--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: People should say what they mean and not…" description: "\"“People should say what they mean and not make other people stumble around.”\" — Stephanie Perkins" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b6/stephanie-perkins-482_mean_people-should-say-what-they-mean-and-not_999261.png" --- # People should say what they mean and not make other people… ![“People should say what they mean and not make other people stumble around.” quote by Stephanie Perkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b6/stephanie-perkins-482_mean_people-should-say-what-they-mean-and-not_999261.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b6/stephanie-perkins-482_mean_people-should-say-what-they-mean-and-not_999261.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b6/stephanie-perkins-482_mean_people-should-say-what-they-mean-and-not_999261.png) > ““People should say what they mean and not make other people stumble around.”” [Stephanie Perkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-perkins/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Speak clearly and directly to prevent misunderstandings and protect others from confusion. **In simple terms:** Say what you mean. Key Takeaway Communicate plainly. Themes communication clarity honesty respect Mood encouraging practical Type advice motivational When to use this quote - team meetings - personal relationships Key Concepts interpersonal dynamics language precision social etiquette Questions to Reflect On - How can honesty be softened? - When is indirectness appropriate? A Different Perspective Directness can be perceived as blunt. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Make People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/make-people/) [Mean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mean/) [People say](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-say/) [People Stumble](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-stumble-1546244/) [Say Mean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/say-mean/) ## Related quotes > [“People stumble over the truth from time to time, but most pick themselves up and hurry off as if nothing happened.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-s-churchill/people-stumble-over-the-truth-from-time-to-time-but-most-pick/) [Winston S. Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-s-churchill/) > [The true way goes over a rope which is not stretched at any great height but just above the ground. It seems more designed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-kafka/the-true-way-goes-over-a-rope-which-is-not-stretched-at-any-great/) [Franz Kafka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-kafka/) > [Most people stumble over the truth, now and then, but they usually manage to pick themselves up and go on, anyway.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/most-people-stumble-over-the-truth-now-and-then-but-they-usually/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [Say only what you mean.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/say-only-what-you-mean/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Now I was going to be myself. I wasn't going to be hard to get along with or go out of my way to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-specht/now-i-was-going-to-be-myself-i-wasn-t-going-to-be-hard-to-get-along/) [Robert Specht](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-specht/) > [We must Think what we Say, and Mean what we Profess.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-astell/we-must-think-what-we-say-and-mean-what-we-profess/) [Mary Astell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-astell/) > [“If you mean it, say it. If you say it, mean it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-sorenson/if-you-mean-it-say-it-if-you-say-it-mean-it/) [Toni Sorenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-sorenson/) > [“Friends say: “He’s mean.” But she knows many ways in which he has been good to her. Friends say: “He treats you that way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lundy-bancroft/friends-say-he-s-mean-but-she-knows-many-ways-in-which-he-has-been/) [Lundy Bancroft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lundy-bancroft/) > [I can't explain love, but when I say it I mean it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/livefree2dream44/i-can-t-explain-love-but-when-i-say-it-i-mean-it/) [Livefree2dream44](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/livefree2dream44/) > [To me, the most important thing was to treat people the way you want to be treated. Some people say that I'm a mean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-mustaine/to-me-the-most-important-thing-was-to-treat-people-the-way-you-want/) [Dave Mustaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-mustaine/) > [When I say something, I mean it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-bellew/when-i-say-something-i-mean-it/) [Tony Bellew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-bellew/) > [Say what you mean and mean what you say because the people that mind don't matter and the people that matter don't mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hussein-nishah/say-what-you-mean-and-mean-what-you-say-because-the-people-that-mind/) [Hussein Nishah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hussein-nishah/) > [“Say what you mean and mean what you say. Don’t be afraid to stand firm on the decisions that you make. Trust yourself. Believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-lahart/say-what-you-mean-and-mean-what-you-say-don-t-be-afraid-to-stand-firm/) [Stephanie Lahart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-lahart/) > [People who know me know that I'm not going to open my mouth and say something if I don't mean it. I'm very short…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-ward/people-who-know-me-know-that-i-m-not-going-to-open-my-mouth-and-say/) [Andre Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-ward/) > [“I just reminded myself that she didn't say it mean. She wasn't making fun of me. She wasn't comparing. Or criticizing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-chboskyhen/i-just-reminded-myself-that-she-didn-t-say-it-mean-she-wasn-t-making/) [Stephen Chboskyhen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-chboskyhen/) ## More by Stephanie Perkins > [“This warmth over the telephone. Is it possible for home to be a person and not a place? Bridgette used to be home to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-perkins/this-warmth-over-the-telephone-is-it-possible-for-home-to-be-a-person/) [Stephanie Perkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-perkins/) > [“I wasn't being a git. I wasn't even being a twat, or a wanker, or any of your other bleeding Briticisms -”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-perkins/i-wasn-t-being-a-git-i-wasn-t-even-being-a-twat-or-a-wanker-or-any-of/) [Stephanie Perkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-perkins/) > [“You said on my birthday that you were afraid of being alone, but I’ve been here this whole time. This whole time.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-perkins/you-said-on-my-birthday-that-you-were-afraid-of-being-alone-but-i-ve/) [Stephanie Perkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-perkins/) > [“Lola: Do you think things have to be easy? For it to work? Cricket: NO. I mean, yes, but... sometimes there are... extenuating circumstances.