--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I am usually at my most brutally…" description: "\"“I am usually at my most brutally forthright when making shit up. That's the paradox of me.”\" — Caitlín R. Kiernan" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b50/caitl-n-r-kiernan-17501_brutally_i-am-usually-at-my-most-brutally-forthri_2377290.png" --- # I am usually at my most brutally forthright when making… ![“I am usually at my most brutally forthright when making shit up. That's the paradox of me.” quote by Caitlín R. Kiernan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b50/caitl-n-r-kiernan-17501_brutally_i-am-usually-at-my-most-brutally-forthri_2377290.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b50/caitl-n-r-kiernan-17501_brutally_i-am-usually-at-my-most-brutally-forthri_2377290.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b50/caitl-n-r-kiernan-17501_brutally_i-am-usually-at-my-most-brutally-forthri_2377290.png) > ““I am usually at my most brutally forthright when making shit up. That's the paradox of me.”” [Caitlín R. Kiernan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caitl-n-r-kiernan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. She admits that her most honest moments occur when fabricating, revealing a paradox of truth in deception. **In simple terms:** She is most honest when making things up. Key Takeaway Recognize paradoxes in self‑expression. Themes honesty paradox creativity Mood introspective playful Type literary psychological When to use this quote - writing workshops - creative brainstorming - personal journaling - performance art Key Concepts self‑awareness fiction psychology Questions to Reflect On - Why does fabrication feel liberating? - How does paradox shape authenticity? A Different Perspective Deception can erode trust. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Brutally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brutally/) [Making Shit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/making-shit-784110/) [Paradox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/paradox/) [Shit Paradox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shit-paradox-5875371/) [Usually Brutally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/usually-brutally-5875372/) ## Related quotes > [“magical realism? Aren’t we all making shit up,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherman-alexie/magical-realism-aren-t-we-all-making-shit-up/) [Sherman Alexie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherman-alexie/) > [“I just want you to know that most of the time, I have absolutely no fucking clue what I'm doing. I just happen to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordan-krumbine/i-just-want-you-to-know-that-most-of-the-time-i-have-absolutely-no/) [Jordan Krumbine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordan-krumbine/) > [Steve Forman is a brutally funny writer. His no-nonsense, unadorned style begs comparison to Dashiell Hammett, but Hammett's humor at its darkest never hit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loren-d-estleman/steve-forman-is-a-brutally-funny-writer-his-no-nonsense-unadorned/) [Loren D. Estleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loren-d-estleman/) > [Those who are brutally honest are seldom so with themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mignon-mclaughlin/those-who-are-brutally-honest-are-seldom-so-with-themselves/) [Mignon McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mignon-mclaughlin/) > [Since we're being brutally honest here you were the worst mistake I've ever had the pleasure of making.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/since-we-re-being-brutally-honest-here-you-were-the-worst-mistake-i/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The government sends low-flying helicopters to chase the horses into corrals and then takes them from the plains of the American West to federal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-velez-mitchell/the-government-sends-low-flying-helicopters-to-chase-the-horses-into/) [Jane Velez-Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-velez-mitchell/) > [I'm brutally honest with people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-moulton/i-m-brutally-honest-with-people/) [Seth Moulton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-moulton/) > [Well, I think sometimes I am brutally honest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-jay-okocha/well-i-think-sometimes-i-am-brutally-honest/) [Jay-Jay Okocha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-jay-okocha/) > [“We were taught that the United States brutally slaughters our brothers and sisters in the south. That we must free the people of South…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masaji-ishikawa/we-were-taught-that-the-united-states-brutally-slaughters-our/) [Masaji Ishikawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masaji-ishikawa/) > [In Prodigal Son, Christine Sutton has penned a tight, brutally honest portrait of a psychopath reminiscent of Theodore Sturgeon's 'Some of Your Blood'. This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe/in-prodigal-son-christine-sutton-has-penned-a-tight-brutally-honest/) [Joe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe/) > [To be perfectly honest the old habits, specifically deadlines, still very much inform what I do. I am brutally disciplined about getting manuscripts in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-winchester/to-be-perfectly-honest-the-old-habits-specifically-deadlines-still/) [Simon Winchester](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-winchester/) > [The dominant male is history. Could you see a male Lady Gaga? The closest we've got is Justin Bieber, who'd be locked up if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-odell/the-dominant-male-is-history-could-you-see-a-male-lady-gaga-the/) [Tom Odell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-odell/) > [In real life, I'm so brutally honest that it almost works against me sometimes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holland-roden/in-real-life-i-m-so-brutally-honest-that-it-almost-works-against-me/) [Holland Roden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holland-roden/) > [“That's me- brutally honest, only instead of brutality there's smiles!