The speaker reflects on their initial misjudgment of a person, thinking that someone who attacks aggressively wouldn't possess other strengths or skills. This perception stems from an encounter that left them unprepared for the complexities of the individual’s character.
As the narrator discovers, this person surprises them by displaying unexpected traits, such as the ability to smile in a tense situation. This realization challenges the speaker's assumptions and highlights the depth of the character, demonstrating that appearances can be deceiving and that individuals often have hidden dimensions.