--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Like the layers of an onion, under the…" description: "\"Like the layers of an onion, under the first lie is another, and under that another, and they all make you cry.\" — Derrick Jensen" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/57c/derrick-jensen-2824_cry_like-the-layers-of-an-onion-under-the-fi_1929328.png" --- # Like the layers of an onion, under the first lie is… ![“Like the layers of an onion, under the first lie is another, and under that another, and they all make you cry.” quote by Derrick Jensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/57c/derrick-jensen-2824_cry_like-the-layers-of-an-onion-under-the-fi_1929328.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/57c/derrick-jensen-2824_cry_like-the-layers-of-an-onion-under-the-fi_1929328.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/57c/derrick-jensen-2824_cry_like-the-layers-of-an-onion-under-the-fi_1929328.png) > “Like the layers of an onion, under the first lie is another, and under that another, and they all make you cry.” [Derrick Jensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derrick-jensen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Lies stack like onion layers, each revealing deeper pain that can overwhelm us. **In simple terms:** Lies cause cumulative emotional hurt. Key Takeaway Uncover truth to prevent emotional overload. Themes truth deception emotional health Mood somber introspective Type philosophical reflective When to use this quote - personal relationships - political discourse - media consumption Key Concepts psychology of lying trauma theory Questions to Reflect On - What lies are you willing to examine? - How can you protect yourself from being overwhelmed? A Different Perspective Confronting each layer can be emotionally exhausting. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cry/) [Lying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lying/) ## Related quotes > [“Breanne is a sweet girl but she is simple. She would find the layers of an onion confusing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracey-ward/breanne-is-a-sweet-girl-but-she-is-simple-she-would-find-the-layers/) [Tracey Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracey-ward/) > [It had more layers than an onion. These writers meant business. There was a level for everybody. Your major could be celestial mechanics, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-west/it-had-more-layers-than-an-onion-these-writers-meant-business-there/) [Billy West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-west/) > [You can't escape history, or the needs and neuroses you've picked up like layers and layers of tartar on your teeth… Your every past…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-can-t-escape-history-or-the-needs-and-neuroses-you-ve-picked-up/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Voluptuous and enveloping like layers of precious fabrics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elie-saab/voluptuous-and-enveloping-like-layers-of-precious-fabrics/) [Elie Saab](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elie-saab/) > [I am rather partial to Shakespeare, though I haven't done loads. But when it's done right, there's nothing like it. There are layers upon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-okonedo/i-am-rather-partial-to-shakespeare-though-i-haven-t-done-loads-but/) [Sophie Okonedo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-okonedo/) > [“...the tension between them was so thick and sticky it was almost visible, like layers of cobweb.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-t-rzs/the-tension-between-them-was-so-thick-and-sticky-it-was-almost/) [Emma Törzs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-t-rzs/) > [If you are working, almost like with layers of the Grand Canyon, there's history within those layers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-drew/if-you-are-working-almost-like-with-layers-of-the-grand-canyon-there/) [Leonardo Drew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-drew/) > [It is better to tell the truth to make someone cry, than to tell a lie to make someone smile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shairmaine-y/it-is-better-to-tell-the-truth-to-make-someone-cry-than-to-tell-a-lie/) Shairmaine Y > [If you're gonna lie to me, make sure I don't find out the truth. Ok?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quell-keith/if-you-re-gonna-lie-to-me-make-sure-i-don-t-find-out-the-truth-ok/) [Quell Keith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quell-keith/) > [I'd rather tell you an unpleasant truth that would make you hate me than tell you a lie that would make you love me...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darl-candia/i-d-rather-tell-you-an-unpleasant-truth-that-would-make-you-hate-me/) Darl Candia > [Make a Lie, make it Simple, keep Saying it,and Eventually they will Believe it..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hemant-smarty/make-a-lie-make-it-simple-keep-saying-it-and-eventually-they-will/) [Hemant Smarty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hemant-smarty/) > [“Love is nothing but a lie to make our miserable lives interesting.