---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Whereas some people’s attitude suggested…"
description: "\"“Whereas some people’s attitude suggested that perhaps they knew something you didn’t, Mrs. Whiting’s implied that she knew everything you didn’t. She ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa4/richard-russo-1691_heart_whereas-some-people-s-attitude-suggested_2262593.png"
---

#  Whereas some people’s attitude suggested that perhaps they…

![“Whereas some people’s attitude suggested that perhaps they knew something you didn’t, Mrs. Whiting’s implied that she knew everything you didn’t. She alone had been paying attention, so it was her duty to bring you at least partially up to speed.” quote by Richard Russo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa4/richard-russo-1691_heart_whereas-some-people-s-attitude-suggested_2262593.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa4/richard-russo-1691_heart_whereas-some-people-s-attitude-suggested_2262593.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa4/richard-russo-1691_heart_whereas-some-people-s-attitude-suggested_2262593.png)

> ““Whereas some people’s attitude suggested that perhaps they knew something you didn’t, Mrs. Whiting’s implied that she knew everything you didn’t. She alone had been paying attention, so it was her duty to bring you at least partially up to speed.””

[Richard Russo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-russo/)

## About This Quote

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

Mrs. Whiting believes she knows everything others lack, so she feels obligated to educate them.

**In simple terms:** She thinks she knows all and must teach others.

Key Takeaway

Recognize when others claim superiority and assess their intent.

Themes

knowledge authority communication

Mood

critical reflective

Type

advice narrative

When to use this quote

- workplace meetings
- family gatherings
- educational settings
- team briefings

Key Concepts

hubris mentorship social dynamics

Questions to Reflect On

- Do you accept unsolicited advice?
- How do you balance humility and confidence?

A Different Perspective

Her perspective may overlook others' expertise and foster resentment.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Attitude Suggested](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attitude-suggested-3531278/) [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) [Implied Knew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/implied-knew-2978889/) [Mrs Whiting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mrs-whiting-5211890/) [Paying Attention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/paying-attention/) [Whiting Implied](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/whiting-implied-5211891/)

## Related quotes

> [Younger people - not just older people - holding this basic underlying attitude that's suggested there that women aren't worth much, that they're property,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-inskeep/younger-people-not-just-older-people-holding-this-basic-underlying/)

[Steve Inskeep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-inskeep/)

> [“You really don’t mind that I can learn everything about you so easily?” “As I don’t plan to keep secrets from you again, no,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gena-showalter/you-really-don-t-mind-that-i-can-learn-everything-about-you-so-easily/)

[Gena Showalter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gena-showalter/)

> [“What’s so amusing, wench?” came a gravel-throated voice from behind her, followed by a gentle swat across her sheet-covered backside. “Just plotting my mutiny,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-kauffman/what-s-so-amusing-wench-came-a-gravel-throated-voice-from-behind-her/)

[Donna Kauffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-kauffman/)

> [We often miss hearing God's voice simply because we aren't paying attention.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/we-often-miss-hearing-god-s-voice-simply-because-we-aren-t-paying/)

[Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/)

> [Niches set back in the walls contained polished marble statues of entwined bodies. Will looked away from them hastily, and then back. It wasn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/niches-set-back-in-the-walls-contained-polished-marble-statues-of/)

[Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/)

> [Dogs seek attention from you. But by paying them that attention when they want it, you're reinforcing the bad or hyperactive or anxious behavior…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cesar-millan/dogs-seek-attention-from-you-but-by-paying-them-that-attention-when/)

[Cesar Millan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cesar-millan/)

> [Listening and paying attention to your parents is a simple thing you can do ,but can save you from drowning in life's struggles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wordfaith3/listening-and-paying-attention-to-your-parents-is-a-simple-thing-you/)

[Wordfaith3](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wordfaith3/)

> [“Are we paying attention to what is important, inhibiting the things that will not help or will hurt us, and keeping current?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-cloud/are-we-paying-attention-to-what-is-important-inhibiting-the-things/)

[Henry Cloud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-cloud/)

> [I want people to just be paying attention even if they're not necessarily laughing at something, or if it takes them a while to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-jeselnik/i-want-people-to-just-be-paying-attention-even-if-they-re-not/)

[Anthony Jeselnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-jeselnik/)

> [I want my whole life to be a great work of art, not just my art. And that means paying attention to my entire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jewel/i-want-my-whole-life-to-be-a-great-work-of-art-not-just-my-art-and/)

[Jewel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jewel/)

