--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We shook hands. For a moment our eyes met…" description: "\"We shook hands. For a moment our eyes met - which I found surprisingly destabilizing. Then we pulled back and there was a mement of what seemed like mu..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/698/stefan-kieszling-34248_appraisal_we-shook-hands-for-a-moment-our-eyes-met_1677476.png" --- # We shook hands. For a moment our eyes met - which I found… ![“We shook hands. For a moment our eyes met - which I found surprisingly destabilizing. Then we pulled back and there was a mement of what seemed like mutual appraisal. For me, it was like being at a regatta, sizing up the competition on the dock before climbing into the shells. Could I take him?…” quote by Stefan Kieszling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/698/stefan-kieszling-34248_appraisal_we-shook-hands-for-a-moment-our-eyes-met_1677476.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/698/stefan-kieszling-34248_appraisal_we-shook-hands-for-a-moment-our-eyes-met_1677476.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/698/stefan-kieszling-34248_appraisal_we-shook-hands-for-a-moment-our-eyes-met_1677476.png) > “We shook hands. For a moment our eyes met - which I found surprisingly destabilizing. Then we pulled back and there was a mement of what seemed like mutual appraisal. For me, it was like being at a regatta, sizing up the competition on the dock before climbing into the shells. Could I take him? ... He could inflict serious damage. I sensed that. But he would be unfamiliar with rowers - men used to toiling backwards, blindly, trained, most of all, to endure.” [Stefan Kieszling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefan-kieszling/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A brief encounter creates a tense, competitive assessment, highlighting both respect and fear of the opponent’s potential harm. **In simple terms:** A meeting feels both unsettling and competitive. Key Takeaway Recognize and respect the opponent’s strengths. Themes competition assessment appraisal respect fear Mood tense reflective Type narrative analytical When to use this quote - sports competition - business negotiations - first impressions - conflict resolution Key Concepts psychology strategy risk perception Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance respect with caution? - What cues reveal true intent? A Different Perspective The moment may mask deeper motives or misinterpretations. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Appraisal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/appraisal/) [Backwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/backwards/) [Climbing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/climbing/) [Competition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/competition/) [Damage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/damage/) [Docks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/docks/) [Endure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/endure/) [Eye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eye/) [Found](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/found/) [Hands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hands/) [Like Regatta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-regatta-922811/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Mets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mets/) [Moments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moments/) [Mutual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mutual/) [Rowers Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rowers-men-922812/) [Rowing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rowing/) [Sensed Unfamiliar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sensed-unfamiliar-922813/) [Serious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/serious/) [Shells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shells/) [Shook Hands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shook-hands-409304/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Toiling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/toiling/) [Unfamiliar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unfamiliar/) [Unfamiliar Rowers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unfamiliar-rowers-922810/) [Ur Eyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ur-eyes/) [Used](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/used/) [Would be](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/would-be/) ## Related quotes > [The important thing is that he shook hands with us over the phone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-ball/the-important-thing-is-that-he-shook-hands-with-us-over-the-phone/) [Alan Ball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-ball/) > [I know you were surprised when, after the fall of Dacca, Pakistani and Indian officers shook hands. But do you realize that, up until…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/indira-gandhi/i-know-you-were-surprised-when-after-the-fall-of-dacca-pakistani-and/) [Indira Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/indira-gandhi/) > [“This is Zach." I said as Daniel shook hands with him. "The youngest is Ryan. The obnoxious one is Brent." "I respect that assessment."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bree-despain/this-is-zach-i-said-as-daniel-shook-hands-with-him-the-youngest-is/) [Bree Despain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bree-despain/) > [He hath shook hands with time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ford/he-hath-shook-hands-with-time/) [John Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ford/) > [“WATSON: When we shook hands, her handshake was far too firm. There’s nothing gentle, nothing remotely tender about her. She’s a cipher where a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-ziegler/watson-when-we-shook-hands-her-handshake-was-far-too-firm-there-s/) [Anna Ziegler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-ziegler/) > [He shook hands with Margaret. He knew it was the first time their hands had met, though she was perfectly unconscious of the fact.