--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Shame derives its power from being…" description: "\"Shame derives its power from being unspeakable...If we speak shame, it begins to wither. Just the way exposure to light was deadly for the gremlins, la..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d11/bren-brown-280_empathy_shame-derives-its-power-from-being-unspe_849058.jpg" --- # Shame derives its power from being unspeakable...If we… ![“Shame derives its power from being unspeakable...If we speak shame, it begins to wither. Just the way exposure to light was deadly for the gremlins, language and story bring light to shame and destroy it.” quote by Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d11/bren-brown-280_empathy_shame-derives-its-power-from-being-unspe_849058.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d11/bren-brown-280_empathy_shame-derives-its-power-from-being-unspe_849058.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d11/bren-brown-280_empathy_shame-derives-its-power-from-being-unspe_849058.jpg) > “Shame derives its power from being unspeakable...If we speak shame, it begins to wither. Just the way exposure to light was deadly for the gremlins, language and story bring light to shame and destroy it.” [Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Shame loses its grip when openly discussed, as exposure weakens its power. **In simple terms:** Talking about shame reduces its power. Key Takeaway Speak openly about shame to diminish it. Themes vulnerability shame healing Mood reflective empowering Type advice psychological When to use this quote - therapy sessions - support groups - personal reflection - public speaking Key Concepts psychology social stigma communication Questions to Reflect On - How can you create safe spaces for discussing shame? - What barriers prevent open dialogue about shame? A Different Perspective Shame may persist despite discussion if underlying issues remain unaddressed. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Empathy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/empathy/) [Exposure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exposure/) [Gremlins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gremlins/) [Guilt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guilt/) [Language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/language/) [Light](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/light/) [Shame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shame/) [Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stories/) [Unspeakable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unspeakable/) ## Related quotes > [“Key Learning: Shame derives its power from being unspeakable. That’s why it loves perfectionists—we’re so easy to keep quiet. If”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/key-learning-shame-derives-its-power-from-being-unspeakable-that-s/) [Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) > [Shame derives its power from being unspeakable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/shame-derives-its-power-from-being-unspeakable/) [Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) > [Shame: We all have it. It's that gremlin that says 'I'm not enough.' Or, if you're feeling pretty confident,...'ooh, who do you think you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/shame-we-all-have-it-it-s-that-gremlin-that-says-i-m-not-enough-or-if/) [Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) > [Let us not be ashamed to speak what we shame not to think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/let-us-not-be-ashamed-to-speak-what-we-shame-not-to-think/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [No one should be ashamed to speak up. Shame makes it easy for neglect and abuse and bullying to stay huddled together in their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susane-colasanti/no-one-should-be-ashamed-to-speak-up-shame-makes-it-easy-for-neglect/) [Susane Colasanti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susane-colasanti/) > [For my part, I may speak it to my shame, I have a truant been to chivalry; And so I hear he doth account…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/for-my-part-i-may-speak-it-to-my-shame-i-have-a-truant-been-to/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“To speak without shame about books we haven’t read, we would thus do well to free ourselves of the oppressive image of cultural literacy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-bayard/to-speak-without-shame-about-books-we-haven-t-read-we-would-thus-do/) [Pierre Bayard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-bayard/) > [Her head throbbed as though gremlins were ripping holes in her brain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lora-leigh/her-head-throbbed-as-though-gremlins-were-ripping-holes-in-her-brain/) [Lora Leigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lora-leigh/) > [I like something about George W. Bush. A lot. After spending more than a decade having almost physiological-chemical reactions anytime I saw him, getting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-saltz/i-like-something-about-george-w-bush-a-lot-after-spending-more-than-a/) [Jerry Saltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-saltz/) > [“Stalking the dusty curio-aisles of some crazy Asian market, “Jezus,” you say to your buddy, “we should ask that dude which aisle the fucking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hosho-mccreesh/stalking-the-dusty-curio-aisles-of-some-crazy-asian-market-jezus-you/) [Hosho McCreesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hosho-mccreesh/) > [There's probably some buried conservative inside of me, coming out like a little gremlin in my belly that I've suppressed. This is a sort…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-heidecker/there-s-probably-some-buried-conservative-inside-of-me-coming-out/) [Tim Heidecker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-heidecker/) > ['Gremlins' is one of those eternal movies that stands the test of time and that everyone loves and knows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-daddario/gremlins-is-one-of-those-eternal-movies-that-stands-the-test-of-time/) [Alexandra Daddario](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-daddario/) > [Vampires are make-believe, like elves, gremlins, and eskimos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-groening/vampires-are-make-believe-like-elves-gremlins-and-eskimos/) [Matt Groening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-groening/) > [You have a wonderful child. Then, when he's thirteen, gremlins carry him away and leave in his place a stranger who gives you not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-eikenberry/you-have-a-wonderful-child-then-when-he-s-thirteen-gremlins-carry-him/) [Jill Eikenberry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-eikenberry/) > [Fun-run" indeed,what a misnomer. That'd be like saying "calm gremlin" or "pleasant hag." Or 'entertaining history textbook.