--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Shame: We all have it. It's that gremlin…" description: "\"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 are?' Shame a..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec0/bren-brown-280_confident_shame-we-all-have-it-it-s-that-gremlin-t_2954166.jpg" --- # Shame: We all have it. It's that gremlin that says 'I'm… ![“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 are?' Shame always has a seat.” quote by Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec0/bren-brown-280_confident_shame-we-all-have-it-it-s-that-gremlin-t_2954166.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec0/bren-brown-280_confident_shame-we-all-have-it-it-s-that-gremlin-t_2954166.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec0/bren-brown-280_confident_shame-we-all-have-it-it-s-that-gremlin-t_2954166.jpg) > “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 are?' Shame always has a seat.” [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 is an internal critic that undermines confidence, yet it can be recognized and managed. **In simple terms:** Shame erodes confidence. Key Takeaway Identify and challenge shameful thoughts. Themes vulnerability self‑esteem psychology Mood empathetic educational Type psychological self‑help When to use this quote - therapy - team building - personal growth Key Concepts inner critic self‑compassion social comparison Questions to Reflect On - How can you silence the shame voice? - What practices build self‑compassion? A Different Perspective Shame can be deeply ingrained. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Confident](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confident/) [Doubt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doubt/) [Feeling pretty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feeling-pretty/) [Feelings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feelings/) [Gremlins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gremlins/) [Guilt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guilt/) [Shame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shame/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [“Knowing what I do now, I think about shame and worthiness in this way: 'It's the album, not the picture.' If you imagine opening…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/knowing-what-i-do-now-i-think-about-shame-and-worthiness-in-this-way/) [Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) > [I think that shame is a universal, paralyzing, painful emotion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/i-think-that-shame-is-a-universal-paralyzing-painful-emotion/) [Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) > [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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/shame-derives-its-power-from-being-unspeakable-if-we-speak-shame-it/) [Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) > [I sometimes think that shame, mere awkward, senseless shame, does as much towards preventing good acts and straightforward happiness as any of our vices…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-sometimes-think-that-shame-mere-awkward-senseless-shame-does-as/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [My generation is one of the first generations of "choiceful" women - women who have actually had the choice of how they architect their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracee-ellis-ross/my-generation-is-one-of-the-first-generations-of-choiceful-women/) [Tracee Ellis Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracee-ellis-ross/) > [“To me there is no shame in telling the truth, but ironically, I think shame is usually the reason people don't.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tina-alexis-allen/to-me-there-is-no-shame-in-telling-the-truth-but-ironically-i-think/) Tina Alexis Allen > [I think that the shame of being different is very painful for a lot of people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/min-jin-lee/i-think-that-the-shame-of-being-different-is-very-painful-for-a-lot/) [Min Jin Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/min-jin-lee/) > [“I think, though, that another shame of war is that when it’s over, a soldier don’t get to leave it behind where he fought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-kring/i-think-though-that-another-shame-of-war-is-that-when-it-s-over-a/) [Sandra Kring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-kring/) > [“The wasted life, we all think it's a shame, but what about the full life, what about the full life that can never be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-backhaus/the-wasted-life-we-all-think-it-s-a-shame-but-what-about-the-full/) [Jeff Backhaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-backhaus/) > [I think it was such shame that Jon Stewart wasted his moment of having the country's ear and pretending that if everybody just calms…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-dore/i-think-it-was-such-shame-that-jon-stewart-wasted-his-moment-of/) [Jimmy Dore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-dore/) > [I think everyone has shame about something, whether it's a lack of a relationship with a child or maybe their weight or a lack…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chrissy-metz/i-think-everyone-has-shame-about-something-whether-it-s-a-lack-of-a/) [Chrissy Metz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chrissy-metz/) > [Anything that's on television as often as someone on 'The X Factor' is what's successful. That doesn't mean that I condone that or think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paloma-faith/anything-that-s-on-television-as-often-as-someone-on-the-x-factor-is/) [Paloma Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paloma-faith/) > [“Some things you can fix, and some things you can’t. And I just think it is a shame to walk away from the things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-reinhardt/some-things-you-can-fix-and-some-things-you-can-t-and-i-just-think-it/) [Dana Reinhardt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-reinhardt/) > [“I think shame is the most profound of all emotions; I think the world is ruled by shame.