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gaskell/he-shook-hands-with-margaret-he-knew-it-was-the-first-time-their/) [Elizabeth Gaskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gaskell/) > [The biggest part of why I am where I am today is not only because people can relate to me and my story but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/logic/the-biggest-part-of-why-i-am-where-i-am-today-is-not-only-because/) [Logic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/logic/) > [I shook hands with a friendly Arab. I still have my right arm to prove it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spike-milligan/i-shook-hands-with-a-friendly-arab-i-still-have-my-right-arm-to-prove/) [Spike Milligan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spike-milligan/) > [“Here is the hardest hit of all, O'Malley," Harry said. "Here is the very worst thing I can do to you." He held out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-ness/here-is-the-hardest-hit-of-all-o-malley-harry-said-here-is-the-very/) [Patrick Ness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-ness/) > [I was 13 when I first met Dawn Staley. We shook hands at a basketball camp.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-ja-wilson/i-was-13-when-i-first-met-dawn-staley-we-shook-hands-at-a-basketball/) [A'ja Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-ja-wilson/) > [“As we shook hands I wondered idly what her urine looked like.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-mcgrath/as-we-shook-hands-i-wondered-idly-what-her-urine-looked-like/) [Patrick McGrath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-mcgrath/) > [I once shook hands with Pat Boone and my whole right side sobered up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-martin/i-once-shook-hands-with-pat-boone-and-my-whole-right-side-sobered-up/) [Dean Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-martin/) > [I knew as soon as we shook hands, it was friend at first sight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brittany-snyder/i-knew-as-soon-as-we-shook-hands-it-was-friend-at-first-sight/) [Brittany\_Snyder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brittany-snyder/) > [I shook hands on a deal with a man just to find out that he was lying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-moore/i-shook-hands-on-a-deal-with-a-man-just-to-find-out-that-he-was-lying/) [Justin Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-moore/) > [and they shook hands, hit each other on the shoulder, then there was forty feet of distance between them and nothing to do but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-proulx/and-they-shook-hands-hit-each-other-on-the-shoulder-then-there-was/) [Annie Proulx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-proulx/) ## More by Stefan Kieszling > [The ergometer simulates the physical demands of rowing, packaging the pains with none of the amenities that make it worthwhile ...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefan-kieszling/the-ergometer-simulates-the-physical-demands-of-rowing-packaging-the/) [Stefan Kieszling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefan-kieszling/) > [Karen rowed for what the venerable American shell builder George Pocock called 'the symphony of motion.' As dawn breaks over the river, the shell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefan-kieszling/karen-rowed-for-what-the-venerable-american-shell-builder-george/) [Stefan Kieszling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefan-kieszling/) > [ \[Trading\] With the French one had to be especially careful. French oarswomen were known to take men aside, point to whatever they wanted, and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefan-kieszling/trading-with-the-french-one-had-to-be-especially-careful-french/) [Stefan Kieszling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefan-kieszling/) > [Those of us who stayed were younger, more tractable. Less sure of ourselves socially and intellectually, we gave ourselves to the sport with little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefan-kieszling/those-of-us-who-stayed-were-younger-more-tractable-less-sure-of/) [Stefan Kieszling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefan-kieszling/) > [That morning each of us found a breaking point. Not only a physical barrier, but a point where determination, stamina and duty clashed and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefan-kieszling/that-morning-each-of-us-found-a-breaking-point-not-only-a-physical/) [Stefan Kieszling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefan-kieszling/) > [Once one has attained a high level of success at any pursuit and especially an unorthodox pursuit like rowing, one develops a number of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefan-kieszling/once-one-has-attained-a-high-level-of-success-at-any-pursuit-and/) [Stefan Kieszling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefan-kieszling/) > [I climbed on the rowing ergometer, and started to pull - losing myself in the rhythm of sweat and pain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefan-kieszling/i-climbed-on-the-rowing-ergometer-and-started-to-pull-losing-myself/) [Stefan Kieszling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefan-kieszling/) > [As a competitor, winner or loser, one crosses the line into limbo. The adrenaline is gone, the anticipation is gone. The verdict is either…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefan-kieszling/as-a-competitor-winner-or-loser-one-crosses-the-line-into-limbo-the/) [Stefan Kieszling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefan-kieszling/) > [For two months after Christmas vacation we limped around campus with muscles too tigh and sore to walk properly, yet we had no good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefan-kieszling/for-two-months-after-christmas-vacation-we-limped-around-campus-with/) [Stefan Kieszling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefan-kieszling/) > [Once one is beyond a certain level of commitment to the sport, life begins to seem an allegory of rowing rather than rowing an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefan-kieszling/once-one-is-beyond-a-certain-level-of-commitment-to-the-sport-life/) [Stefan Kieszling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefan-kieszling/) > [Although it takes a long warm-up for an eight to swing, on an erg such subtleties don't matter. For me the sound alone raised…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefan-kieszling/although-it-takes-a-long-warm-up-for-an-eight-to-swing-on-an-erg-such/) [Stefan Kieszling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefan-kieszling/) > [Being in shape was not my goal. My body was a tool to test the