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiersten-white/fun-run-indeed-what-a-misnomer-that-d-be-like-saying-calm-gremlin-or/) [Kiersten White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiersten-white/) ## More by Brené Brown > [We're raising children who have little tolerance for disappointment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/we-re-raising-children-who-have-little-tolerance-for-disappointment/) [Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) > [“always put off writing by reorganizing my entire house and spending way too much time and money buying office supplies and organizing systems. Every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/always-put-off-writing-by-reorganizing-my-entire-house-and-spending/) [Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) > [When you ask people about love, they tell you about heartbreak.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/when-you-ask-people-about-love-they-tell-you-about-heartbreak/) [Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) > [“I can recognize shame when it’s happening.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/i-can-recognize-shame-when-it-s-happening/) [Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) > [I carry a small sheet of paper in my wallet that has written on it the names of people whose opinions of me matter.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/i-carry-a-small-sheet-of-paper-in-my-wallet-that-has-written-on-it/) [Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) > [Courage starts with showing up and letting ourselves be seen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/courage-starts-with-showing-up-and-letting-ourselves-be-seen/) [Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) > [Waking up every day and loving someone who may or may not love us back, whose safety we can't ensure, who may stay in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/waking-up-every-day-and-loving-someone-who-may-or-may-not-love-us/) [Brene Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) > [“No matter how separated we are by what we think and believe, we are part of the same spiritual story.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/no-matter-how-separated-we-are-by-what-we-think-and-believe-we-are/) [Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) > [Perfectionism is self-destructive simply because there is no such thing as perfect. Perfection is an unattainable goal. Additionally, perfectionism is more about perception -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/perfectionism-is-self-destructive-simply-because-there-is-no-such/) [Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) > [Shame corrodes the very part of us that believes we are capable of change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/shame-corrodes-the-very-part-of-us-that-believes-we-are-capable-of/) [Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) > [If you're also in the arena and you're putting your ideas out and you're owning them and you're saying "I disagree with you about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/if-you-re-also-in-the-arena-and-you-re-putting-your-ideas-out-and-you/) [Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) > [“I found that men and women with high levels of shame resilience share these four elements: They understand shame and recognize what messages and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/i-found-that-men-and-women-with-high-levels-of-shame-resilience-share/) [Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) > [Connection gives purpose and meaning to our lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/connection-gives-purpose-and-meaning-to-our-lives/) [Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) > [“But here’s the tricky part about compassion and connecting: We can’t call just anyone. It’s not that simple. I have a lot of good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/but-here-s-the-tricky-part-about-compassion-and-connecting-we-can-t/) [Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) > [“It turns out to be the place of true belonging, and it's the bravest and most sacred place you'll stand.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/it-turns-out-to-be-the-place-of-true-belonging-and-it-s-the-bravest/) [Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) [Explore all 759 Brené Brown quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) ## More Empathy quotes > [I have a lot of empathy, and I think that's where mothering starts. 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If you don't enter that world, hold your breath with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/azar-nafisi/a-novel-is-not-an-allegory-it-is-a-sensual-experience-of-another/) [Azar Nafisi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/azar-nafisi/) > [Empathic listening takes time, but it doesn't take anywhere near as much time as it takes to back up and correct misunderstandings when you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/empathic-listening-takes-time-but-it-doesn-t-take-anywhere-near-as/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [I try to treat every job with the exact same level of respect. 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