--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Things used to be, now they not anything…" description: "\"“Things used to be, now they not anything but us is who we are disguising ourselves as secret lovers we've become public enemies we walk away like stra..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e7/chloe-mitchell-227645_compassion_things-used-to-be-now-they-not-anything_1621918.jpg" --- # Things used to be, now they not anything but us is who we… ![“Things used to be, now they not anything but us is who we are disguising ourselves as secret lovers we've become public enemies we walk away like strangers in the street gone for eternity we erased one another so far from where we came with so much of everything, how do we leave with nothing lack…” quote by Chloe Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e7/chloe-mitchell-227645_compassion_things-used-to-be-now-they-not-anything_1621918.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e7/chloe-mitchell-227645_compassion_things-used-to-be-now-they-not-anything_1621918.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e7/chloe-mitchell-227645_compassion_things-used-to-be-now-they-not-anything_1621918.jpg) > ““Things used to be, now they not anything but us is who we are disguising ourselves as secret lovers we've become public enemies we walk away like strangers in the street gone for eternity we erased one another so far from where we came with so much of everything, how do we leave with nothing lack of visual empathy equates the meaning of L-O-V-E hatred and attitude tear us entirely”” [Chloe Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chloe-mitchell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A tangled reflection on shifting identities, secret love turning public, and the loss of empathy leading to hatred. **In simple terms:** Secret love becomes public conflict, losing empathy. Key Takeaway Cultivate empathy. Themes love identity conflict empathy hatred Mood melancholic introspective Type personal social psychological When to use this quote - personal relationships - public disputes - emotional health Key Concepts psychology social dynamics identity crisis Questions to Reflect On - How does loss of empathy fuel hatred? - Can secret love survive public scrutiny? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Attitude Tear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attitude-tear-283741/) [Compassion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compassion/) [Hatred](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hatred/) [Hatred Attitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hatred-attitude-283740/) [Lovers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lovers/) [Meaning Hatred](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meaning-hatred-283739/) [Public enemies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/public-enemies/) [Secret lover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/secret-lover/) [Secret lovers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/secret-lovers/) ## Related quotes > [“Once upon a time, before chimaera and seraphim, there was the sun and the moons. The sun was betrothed to Nitid, the bright sister,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laini-taylor/once-upon-a-time-before-chimaera-and-seraphim-there-was-the-sun-and/) [Laini Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laini-taylor/) > [Like other secret lovers, many speak mockingly about popular culture to conceal their passion for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-cooley/like-other-secret-lovers-many-speak-mockingly-about-popular-culture/) [Mason Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-cooley/) > [I Don't Call them haters I call them secret lovers !](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fallywally/i-don-t-call-them-haters-i-call-them-secret-lovers/) [FallyWally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fallywally/) > [“I m not about to tell him that I am just like Anna and Emma, an adulteress. My books are my secret lovers, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-nelson/i-m-not-about-to-tell-him-that-i-am-just-like-anna-and-emma-an/) [Sara Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-nelson/) > [Once upon a time, there were two moons, who were sisters. Nitid was the goddess of tears and life, and the sky was hers.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laini-taylor/once-upon-a-time-there-were-two-moons-who-were-sisters-nitid-was-the/) [Laini Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laini-taylor/) > [Secret lovers, is what you wanna be. While making love to him, girl you're silently calling on me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-kelly-2/secret-lovers-is-what-you-wanna-be-while-making-love-to-him-girl-you/) [R Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-kelly-2/) > [“Patience is the specific antidote to anger and hatred. It is an attitude of accepting both the harm caused by others and the pains…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-batchelor/patience-is-the-specific-antidote-to-anger-and-hatred-it-is-an/) [Stephen Batchelor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-batchelor/) > [“Cheating seems like such a hard life when you can be loyal and faithful and live out your life in happiness!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/cheating-seems-like-such-a-hard-life-when-you-can-be-loyal-and/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [Don't walk in front of me because I may not follow. Don't walk behind me because I may not lead. Just walk beside me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/don-t-walk-in-front-of-me-because-i-may-not-follow-don-t-walk-behind/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“She very much feared that if she stayed with Maximus, this awful taint – this terribly wrong act – would, day by day, year…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-hoyt/she-very-much-feared-that-if-she-stayed-with-maximus-this-awful-taint/) [Elizabeth Hoyt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-hoyt/) > [Never be someones secret 'lover' be their all or nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/never-be-someones-secret-lover-be-their-all-or-nothing/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It was as though applied mathematics was my spouse, and pure mathematics was my secret lover.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-frenkel/it-was-as-though-applied-mathematics-was-my-spouse-and-pure/) [Edward Frenkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-frenkel/) > [“My girlfriend would tell me she was flying out of town to a pop concert with her friends for the weekend. She did go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/my-girlfriend-would-tell-me-she-was-flying-out-of-town-to-a-pop/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [“God is often silent when we prefer that he speak and he interrupts us when we prefer that he stay silent. His ways are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-barnes/god-is-often-silent-when-we-prefer-that-he-speak-and-he-interrupts-us/) [Craig Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-barnes/) > [“It’s easier to hide your smoking habit on a foggy day. Let that be a lesson for you and your secret lover.