--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I learned early that you'd better know…" description: "\"I learned early that you'd better know what you're talking about. You'd better realize that certain issues are going to be so hot - no matter what reas..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d13/robert-redford-1707_accepting_i-learned-early-that-you-d-better-know-w_3218217.jpg" --- # I learned early that you'd better know what you're talking… ![“I learned early that you'd better know what you're talking about. You'd better realize that certain issues are going to be so hot - no matter what reason, what logic you apply to it - you're going to be met with an opposition just because their viewpoint is different, and there's no way they're…” quote by Robert Redford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d13/robert-redford-1707_accepting_i-learned-early-that-you-d-better-know-w_3218217.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d13/robert-redford-1707_accepting_i-learned-early-that-you-d-better-know-w_3218217.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d13/robert-redford-1707_accepting_i-learned-early-that-you-d-better-know-w_3218217.jpg) > “I learned early that you'd better know what you're talking about. You'd better realize that certain issues are going to be so hot - no matter what reason, what logic you apply to it - you're going to be met with an opposition just because their viewpoint is different, and there's no way they're going to accept your reasoning. Furthermore, they're going to attack you because you will be portrayed as not being credible: "You're an actor. What do you know?"” [Robert Redford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-redford/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. When discussing contentious topics, expertise is often dismissed, and opponents attack credibility rather than engage with arguments. **In simple terms:** People attack you instead of debating ideas. Key Takeaway Prepare for credibility attacks in heated debates. Themes communication conflict credibility politics dialogue Mood defensive strategic reflective Type social political psychological When to use this quote - Political debates - social media discussions - public speaking - activism - policy advocacy Key Concepts Sociology of discourse cognitive bias argumentation theory Questions to Reflect On - How can you maintain credibility under attack? - What strategies help shift focus from identity to argument? A Different Perspective May overgeneralize across all contentious topics. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Accept Reasoning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accept-reasoning-6039008/) [Accepting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accepting/) [Actor Know](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor-know/) [Actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) [Certain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/certain/) [Credible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/credible/) [Credible Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/credible-actor-6039009/) [Different](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/different/) [Do you know](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/do-you-know/) [Hot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hot/) [Issues](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/issues/) [Know Talking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know-talking/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Logic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/logic/) [Matter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/matter/) [Mets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mets/) [No matter what](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/no-matter-what/) [Opposition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opposition/) [Portrayed Credible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/portrayed-credible-6039010/) [Realizing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/realizing/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [Reasoning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reasoning/) [Talking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talking/) [Viewpoints](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/viewpoints/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) ## Related quotes > [Give advice to your children while they're young enough to believe you know what you're talking about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erica-jong/give-advice-to-your-children-while-they-re-young-enough-to-believe/) [Erica Jong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-jong/) > [I make sure I know what I'm talking about when I'm talking crap.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-make-sure-i-know-what-i-m-talking-about-when-i-m-talking-crap/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm smart--I just act like I don't know what you're talking about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahj-wilson/i-m-smart-i-just-act-like-i-don-t-know-what-you-re-talking-about/) [Tahj Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahj-wilson/) > [One of my favorite things about my job is getting to hang around with people who really know what they're talking about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelefa-sanneh/one-of-my-favorite-things-about-my-job-is-getting-to-hang-around-with/) [Kelefa Sanneh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelefa-sanneh/) > [I'd just make sure with anything I say I know what I'm talking about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/i-d-just-make-sure-with-anything-i-say-i-know-what-i-m-talking-about/) [Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) > [You cannot keep on saying oh, you know, talking about disrespecting women as just being politically correct or it's not a big deal or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-turnbull/you-cannot-keep-on-saying-oh-you-know-talking-about-disrespecting/) [Malcolm Turnbull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-turnbull/) > [It ain't a bad plan to keep still occasionally even when you know what you're talking about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kin-hubbard/it-ain-t-a-bad-plan-to-keep-still-occasionally-even-when-you-know/) [Kin Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kin-hubbard/) > [Were not friends any more so I dont know what your talking about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/were-not-friends-any-more-so-i-dont-know-what-your-talking-about/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [There is no point in being precise if you do not even know what you are talking