--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I had to be certain that you were a…" description: "\"I had to be certain that you were a decent man. Kind.\" — Seven Pounds" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be5/seven-pounds-25721_decent-man_i-had-to-be-certain-that-you-were-a-dece_1886054.jpg" --- # I had to be certain that you were a decent man. Kind. ![“I had to be certain that you were a decent man. Kind.” quote by Seven Pounds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be5/seven-pounds-25721_decent-man_i-had-to-be-certain-that-you-were-a-dece_1886054.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be5/seven-pounds-25721_decent-man_i-had-to-be-certain-that-you-were-a-dece_1886054.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be5/seven-pounds-25721_decent-man_i-had-to-be-certain-that-you-were-a-dece_1886054.jpg) > “I had to be certain that you were a decent man. Kind.” [Seven Pounds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seven-pounds/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker emphasizes the need to confirm a person’s decency and kindness. **In simple terms:** He wants to be sure someone is decent and kind. Key Takeaway Seek kindness in relationships. Themes trust character relationships Mood thoughtful inquisitive Type personal social When to use this quote - friendship building - dating - team selection Key Concepts integrity humaneness Questions to Reflect On - How do you assess someone's character? - What signs indicate genuine kindness? A Different Perspective Kindness can be hard to verify objectively. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Certain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/certain/) [Certain Decent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/certain-decent-2695734/) [Decent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decent/) [Decent man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decent-man/) [Man Kind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man-kind-262985/) [Nice guy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nice-guy/) ## Related quotes > [You weren't a decent man and you didn't do your best. We none of us were and none of us did.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-weren-t-a-decent-man-and-you-didn-t-do-your-best-we-none-of-us/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Nothing is gained except by sacrifice… Do not degrade it to the level of the brutes… Make yourselves decent men! ... Be chaste and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/nothing-is-gained-except-by-sacrifice-do-not-degrade-it-to-the-level/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [The person I liked the best was Gerald R. Ford. He was the most decent man in politics I ever had any relationships with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-greenspan/the-person-i-liked-the-best-was-gerald-r-ford-he-was-the-most-decent/) [Alan Greenspan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-greenspan/) > [Eric Holder is a decent man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-wittes/eric-holder-is-a-decent-man/) [Benjamin Wittes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-wittes/) > [President Ford was a devoted, decent man of impeccable integrity who put service to his country before his own self interest. He helped heal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-udall/president-ford-was-a-devoted-decent-man-of-impeccable-integrity-who/) [Mark Udall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-udall/) > [Every decent man of our age must be a coward and a slave. That is his normal condition. Of that I am firmly persuaded.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/every-decent-man-of-our-age-must-be-a-coward-and-a-slave-that-is-his/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [A person may be totally unimaginative and have the social vision of a mole, and we still call him a decent man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-halsey/a-person-may-be-totally-unimaginative-and-have-the-social-vision-of-a/) [Margaret Halsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-halsey/) > [But what can a decent man speak of with most pleasure? Answer: Of himself. Well, so I will talk about myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/but-what-can-a-decent-man-speak-of-with-most-pleasure-answer-of-2/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Instead of recognizing the State as ‘the common enemy of all well-disposed, industrious and decent men,’ the run of mankind, with rare exceptions, regards…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-j-nock/instead-of-recognizing-the-state-as-the-common-enemy-of-all-well-2/) [Albert J. Nock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-j-nock/) > [Has it ever struck you that trout bite best on the Sabbath? God's critters tempting decent men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-m-barrie/has-it-ever-struck-you-that-trout-bite-best-on-the-sabbath-god-s/) [James M. Barrie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-m-barrie/) > [Randy Edsall is a good, strong, decent man who is working his tail off on behalf of the University of Maryland. And there are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-plank/randy-edsall-is-a-good-strong-decent-man-who-is-working-his-tail-off/) [Kevin Plank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-plank/) > [A cultivated and decent man cannot be vain without setting a fearfully high standard for himself, and without despising and almost hating himself at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-cultivated-and-decent-man-cannot-be-vain-without-setting-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Donald Trump is way worse than George W. Bush. George W. Bush is a fundamentally decent man of limited intelligence who surrounded himself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-weingarten/donald-trump-is-way-worse-than-george-w-bush-george-w-bush-is-a/) [Gene Weingarten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-weingarten/) > [My dad died when I was young. He was a good and decent man. There are a few things he would say that have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ryan/my-dad-died-when-i-was-young-he-was-a-good-and-decent-man-there-are-a/) [Paul Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ryan/) > [Mitt Romney, maybe the most moral and decent man who's ever run for president, ended up being a murderer, somebody who didn't care about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/mitt-romney-maybe-the-most-moral-and-decent-man-who-s-ever-run-for/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) ## More by Seven Pounds > [Look, I totally get if you don't wanna hang out with the dying girl, so...