capabilities of my will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefan-kieszling/being-in-shape-was-not-my-goal-my-body-was-a-tool-to-test-the/) [Stefan Kieszling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefan-kieszling/) > [Hundreds of feet above us, cars whisked by, oblivious to our drama. Up there were the shortcuts, the excuses, the world of infinite possibilities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefan-kieszling/hundreds-of-feet-above-us-cars-whisked-by-oblivious-to-our-drama-up/) [Stefan Kieszling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefan-kieszling/) [Explore all 14 Stefan Kieszling quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefan-kieszling/) ## More Appraisal quotes > [Let your desire for truth transcend all minor considerations. Ignorance is invariably confident. The man of knowledge learns to realize his own needs. Be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grenville-kleiser/let-your-desire-for-truth-transcend-all-minor-considerations/) [Grenville Kleiser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grenville-kleiser/) > [When one cannot appraise out of one's own experience, the temptation to blunder is minimized, but even when one can, appraisal seems chiefly useful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-moore/when-one-cannot-appraise-out-of-one-s-own-experience-the-temptation/) [Marianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-moore/) > [Agemates provide the most informative points of reference for comparative efficacy appraisal and verification. Children are, therefore, especially sensitive to their relative standing among…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-bandura/agemates-provide-the-most-informative-points-of-reference-for/) [Albert Bandura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-bandura/) > [Reasonably accurate appraisal of one's own capabilities is, therefore, of considerable value in successful functioning. Large misjudgments of personal efficacy in either direction have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-bandura/reasonably-accurate-appraisal-of-one-s-own-capabilities-is-therefore/) [Albert Bandura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-bandura/) > [I don't want to give a cool appraisal of Jeremy Irons. I just want to boil him in oil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynn-barber/i-don-t-want-to-give-a-cool-appraisal-of-jeremy-irons-i-just-want-to/) [Lynn Barber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynn-barber/) > [Managers don't like giving appraisals, and employees don't like getting them. Perhaps they're not liked because both parties suspect what the evidence has proved…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-edwards-deming/managers-don-t-like-giving-appraisals-and-employees-don-t-like/) [W. Edwards Deming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-edwards-deming/) > [When I was in my teens, I made an appraisal of how comfortable my life could turn out when I became the age I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-nersesian/when-i-was-in-my-teens-i-made-an-appraisal-of-how-comfortable-my-life/) [Arthur Nersesian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-nersesian/) > [Self-appraisals of efficacy are reasonably accurate, but they diverge from action because people do not know fully what they will have to do, lack…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-bandura/self-appraisals-of-efficacy-are-reasonably-accurate-but-they-diverge/) [Albert Bandura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-bandura/) > [I made a conscious decision when I was writing that book to depict in real time how I treated it, and how I thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-febos/i-made-a-conscious-decision-when-i-was-writing-that-book-to-depict-in/) [Melissa Febos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-febos/) > [“Appraisal – the best resources will get the worst result”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vivek-thangaswamy/appraisal-the-best-resources-will-get-the-worst-result/) [Vivek Thangaswamy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vivek-thangaswamy/) > [I have huge questions about Vision Appraisal - you bet I do. I'm very worried about what happens when we hand over our destiny…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-falcon-scott/i-have-huge-questions-about-vision-appraisal-you-bet-i-do-i-m-very/) [Robert Falcon Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-falcon-scott/) > [In the biggest companies, seek out the most useless positions: those in consultancy, appraisal, research, and study. The more useless your position, the less…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corinne-maier/in-the-biggest-companies-seek-out-the-most-useless-positions-those-in/) [Corinne Maier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corinne-maier/) > [We must do what we can to reduce, not increase, tensions. We must do what we can to present only the facts as we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/percy-spender/we-must-do-what-we-can-to-reduce-not-increase-tensions-we-must-do/) [Percy Spender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/percy-spender/) > [Possibly the biggest issue, however, is that performance appraisals focus managers attention on precisely the wrong thing: individual people. As W. Edwards Deming, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-pfeffer/possibly-the-biggest-issue-however-is-that-performance-appraisals/) [Jeffrey Pfeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-pfeffer/) > [“Every interaction in the marketplace produces some kind of evaluation or appraisal opportunity that can be conveyed to others by the person on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-blasingame/every-interaction-in-the-marketplace-produces-some-kind-of-evaluation/) [Jim Blasingame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-blasingame/) [Browse all 63 Appraisal quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/appraisal/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We shook hands. For a moment our eyes met - which I found surprisingly destabilizing. Then we pulled back and there was a mement of what seemed like mutual appraisal. For me, it was like being at a regatta, sizing up the competition on the dock before climbing into the shells. Could I take him? ... He could inflict serious damage. I sensed that. 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