---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: People are people. Don't be afraid of them."
description: "\"People are people. Don't be afraid of them.\" — William Saroyan"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/399/william-saroyan-1743_fear_people-are-people-don-t-be-afraid-of-the_1248821.jpg"
---

#  People are people. Don't be afraid of them.

![“People are people. Don't be afraid of them.” quote by William Saroyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/399/william-saroyan-1743_fear_people-are-people-don-t-be-afraid-of-the_1248821.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/399/william-saroyan-1743_fear_people-are-people-don-t-be-afraid-of-the_1248821.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/399/william-saroyan-1743_fear_people-are-people-don-t-be-afraid-of-the_1248821.jpg)

> “People are people. Don't be afraid of them.”

[William Saroyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-saroyan/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

He reminds us that all people are fundamentally the same and should not be feared.

**In simple terms:** Treat everyone without fear.

Key Takeaway

Embrace humanity without fear.

Themes

humanity empathy fearlessness

Mood

hopeful encouraging

Type

literary inspirational

When to use this quote

- daily encounters
- community building
- conflict resolution
- education

Key Concepts

social interaction commonality acceptance

Questions to Reflect On

- What steps can reduce fear of others?
- How can empathy be cultivated in society?

A Different Perspective

Fear often stems from misunderstanding.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Afraid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afraid/) [Don Afraid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/don-afraid/) [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [People Are People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-are-people/) [People Don](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-don/) [People People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-people/)

## Related quotes

> [I think people are people. If you want something, go get it. I don't think it matters what race you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-hernandez/i-think-people-are-people-if-you-want-something-go-get-it-i-don-t/)

[Laurie Hernandez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-hernandez/)

> [“I think that, people are people. That's why the way I treat the lady working in the deli who slices my ham is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-joybell-c/i-think-that-people-are-people-that-s-why-the-way-i-treat-the-lady/)

[C. JoyBell C](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-joybell-c/)

> [The law's the law, but people are people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-law-s-the-law-but-people-are-people/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [People are people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-light/people-are-people/)

[Judith Light](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-light/)

> [People quickly forget that people are people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-tatum/people-quickly-forget-that-people-are-people/)

[Jack Tatum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-tatum/)

> [Small business people are people with goals and values that can't be calculated on a profit and loss statement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-mcmahon/small-business-people-are-people-with-goals-and-values-that-can-t-be/)

[Linda McMahon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-mcmahon/)

> [People are people, and they want to know about their own experiences.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-edward/people-are-people-and-they-want-to-know-about-their-own-experiences/)

[John Edward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-edward/)

> [I think people are people and, if their feelings are truthful, they can connect. It doesn't matter if you're an aging, 50-something wrestler at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-aronofsky/i-think-people-are-people-and-if-their-feelings-are-truthful-they-can/)

[Darren Aronofsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-aronofsky/)

> [In a large congregation, while there is a wide diversification of interest, it is also true that there are only a few basic human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/in-a-large-congregation-while-there-is-a-wide-diversification-of/)

[Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/)

> [The bottom line is people are people, and the sooner we realise that, the better off things are going to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-haysbert/the-bottom-line-is-people-are-people-and-the-sooner-we-realise-that/)

[Dennis Haysbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-haysbert/)

> [People are people, regardless of who they love or what gender they relate to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-foster/people-are-people-regardless-of-who-they-love-or-what-gender-they/)

[Bill Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-foster/)

> [We are the same. There is no difference anywhere in the world. People are people. They laugh, cry, feel, and love, and music seems…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willie-nelson/we-are-the-same-there-is-no-difference-anywhere-in-the-world-people/)

[Willie Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willie-nelson/)

> [In reality, people are people. Age does a weird thing to your body on the outside. It makes your face fall and weird things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-field/in-reality-people-are-people-age-does-a-weird-thing-to-your-body-on/)

[Sally Field](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-field/)

> [Successful people are people of (mo.ti.va.tion), motivation, and action.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-jones/successful-people-are-people-of-mo-ti-va-tion-motivation-and-action/)

[Jon Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-jones/)

