--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If we don't really listen, we end up…" description: "\"“If we don't really listen, we end up doing what we think is best-- which usually isn't best at all.”\" — S.N. Clemens" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d0e/s-n-clemens-59715_alice_if-we-don-t-really-listen-we-end-up-doin_2284922.jpg" --- # If we don't really listen, we end up doing what we think… ![“If we don't really listen, we end up doing what we think is best-- which usually isn't best at all.” quote by S.N. Clemens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d0e/s-n-clemens-59715_alice_if-we-don-t-really-listen-we-end-up-doin_2284922.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d0e/s-n-clemens-59715_alice_if-we-don-t-really-listen-we-end-up-doin_2284922.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d0e/s-n-clemens-59715_alice_if-we-don-t-really-listen-we-end-up-doin_2284922.jpg) > ““If we don't really listen, we end up doing what we think is best-- which usually isn't best at all.”” [S.N. Clemens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-n-clemens/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Listening fully prevents misguided decisions; true listening leads to better outcomes. **In simple terms:** Listen before acting. Key Takeaway Prioritize active listening. Themes communication leadership decision‑making Mood reflective pragmatic Type advisory inspirational When to use this quote - team meetings - customer service - conflict resolution Key Concepts empathy critical thinking Questions to Reflect On - What steps ensure listening translates into action? - How can you verify you truly understood? A Different Perspective Listening alone doesn't guarantee correct choices. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Communication](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communication/) ## Related quotes > [I think girls are surprised when you actually really listen and then you call it back at the end of the night.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miles-teller/i-think-girls-are-surprised-when-you-actually-really-listen-and-then/) [Miles Teller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miles-teller/) > [“If anyone tells you a song is important to them, you should turn it up loud, close your eyes, and really listen . Because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-stewart/if-anyone-tells-you-a-song-is-important-to-them-you-should-turn-it-up/) [Kate Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-stewart/) > [Such an error, one finds, to do things for the best. They usually seem to be such unpleasant things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gladys-mitchell/such-an-error-one-finds-to-do-things-for-the-best-they-usually-seem/) [Gladys Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gladys-mitchell/) > [I don't really listen to Jacques Villeneuve anymore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lance-stroll/i-don-t-really-listen-to-jacques-villeneuve-anymore/) [Lance Stroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lance-stroll/) > [If your mom tell you whats right , listen to her ! Because at the end , their always right .](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zombeatz/if-your-mom-tell-you-whats-right-listen-to-her-because-at-the-end/) [ZomBeatz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zombeatz/) > [Listen to people. Listen to yourself at the end of the day, but listen to people a lot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-biegel/listen-to-people-listen-to-yourself-at-the-end-of-the-day-but-listen/) [Kevin Biegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-biegel/) > [Listen at me. The end is almost never far off any time at all!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-california-cooper/listen-at-me-the-end-is-almost-never-far-off-any-time-at-all/) [J. California Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-california-cooper/) > [“God say what He got to say and that’s it. He leaves it up to us to listen or not. End of conversation.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-stimpson/god-say-what-he-got-to-say-and-that-s-it-he-leaves-it-up-to-us-to/) [Michelle Stimpson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-stimpson/) > [Listen to your heart, calling you to trust yourself. Listen to it because at the end of the day, it's the voice that will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kemmy-nola/listen-to-your-heart-calling-you-to-trust-yourself-listen-to-it/) [Kemmy Nola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kemmy-nola/) > [I'm one of those people where, if I get a piece of advice from someone I look up to and respect, I'll really listen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-marie-tran/i-m-one-of-those-people-where-if-i-get-a-piece-of-advice-from-someone/) [Kelly Marie Tran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-marie-tran/) > [New York sounds like something that I could really listen to. It's like a vibe; it's a hit song. It's a song that you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-boogie-wit-da-hoodie/new-york-sounds-like-something-that-i-could-really-listen-to-it-s/) [A Boogie wit da Hoodie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-boogie-wit-da-hoodie/) > [If you really listen...you can hear the sound of no one caring.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-walters/if-you-really-listen-you-can-hear-the-sound-of-no-one-caring/) [Tim Walters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-walters/) > [I can't knock gay rap, or retarded rap - whatever. Do what you do; I don't really listen to it. I don't really pay…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ghostface-killah/i-can-t-knock-gay-rap-or-retarded-rap-whatever-do-what-you-do-i-don-t/) [Ghostface Killah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ghostface-killah/) > [I don't really listen to Radiohead. I listened to the albums and they just didn't move me in the way, say, John Prine does.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-waters/i-don-t-really-listen-to-radiohead-i-listened-to-the-albums-and-they/) [Roger Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-waters/) > [It's important to really listen to the other person and have them feel like they're heard, to make sure the relationship feels equal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-allen/it-s-important-to-really-listen-to-the-other-person-and-have-them/) [Joan Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-allen/) ## More by S.N. Clemens > [“Different timing. Same blessing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-n-clemens/different-timing-same-blessing/) [S.N. Clemens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-n-clemens/) > [“His will isn't always obvious, it doesn't always make sense, and it isn't always what we want. But that doesn't mean it's not good.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-n-clemens/his-will-isn-t-always-obvious-it-doesn-t-always-make-sense-and-it-isn/) [S.N. Clemens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-n-clemens/) > [“It gives me... gives me hope. In second chances. In the different manifestations of love. In the inexplicable avenues of God's grace.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-n-clemens/it-gives-me-gives-me-hope-in-second-chances-in-the-different/) [S.N. Clemens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-n-clemens/) > [“God's will isn't always what we expect. Sometimes it 'sneaks up' on us.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-n-clemens/god-s-will-isn-t-always-what-we-expect-sometimes-it-sneaks-up-on-us/) [S.N. Clemens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-n-clemens/) [Explore all 5 S.N. Clemens quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-n-clemens/) ## More Alice quotes > [“How was she supposed to bear the prospect of never seeing him again? 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And also, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-bloom/i-m-sure-i-ve-been-influenced-by-every-fine-writer-i-ve-ever-read/) [Amy Bloom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-bloom/) > [Three of my heroes that have gotten clean and sober that I got to ask for advice were Alice Cooper, Nikki Sixx and Zakk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nita-strauss/three-of-my-heroes-that-have-gotten-clean-and-sober-that-i-got-to-ask/) [Nita Strauss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nita-strauss/) > [“Do we have a hand mirror?' I asked from the kitchen doorway. 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I meant 'there's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-carroll/i-don-t-know-what-you-mean-by-glory-alice-said-humpty-dumpty-smiled/) [Lewis Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-carroll/) > [I really understand where Alice is coming from - I've been in exactly the same place coming from a small town and knowing that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-parker/i-really-understand-where-alice-is-coming-from-i-ve-been-in-exactly/) [Molly Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-parker/) > [“the hinder portion scalding-house good eating Curve B in addition to the usual baths and ablutions military police sumptuousness of the washhouse risking misstatements…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-barthelme/the-hinder-portion-scalding-house-good-eating-curve-b-in-addition-to/) [Donald Barthelme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-barthelme/) > [“She knew what he offered. 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