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seven-pounds/look-i-totally-get-if-you-don-t-wanna-hang-out-with-the-dying-girl-so/) [Seven Pounds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seven-pounds/) > [I'm actually starting to feel pretty bad for you, Ezra. Because I look at my life, and it is surrounded by so much beauty...and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seven-pounds/i-m-actually-starting-to-feel-pretty-bad-for-you-ezra-because-i-look/) [Seven Pounds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seven-pounds/) > [What if...my pager goes off...and it's a heart...and...it works? And my body doesn't reject it? And...what if I have time? -Emily Posa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seven-pounds/what-if-my-pager-goes-off-and-it-s-a-heart-and-it-works-and-my-body/) [Seven Pounds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seven-pounds/) > [It is within my power to drastically change his cirumstances, but I don't want to give that man a gift he doesn't deserve. -Ben…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seven-pounds/it-is-within-my-power-to-drastically-change-his-cirumstances-but-i/) [Seven Pounds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seven-pounds/) > [You know, just so you know, I used to be really hot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seven-pounds/you-know-just-so-you-know-i-used-to-be-really-hot/) [Seven Pounds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seven-pounds/) > [The first time I ever saw a box jellyfish, I was twelve. Our father took us to the Monterey Bay Aquarium. I never forgot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seven-pounds/the-first-time-i-ever-saw-a-box-jellyfish-i-was-twelve-our-father/) [Seven Pounds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seven-pounds/) > [This is real, and this is gonna be your new life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seven-pounds/this-is-real-and-this-is-gonna-be-your-new-life/) [Seven Pounds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seven-pounds/) > [All I ask is for you to honor my wishes...and, of course, live life abundantly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seven-pounds/all-i-ask-is-for-you-to-honor-my-wishes-and-of-course-live-life/) [Seven Pounds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seven-pounds/) > [Why do I get the feeling you're doing me a really big favor? -Emily Posa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seven-pounds/why-do-i-get-the-feeling-you-re-doing-me-a-really-big-favor-emily-posa/) [Seven Pounds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seven-pounds/) > [Even when you don't know that people are watching you. -Ben Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seven-pounds/even-when-you-don-t-know-that-people-are-watching-you-ben-thomas/) [Seven Pounds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seven-pounds/) > [You know, Ben, I keep asking you this but why me? -George Ristuccia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seven-pounds/you-know-ben-i-keep-asking-you-this-but-why-me-george-ristuccia/) [Seven Pounds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seven-pounds/) > [In seven days, God created the world. And in seven seconds, I shattered mine. -Ben Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seven-pounds/in-seven-days-god-created-the-world-and-in-seven-seconds-i-shattered/) [Seven Pounds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seven-pounds/) > [It is within my power to drastically change his circumstances. But I don't wanna give that man a gift that he doesn't deserve. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seven-pounds/it-is-within-my-power-to-drastically-change-his-circumstances-but-i/) [Seven Pounds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seven-pounds/) > [I just wanna have the time to figure out who it is that I am.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seven-pounds/i-just-wanna-have-the-time-to-figure-out-who-it-is-that-i-am/) [Seven Pounds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seven-pounds/) > [I understand, but she needs that heart or she will die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seven-pounds/i-understand-but-she-needs-that-heart-or-she-will-die/) [Seven Pounds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seven-pounds/) [Explore all 22 Seven Pounds quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seven-pounds/) ## More Certain quotes > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) > [One can put some trust in the gratitude of a sovereign, and also in that of his family; under certain conditions, one can even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/otto-von-bismarck/one-can-put-some-trust-in-the-gratitude-of-a-sovereign-and-also-in/) [Otto von Bismarck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/otto-von-bismarck/) > [For successful education there must always be a certain freshness in the knowledge dealt with. It must be either new in itself or invested…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-north-whitehead/for-successful-education-there-must-always-be-a-certain-freshness-in/) [Alfred North Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-north-whitehead/) > [People don't always realize that a record is forever. It'll always be there under your name. You've got to be certain that it's right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-iero/people-don-t-always-realize-that-a-record-is-forever-it-ll-always-be/) [Frank Iero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-iero/) > [Faith gives you a certain structure and meaning to your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/riffat-hassan/faith-gives-you-a-certain-structure-and-meaning-to-your-life/) [Riffat Hassan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/riffat-hassan/) > [I started out dancing on a reality TV show, but always with the intention of making my way over to film. I transitioned into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-hough/i-started-out-dancing-on-a-reality-tv-show-but-always-with-the/) [Julianne Hough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-hough/) > [One of the deepest and strangest of all human moods is the mood which will suddenly strike us perhaps in a garden at night,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/one-of-the-deepest-and-strangest-of-all-human-moods-is-the-mood-which/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [A dialogue is very important. It is a form of communication in which question and answer continue till a question is left without an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/a-dialogue-is-very-important-it-is-a-form-of-communication-in-which/) [Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/) > [I mean those people who are interested in good government will certainly contribute in order to make certain there's some counter-balance to those whose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-breyer/i-mean-those-people-who-are-interested-in-good-government-will/) [Stephen Breyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-breyer/) > [Why do we love certain homes, and why do they seem to love us? It is the warmth of our individual hearts reflected in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-h-robsjohn-gibbings/why-do-we-love-certain-homes-and-why-do-they-seem-to-love-us-it-is/) [T. H. 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