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-salamanca/i-think-shame-is-the-most-profound-of-all-emotions-i-think-the-world/) J.R. Salamanca > [Little girls think it's necessary to put all their business on MySpace and Facebook, and I think it's a shame...I'm all about mystery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stevie-nicks/little-girls-think-it-s-necessary-to-put-all-their-business-on/) [Stevie Nicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stevie-nicks/) ## 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 Confident quotes > [I was just confident my work was good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bunny-yeager/i-was-just-confident-my-work-was-good/) [Bunny Yeager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bunny-yeager/) > [I am confident when I take the penalty otherwise I would pass for somebody else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruno-fernandes/i-am-confident-when-i-take-the-penalty-otherwise-i-would-pass-for/) [Bruno Fernandes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruno-fernandes/) > [I've always been very hard on myself, and I never want to get to a point where I'm like, 'Alright, I'm kicking butt,' but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becky-sauerbrunn/i-ve-always-been-very-hard-on-myself-and-i-never-want-to-get-to-a/) [Becky Sauerbrunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becky-sauerbrunn/) > [There comes a time in the UFC when you've had enough fights, you have enough experience that you're confident in your abilities and you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-hooker/there-comes-a-time-in-the-ufc-when-you-ve-had-enough-fights-you-have/) [Dan Hooker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-hooker/) > [Why shouldn't I be confident? I'm well educated, I can deliver a line, and I have more than three expressions. That's good right?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonakshi-sinha/why-shouldn-t-i-be-confident-i-m-well-educated-i-can-deliver-a-line/) [Sonakshi Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonakshi-sinha/) > [“Once you get into your thirties, you stop giving a fuck what people think about your opinions. You're more confident.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-b-powell/once-you-get-into-your-thirties-you-stop-giving-a-fuck-what-people/) [Aaron B. Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-b-powell/) > [I was very confident on the stage, and I stood out in a red gown.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-johnson/i-was-very-confident-on-the-stage-and-i-stood-out-in-a-red-gown/) [Nicole Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-johnson/) > [I have the utmost confidence in General Mattis, General Flynn, General Kelly, Dan Coates. I couldn't have picked a better team. And so I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mccain/i-have-the-utmost-confidence-in-general-mattis-general-flynn-general/) [John McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mccain/) > [“You will get your father's wealth one day but not his legacy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/you-will-get-your-father-s-wealth-one-day-but-not-his-legacy/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [I love Christopher Bailey and Burberry, Mulberry for bags, and Hudson for jeans. I like a little bit of designer with a bit of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cara-delevingne/i-love-christopher-bailey-and-burberry-mulberry-for-bags-and-hudson/) [Cara Delevingne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cara-delevingne/) > [I was a very confident little kid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tina-fey/i-was-a-very-confident-little-kid/) [Tina Fey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tina-fey/) > [Every single pore - not on the men, but on the women - is scrutinized, so I am really grateful that I feel very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cate-blanchett/every-single-pore-not-on-the-men-but-on-the-women-is-scrutinized-so-i/) [Cate Blanchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cate-blanchett/) > [I was always confident that if someone took the chance to play me week in and week out that I would fulfil my potential.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-cahill/i-was-always-confident-that-if-someone-took-the-chance-to-play-me/) [Gary Cahill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-cahill/) > [Be confident in your self, because if you're not who will?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-mulder/be-confident-in-your-self-because-if-you-re-not-who-will/) [Joseph Mulder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-mulder/) > [Just be confident. Confidence is the most attractive part of a person. Because if they're not confident enough to show you who they are,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-jackson/just-be-confident-confidence-is-the-most-attractive-part-of-a-person/) [Curtis Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-jackson/) [Browse all 1,860 Confident quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confident/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "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 are?' 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