right hand of Christ.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-cargill/farewell-dearest-friend-never-to-see-one-another-any-more-till-at-the/) [Donald Cargill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-cargill/) > [“My dearest Tully— I am so sorry. I know how afraid you are of being alone, of being left behind, but God has His…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-hannah/my-dearest-tully-i-am-so-sorry-i-know-how-afraid-you-are-of-being/) [Kristin Hannah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-hannah/) > [My dearest daughter, I see your loneliness and fear. I know your hurt and your heartaches. In a special bottle I am storing each…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/my-dearest-daughter-i-see-your-loneliness-and-fear-i-know-your-hurt/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [My dearest life, I know you are not mine forever; but do love me even if it’s for this moment. After that I shall…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rabindranath-tagore/my-dearest-life-i-know-you-are-not-mine-forever-but-do-love-me-even/) [Rabindranath Tagore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rabindranath-tagore/) > [“Sometimes your dearest friend whom you reveal most of your secrets to becomes so deadly and unfriendly without knowing that they were not really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/sometimes-your-dearest-friend-whom-you-reveal-most-of-your-secrets-to/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) > [“Make your heart, your dearest home.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/make-your-heart-your-dearest-home/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) [Browse all 65 Dearest quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dearest/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The dearest things I know are what you are.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Oscar Hammerstein II" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-hammerstein-ii/the-dearest-things-i-know-are-what-you-are/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Dearest" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-hammerstein-ii/the-dearest-things-i-know-are-what-you-are/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ed6/oscar-hammerstein-ii-14802_dearest_the-dearest-things-i-know-are-what-you-a_1549774.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ed6/oscar-hammerstein-ii-14802_dearest_the-dearest-things-i-know-are-what-you-a_1549774.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ed6/oscar-hammerstein-ii-14802_dearest_the-dearest-things-i-know-are-what-you-a_1549774.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The dearest things I know are what you are.” — Oscar Hammerstein II", "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": "Oscar Hammerstein II", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-hammerstein-ii/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The dearest things I know are...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-hammerstein-ii/the-dearest-things-i-know-are-what-you-are/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-hammerstein-ii/the-dearest-things-i-know-are-what-you-are/#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 } } ] } ```