Done Quote by Atul Gawande
“This was not guilt: guilt is what you feel when you have done something wrong. What I felt was shame: I was what was wrong.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: Atul Gawande on The New Yorker, 2020
Guilt arises from wrongdoing; shame stems from feeling flawed or inadequate.
In simple terms: Guilt is about actions; shame is about self.
Key Takeaway
Recognize the source of your discomfort.
Themes
psychology
self-awareness
emotion
Mood
reflective
introspective
Type
philosophical
motivational
When to use this quote
- personal reflection
- therapy
- leadership development
- conflict resolution
Key Concepts
self-judgment
identity
ethical behavior
Questions to Reflect On
- What triggers your shame versus guilt?
- How can you shift from self‑criticism to constructive action?
A Different Perspective
Shame can be harder to address because it attacks self‑worth.
![“I've used the Phoenix Centrifuge to replicate what the body's going to go through on the flight up. I've also done some gravity tests with ZERO-G [a charter-flight service in Arlington, Va., that uses modified Boeing 727s to simulate weightlessness], which went great.” quote by Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/aa1/richard-branson-256_adventure_i-ve-used-the-phoenix-centrifuge-to-repl_903.jpg)
