--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I certainly have never had to pretend to…" description: "\"“I certainly have never had to pretend to be weak. But your mother is right. There's a benefit to being underestimated.”\" — Amy Tintera" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/023/amy-tintera-23396_mother_i-certainly-have-never-had-to-pretend-to_971725.jpg" --- # I certainly have never had to pretend to be weak. But your… ![“I certainly have never had to pretend to be weak. But your mother is right. There's a benefit to being underestimated.” quote by Amy Tintera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/023/amy-tintera-23396_mother_i-certainly-have-never-had-to-pretend-to_971725.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/023/amy-tintera-23396_mother_i-certainly-have-never-had-to-pretend-to_971725.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/023/amy-tintera-23396_mother_i-certainly-have-never-had-to-pretend-to_971725.jpg) > ““I certainly have never had to pretend to be weak. But your mother is right. There's a benefit to being underestimated.”” [Amy Tintera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-tintera/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Being underestimated can be advantageous, allowing one to exceed expectations. **In simple terms:** Underestimation can be a hidden strength. Key Takeaway Leverage others' doubts as motivation. Themes self‑esteem perception strategy Mood confident determined Type strategic inspirational When to use this quote - career advancement - negotiations - competitive sports Key Concepts psychology social dynamics Questions to Reflect On - When have you turned others' low expectations into success? - How can you avoid becoming complacent? A Different Perspective Overreliance on underestimation may breed complacency. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Mother](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mother/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) ## Related quotes > [“Are you saying I should pretend to be weak so they can feel strong? Is that not telling a lie?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-lafevers/are-you-saying-i-should-pretend-to-be-weak-so-they-can-feel-strong-is/) [Robin LaFevers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-lafevers/) > [Pretend to be weak, so your enemy may grow arrogant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/pretend-to-be-weak-so-your-enemy-may-grow-arrogant/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [Yesterday he told me he thought I would have to pretend to be weak, but he was wrong. I am weak already. I brace…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/yesterday-he-told-me-he-thought-i-would-have-to-pretend-to-be-weak/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [“Pretend to be weak, that he may grow arrogant.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/pretend-to-be-weak-that-he-may-grow-arrogant/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [Womens are underestimate and pretend to be weak… . . Bt...listen up… They have strength to give a new powerfull human to this weak…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rahul/womens-are-underestimate-and-pretend-to-be-weak-bt-listen-up-they/) [Rahul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rahul/) > [People underestimate me, and that's fine. 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But that's no reason for you to overestimate yourself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerstin-gier/it-is-quite-possible-that-i-have-underestimated-you-gwyneth-but-that/) [Kerstin Gier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerstin-gier/) > [People underestimate hip-hop the way they have sometimes underestimated comic books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheo-hodari-coker/people-underestimate-hip-hop-the-way-they-have-sometimes/) [Cheo Hodari Coker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheo-hodari-coker/) > [Too often we underestimate the power of a touch...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-buscaglia/too-often-we-underestimate-the-power-of-a-touch/) [Leo Buscaglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-buscaglia/) > [It's a great thing to be underestimated because it puts off your rival or enemy - they're not on their full game if they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanna-coles/it-s-a-great-thing-to-be-underestimated-because-it-puts-off-your/) [Joanna Coles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanna-coles/) > [You must never underestimate the power of your righteous influence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-s-dalton/you-must-never-underestimate-the-power-of-your-righteous-influence/) [Elaine S. Dalton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-s-dalton/) > [“she was one cocktail away from proving his mother right”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-taintor/she-was-one-cocktail-away-from-proving-his-mother-right/) [Anne Taintor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-taintor/) > [Listen - man is a child of Nature. When he turns against his mother - he's done! He may not find out about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-ostenso/listen-man-is-a-child-of-nature-when-he-turns-against-his-mother-he-s/) [Martha Ostenso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-ostenso/) ## More by Amy Tintera > [“Don’t make me punch you anymore, okay?” he whispered. I nodded, opening my eyes. “You have to punch other people, though.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-tintera/don-t-make-me-punch-you-anymore-okay-he-whispered-i-nodded-opening-my/) [Amy Tintera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-tintera/) > [“He had been willing to die because he refused to take a life. But me, I contemplated shooting everyone.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-tintera/he-had-been-willing-to-die-because-he-refused-to-take-a-life-but-me-i/) [Amy Tintera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-tintera/) > [“You smell so good," "No, I don't, I smell like death." "You're crazy, you're not dead. You do not smell like death." "I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-tintera/you-smell-so-good-no-i-don-t-i-smell-like-death-you-re-crazy-you-re/) [amy tintera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-tintera/) > [“Are we going to do my leg next?" he asked. "Can I get some warning next time? A quick 'Hey I'm going to snap…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-tintera/are-we-going-to-do-my-leg-next-he-asked-can-i-get-some-warning-next/) [Amy Tintera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-tintera/) > [“You have to wait for me. I'm leading." "Why are you leading?" "Because you have no idea what you're doing." "Fair enough.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-tintera/you-have-to-wait-for-me-i-m-leading-why-are-you-leading-because-you/) [Amy Tintera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-tintera/) > [“He turned to me. His expression was serious, but I liked how it softened slightly when he looked at me. Like the way he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-tintera/he-turned-to-me-his-expression-was-serious-but-i-liked-how-it/) [Amy Tintera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-tintera/) > [“You're not who I thought you'd be, Cas." "No?" "Your so much better.