about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-von-neumann/there-is-no-point-in-being-precise-if-you-do-not-even-know-what-you/) [John von Neumann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-von-neumann/) > [A great many people do not have the right to their own opinion because they don't know what they are talking about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-rooney/a-great-many-people-do-not-have-the-right-to-their-own-opinion/) [Andy Rooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-rooney/) > [You never know who you're talking to. Don't limit a young student's dream, because that's how we change the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-neumann/you-never-know-who-you-re-talking-to-don-t-limit-a-young-student-s/) [Adam Neumann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-neumann/) > [Them haters in your face you just ignore them. Don't know what they talking sh-t for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wiz-khalifa/them-haters-in-your-face-you-just-ignore-them-don-t-know-what-they/) [Wiz Khalifa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wiz-khalifa/) > [“It is good, to copy in the name of Babaji, when you do not know what you are talking about.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/petra-hermans/it-is-good-to-copy-in-the-name-of-babaji-when-you-do-not-know-what/) [Petra Hermans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/petra-hermans/) > [Knowledge, or verbal facility, is no proof that you know what you're talking about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence-mckenna/knowledge-or-verbal-facility-is-no-proof-that-you-know-what-you-re/) [Terence McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terence-mckenna/) > [Don't try to go too fast. Learn your job. Don't ever talk until you know what you're talking about... If you want to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-rayburn/don-t-try-to-go-too-fast-learn-your-job-don-t-ever-talk-until-you/) [Sam Rayburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-rayburn/) ## More by Robert Redford > [When I became successful, I put up a caution. I didn't think it was fair to have the shadow of that kind of success…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-redford/when-i-became-successful-i-put-up-a-caution-i-didn-t-think-it-was/) [Robert Redford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-redford/) > [Never revisit the past, that's dangerous. You know, move on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-redford/never-revisit-the-past-that-s-dangerous-you-know-move-on/) [Robert Redford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-redford/) > [I have no regrets, because I've done everything I could to the best of my ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-redford/i-have-no-regrets-because-i-ve-done-everything-i-could-to-the-best-of/) [Robert Redford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-redford/) > [When you get older, you learn certain life lessons. You apply that wisdom, and suddenly you say, 'Hey, I've got a new lease on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-redford/when-you-get-older-you-learn-certain-life-lessons-you-apply-that/) [Robert Redford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-redford/) > [The country is so wounded, bleeding, and hurt right now. The country needs to be healed-it's not going to be healed from the top,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-redford/the-country-is-so-wounded-bleeding-and-hurt-right-now-the-country/) [Robert Redford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-redford/) > [When I was a kid, nobody told me I was good-looking. I wish they had. I would've had a better time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-redford/when-i-was-a-kid-nobody-told-me-i-was-good-looking-i-wish-they-had-i/) [Robert Redford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-redford/) > [Criticism challenges current findings. The effort to defend one's position can lead to deeper insights or consideration of options previously not considered.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-redford/criticism-challenges-current-findings-the-effort-to-defend-one-s/) [Robert Redford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-redford/) > [There's a lot of money to be made by strip-mining and drilling the dirtiest oil on the planet. But why should the rest of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-redford/there-s-a-lot-of-money-to-be-made-by-strip-mining-and-drilling-the/) [Robert Redford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-redford/) > [All of the films that I've made are about the country I live in and grew up in... And I think if you're going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-redford/all-of-the-films-that-i-ve-made-are-about-the-country-i-live-in-and/) [Robert Redford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-redford/) > [I've been very fortunate in that I've had wonderful relationships with people I've worked with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-redford/i-ve-been-very-fortunate-in-that-i-ve-had-wonderful-relationships/) [Robert Redford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-redford/) > [I've always liked speed. I own a car that I shouldn't be talking about because I'm an environmentalist, but the 1955 Porsche Spyder 550…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-redford/i-ve-always-liked-speed-i-own-a-car-that-i-shouldn-t-be-talking-about/) [Robert Redford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-redford/) > [The way you really find out about the performer's seriousness about the cause is how long they stay with it when the spotlight gets…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-redford/the-way-you-really-find-out-about-the-performer-s-seriousness-about/) [Robert Redford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-redford/) > [Usually I like to improvise. Sometimes, depending on the nature of the piece, I like to improvise because I think it brings a certain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-redford/usually-i-like-to-improvise-sometimes-depending-on-the-nature-of-the/) [Robert Redford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-redford/) > [Because, you know, you're in Utah. And because of its political conservatism, if you can make it there, you can make it anywhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-redford/because-you-know-you-re-in-utah-and-because-of-its-political/) [Robert Redford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-redford/) > [What I would do is when I was younger I would draw in a sketch book something that happened in my life and then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-redford/what-i-would-do-is-when-i-was-younger-i-would-draw-in-a-sketch-book/) [Robert Redford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-redford/) [Explore all 214 Robert Redford quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-redford/) ## More Accepting quotes > [From Augustine down, theologians have tried to compel people to accept their special interpretation of the Scripture, and the tortures of the inquisition, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matilda-joslyn-gage/from-augustine-down-theologians-have-tried-to-compel-people-to-accept/) [Matilda Joslyn Gage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matilda-joslyn-gage/) > [Laughing, laughing, laughing, laughing! It is the jester! A voice from the Void, to cheer poor Cicero! I accept your gift, dearest Night Mother.