--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: People will tell you what they want you…" description: "\"“People will tell you what they want you to know.”\" — Sarah Dessen" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/154/sarah-dessen-110_know_people-will-tell-you-what-they-want-you_176824.png" --- # People will tell you what they want you to know. ![“People will tell you what they want you to know.” quote by Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/154/sarah-dessen-110_know_people-will-tell-you-what-they-want-you_176824.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/154/sarah-dessen-110_know_people-will-tell-you-what-they-want-you_176824.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/154/sarah-dessen-110_know_people-will-tell-you-what-they-want-you_176824.png) > ““People will tell you what they want you to know.”” [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) ## 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 shape the narrative to control perception, limiting what you learn. **In simple terms:** People control what you know. Key Takeaway Question who decides your information. Themes control perception knowledge Mood skeptical curious Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - media consumption - personal relationships - education - politics - critical thinking Key Concepts social influence information bias Questions to Reflect On - Who influences your beliefs? - How can you seek alternative viewpoints? A Different Perspective It may be hard to uncover hidden motives. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet ## Related quotes > [Don't let other people tell you what you want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-riley/don-t-let-other-people-tell-you-what-you-want/) [Pat Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-riley/) > [Avoid people who tell you that something you want to do is not possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-armisen/avoid-people-who-tell-you-that-something-you-want-to-do-is-not/) [Fred Armisen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-armisen/) > [When you want to help people, you tell them the truth. When you want to help yourself, you tell them what they want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/when-you-want-to-help-people-you-tell-them-the-truth-when-you-want-to/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [“Don’t wait for other people to tell you whether you can do something. You can do something whenever you want.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-lang/don-t-wait-for-other-people-to-tell-you-whether-you-can-do-something/) Nick Lang > [If people tell me that i can't do something, i will want to do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seungri/if-people-tell-me-that-i-can-t-do-something-i-will-want-to-do-it/) [Seungri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seungri/) > [Analytics will never tell you everything you want to know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/analytics-will-never-tell-you-everything-you-want-to-know/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [A persons actions will tell you whatever you want to know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mly-ab/a-persons-actions-will-tell-you-whatever-you-want-to-know/) MLY AB > [“What?” The word exploded out of me. “What do you want me to tell you? You want to hear about how they tied us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-bracken/what-the-word-exploded-out-of-me-what-do-you-want-me-to-tell-you-you/) [Alexandra Bracken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-bracken/) > [“Tell me how you want to die, and I’ll tell you who you are.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emil-cioran/tell-me-how-you-want-to-die-and-i-ll-tell-you-who-you-are/) [Emil Cioran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emil-cioran/) > [...You can't unlearn something, even if you want to. You know what you know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/you-can-t-unlearn-something-even-if-you-want-to-you-know-what-you-know/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [When to people tell the same lie..." "They are working together," Will finished](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/when-to-people-tell-the-same-lie-they-are-working-together-will/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [I don't like it when people tell me I'm wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alvin-leung/i-don-t-like-it-when-people-tell-me-i-m-wrong/) [Alvin Leung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alvin-leung/) > [How come she can say it so easy other people but she cant tell me?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james/how-come-she-can-say-it-so-easy-other-people-but-she-cant-tell-me/) [James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james/) > [“When people tell you that you can’t live your way, don’t believe them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-v-ciarrochi/when-people-tell-you-that-you-can-t-live-your-way-don-t-believe-them/) Joseph V. Ciarrochi > [Don't let other people tell you who you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-sawyer/don-t-let-other-people-tell-you-who-you-are/) [Diane Sawyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-sawyer/) ## More by Sarah Dessen > [Sometimes a question can hurt more than an answer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/sometimes-a-question-can-hurt-more-than-an-answer/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [“if i were a book i would be so open”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/if-i-were-a-book-i-would-be-so-open/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [Harder to get in than out, like so little else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/harder-to-get-in-than-out-like-so-little-else/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [“At times, I found myself questioning his very existence, even though I knew I had, in fact, spotted him, with my own eyes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/at-times-i-found-myself-questioning-his-very-existence-even-though-i/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [You don't have to say it out loud. I already know why you like me.' 'You do, huh?' 