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerem-zdo-ru/love-is-nothing-but-a-lie-to-make-our-miserable-lives-interesting/) Kerem Özdoğru > [If you tell a lie to make a person better, then that is not a sin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-myung-moon/if-you-tell-a-lie-to-make-a-person-better-then-that-is-not-a-sin/) [Sun Myung Moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-myung-moon/) > [“Don’t lie. Life is a puzzle and we are all unique pieces. When you lie, you make it impossible to find your true place…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-maraboli/don-t-lie-life-is-a-puzzle-and-we-are-all-unique-pieces-when-you-lie/) [Steve Maraboli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-maraboli/) > [That was a real debate for me whether to change my name, which I felt was a lie, or to make up a band…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-penn/that-was-a-real-debate-for-me-whether-to-change-my-name-which-i-felt/) [Michael Penn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-penn/) ## More by Derrick Jensen > [The global industrial economy is the engine for massive environmental degradation and massive human (and nonhuman) impoverishment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derrick-jensen/the-global-industrial-economy-is-the-engine-for-massive-environmental/) [Derrick Jensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derrick-jensen/) > [“In sum, one of the primary things I learned was how to kill time. I learned also to wish away my life. I learned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derrick-jensen/in-sum-one-of-the-primary-things-i-learned-was-how-to-kill-time-i/) [Derrick Jensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derrick-jensen/) > [“I had broken the most basic commandment of our culture: Thou shalt pretend there is nothing wrong.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derrick-jensen/i-had-broken-the-most-basic-commandment-of-our-culture-thou-shalt/) [Derrick Jensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derrick-jensen/) > [“Someone asked me once at a talk why I so stress the positive with my students yet am such an unstinting critic of those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derrick-jensen/someone-asked-me-once-at-a-talk-why-i-so-stress-the-positive-with-my/) [Derrick Jensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derrick-jensen/) > [If the world is presented as resources to be exploited, then, more than likely, you're going to exploit the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derrick-jensen/if-the-world-is-presented-as-resources-to-be-exploited-then-more-than/) [Derrick Jensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derrick-jensen/) > [It's no wonder we don't defend the land where we live. We don't live here. We live in television programs and movies and books…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derrick-jensen/it-s-no-wonder-we-don-t-defend-the-land-where-we-live-we-don-t-live/) [Derrick Jensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derrick-jensen/) > [“ISOLATION DOES STRANGE THINGS to a person’s mind. This is true for any social creature, human or otherwise. Monkeys taken from their mothers at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derrick-jensen/isolation-does-strange-things-to-a-person-s-mind-this-is-true-for-any/) [Derrick Jensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derrick-jensen/) > [My great-grandmother grew up in a sod house in Nebraska. When she was a tiny girl - in other words, only four human generations…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derrick-jensen/my-great-grandmother-grew-up-in-a-sod-house-in-nebraska-when-she-was/) [Derrick Jensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derrick-jensen/) > [Where will you drive your own picket stake? Where will you choose to make your stand? Give me a threshold, a specific point at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derrick-jensen/where-will-you-drive-your-own-picket-stake-where-will-you-choose-to/) [Derrick Jensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derrick-jensen/) > [“So often, environmentalists and others working to slow the destruction are capable of plainly describing the problems (Who wouldn’t be? The problems are neither…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derrick-jensen/so-often-environmentalists-and-others-working-to-slow-the-destruction/) [Derrick Jensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derrick-jensen/) > [Forests precede us and deserts dog our heels.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derrick-jensen/forests-precede-us-and-deserts-dog-our-heels/) [Derrick Jensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derrick-jensen/) > [“The condition of alienation, of being asleep, of being unconscious, of being out of one’s mind, is the condition of the normal man. Society…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derrick-jensen/the-condition-of-alienation-of-being-asleep-of-being-unconscious-of/) [Derrick Jensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derrick-jensen/) > [So many indigenous people have said to me that the fundamental difference between Western and indigenous ways of being is that even the most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derrick-jensen/so-many-indigenous-people-have-said-to-me-that-the-fundamental/) [Derrick Jensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derrick-jensen/) > [When dams were erected on the Columbia, salmon battered themselves against the concrete, trying to return home. I expect no less from us. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derrick-jensen/when-dams-were-erected-on-the-columbia-salmon-battered-themselves/) [Derrick Jensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derrick-jensen/) > [People say 'what do you mean' when you talk about 'bringing down civilization.' What I really mean is depriving the rich of the ability…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derrick-jensen/people-say-what-do-you-mean-when-you-talk-about-bringing-down/) [Derrick Jensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derrick-jensen/) [Explore all 149 Derrick Jensen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derrick-jensen/) ## More Cry quotes > [Sam dropped me off. When she was too far away to see me, I started to cry again. Because she was my friend again.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-chbosky/sam-dropped-me-off-when-she-was-too-far-away-to-see-me-i-started-to/) [Stephen Chbosky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-chbosky/) > [It is sure that those are most desirous of honour or glory who cry out loudest of its abuse and the vanity of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baruch-spinoza/it-is-sure-that-those-are-most-desirous-of-honour-or-glory-who-cry/) [Baruch Spinoza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baruch-spinoza/) > [ That's probably why my face was looking so crazy when I was crying \[in "Hardball"\] because it was some real. