Paul Beatty Quotes

I have a big thing with eye contact, because I think as soon as you make eye contact with somebody, you see them, and they become valued and worthy.

Go where you're celebrated, not tolerated. I'm celebrated in Detroit.

Feeling like you're respected among the people who do the same thing you do is incredible and necessary.

I don't always feel seen.

I don't think anyone ever feels acknowledged enough.

There is something about hearing your president affirm your humanity that you don't know what effect it has until you hear it.

The deepest desire of the human spirit is to be acknowledged.

Everyone wants to be recognized.

I enjoy being recognized whatever environment I'm in.

I don't always like walking down the street and making sure that I smile and say hello to everybody who's walking their dog in the opposite direction. But I do do it. And it's a small, tiny thing to do. But to me, it means 'I see you. You're not invisible to me.'

When I first started the biggest thing I wanted was for the opposition to acknowledge me.

I've never wanted fame. I've only ever wanted recognition.

Meeting someone who likes what I've made is like discovering a brother or sister.

To acknowledge the beginnings of people is a beautiful thing.

It's nice to be recognized in the street.

I like the idea of a broader range of people feeling seen.

For me, the listeners are the ones who matter.

It means a lot when people understand what I'm going for.

When somebody comes up to you and shows you yellow underlining of something you wrote, that's such a high. It's a connection to others.

To say that a person feels listened to means a lot more than just their ideas get heard. It's a sign of respect. It makes people feel valued.

Living where I live New York I don't think anyone's going to make a fuss. But it is more deeply satisfying because it's of your place and means that you aren't forgotten; someone's noticed what you have been doing with your life.

It's easy to not feel misplaced if this tidal wave of appreciation is coming your way.

We learned about gratitude and humility - that so many people had a hand in our success, from the teachers who inspired us to the janitors who kept our school clean... and we were taught to value everyone's contribution and treat everyone with respect.

Everyone has an invisible sign hanging from their neck saying, 'Make me feel important.' Never forget this message when working with people.

When someone sees in you what you've been feeling all along, that's an awesome thing.