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When I get out of here, if I'm ever able to set this down…

“When I get out of here, if I'm ever able to set this down, in any form, even in the form of one voice to another, it will be a reconstruction then too, yet another remove. It's impossible to say a thing exactly the way it was, because what you say can never be exact, you always have to leave…” quote by Margaret Atwood
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““When I get out of here, if I'm ever able to set this down, in any form, even in the form of one voice to another, it will be a reconstruction then too, yet another remove. It's impossible to say a thing exactly the way it was, because what you say can never be exact, you always have to leave something out, there are too may parts, sides, crosscurrents, nuances; too many gestures, which could mean this or that, too many shapes which can never be fully described, too many flavors, in the air or on the tongue, half-colors, too many. But if you happen to be a man, sometime in the future, and you've made it this far, please remember: you will never be subject to the temptation or feeling you must forgive, a man, as a woman. It's difficult to resist, believe me. But remember that forgiveness too is a power. To beg for it is a power, and to withhold it or bestow it is a power, perhaps the greatest. Maybe none of this is about control. Maybe it isn't really about who can own whom, who can do what to whom and get away with it, even as far as death. Maybe it isn't about who can sit and who has to kneel or stand or lie down, legs spread open. Maybe it's about who can do what to whom and be forgiven for it. Never tell me it amounts to the same thing.””

Margaret Atwood

About This Quote

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

Language can never fully capture reality; forgiveness is a complex power that shapes relationships and control dynamics.

In simple terms: Words are imperfect; forgiveness is powerful.

Key Takeaway

Recognize limits of expression and the weight of forgiveness.

Themes

communication forgiveness power truth

Mood

reflective nuanced

Type

literary philosophical

When to use this quote

  • conflict resolution
  • creative writing
  • personal growth
  • legal negotiations

Key Concepts

linguistics ethics psychology

Questions to Reflect On

  • When does forgiveness become complicity?
  • How do we balance truth with the need to forgive?
A Different Perspective

Forgiveness can be weaponized, and over‑reliance on it may enable abuse.

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