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/laughing-laughing-laughing-laughing-it-is-the-jester-a-voice-from-the/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [This duo inside of me causes the perfect opportunity to live and learn twice as fast as those who choose to accept simplicity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tupac-shakur/this-duo-inside-of-me-causes-the-perfect-opportunity-to-live-and/) [Tupac Shakur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tupac-shakur/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [We only enter into the full life if our faith gives thanks. Because how else do we accept His free gift of salvation if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/we-only-enter-into-the-full-life-if-our-faith-gives-thanks-because/) [Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/) > [Don't be bitter. Everybody suffers. If you can accept your suffering then you will understand other people better. Be grateful for pain. Love life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colbert/don-t-be-bitter-everybody-suffers-if-you-can-accept-your-suffering/) [Stephen Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colbert/) > [It takes an unusually philosophic mind to accept that all one’s suffering might be to no end, really, in the larger scheme of things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-takes-an-unusually-philosophic-mind-to-accept-that-all-one-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [No nation being under another nation can accept gifts, and kick at the responsibility attached to those gifts, imposed by the conquering nation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/no-nation-being-under-another-nation-can-accept-gifts-and-kick-at-the/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [Even with clothing naked animals, there were people who wanted to send in money. A woman in Santa Barbara, California, sent a $40,000 check.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-abel/even-with-clothing-naked-animals-there-were-people-who-wanted-to-send/) [Alan Abel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-abel/) > [Society understands the architecture of academia and knows there are relevant qualifications in different fields, and the media accepts the idea of specialisations and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-griffiths/society-understands-the-architecture-of-academia-and-knows-there-are/) [Jay Griffiths](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-griffiths/) > [Whatever your conscious mind assumes and believes to be true, your subconscious mind will accept and bring to pass. Believe in good fortune, divine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-murphy/whatever-your-conscious-mind-assumes-and-believes-to-be-true-your/) [Joseph Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-murphy/) > [Losing someone is easy, but accepting it is hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/losing-someone-is-easy-but-accepting-it-is-hard/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [… and so he tried to accept the ache in his heart as what Dr. Larch would call the common symptoms of normal life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/and-so-he-tried-to-accept-the-ache-in-his-heart-as-what-dr-larch/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [I think what was special about 'Music by Prudence' was the classic story of the title subject's life path - from being an outcast…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-think-what-was-special-about-music-by-prudence-was-the-classic/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [As my films are born at the moment when they are reflected into another person's mind and memories, there are no misconceptions. I totally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pirjo-honkasalo/as-my-films-are-born-at-the-moment-when-they-are-reflected-into/) [Pirjo Honkasalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pirjo-honkasalo/) [Browse all 6,788 Accepting quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accepting/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I learned early that you'd better know what you're talking about. You'd better realize that certain issues are going to be so hot - no matter what reason, what logic you apply to it - you're going to be met with an opposition just because their viewpoint is different, and there's no way they're going to accept your reasoning. Furthermore, they're going to attack you because you will be portrayed as not being credible: \"You're an actor. What do you know?\"", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Robert Redford" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-redford/i-learned-early-that-you-d-better-know-what-you-re-talking-about-you/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Accepting" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-redford/i-learned-early-that-you-d-better-know-what-you-re-talking-about-you/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d13/robert-redford-1707_accepting_i-learned-early-that-you-d-better-know-w_3218217.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d13/robert-redford-1707_accepting_i-learned-early-that-you-d-better-know-w_3218217.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d13/robert-redford-1707_accepting_i-learned-early-that-you-d-better-know-w_3218217.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I learned early that you'd better know what you're talking about. You'd better realize that certain issues…” — Robert Redford", "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": "Robert Redford", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-redford/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I learned early that you'd better...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-redford/i-learned-early-that-you-d-better-know-what-you-re-talking-about-you/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-redford/i-learned-early-that-you-d-better-know-what-you-re-talking-about-you/#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 } } ] } ```