--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In theory we understand people, but in…" description: "\"In theory we understand people, but in practice we can't put up with them, I thought, deal with them for the most part reluctantly and always treat the..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dcf/thomas-bernhard-3514_angle_in-theory-we-understand-people-but-in-pr_458007.jpg" --- # In theory we understand people, but in practice we can't… ![“In theory we understand people, but in practice we can't put up with them, I thought, deal with them for the most part reluctantly and always treat them from our point of view. We should observe and treat people not from our point of view but from all angles, I thought, associate with them in such…” quote by Thomas Bernhard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dcf/thomas-bernhard-3514_angle_in-theory-we-understand-people-but-in-pr_458007.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dcf/thomas-bernhard-3514_angle_in-theory-we-understand-people-but-in-pr_458007.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dcf/thomas-bernhard-3514_angle_in-theory-we-understand-people-but-in-pr_458007.jpg) > “In theory we understand people, but in practice we can't put up with them, I thought, deal with them for the most part reluctantly and always treat them from our point of view. We should observe and treat people not from our point of view but from all angles, I thought, associate with them in such a way that we can say we associate with them so to speak in a completely unbiased way, which however isn't possible, since we actually are always biased against everybody.” [Thomas Bernhard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-bernhard/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Understanding people theoretically differs from dealing with them practically; bias is inevitable. **In simple terms:** Theory vs practice in human relations; bias is unavoidable. Key Takeaway Seek empathy by recognizing your own biases. Themes bias empathy human relations philosophy Mood thoughtful analytical Type philosophical reflective When to use this quote - teamwork - conflict resolution - customer service Key Concepts subjectivity communication ethical behavior Questions to Reflect On - How do your biases affect your interactions? - What steps can you take to broaden perspective? A Different Perspective Complete objectivity is impossible; striving for it may cause paralysis. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Point of view](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/point-of-view/) [Practice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/practice/) ## Related quotes > [I believe science has a wonderful ability, in an unbiased way, to offer hope to many people who are confused, but it's not the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-oz/i-believe-science-has-a-wonderful-ability-in-an-unbiased-way-to-offer/) [Mehmet Oz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-oz/) > [For years, we just accepted the premise that the reporters from that J-school mentality of neutrality and objectivity were just laying out the facts.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-breitbart/for-years-we-just-accepted-the-premise-that-the-reporters-from-that-j/) [Andrew Breitbart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-breitbart/) > [“Some people would regard people who look like they do as ugly if they did not look like them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/some-people-would-regard-people-who-look-like-they-do-as-ugly-if-they/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [No Geologist worth anything is permanently bound to a desk or laboratory, but the charming notion that true science can only be based on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-jay-gould/no-geologist-worth-anything-is-permanently-bound-to-a-desk-or/) [Stephen Jay Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-jay-gould/) > [“You cannot be both religious and unbiased.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-f-moonzajer/you-cannot-be-both-religious-and-unbiased/) [M.F. 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I have always considered them superior to me in every way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-bernhard/all-my-life-i-have-had-the-utmost-admiration-for-suicides-i-have/) [Thomas Bernhard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-bernhard/) > [“I barricaded myself and stared out the window, without seeing anything but my own unhappiness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-bernhard/i-barricaded-myself-and-stared-out-the-window-without-seeing-anything/) [Thomas Bernhard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-bernhard/) > [... Whatever condition we are in, we must always do what we want to do, and if we want to go on a journey,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-bernhard/whatever-condition-we-are-in-we-must-always-do-what-we-want-to-do-and/) [Thomas Bernhard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-bernhard/) > [Those are terrible people who don't like Glenn Gould... 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