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/it-s-easier-to-hide-your-smoking-habit-on-a-foggy-day-let-that-be-a/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) ## More Compassion quotes > [Half the misery of human life might be extinguished if men would alleviate the general curse they lie under by mutual offices of compassion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/half-the-misery-of-human-life-might-be-extinguished-if-men-would/) [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/) > [“I fight with love and kindness as my weapons and compassion as my defense.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debasish-mridha/i-fight-with-love-and-kindness-as-my-weapons-and-compassion-as-my/) [Debasish Mridha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debasish-mridha/) > [I really enjoy making people laugh; I've discovered that's a great technique. That's as powerful as stirring their sorrow, stirring their compassion, because that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/i-really-enjoy-making-people-laugh-i-ve-discovered-that-s-a-great/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [“If you refuse to use physical force, then you will be at the mercy of your oppressor!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/segun-magbagbeola/if-you-refuse-to-use-physical-force-then-you-will-be-at-the-mercy-of/) [Segun Magbagbeola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/segun-magbagbeola/) > [For some reason, we are truly convinced that if we criticize ourselves, the criticism will lead to change. If we are harsh, we believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geneen-roth/for-some-reason-we-are-truly-convinced-that-if-we-criticize-ourselves/) [Geneen Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geneen-roth/) > [I could not have slept tonight if I had left that helpless little creature to perish on the ground.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/i-could-not-have-slept-tonight-if-i-had-left-that-helpless-little/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [We are puzzled and bewildered whenever we see suffering in this world because we have become accustomed to the mercy and the long-suffering of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul/we-are-puzzled-and-bewildered-whenever-we-see-suffering-in-this-world/) [R. C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul/) > [“Helpers in every corner, helpers in every hood. That's how we'll make the move, to reform from rude.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/helpers-in-every-corner-helpers-in-every-hood-that-s-how-we-ll-make/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [There are a number of qualities which are important for mental peace, but from the little experience I have, I believe that one of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/there-are-a-number-of-qualities-which-are-important-for-mental-peace/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [May the gods have mercy on whoever pisses them off, because Zarek and Jericho will have none for them. (Madoc) You’d better be glad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/may-the-gods-have-mercy-on-whoever-pisses-them-off-because-zarek-and/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [When you need empathy, you cannot give empathy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-b-rosenberg/when-you-need-empathy-you-cannot-give-empathy/) [Marshall B. Rosenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-b-rosenberg/) > [But victimhood was seductive, a release from responsibility and caring. Fear would be transmuted into weary resignation; failure would no longer generate guilt but,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-koontz/but-victimhood-was-seductive-a-release-from-responsibility-and-caring/) [Dean Koontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-koontz/) > [“No one has any right to tell you that the way you perceive yourself is wrong. Because by doing so, they also discourage the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamand-kojouri/no-one-has-any-right-to-tell-you-that-the-way-you-perceive-yourself/) [Kamand Kojouri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamand-kojouri/) > [“la ilaha ilallah muhammadun rasulullah, alaihi salatullah wa alihi wal ahibba "shine your mercy like the sun, and be gracious as the earth let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/talib-al-habib/la-ilaha-ilallah-muhammadun-rasulullah-alaihi-salatullah-wa-alihi-wal/) [Talib al Habib](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/talib-al-habib/) > [The love for all living creatures is the most noble attribute of man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-darwin/the-love-for-all-living-creatures-is-the-most-noble-attribute-of-man/) [Charles Darwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-darwin/) [Browse all 9,892 Compassion quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compassion/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Things used to be, now they not anything but us is who we are disguising ourselves as secret lovers we've become public enemies we walk away like strangers in the street gone for eternity we erased one another so far from where we came with so much of everything, how do we leave with nothing lack of visual empathy equates the meaning of L-O-V-E hatred and attitude tear us entirely”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Chloe Mitchell" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chloe-mitchell/things-used-to-be-now-they-not-anything-but-us-is-who-we-are/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Compassion" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chloe-mitchell/things-used-to-be-now-they-not-anything-but-us-is-who-we-are/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e7/chloe-mitchell-227645_compassion_things-used-to-be-now-they-not-anything_1621918.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e7/chloe-mitchell-227645_compassion_things-used-to-be-now-they-not-anything_1621918.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e7/chloe-mitchell-227645_compassion_things-used-to-be-now-they-not-anything_1621918.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Things used to be, now they not anything but us is who we are disguising ourselves as secret lovers we've…” — Chloe Mitchell", "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": "Chloe Mitchell", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chloe-mitchell/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Things used to be, now they...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chloe-mitchell/things-used-to-be-now-they-not-anything-but-us-is-who-we-are/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chloe-mitchell/things-used-to-be-now-they-not-anything-but-us-is-who-we-are/#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 } } ] } ```