--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Ninety per cent of the world's woe comes…" description: "\"Ninety per cent of the world's woe comes from people not knowing themselves, their abilities, their frailties, and even their real virtues. Most of us ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/504/sydney-j-harris-1578_ability_ninety-per-cent-of-the-world-s-woe-comes_2653970.png" --- # Ninety per cent of the world's woe comes from people not… ![“Ninety per cent of the world's woe comes from people not knowing themselves, their abilities, their frailties, and even their real virtues. Most of us go almost all the way through life as complete strangers to ourselves - so how can we know anyone else?” quote by Sydney J. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/504/sydney-j-harris-1578_ability_ninety-per-cent-of-the-world-s-woe-comes_2653970.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/504/sydney-j-harris-1578_ability_ninety-per-cent-of-the-world-s-woe-comes_2653970.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/504/sydney-j-harris-1578_ability_ninety-per-cent-of-the-world-s-woe-comes_2653970.png) > “Ninety per cent of the world's woe comes from people not knowing themselves, their abilities, their frailties, and even their real virtues. Most of us go almost all the way through life as complete strangers to ourselves - so how can we know anyone else?” [Sydney J. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-j-harris/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Argues that ignorance of self limits understanding of others, causing widespread suffering. **In simple terms:** Knowing yourself is key to understanding others. Key Takeaway Cultivate self‑awareness. Themes self‑knowledge empathy humanity psychology Mood reflective introspective Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal development - relationship building - mental health Key Concepts philosophy psychology Questions to Reflect On - What aspects of yourself are you unaware of? - How does self‑ignorance affect your relationships? A Different Perspective Self‑knowledge can be elusive and uncomfortable. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Self discovery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-discovery/) [Strangers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strangers/) [Woe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/woe/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [I'm a confident person in knowing my abilities, but also know, I'm kind of a realist, I know when I suck.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mookie-betts/i-m-a-confident-person-in-knowing-my-abilities-but-also-know-i-m-kind/) [Mookie Betts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mookie-betts/) > [Now we know more about it and we teach our children not to get into cars with strangers but back then it was you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boti-bliss/now-we-know-more-about-it-and-we-teach-our-children-not-to-get-into/) [Boti Bliss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boti-bliss/) > [Do Not Trust Or Fall In Love With People Who Walks In To Your Life…As Strangers ...You Know The Same Way They Walk Away…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryland-bernard/do-not-trust-or-fall-in-love-with-people-who-walks-in-to-your-life-as/) [Ryland Bernard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryland-bernard/) > [I think, especially in our business we meet a lot of people, and sometimes you spend so much time being nice to strangers, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-zeta-jones/i-think-especially-in-our-business-we-meet-a-lot-of-people-and/) [Catherine Zeta-Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-zeta-jones/) > [I wish I were less awkward around strangers. I never know what to say when someone asks me who I am and what the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-ihnatko/i-wish-i-were-less-awkward-around-strangers-i-never-know-what-to-say/) [Andy Ihnatko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-ihnatko/) > [So here are reasons why I talk to strangers: because I never know what might happen, because the world is full of surprises; because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-dungy/so-here-are-reasons-why-i-talk-to-strangers-because-i-never-know-what/) Camille Dungy > [“We watched each other’s eyes. We were as strangers, in that moment — as intimate as strangers — for strangers know more of us,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-t-anderson/we-watched-each-other-s-eyes-we-were-as-strangers-in-that-moment-as/) [M.T. Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-t-anderson/) > [“Ours is the fellowship of strangers who know a secret that we cannot express.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-north/ours-is-the-fellowship-of-strangers-who-know-a-secret-that-we-cannot-2/) [Claire North](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-north/) > [“the cheapest, most pleasurable way for a country of strangers to get to know each other and the rest of the world is through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-vowell/the-cheapest-most-pleasurable-way-for-a-country-of-strangers-to-get/) [Sarah Vowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-vowell/) > [Some things are just for private. It's like people thinking I'm cold or this or that. It's unfortunate, but I don't need strangers to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-silverman/some-things-are-just-for-private-it-s-like-people-thinking-i-m-cold/) [Sarah Silverman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-silverman/) > [“It was my habit to lie to strangers, because how would they know the difference?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-van-den-berg/it-was-my-habit-to-lie-to-strangers-because-how-would-they-know-the/) [Laura van den Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-van-den-berg/) > [“Ours is the fellowship of strangers who know a secret that we cannot express. We are both of us broken, shattered, hollow and alone.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-north/ours-is-the-fellowship-of-strangers-who-know-a-secret-that-we-cannot/) [Claire North](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-north/) > [“Sometimes I think people were meant to be strangers. Not to get to know one another, not to get close enough to damage the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-mckuen/sometimes-i-think-people-were-meant-to-be-strangers-not-to-get-to/) [Rod McKuen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-mckuen/) > [“We were as strangers, in the moment-as intimate as strangers-for strangers know more of us, and can judge of us more without reproach than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-t-anderson/we-were-as-strangers-in-the-moment-as-intimate-as-strangers-for/) [M.T. Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-t-anderson/) > [I don't know if I'll ever get used to the idea that strangers know who I am. I don't know if I want to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsey-vonn/i-don-t-know-if-i-ll-ever-get-used-to-the-idea-that-strangers-know/) [Lindsey Vonn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsey-vonn/) ## More by Sydney J. Harris > [This is a lesson mankind has not yet learned. We identify, and stratify, and treat persons largely on the basis of their accidental (physical)…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-j-harris/this-is-a-lesson-mankind-has-not-yet-learned-we-identify-and-stratify/) [Sydney J. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-j-harris/) > [Character is something you forge for yourself; temperament is something you are born with and can only slightly modify.