> [“„One down,” I said, turning to Kale. He wasn't paying attention. His gaze was fixed on the red silk baby doll in my hand.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jus-accardo/one-down-i-said-turning-to-kale-he-wasn-t-paying-attention-his-gaze/)

[Jus Accardo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jus-accardo/)

> [There is a nationwide shortage of drugs for Attention Deficit Disorder. The FDA says they're not sure how it happened. I guess somebody wasn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/there-is-a-nationwide-shortage-of-drugs-for-attention-deficit/)

[Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/)

> [“If you're not Gryffindor, we'll disinherit you," said Ron, "but no pressure." "Ron!" Lily and Hugo laughed, but Albus and Rose looked solemn. "He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling/if-you-re-not-gryffindor-we-ll-disinherit-you-said-ron-but-no/)

[J.K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling/)

> [“I looked back at Eric. I hated that his eyes were closed. Like Josephine wasn't really paying attention to me. But she had so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tessa-gratton/i-looked-back-at-eric-i-hated-that-his-eyes-were-closed-like/)

[Tessa Gratton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tessa-gratton/)

> [ “Downloading's the same as what I used to do. I used to tape the charts of the songs I liked \[off the radio\]. I… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liam-gallagher/downloading-s-the-same-as-what-i-used-to-do-i-used-to-tape-the-charts/)

[Liam Gallagher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liam-gallagher/)

## More by Richard Russo

> [“The problem with the contemplative life was that there was no end to contemplation, no fixed time limit after which thought had to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-russo/the-problem-with-the-contemplative-life-was-that-there-was-no-end-to/)

[Richard Russo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-russo/)

> [“That, very simply, was what adulthood must be all about—acquiring the skill to bury things more deeply. Out of sight and, whenever possible, out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-russo/that-very-simply-was-what-adulthood-must-be-all-about-acquiring-the/)

[Richard Russo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-russo/)

> [“Miles couldn't help admiring women for their ability to dismiss the evidence of their senses. If that's what explained it. If it wasn't simply…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-russo/miles-couldn-t-help-admiring-women-for-their-ability-to-dismiss-the/)

[Richard Russo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-russo/)

> [That afternoon I came to understand that one of the deepest purposes of intellectual sophistication is to provide distance between us and our most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-russo/that-afternoon-i-came-to-understand-that-one-of-the-deepest-purposes/)

[Richard Russo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-russo/)

> [“Lucy, who apparently had no idea his girlfriend's father held him in such low regard, agreed with Noonan that he was pushing the envelope,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-russo/lucy-who-apparently-had-no-idea-his-girlfriend-s-father-held-him-in/)

[Richard Russo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-russo/)

> [Movies have to handle time very efficiently. They're about stringing scenes together in the present. Novels aren't necessarily about that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-russo/movies-have-to-handle-time-very-efficiently-they-re-about-stringing/)

[Richard Russo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-russo/)

> [When authors who write literary fiction begin to write screenplays, everybody assumes that's the end. Here's another who's never going to write well again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-russo/when-authors-who-write-literary-fiction-begin-to-write-screenplays/)

[Richard Russo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-russo/)

> [“There was something about spending money they didn't really have that made him optimistic about more coming in.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-russo/there-was-something-about-spending-money-they-didn-t-really-have-that/)

[Richard Russo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-russo/)

> [Some authors have a very hard time understanding that in order to be faithful to the spirit of the book, it's almost always impossible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-russo/some-authors-have-a-very-hard-time-understanding-that-in-order-to-be/)

[Richard Russo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-russo/)

> [HBO is really famous for hiring good people and staying out of their way until they ask for help, or need it. And that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-russo/hbo-is-really-famous-for-hiring-good-people-and-staying-out-of-their/)

[Richard Russo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-russo/)

> [I don't think there's a shortage of material in the world. Or in my head. I just pray for continued good health, because I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-russo/i-don-t-think-there-s-a-shortage-of-material-in-the-world-or-in-my/)

[Richard Russo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-russo/)

> [Where was the middle ground between a sense of adventure and just plain sense?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-russo/where-was-the-middle-ground-between-a-sense-of-adventure-and-just/)

[Richard Russo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-russo/)

> [“Non basta una vita "One life isn't enough”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-russo/non-basta-una-vita-one-life-isn-t-enough/)

[Richard Russo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-russo/)

> [“... Mr. Purty has cheered me up. The task he has chosen for himself, of wooing my mother with a bright red pickup truck,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-russo/mr-purty-has-cheered-me-up-the-task-he-has-chosen-for-himself-of/)

[Richard Russo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-russo/)

> [“So what? Few men, Miles reflected, lived so comfortably within the confines of a two.word personal philosophy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-russo/so-what-few-men-miles-reflected-lived-so-comfortably-within-the/)