'Yep.' He wrapped his arms around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/you-don-t-have-to-say-it-out-loud-i-already-know-why-you-like-me-you/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [No relationship is perfect, ever. There are always some ways you have to bend, to compromise, to give something up in order to gain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/no-relationship-is-perfect-ever-there-are-always-some-ways-you-have/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [When you had to do something, you had to do it. And eventually, if you were lucky, you did it well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/when-you-had-to-do-something-you-had-to-do-it-and-eventually-if-you/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [the truth about forever is that it is happening right now](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/the-truth-about-forever-is-that-it-is-happening-right-now/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [I jammed my hand in my jacket pocket, bracing myself fo the next hit, and fel something. Something grainy and samll, sticking to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/i-jammed-my-hand-in-my-jacket-pocket-bracing-myself-fo-the-next-hit/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [I had no illusions about love anymore. It came, it went, it left casualties or it didn't. People weren't meant to be together forever,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/i-had-no-illusions-about-love-anymore-it-came-it-went-it-left/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [“But maybe that isn't so bad. You can't love anyone that way more than once in a lifetime. It's too hard and it hurts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/but-maybe-that-isn-t-so-bad-you-can-t-love-anyone-that-way-more-than/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [This was just one night, one chance to vary and see where it took me. The fireflies were probably already out: maybe it wasn’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/this-was-just-one-night-one-chance-to-vary-and-see-where-it-took-me/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [call it chicken salad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/call-it-chicken-salad/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [“For me, however, it was a mix of the two, this constant push and pull. I loved it here. But I'd been in that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/for-me-however-it-was-a-mix-of-the-two-this-constant-push-and-pull-i/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [I think whenever a writer is really enjoying themselves and liking what they are doing, that shows on the page.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/i-think-whenever-a-writer-is-really-enjoying-themselves-and-liking/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) [Explore all 1,251 Sarah Dessen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) ## More Know quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [“To know someone, to be known. That matters more than he'd ever thought it would.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianna-baggott/to-know-someone-to-be-known-that-matters-more-than-he-d-ever-thought/) [Julianna Baggott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianna-baggott/) > [Animals know nothing of themselves, and they also know nothing of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/animals-know-nothing-of-themselves-and-they-also-know-nothing-of-the/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [The one thing that I keep learning over and over again is that I don't know nothing. I mean, that's my life lesson.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwayne-johnson/the-one-thing-that-i-keep-learning-over-and-over-again-is-that-i-don/) [Dwayne Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwayne-johnson/) > [If we will not interfere with our thought, but will act entirely, or see how the thing stands in God, we know the particular…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/if-we-will-not-interfere-with-our-thought-but-will-act-entirely-or/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [It's very easy to fool yourself that you're working, you know, when you're really not working very hard. I mean, I'm very lazy. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-caro/it-s-very-easy-to-fool-yourself-that-you-re-working-you-know-when-you/) [Robert Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-caro/) > [That's something a lot of folks don't know about me - I'm pretty darn funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jai-white/that-s-something-a-lot-of-folks-don-t-know-about-me-i-m-pretty-darn/) [Michael Jai White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jai-white/) > [Don't get too attached to someone you know you can't be together with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anurag-prakash-ray/don-t-get-too-attached-to-someone-you-know-you-can-t-be-together-with/) [Anurag Prakash Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anurag-prakash-ray/) > [I know what you're thinking... and you oughtta be ashamed of yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-preston/i-know-what-you-re-thinking-and-you-oughtta-be-ashamed-of-yourself/) Robert Preston > [I would have done well as a gypsy child, I think. A circus baby. I coulda played a great street urchin or ragamuffin. Or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-lyonne/i-would-have-done-well-as-a-gypsy-child-i-think-a-circus-baby-i/) [Natasha Lyonne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-lyonne/) > [You will never know just how beautiful you are to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-will-never-know-just-how-beautiful-you-are-to-me/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I know how hard it is to be a woman, especially a black woman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-tyson/i-know-how-hard-it-is-to-be-a-woman-especially-a-black-woman/) [Mike Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-tyson/) > [I have always been a big meta guy because I think the way journalism is practiced in Washington, and the way everyone sort of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-leibovich/i-have-always-been-a-big-meta-guy-because-i-think-the-way-journalism/) [Mark Leibovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-leibovich/) > [“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/) > [What we're supposed to do as actors is be able to portray real human beings and emotions. And if you grow up in this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-browning/what-we-re-supposed-to-do-as-actors-is-be-able-to-portray-real-human/) [Emily Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-browning/) Browse all 22,299 Know quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“People will tell you what they want you to know.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Sarah Dessen" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/people-will-tell-you-what-they-want-you-to-know/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Know" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/people-will-tell-you-what-they-want-you-to-know/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/154/sarah-dessen-110_know_people-will-tell-you-what-they-want-you_176824.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/154/sarah-dessen-110_know_people-will-tell-you-what-they-want-you_176824.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/154/sarah-dessen-110_know_people-will-tell-you-what-they-want-you_176824.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“People will tell you what they want you to know.” — Sarah Dessen", "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": "Sarah Dessen", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“People will tell you what they...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/people-will-tell-you-what-they-want-you-to-know/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/people-will-tell-you-what-they-want-you-to-know/#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 } } ] } ```