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-tintera/you-re-not-who-i-thought-you-d-be-cas-no-your-so-much-better/) [Amy Tintera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-tintera/) > [“I think people immediately assumed I was yours so they stayed far away.' He met my eyes and smiled. 'I was. I am.' He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-tintera/i-think-people-immediately-assumed-i-was-yours-so-they-stayed-far/) [Amy Tintera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-tintera/) > [“A human would lie on the ground sobbing. A Reboot didn’t acknowledge pain.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-tintera/a-human-would-lie-on-the-ground-sobbing-a-reboot-didn-t-acknowledge/) [Amy Tintera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-tintera/) > [“Want to dance?" He scooped me into his arms before I could reply. "We have music this time. And I don't have to punch…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-tintera/want-to-dance-he-scooped-me-into-his-arms-before-i-could-reply-we/) [Amy Tintera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-tintera/) > [“I need you to be better," I said. "You're really not concerned about him eating me?" he asked, holding his arm out again. "It'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-tintera/i-need-you-to-be-better-i-said-you-re-really-not-concerned-about-him/) [Amy Tintera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-tintera/) > [“Only for a minute. I'll be right back." He plopped the baby in her lap and hopped to his feet. Wren held her at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-tintera/only-for-a-minute-i-ll-be-right-back-he-plopped-the-baby-in-her-lap/) [Amy Tintera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-tintera/) > [“Sex and love went together. Not here. The teenage hormones were still here, but the feelings were gone.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-tintera/sex-and-love-went-together-not-here-the-teenage-hormones-were-still/) [Amy Tintera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-tintera/) > [“Hey, nice landing!" Addie called, and I turned to see her standing next to her shuttle, grinning. I laughed and shrugged my shoulders. "They're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-tintera/hey-nice-landing-addie-called-and-i-turned-to-see-her-standing-next/) [Amy Tintera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-tintera/) > [“Maybe ‘coincidence’ is another word for fate.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-tintera/maybe-coincidence-is-another-word-for-fate/) [Amy Tintera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-tintera/) [Explore all 26 Amy Tintera quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-tintera/) ## More Mother quotes > [My mother says I didn't open my eyes for eight days after I was born, but when I did, the first thing I saw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-taylor/my-mother-says-i-didn-t-open-my-eyes-for-eight-days-after-i-was-born/) [Elizabeth Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-taylor/) > [Laughing, laughing, laughing, laughing! It is the jester! A voice from the Void, to cheer poor Cicero! I accept your gift, dearest Night Mother.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/laughing-laughing-laughing-laughing-it-is-the-jester-a-voice-from-the/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [(knitting while on a motorcycle) "For several years she knitted in secret (my father would not approve; she was to concentrate on motorcycling and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-zimmermann/knitting-while-on-a-motorcycle-for-several-years-she-knitted-in/) [Elizabeth Zimmermann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-zimmermann/) > [The biggest change for me as a mom was realizing I needed to put someone else before me. Now the hardest part about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-alexis/the-biggest-change-for-me-as-a-mom-was-realizing-i-needed-to-put/) [Kim Alexis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-alexis/) > [My mother was strong-willed, demanding, and very supportive all at the same time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-spence/my-mother-was-strong-willed-demanding-and-very-supportive-all-at-the/) [Michael Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-spence/) > [Everything comes home, my mother used to say; every word spoken, every shadow cast, every footprint in the sand. It can't be helped; it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanne-harris/everything-comes-home-my-mother-used-to-say-every-word-spoken-every/) [Joanne Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanne-harris/) > [I would give anything to be able to kick a ball with my son or read the kids a bedtime story.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-burrow/i-would-give-anything-to-be-able-to-kick-a-ball-with-my-son-or-read/) [Rob Burrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-burrow/) > [Being a new mother is a blessing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phaedra-parks/being-a-new-mother-is-a-blessing/) [Phaedra Parks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phaedra-parks/) > [Named after my mother.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonnie-raitt/named-after-my-mother/) [Bonnie Raitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonnie-raitt/) > [One of the ways that I discovered my confidence and my ability to overpower is becoming a mother. Suddenly, my world wasn't about myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lights/one-of-the-ways-that-i-discovered-my-confidence-and-my-ability-to/) [Lights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lights/) > [When will society, like a mother, take care of all her children?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-mann/when-will-society-like-a-mother-take-care-of-all-her-children/) [Horace Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-mann/) > [Surely, if Mother Nature had been consulted, she would never have consented to building a city in New Orleans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mortimer-zuckerman/surely-if-mother-nature-had-been-consulted-she-would-never-have/) [Mortimer Zuckerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mortimer-zuckerman/) > [Peace is the first thing the angels sang. Peace is the mark of the children of God. Peace is the nurse of love. Peace…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-leo-i/peace-is-the-first-thing-the-angels-sang-peace-is-the-mark-of-the/) [Pope Leo I](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-leo-i/) > [I'm a strange mixture of my mother's curiosity; my father, who grew up the son of the manse in a Presbyterian family, who had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupert-murdoch/i-m-a-strange-mixture-of-my-mother-s-curiosity-my-father-who-grew-up/) [Rupert Murdoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupert-murdoch/) > [Guns have little or nothing to do with juvenile violence. 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