--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: For all these years I kept my mouth…" description: "\"For all these years I kept my mouth closed so selfish desires would not fall out. And because I remained quiet for so long now my daughter does not hea..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b1b/amy-tan-730_catch-me_for-all-these-years-i-kept-my-mouth-clos_2659397.jpg" --- # For all these years I kept my mouth closed so selfish… ![“For all these years I kept my mouth closed so selfish desires would not fall out. And because I remained quiet for so long now my daughter does not hear me... All these years I kept my true nature hidden, running along like a small shadow so nobody could catch me. And because I moved so secretly…” quote by Amy Tan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b1b/amy-tan-730_catch-me_for-all-these-years-i-kept-my-mouth-clos_2659397.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b1b/amy-tan-730_catch-me_for-all-these-years-i-kept-my-mouth-clos_2659397.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b1b/amy-tan-730_catch-me_for-all-these-years-i-kept-my-mouth-clos_2659397.jpg) > “For all these years I kept my mouth closed so selfish desires would not fall out. And because I remained quiet for so long now my daughter does not hear me... All these years I kept my true nature hidden, running along like a small shadow so nobody could catch me. And because I moved so secretly now my daughter does not see me... We are lost, she and I, unseen and not seeing; unheard and not hearing, unknown by others.” [Amy Tan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-tan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Silence hides true self, leading to disconnect between mother and daughter. **In simple terms:** Keeping quiet hides identity, causing distance. Key Takeaway Share authentic feelings openly. Themes family identity communication Mood introspective empathetic Type emotional reflective When to use this quote - family gatherings - therapy sessions - personal journals Key Concepts emotional honesty generational gaps Questions to Reflect On - What truths are you hiding? - How can you bridge the silence? A Different Perspective Fear of vulnerability can deepen isolation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Catch me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/catch-me/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Daughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/daughter/) [Desire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire/) [Doe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doe/) [Fall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fall/) [Hearing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hearing/) [Hidden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hidden/) [Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long/) [Lost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lost/) [Mouth Closed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mouth-closed/) [Mouths](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mouths/) [Moved](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moved/) [Moved Secretly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moved-secretly-2415331/) [My daughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/my-daughter/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Quiet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/quiet/) [Remained Quiet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/remained-quiet-2415332/) [Running](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/running/) [Secretly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/secretly/) [Selfish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/selfish/) [Shadow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shadow/) [True nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/true-nature/) [Unheard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unheard/) [Unseen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unseen/) [Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years/) ## Related quotes > [“ Ob-be mah-e-vah. ” “What?” “Make room for me.” He lifted the robe and joined her on the pallet. “Wha--you’re not going to sleep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-anderson/ob-be-mah-e-vah-what-make-room-for-me-he-lifted-the-robe-and-joined-2/) [Catherine Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-anderson/) > [Sometimes, if she simply remained quiet, and let the inadequacy of his excuses reverberate on the air, he became ashamed and backtracked.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sometimes-if-she-simply-remained-quiet-and-let-the-inadequacy-of-his/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“big brown eyes simmering with barely concealed fury. But still, he remained quiet.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-marie-rogers/big-brown-eyes-simmering-with-barely-concealed-fury-but-still-he/) [Donna Marie Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-marie-rogers/) > [“She’d handled herself against him as well as any female werewolf, if not more vicious and desperate to win. Experiencing a surge of respect,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vivienne-savage/she-d-handled-herself-against-him-as-well-as-any-female-werewolf-if/) [Vivienne Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vivienne-savage/) > [I Remained Quiet.. She Said I Have No Heart, I Remained Quiet.. ... She Said I Have EGO Problem, I Remained Quiet.. She Said…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tauseef/i-remained-quiet-she-said-i-have-no-heart-i-remained-quiet-she-said-i/) [Tauseef](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tauseef/) > [Peter remained very quiet and shy, but when he spoke it made sense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-king/peter-remained-very-quiet-and-shy-but-when-he-spoke-it-made-sense/) [Jonathan King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-king/) > [All these years I kept my true nature hidden, running along like a small shadow so nobody could catch me. -Ying