[Richard Russo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-russo/)

[Explore all 214 Richard Russo quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-russo/)

## More Heart quotes

> [Against his own will, almost, Will felt himself understanding; he would have done anything, he thought, told any lie, taken any risk, to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/against-his-own-will-almost-will-felt-himself-understanding-he-would/)

[Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/)

> [“He held her like a new woman and what she felt felt almost as good as love had, and each of them called it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-dunn/he-held-her-like-a-new-woman-and-what-she-felt-felt-almost-as-good-as/)

[Stephen Dunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-dunn/)

> [While we've youth in our hearts, we can never grow old.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr/while-we-ve-youth-in-our-hearts-we-can-never-grow-old/)

[Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr/)

> [My heart jumps out of its cage to see what the fuss is about. Damn thing. Always so hopeful, but my voice hides it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-wylie/my-heart-jumps-out-of-its-cage-to-see-what-the-fuss-is-about-damn/)

[Sarah Wylie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-wylie/)

> [I love because there is not enough room in my heart to hate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rena-kornreich-gelissen/i-love-because-there-is-not-enough-room-in-my-heart-to-hate/)

[Rena Kornreich Gelissen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rena-kornreich-gelissen/)

> [“He didn't break my heart. No one can break your heart except you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-zevin/he-didn-t-break-my-heart-no-one-can-break-your-heart-except-you/)

[Gabrielle Zevin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-zevin/)

> [The United States cannot and should not discriminate on the basis of religion. The free exercise of religion is at the very heart of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-pence/the-united-states-cannot-and-should-not-discriminate-on-the-basis-of/)

[Mike Pence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-pence/)

> [Love is like that, fragile and light. No wonder it rests upon our hearts in intangible moments, bids us follow fleeting thoughts and ideas…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/love-is-like-that-fragile-and-light-no-wonder-it-rests-upon-our/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [When we are capable of living in the moment free from the tyranny of "shoulds," free from the nagging sensation that this moment isn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-z-borysenko/when-we-are-capable-of-living-in-the-moment-free-from-the-tyranny-of/)

[Joan Z. Borysenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-z-borysenko/)

> [My father longed for a better life for us, and when I was nine he got a job as a heart surgeon in Belfast.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-melua/my-father-longed-for-a-better-life-for-us-and-when-i-was-nine-he-got/)

[Katie Melua](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-melua/)

> [O tiger's heart wrapped in a woman's hide!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/o-tiger-s-heart-wrapped-in-a-woman-s-hide/)

[William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/)

> [Love will fan the flame, and that flame will warm the heart that's waiting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-w-smith/love-will-fan-the-flame-and-that-flame-will-warm-the-heart-that-s/)

[Michael W. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-w-smith/)

> [Always have the fear of God in your heart, and remember that God is always with you, everywhere, whether you are walking or sitting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gennadius-of-constantinople/always-have-the-fear-of-god-in-your-heart-and-remember-that-god-is/)

[Gennadius of Constantinople](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gennadius-of-constantinople/)

> [Set NOT your hearts on the flowers of this world. They shall fade and die. Prize the Rose of Sharon and the Lily of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/set-not-your-hearts-on-the-flowers-of-this-world-they-shall-fade-and/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“She couldn't break the orbit.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-schwab/she-couldn-t-break-the-orbit/)

[Victoria Schwab](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-schwab/)

[Browse all 45,172 Heart quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“Whereas some people’s attitude suggested that perhaps they knew something you didn’t, Mrs. Whiting’s implied that she knew everything you didn’t. She alone had been paying attention, so it was her duty to bring you at least partially up to speed.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Richard Russo"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-russo/whereas-some-people-s-attitude-suggested-that-perhaps-they-knew/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Heart"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-russo/whereas-some-people-s-attitude-suggested-that-perhaps-they-knew/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa4/richard-russo-1691_heart_whereas-some-people-s-attitude-suggested_2262593.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa4/richard-russo-1691_heart_whereas-some-people-s-attitude-suggested_2262593.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa4/richard-russo-1691_heart_whereas-some-people-s-attitude-suggested_2262593.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Whereas some people’s attitude suggested that perhaps they knew something you didn’t, Mrs. Whiting’s implied…” — Richard Russo",
                "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": "Richard Russo",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-russo/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“Whereas some people’s attitude suggested that...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-russo/whereas-some-people-s-attitude-suggested-that-perhaps-they-knew/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-russo/whereas-some-people-s-attitude-suggested-that-perhaps-they-knew/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
