“To know what people really think, pay regard to what they do, rather than what they say”
— George Santayana
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Simplified Meaning:
People's true thoughts and feelings are shown more accurately through their actions than through their words. For example, imagine a friend who always says they are excited to spend time with you but continually cancels your plans. This suggests that their actions (canceling) show they might not value the friendship as much as they say they do. If someone really cares about you or something, they will show up and make an effort, not just talk about it. It's important to watch what people do because actions reflect their true intentions and priorities. By paying attention to actions, we can better understand and trust others' true motives.
Related tags
Actions Authenticity Behavior Human nature Insight Perception Psychology Thoughts Truth Words vs actions