Ying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-tan/all-these-years-i-kept-my-true-nature-hidden-running-along-like-a/) [Amy Tan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-tan/) > [We are lost, she and I, unseen and not seeing, unheard and not hearing, unknown by others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-tan/we-are-lost-she-and-i-unseen-and-not-seeing-unheard-and-not-hearing/) [Amy Tan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-tan/) > [Have you ever heard the phrase, it is better to keep your mouth closed and have people wonder if you are stupid than open…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vince-flynn/have-you-ever-heard-the-phrase-it-is-better-to-keep-your-mouth-closed/) [Vince Flynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vince-flynn/) > [“He stood on the stoop and watched them walk down the path. Corinne hit the minivan’s remote, and the back yawned open like a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-coben/he-stood-on-the-stoop-and-watched-them-walk-down-the-path-corinne-hit/) [Harlan Coben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlan-coben/) > [So keep your mouth closed & let your eyes listen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lil-wayne/so-keep-your-mouth-closed-let-your-eyes-listen/) [Lil Wayne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lil-wayne/) > [Try to keep your mind open to possibilities and your mouth closed on matters that you don't know about. Limit your 'always' and your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-poehler/try-to-keep-your-mind-open-to-possibilities-and-your-mouth-closed-on/) [Amy Poehler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-poehler/) > [Normally people can't keep their goddamn mouth closed!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-donato/normally-people-can-t-keep-their-goddamn-mouth-closed/) [Dick Donato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-donato/) > [“Sometimes the easiest thing to do is nothing. You just make do. Keep your mouth closed and hope all the rattling goes away.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-henderson/sometimes-the-easiest-thing-to-do-is-nothing-you-just-make-do-keep/) [Susan Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-henderson/) > [“With her mouth closed, her mind screamed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-charlo/with-her-mouth-closed-her-mind-screamed/) [Julia Charlo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-charlo/) ## More by Amy Tan > [So sad! This is the saddest part when you lose someone you love- that person keeps changing. And later you wonder, Is this the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-tan/so-sad-this-is-the-saddest-part-when-you-lose-someone-you-love-that/) [Amy Tan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-tan/) > [Too many good things all seem the same after a while.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-tan/too-many-good-things-all-seem-the-same-after-a-while/) [Amy Tan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-tan/) > [“bad, how likely is it to come”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-tan/bad-how-likely-is-it-to-come/) [Amy Tan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-tan/) > [“A mother is always the beginning. She is how things begin.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-tan/a-mother-is-always-the-beginning-she-is-how-things-begin/) [Amy Tan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-tan/) > [Shanghainese people are good negotiators, they're very persistent, and you grow up in an atmosphere like that - very competitive. That becomes part of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-tan/shanghainese-people-are-good-negotiators-they-re-very-persistent-and/) [Amy Tan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-tan/) > [But now that I am old, moving every year closer to the end of my life, I also feel closer to the beginning. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-tan/but-now-that-i-am-old-moving-every-year-closer-to-the-end-of-my-life/) [Amy Tan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-tan/) > [You should think about your character. Know where you are changing, how you will be changed, what cannot be changed back again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-tan/you-should-think-about-your-character-know-where-you-are-changing-how/) [Amy Tan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-tan/) > [Now you see,' said the turtle, drifting back into the pond, 'why it is useless to cry. Your tears do not wash away your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-tan/now-you-see-said-the-turtle-drifting-back-into-the-pond-why-it-is/) [Amy Tan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-tan/) > [I hid my deepest feelings so well I forgot where I placed them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-tan/i-hid-my-deepest-feelings-so-well-i-forgot-where-i-placed-them/) [Amy Tan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-tan/) > [“Lebih baik jadi orang yang TIDAK TERLUPAKAN daripada orang yang MEMBOSANKAN -”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-tan/lebih-baik-jadi-orang-yang-tidak-terlupakan-daripada-orang-yang/) [Amy Tan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-tan/) > [After all, Bao Bomu says, what is the past but what we choose to remember?