> [“People are people. Whatever happens, they make communities, struggle for normalcy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-sanderson/people-are-people-whatever-happens-they-make-communities-struggle-for/)

[Brandon Sanderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-sanderson/)

## More by William Saroyan

> [Although I write in English, and despite the fact that I'm from America, I consider myself an Armenian writer. The words I use are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-saroyan/although-i-write-in-english-and-despite-the-fact-that-i-m-from/)

[William Saroyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-saroyan/)

> [The basic truth of all things, as nearly as we may ever dream of determining and knowing this truth, is form, that which is,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-saroyan/the-basic-truth-of-all-things-as-nearly-as-we-may-ever-dream-of/)

[William Saroyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-saroyan/)

> [“This is a hell of a night. I don't want to leave it just to go to sleep.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-saroyan/this-is-a-hell-of-a-night-i-don-t-want-to-leave-it-just-to-go-to-sleep/)

[William Saroyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-saroyan/)

> [Americans still believe they are cut out to be successful-in everything: love, love-making, luck, luck-giving, money-making, sense-making, cancer-avoiding, clothes-wearing, car-driving, and so on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-saroyan/americans-still-believe-they-are-cut-out-to-be-successful-in/)

[William Saroyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-saroyan/)

> [I can't decide for you whether or not you have got to write, but if anything in the world, war, or pestilence, or famine,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-saroyan/i-can-t-decide-for-you-whether-or-not-you-have-got-to-write-but-if/)

[William Saroyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-saroyan/)

> [He paints for the blind, and we are the blind, and he lets us see for sure what we saw long ago but weren't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-saroyan/he-paints-for-the-blind-and-we-are-the-blind-and-he-lets-us-see-for/)

[William Saroyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-saroyan/)

> [I am interested in madness. I believe it is the biggest thing in the human race, and the most constant. How do you take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-saroyan/i-am-interested-in-madness-i-believe-it-is-the-biggest-thing-in-the/)

[William Saroyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-saroyan/)

> [Two years ago your father died, Ulysses. But as long as we are alive, as long as we are together, as long as two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-saroyan/two-years-ago-your-father-died-ulysses-but-as-long-as-we-are-alive-as/)

[William Saroyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-saroyan/)

> [Cowards are nice, they're interesting, they're gentle, they wouldn't think of shooting down people in a parade from a tower. They want to live,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-saroyan/cowards-are-nice-they-re-interesting-they-re-gentle-they-wouldn-t/)

[William Saroyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-saroyan/)

> [In the time of your life, live - so that in that good time there shall be no ugliness or death for yourself or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-saroyan/in-the-time-of-your-life-live-so-that-in-that-good-time-there-shall/)

[William Saroyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-saroyan/)

> [San Francisco is a world to explore. It is a place where the heart can go on a delightful adventure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-saroyan/san-francisco-is-a-world-to-explore-it-is-a-place-where-the-heart-can/)

[William Saroyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-saroyan/)

> [Even after you've won fame and fortune, every time you write you've got to write, there's no shortcut, you have to start your career…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-saroyan/even-after-you-ve-won-fame-and-fortune-every-time-you-write-you-ve/)

[William Saroyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-saroyan/)

> [“I should like to see any power of the world destroy this race, this small tribe of unimportant people, whose history is ended, whose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-saroyan/i-should-like-to-see-any-power-of-the-world-destroy-this-race-this/)

[WILLIAM SAROYAN](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-saroyan/)

> [There could be no extreme vanity in my recognition of myself, if in fact there could be any at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-saroyan/there-could-be-no-extreme-vanity-in-my-recognition-of-myself-if-in/)

[William Saroyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-saroyan/)

> [“This sense of being out of time has driven thousands of people from their homes into moving-picture theaters where new universes appear before them,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-saroyan/this-sense-of-being-out-of-time-has-driven-thousands-of-people-from/)

[William Saroyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-saroyan/)

[Explore all 207 William Saroyan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-saroyan/)

## More Afraid quotes

> [It took me 20 years to buy an electric typewriter, because I was afraid it would be too sensitive. I like to bang the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/it-took-me-20-years-to-buy-an-electric-typewriter-because-i-was/)

[Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/)

> [“Carrie Fisher. “Stay afraid, but do it anyway.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-union/carrie-fisher-stay-afraid-but-do-it-anyway/)

[Gabrielle Union](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-union/)

> [I used to be afraid of my temper, but it turns out I don't really have one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-bell/i-used-to-be-afraid-of-my-temper-but-it-turns-out-i-don-t-really-have/)

[Zoe Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-bell/)

> [I get afraid of the dark if I'm in a great deal of dark, and I have to move around inside of that fear...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emil-ferris/i-get-afraid-of-the-dark-if-i-m-in-a-great-deal-of-dark-and-i-have-to/)

[Emil Ferris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emil-ferris/)

> [I am not afraid of praise, for I have practiced it on myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/i-am-not-afraid-of-praise-for-i-have-practiced-it-on-myself/)

[Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/)

> [I'm a pretty fearless person. I'm afraid of, like, creepy men in white vans and sidewalks with no streetlights. But I'm not afraid to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josie-totah/i-m-a-pretty-fearless-person-i-m-afraid-of-like-creepy-men-in-white/)

[Josie Totah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josie-totah/)

> [I will support my party when they are right on an issue, but am not afraid to stand up to party bosses who are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darlene-senger/i-will-support-my-party-when-they-are-right-on-an-issue-but-am-not/)

[Darlene Senger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darlene-senger/)

> [Why am I so afraid to loose you,when you're not even mine?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/why-am-i-so-afraid-to-loose-you-when-you-re-not-even-mine/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I want to tell you, but I cant, becuase I'm afraid if I do you'll never treat me same the again](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cristina-orante/i-want-to-tell-you-but-i-cant-becuase-i-m-afraid-if-i-do-you-ll-never/)

[Cristina Orante](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cristina-orante/)

> [Mistakes I've made in the past make me afraid to try new things in the future. I want to be perfect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-altucher/mistakes-i-ve-made-in-the-past-make-me-afraid-to-try-new-things-in/)

[James Altucher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-altucher/)

> [“Humans are naturally scared and confused beings. They not only fear the unknown, as they live fearing themselves... ☥”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-marques/humans-are-naturally-scared-and-confused-beings-they-not-only-fear/)

[Luis Marques](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-marques/)

> [If you are too afraid of failure, you cant possibly do what needs to be done to succeed in living a fulfilling life. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melchor-lim/if-you-are-too-afraid-of-failure-you-cant-possibly-do-what-needs-to/)

[Melchor Lim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melchor-lim/)

> [We cannot be afraid of the dark that they live in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/burnie-burns/we-cannot-be-afraid-of-the-dark-that-they-live-in/)

[Burnie Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/burnie-burns/)

> [“I think the reason we're cruel sometimes is that we're afraid we're going to like something.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-berg/i-think-the-reason-we-re-cruel-sometimes-is-that-we-re-afraid-we-re/)

[Elizabeth Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-berg/)

> [I'm still with that feeling that I am afraid of doing the wrong thing, because somebody is going to punish me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eartha-kitt/i-m-still-with-that-feeling-that-i-am-afraid-of-doing-the-wrong-thing/)

[Eartha Kitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eartha-kitt/)

[Browse all 5,519 Afraid quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afraid/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "People are people. Don't be afraid of them.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "William Saroyan"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-saroyan/people-are-people-don-t-be-afraid-of-them/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Afraid"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-saroyan/people-are-people-don-t-be-afraid-of-them/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/399/william-saroyan-1743_fear_people-are-people-don-t-be-afraid-of-the_1248821.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/399/william-saroyan-1743_fear_people-are-people-don-t-be-afraid-of-the_1248821.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/399/william-saroyan-1743_fear_people-are-people-don-t-be-afraid-of-the_1248821.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“People are people. Don't be afraid of them.” — William Saroyan",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "William Saroyan",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-saroyan/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "People are people. Don't be afraid...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-saroyan/people-are-people-don-t-be-afraid-of-them/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-saroyan/people-are-people-don-t-be-afraid-of-them/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