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-j-harris/character-is-something-you-forge-for-yourself-temperament-is/) [Sydney J. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-j-harris/) > [Middle Age is that perplexing time of life when we hear two voices calling us, one saying, 'Why not?' and the other, 'Why bother?'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-j-harris/middle-age-is-that-perplexing-time-of-life-when-we-hear-two-voices/) [Sydney J. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-j-harris/) > [The profound immoralities of our time are cruelty, indifference, injustice and the use of others as means rather than ends in themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-j-harris/the-profound-immoralities-of-our-time-are-cruelty-indifference/) [Sydney J. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-j-harris/) > [Marriages we regard as the happiest are those in which each of the partners believes he or she got the best of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-j-harris/marriages-we-regard-as-the-happiest-are-those-in-which-each-of-the/) [Sydney J. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-j-harris/) > [“...it calls for deciding things on their own merit, not because you read it or were told it or grew up believing it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-j-harris/it-calls-for-deciding-things-on-their-own-merit-not-because-you-read/) [Sydney J. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-j-harris/) > [Ignorance per se is not nearly as dangerous as ignorance of ignorance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-j-harris/ignorance-per-se-is-not-nearly-as-dangerous-as-ignorance-of-ignorance/) [Sydney J. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-j-harris/) > [Patriotism is proud of a country's virtues and eager to correct its deficiencies; it also acknowledges the legitimate patriotism of other countries, with their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-j-harris/patriotism-is-proud-of-a-country-s-virtues-and-eager-to-correct-its/) [Sydney J. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-j-harris/) > [A cynic is not merely one who reads bitter lessons from the past, his is also one who is permanently disappointed in the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-j-harris/a-cynic-is-not-merely-one-who-reads-bitter-lessons-from-the-past-his/) [Sydney J. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-j-harris/) > [Time is love, above all else. It is the most precious commodity in the world and should be lavished on those we care most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-j-harris/time-is-love-above-all-else-it-is-the-most-precious-commodity-in-the/) [Sydney J. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-j-harris/) > [Just about the only interruption we don't object to is applause.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-j-harris/just-about-the-only-interruption-we-don-t-object-to-is-applause/) [Sydney J. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-j-harris/) > [“The cynic is goodhearted beneath his facade, whereas the sentimentalist is flint-hearted beneath his.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-j-harris/the-cynic-is-goodhearted-beneath-his-facade-whereas-the/) [Sydney J. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-j-harris/) > [Any philosophy that can be put in a nutshell belongs there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-j-harris/any-philosophy-that-can-be-put-in-a-nutshell-belongs-there/) [Sydney J. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-j-harris/) > [“Like all persecuted minority groups, they strike back by forming cabals, by “taking over” certain spheres of activity (in the arts, for instance), and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-j-harris/like-all-persecuted-minority-groups-they-strike-back-by-forming/) [Sydney J. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-j-harris/) > [Intolerance is the most socially acceptable form of egotism, for it permits us to assume superiority without personal boasting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-j-harris/intolerance-is-the-most-socially-acceptable-form-of-egotism-for-it/) [Sydney J. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-j-harris/) [Explore all 226 Sydney J. Harris quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-j-harris/) ## More Ability quotes > [I don't think there's a direct correlation between my sexuality and my skiing ability. But I think because I was so concerned about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-kenworthy/i-don-t-think-there-s-a-direct-correlation-between-my-sexuality-and/) [Gus Kenworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-kenworthy/) > [“the importance of ability. The things that make a great job great, I discovered, are rare and valuable. 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Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [Maybe law enforcement would like the ability to turn on the camera on your Mac.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/maybe-law-enforcement-would-like-the-ability-to-turn-on-the-camera-on/) [Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/) > [I've seen guys come along with more ability - they've been faster or bigger or stronger - but they never worked hard to develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-largent/i-ve-seen-guys-come-along-with-more-ability-they-ve-been-faster-or/) [Steve Largent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-largent/) > [The youth of India has the strength to move the entire World with a click of a mouse, we have generated that ability!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/the-youth-of-india-has-the-strength-to-move-the-entire-world-with-a/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [An absolutely necessary part of a writer's equipment, almost as necessary as talent, is the ability to stand up under punishment, both the punishment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-shaw/an-absolutely-necessary-part-of-a-writer-s-equipment-almost-as/) [Irwin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-shaw/) > [I'd be more frightened by not using whatever abilities I'd been given. 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Take what I cannot give: my heart, body, thoughts, time, abilities, money, health, strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-prentiss/bring-into-captivity-every-thought-to-the-obedience-of-christ-take/) [Elizabeth Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-prentiss/) > [You can only do the work to the very best of your ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-baranski/you-can-only-do-the-work-to-the-very-best-of-your-ability/) [Christine Baranski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-baranski/) > [Judge a person not by his ability to make money but by his ability to retain it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/judge-a-person-not-by-his-ability-to-make-money-but-by-his-ability-to/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [Balance is the ability to be happy in the midst of the most chaotic or even boring or transient circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/balance-is-the-ability-to-be-happy-in-the-midst-of-the-most-chaotic/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Bobby had faith in my ability as a singer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-london/bobby-had-faith-in-my-ability-as-a-singer/) [Julie London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-london/) [Browse all 9,990 Ability quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Ninety per cent of the world's woe comes from people not knowing themselves, their abilities, their frailties, and even their real virtues. 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