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-tan/after-all-bao-bomu-says-what-is-the-past-but-what-we-choose-to/) [Amy Tan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-tan/) > [We all become different readers in how we respond to books, why we need them, what we take from them. We become different in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-tan/we-all-become-different-readers-in-how-we-respond-to-books-why-we/) [Amy Tan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-tan/) > [“I was no longer scared. I could see what was inside me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-tan/i-was-no-longer-scared-i-could-see-what-was-inside-me/) [Amy Tan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-tan/) > [When I go back and read my journals or fiction, I am always surprised. I may not remember having those thoughts, but they still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-tan/when-i-go-back-and-read-my-journals-or-fiction-i-am-always-surprised/) [Amy Tan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-tan/) > [“I am ashamed she is ashamed. Because she is my daughter and I am proud of her, and I am her mother but she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-tan/i-am-ashamed-she-is-ashamed-because-she-is-my-daughter-and-i-am-proud/) [Amy Tan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-tan/) [Explore all 383 Amy Tan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-tan/) ## More Catch me quotes > [When I go to sleep, someone wakes up to get their hustle on, that's why I get my 2 hours, their 2 hours and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/behdad-sami/when-i-go-to-sleep-someone-wakes-up-to-get-their-hustle-on-that-s-why/) [Behdad Sami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/behdad-sami/) > [Super-cali-fragalistic-expiali-docious, Docious-ali-expi-fragalistic-cali-super. Cancun...catch me in the room, eatin' grouper.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ghostface-killah/super-cali-fragalistic-expiali-docious-docious-ali-expi-fragalistic/) [Ghostface Killah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ghostface-killah/) > [He was not a runner, my father, but he was quick. I always remember it was very difficult to escape from him when he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haile-gebrselassie/he-was-not-a-runner-my-father-but-he-was-quick-i-always-remember-it/) [Haile Gebrselassie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haile-gebrselassie/) > [If we do not catch men, we are in great danger of losing even the desire to catch them. Our purposed activity is in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-henry-jowett/if-we-do-not-catch-men-we-are-in-great-danger-of-losing-even-the/) [John Henry Jowett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-henry-jowett/) > [I'm a bad walker but I can dance tango. You know why? Put your hand up. Push on my fingertips and just hold it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melody-gardot/i-m-a-bad-walker-but-i-can-dance-tango-you-know-why-put-your-hand-up/) [Melody Gardot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melody-gardot/) > [English had hit upon a splendid joke. The intended to catch me or to bring me down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manfred-von-richthofen/english-had-hit-upon-a-splendid-joke-the-intended-to-catch-me-or-to/) [Manfred von Richthofen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manfred-von-richthofen/) > [Catch me, as if I have surely been out committing a violation against you, my sin of insisting on existing without you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ana-castillo/catch-me-as-if-i-have-surely-been-out-committing-a-violation-against/) [Ana Castillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ana-castillo/) > [ My mom had bought this camera to take classes herself and I remember working with her on it, understanding how the stop-motion \[worked\], having… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-vespa/my-mom-had-bought-this-camera-to-take-classes-herself-and-i-remember/) [Jeff Vespa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-vespa/) > [Listen: People are always saying, 'Rickey says Rickey.' But it's been blown way out of proportion. People might catch me, when they know I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rickey-henderson/listen-people-are-always-saying-rickey-says-rickey-but-it-s-been/) [Rickey Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rickey-henderson/) > [Lord, catch me off guard today. Surprise me with some moment of beauty or pain so that at least for the moment, I may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-buechner/lord-catch-me-off-guard-today-surprise-me-with-some-moment-of-beauty/) [Frederick Buechner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-buechner/) > [How can time be so wrong for love to come along? Catch me I'm falling for you...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-gonzaga/how-can-time-be-so-wrong-for-love-to-come-along-catch-me-i-m-falling/) [Toni Gonzaga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-gonzaga/) > [On any given night, catch me on the floor, working up a sweat, that’s what music’s for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madonna-ciccone/on-any-given-night-catch-me-on-the-floor-working-up-a-sweat-that-s/) [Madonna Ciccone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madonna-ciccone/) > [If my forgeries looked as bad as the CBS documents, it would have been 'Catch Me In Two Days'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-abagnale/if-my-forgeries-looked-as-bad-as-the-cbs-documents-it-would-have-been/) [Frank Abagnale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-abagnale/) > [“I don't know if anyone's ever told you this", he begins. He doesn't blush, and his eyes don't dart away. Instead I find myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-lu/i-don-t-know-if-anyone-s-ever-told-you-this-he-begins-he-doesn-t/) [Marie Lu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-lu/) > [Do not become self-sufficient . Self-sufficienc y is Satan’s net where he catches men, like poor silly fish, and destroys them. Be not self-sufficient…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/do-not-become-self-sufficient-self-sufficienc-y-is-satan-s-net-where/) [Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/) [Browse all 98 Catch me quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/catch-me/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "For all these years I kept my mouth closed so selfish desires would not fall out. And because I remained quiet for so long now my daughter does not hear me... All these years I kept my true nature hidden, running along like a small shadow so nobody could catch me. 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