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeph-jacques/that-s-me-brutally-honest-only-instead-of-brutality-there-s-smiles/) [Jeph Jacques](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeph-jacques/) > [I'll answer anything... I'm brutally honest, actually, which gets me in trouble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-mclachlan/i-ll-answer-anything-i-m-brutally-honest-actually-which-gets-me-in/) [Sarah McLachlan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-mclachlan/) ## More by Caitlín R. Kiernan > [Every month, the US is spending more on the Iraqi war than it took to reach Saturn and Titan. Mass murder is expensive, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caitl-n-r-kiernan/every-month-the-us-is-spending-more-on-the-iraqi-war-than-it-took-to/) [Caitlín R. Kiernan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caitl-n-r-kiernan/) > [A book may only be judged for what it is, not what you'd like it to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caitl-n-r-kiernan/a-book-may-only-be-judged-for-what-it-is-not-what-you-d-like-it-to-be/) [Caitlín R. Kiernan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caitl-n-r-kiernan/) > [“It is not the task of a writer to 'tell all,' or even to decide what to leave in, but to decide what to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caitl-n-r-kiernan/it-is-not-the-task-of-a-writer-to-tell-all-or-even-to-decide-what-to/) [Caitlín R. Kiernan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caitl-n-r-kiernan/) > [Hauntings are memes, especially pernicious thought contagions, social contagions that need no viral or bacterial host and are transmitted in a thousand different ways.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caitl-n-r-kiernan/hauntings-are-memes-especially-pernicious-thought-contagions-social/) [Caitlín R. Kiernan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caitl-n-r-kiernan/) > [Magick may be no more than the willful invocation of awe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caitl-n-r-kiernan/magick-may-be-no-more-than-the-willful-invocation-of-awe/) [Caitlín R. Kiernan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caitl-n-r-kiernan/) > [“We ordered Chinese takeout, and my fortune cookie said, “Don’t stop now.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caitl-n-r-kiernan/we-ordered-chinese-takeout-and-my-fortune-cookie-said-don-t-stop-now/) [Caitlín R. Kiernan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caitl-n-r-kiernan/) > [“No one we knew ever believed that there was anything between us but the sex and some virulent allure, my dirty dishwater circling the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caitl-n-r-kiernan/no-one-we-knew-ever-believed-that-there-was-anything-between-us-but/) [Caitlín R. Kiernan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caitl-n-r-kiernan/) > [You know, it's a sad and unfortunate state of affairs that you have to live in a world where eight-year-olds refuse to believe in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caitl-n-r-kiernan/you-know-it-s-a-sad-and-unfortunate-state-of-affairs-that-you-have-to/) [Caitlín R. Kiernan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caitl-n-r-kiernan/) > [“What makes us brave isn't lacking the good sence to be afraid; it's looking back at what we've lived through and seeing if we've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caitl-n-r-kiernan/what-makes-us-brave-isn-t-lacking-the-good-sence-to-be-afraid-it-s/) [Caitlín R. Kiernan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caitl-n-r-kiernan/) > [“Consider," she said, "what it is, a unicorn. It is the incarnation of purity, an avatar of innocence. And here is the power of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caitl-n-r-kiernan/consider-she-said-what-it-is-a-unicorn-it-is-the-incarnation-of/) [Caitlín R. Kiernan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caitl-n-r-kiernan/) > [Originality is the most deadly mirage in all of art. You can chase it from now until doomsday, and you'll only find yourself lost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caitl-n-r-kiernan/originality-is-the-most-deadly-mirage-in-all-of-art-you-can-chase-it/) [Caitlín R. Kiernan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caitl-n-r-kiernan/) > [Normal is a bitter pill that we rail against.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caitl-n-r-kiernan/normal-is-a-bitter-pill-that-we-rail-against/) [Caitlín R. Kiernan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caitl-n-r-kiernan/) > [“Maybe I just have everything backwards. Maybe it's a problem of perspective. In this Post-Modern Age perhaps it is the digital experiences we ought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caitl-n-r-kiernan/maybe-i-just-have-everything-backwards-maybe-it-s-a-problem-of/) [Caitlín R. Kiernan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caitl-n-r-kiernan/) > [“There's always a siren, singing you to shipwreck. Some of us may be more susceptible than others are, but there's always a siren. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caitl-n-r-kiernan/there-s-always-a-siren-singing-you-to-shipwreck-some-of-us-may-be/) [Caitlín R. Kiernan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caitl-n-r-kiernan/) > [“So, here are my windows, stained all with me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caitl-n-r-kiernan/so-here-are-my-windows-stained-all-with-me/) [Caitlin R. Kiernan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caitl-n-r-kiernan/) [Explore all 37 Caitlín R. Kiernan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caitl-n-r-kiernan/) ## More Brutally quotes > [I'll answer anything... I'm brutally honest, actually, which gets me in trouble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-mclachlan/i-ll-answer-anything-i-m-brutally-honest-actually-which-gets-me-in/) [Sarah McLachlan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-mclachlan/) > [“That's me- brutally honest, only instead of brutality there's smiles!