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-perkins/lola-do-you-think-things-have-to-be-easy-for-it-to-work-cricket-no-i/) [Stephanie Perkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-perkins/) > [“Sometimes a mistake isn't a what. It's a who.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-perkins/sometimes-a-mistake-isn-t-a-what-it-s-a-who/) [Stephanie Perkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-perkins/) > [“And that. Why don’t you call me Étienne anymore?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-perkins/and-that-why-don-t-you-call-me-tienne-anymore/) [Stephanie Perkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-perkins/) > [“Thanks. I forgot how to flip off the English. I'll use the correct hand gesture next time." "My pleasure. Always happy to educate.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-perkins/thanks-i-forgot-how-to-flip-off-the-english-i-ll-use-the-correct-hand/) [Stephanie Perkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-perkins/) > [“Beautiful. He called me beautiful! But wait. I don't like Dave. Do I like Dave?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-perkins/beautiful-he-called-me-beautiful-but-wait-i-don-t-like-dave-do-i-like/) [Stephanie Perkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-perkins/) > [“You can't undo loss. You can't unmake a mistake.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-perkins/you-can-t-undo-loss-you-can-t-unmake-a-mistake/) [Stephanie Perkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-perkins/) > [“They didn’t talk much, but their silence was companionable.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-perkins/they-didn-t-talk-much-but-their-silence-was-companionable/) [Stephanie Perkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-perkins/) > [“We're enveloped in pitch black. "Wait here," I whisper. "Are you getting your ax?" "Handcuffs." "Kinky. But, okay, I'll try it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-perkins/we-re-enveloped-in-pitch-black-wait-here-i-whisper-are-you-getting/) [Stephanie Perkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-perkins/) > [“And, suddenly, I want to touch him. Not a push, or a shove, or even a friendly hug. I want to feel the creases…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-perkins/and-suddenly-i-want-to-touch-him-not-a-push-or-a-shove-or-even-a/) [Stephanie Perkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-perkins/) > [“My face is round, and my cheeks are pinchable, and my ears stick out farther than I'd like.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-perkins/my-face-is-round-and-my-cheeks-are-pinchable-and-my-ears-stick-out/) [Stephanie Perkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-perkins/) > [“There's something about blue eyes. The kind of blue that startles you every time they're lifted in your direction. The kind of blue that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-perkins/there-s-something-about-blue-eyes-the-kind-of-blue-that-startles-you/) [Stephanie Perkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-perkins/) > [“I'm a little distracted by this English French American Boy Masterpiece.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-perkins/i-m-a-little-distracted-by-this-english-french-american-boy/) [Stephanie Perkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-perkins/) [Explore all 500 Stephanie Perkins quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-perkins/) ## More Mean quotes > [That we have the vote means nothing. That we use it in the right way means everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-henry-hoover/that-we-have-the-vote-means-nothing-that-we-use-it-in-the-right-way/) [Lou Henry Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-henry-hoover/) > [The problem posed by indirect speech acts is the problem of how it is possible for the speaker to say one thing and mean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-searle/the-problem-posed-by-indirect-speech-acts-is-the-problem-of-how-it-is/) [John Searle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-searle/) > [When you're scared - and I mean really scared, not just hearing a noise in the night, or standing toe to toe with someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-gordon-smith/when-you-re-scared-and-i-mean-really-scared-not-just-hearing-a-noise/) [Alexander Gordon Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-gordon-smith/) > [It's like the query letter problem that I just mentioned, magnified a hundredfold. You might be good at telling a story, but that doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/it-s-like-the-query-letter-problem-that-i-just-mentioned-magnified-a/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [A home is not a museum. It doesn't have to be furnished with Picasso paintings, or Sheraton suites, or Oriental rugs, or Chinese pottery.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-m-cain/a-home-is-not-a-museum-it-doesn-t-have-to-be-furnished-with-picasso/) [James M. Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-m-cain/) > [I painted the words "GREAT ADVENTURE" in Beijing, Dallas, San Francisco, Copenhagen, and Japan. What it means to me is completely different to everybody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-eine/i-painted-the-words-great-adventure-in-beijing-dallas-san-francisco/) [Ben Eine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-eine/) > [We find few historians who have been diligent enough in their search for truth; it is their common method to take on trust what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/we-find-few-historians-who-have-been-diligent-enough-in-their-search/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [Being blonde, for me, means never having to say: 'I'll have the honey-striped half-head of highlights for £200,' to a bored colourist in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-johnson/being-blonde-for-me-means-never-having-to-say-i-ll-have-the-honey/) [Rachel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-johnson/) > [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. 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Halfway between what it really means and what you'd like it to mean?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonin-scalia/what-is-a-moderate-interpretation-of-the-text-halfway-between-what-it/) [Antonin Scalia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonin-scalia/) > [You have expressive nationalism, I mean very identity driven, which shaped each other a lot of that in the Middle East.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/subrahmanyam-jaishankar/you-have-expressive-nationalism-i-mean-very-identity-driven-which/) [Subrahmanyam Jaishankar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/subrahmanyam-jaishankar/) > [The one means that wins the easiest victory over reason is terror and force.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-hitler/the-one-means-that-wins-the-easiest-victory-over-reason-is-terror-and/) [Adolf Hitler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-hitler/) > [The word 'mundane' has come to mean 'boring' and 'dull', and it really shouldn't - it should mean the opposite. 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