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-b-jordan/that-s-probably-why-my-face-was-looking-so-crazy-when-i-was-crying-in/) [Michael B. Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-b-jordan/) > [And then theres always the crying and the weeping that we hear-children, women, even men. And these images and these sounds are always with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christiane-amanpour/and-then-theres-always-the-crying-and-the-weeping-that-we-hear/) [Christiane Amanpour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christiane-amanpour/) > [Maybe that was why she couldn't cry, she realized, staring dry-eyed at the ceiling. Because what was the point in crying when there was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/maybe-that-was-why-she-couldn-t-cry-she-realized-staring-dry-eyed-at/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“I hate the way you talk to me And the way you cut your hair I hate the way you drive my car I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/i-hate-the-way-you-talk-to-me-and-the-way-you-cut-your-hair-i-hate/) [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) > [My idea for 'BoneMan's Daughters' came from the loss of my own daughter when she left home to live with a monster at age…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-dekker/my-idea-for-boneman-s-daughters-came-from-the-loss-of-my-own-daughter/) [Ted Dekker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-dekker/) > [I knew Jimmy Dean. He tested for 'Battle Cry'. Paul Newman tested for 'Battle Cry'. I did nine tests to finally get that role.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tab-hunter/i-knew-jimmy-dean-he-tested-for-battle-cry-paul-newman-tested-for/) [Tab Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tab-hunter/) > [I grew up in a blue-collar neighborhood and was raised by a man who did not emote, ever... I always cry at movies, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-quick/i-grew-up-in-a-blue-collar-neighborhood-and-was-raised-by-a-man-who/) [Matthew Quick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-quick/) > [I've never bought this idea of taking a therapeutic distance. If I see a student or house staff cry, I take great faith in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-verghese/i-ve-never-bought-this-idea-of-taking-a-therapeutic-distance-if-i-see/) [Abraham Verghese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-verghese/) > [I cry at the end of every book.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-parrish/i-cry-at-the-end-of-every-book/) [Hunter Parrish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-parrish/) > [ The most important thing I learned \[...\] was that when a person dies he only appears to die. He is still very much alive… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gavin-extence/the-most-important-thing-i-learned-was-that-when-a-person-dies-he/) [Gavin Extence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gavin-extence/) > [I would have done anything for him. Maybe that was my sickness. We made love in nothing places and turned the lights off. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-safran-foer/i-would-have-done-anything-for-him-maybe-that-was-my-sickness-we-made/) [Jonathan Safran Foer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-safran-foer/) > [It is easy to speak words of love, or to meditate lovingly upon those people with whom you are in harmony. But it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-ponder/it-is-easy-to-speak-words-of-love-or-to-meditate-lovingly-upon-those/) [Catherine Ponder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-ponder/) > [I had rather be a Kitten, and cry mew, Than one of these same Meeter Ballad-mongers: I had rather heare a Brazen Candlestick turn'd,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/i-had-rather-be-a-kitten-and-cry-mew-than-one-of-these-same-meeter/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) [Browse all 4,998 Cry quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cry/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Like the layers of an onion, under the first lie is another, and under that another, and they all make you cry.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Derrick Jensen" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derrick-jensen/like-the-layers-of-an-onion-under-the-first-lie-is-another-and-under/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Cry" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derrick-jensen/like-the-layers-of-an-onion-under-the-first-lie-is-another-and-under/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/57c/derrick-jensen-2824_cry_like-the-layers-of-an-onion-under-the-fi_1929328.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/57c/derrick-jensen-2824_cry_like-the-layers-of-an-onion-under-the-fi_1929328.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/57c/derrick-jensen-2824_cry_like-the-layers-of-an-onion-under-the-fi_1929328.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Like the layers of an onion, under the first lie is another, and under that another, and they all make you…” — Derrick Jensen", "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": "Derrick Jensen", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derrick-jensen/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Like the layers of an onion,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derrick-jensen/like-the-layers-of-an-onion-under-the-first-lie-is-another-and-under/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derrick-jensen/like-the-layers-of-an-onion-under-the-first-lie-is-another-and-under/#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 } } ] } ```