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeph-jacques/that-s-me-brutally-honest-only-instead-of-brutality-there-s-smiles/) [Jeph Jacques](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeph-jacques/) > [In real life, I'm so brutally honest that it almost works against me sometimes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holland-roden/in-real-life-i-m-so-brutally-honest-that-it-almost-works-against-me/) [Holland Roden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holland-roden/) > [The dominant male is history. Could you see a male Lady Gaga? The closest we've got is Justin Bieber, who'd be locked up if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-odell/the-dominant-male-is-history-could-you-see-a-male-lady-gaga-the/) [Tom Odell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-odell/) > [To be perfectly honest the old habits, specifically deadlines, still very much inform what I do. I am brutally disciplined about getting manuscripts in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-winchester/to-be-perfectly-honest-the-old-habits-specifically-deadlines-still/) [Simon Winchester](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-winchester/) > [In Prodigal Son, Christine Sutton has penned a tight, brutally honest portrait of a psychopath reminiscent of Theodore Sturgeon's 'Some of Your Blood'. This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe/in-prodigal-son-christine-sutton-has-penned-a-tight-brutally-honest/) [Joe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe/) > [“We were taught that the United States brutally slaughters our brothers and sisters in the south. That we must free the people of South…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masaji-ishikawa/we-were-taught-that-the-united-states-brutally-slaughters-our/) [Masaji Ishikawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masaji-ishikawa/) > [Well, I think sometimes I am brutally honest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-jay-okocha/well-i-think-sometimes-i-am-brutally-honest/) [Jay-Jay Okocha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-jay-okocha/) > [I'm brutally honest with people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-moulton/i-m-brutally-honest-with-people/) [Seth Moulton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-moulton/) > [The government sends low-flying helicopters to chase the horses into corrals and then takes them from the plains of the American West to federal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-velez-mitchell/the-government-sends-low-flying-helicopters-to-chase-the-horses-into/) [Jane Velez-Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-velez-mitchell/) > [Since we're being brutally honest here you were the worst mistake I've ever had the pleasure of making.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/since-we-re-being-brutally-honest-here-you-were-the-worst-mistake-i/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Those who are brutally honest are seldom so with themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mignon-mclaughlin/those-who-are-brutally-honest-are-seldom-so-with-themselves/) [Mignon McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mignon-mclaughlin/) > [Steve Forman is a brutally funny writer. His no-nonsense, unadorned style begs comparison to Dashiell Hammett, but Hammett's humor at its darkest never hit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loren-d-estleman/steve-forman-is-a-brutally-funny-writer-his-no-nonsense-unadorned/) [Loren D. Estleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loren-d-estleman/) > [“craving that made the world look hard-edged and brutally lovely. “Would you have”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-chance/craving-that-made-the-world-look-hard-edged-and-brutally-lovely-would/) [Megan Chance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-chance/) > [Running is a kind of truth serum. It brutally strips away everything you put on and leaves you with only yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-parent/running-is-a-kind-of-truth-serum-it-brutally-strips-away-everything/) [Marc Parent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-parent/) [Browse all 44 Brutally quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brutally/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I am usually at my most brutally forthright when making shit up. That's the paradox of me.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Caitlín R. Kiernan" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caitl-n-r-kiernan/i-am-usually-at-my-most-brutally-forthright-when-making-shit-up-that/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Brutally" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caitl-n-r-kiernan/i-am-usually-at-my-most-brutally-forthright-when-making-shit-up-that/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b50/caitl-n-r-kiernan-17501_brutally_i-am-usually-at-my-most-brutally-forthri_2377290.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b50/caitl-n-r-kiernan-17501_brutally_i-am-usually-at-my-most-brutally-forthri_2377290.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b50/caitl-n-r-kiernan-17501_brutally_i-am-usually-at-my-most-brutally-forthri_2377290.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I am usually at my most brutally forthright when making shit up. That's the paradox of me.” — Caitlín R. Kiernan", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Caitlín R. Kiernan", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caitl-n-r-kiernan/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“I am usually at my most...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caitl-n-r-kiernan/i-am-usually-at-my-most-brutally-forthright-when-making-shit-up-that/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caitl-n-r-kiernan/i-am-usually-at-my-most-brutally-forthright-when-making-shit-up-that/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```