--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It’s … difficult to explain. It’s … it’s…" description: "\"“It’s … difficult to explain. It’s … it’s like … I think it’s as though everyone has a small place inside themselves, maybe, a private bit that they ke..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/415/diana-gabaldon-185_quote_it-s-difficult-to-explain-it-s-it-s-like_1614812.jpg" --- # It’s … difficult to explain. It’s … it’s like … I think… ![“It’s … difficult to explain. It’s … it’s like … I think it’s as though everyone has a small place inside themselves, maybe, a private bit that they keep to themselves. It’s like a little fortress, where the most private part of you lives—maybe it’s your soul, maybe just that bit that makes you…” quote by Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/415/diana-gabaldon-185_quote_it-s-difficult-to-explain-it-s-it-s-like_1614812.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/415/diana-gabaldon-185_quote_it-s-difficult-to-explain-it-s-it-s-like_1614812.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/415/diana-gabaldon-185_quote_it-s-difficult-to-explain-it-s-it-s-like_1614812.jpg) > ““It’s … difficult to explain. It’s … it’s like … I think it’s as though everyone has a small place inside themselves, maybe, a private bit that they keep to themselves. It’s like a little fortress, where the most private part of you lives—maybe it’s your soul, maybe just that bit that makes you yourself and not anyone else.” His tongue probed his swollen lip unconsciously as he thought. “You don’t show that bit of yourself to anyone, usually, unless sometimes to someone that ye love greatly.” The hand relaxed, curling around my knee. Jamie’s eyes were closed again, lids sealed against the light. “Now, it’s like … like my own fortress has been blown up with gunpowder—there’s nothing left of it but ashes and a smoking rooftree, and the little naked thing that lived there once is out in the open, squeaking and whimpering in fear, tryin’ to hide itself under a blade of grass or a bit o’ leaf, but … but not … makin’ m-much of a job of it.” His voice broke, and he turned his head so that his face was hidden in my skirt.”” [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A person’s deepest self is a private, fragile space that is rarely shown, and when exposed it can feel vulnerable and exposed. **In simple terms:** The inner self is a hidden, delicate place that’s hard to reveal. Key Takeaway Protect and cherish your inner self, sharing it only with trusted love. Themes vulnerability intimacy identity trust Mood reflective intimate melancholic Type philosophical literary When to use this quote - intimate relationships - personal growth - therapy sessions - creative writing - conflict resolution Key Concepts selfhood psychology emotional exposure Questions to Reflect On - What parts of yourself do you keep hidden? - How can you safely share your inner self with others? A Different Perspective Opening up can lead to emotional pain or loss of privacy if not reciprocated. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Difficult Explain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/difficult-explain-721788/) [Fortress Private](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fortress-private-5859573/) [Lip Unconsciously](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lip-unconsciously-6159370/) [Private Bit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/private-bit-5859572/) [Unconsciously Thought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unconsciously-thought-3430118/) ## Related quotes > [“think it’s as though everyone has a small place inside themselves, maybe, a private bit that they keep to themselves. It’s like a little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/think-it-s-as-though-everyone-has-a-small-place-inside-themselves/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [“How love builds itself unconsciously, he thought, out of the momentous ordinary.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-vreeland/how-love-builds-itself-unconsciously-he-thought-out-of-the-momentous/) [Susan Vreeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-vreeland/) > [“Persephone flapped a hand as if it were too difficult for her to explain.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/persephone-flapped-a-hand-as-if-it-were-too-difficult-for-her-to/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) > [Don't misunderstand me. I am not scoffing at goodness, which is far more difficult to explain than evil, and far more complicated. But sometimes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/don-t-misunderstand-me-i-am-not-scoffing-at-goodness-which-is-far/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [It's very difficult for me to explain myself. I used to park blocks away from NBC when I went to work there so I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-berry/it-s-very-difficult-for-me-to-explain-myself-i-used-to-park-blocks/) [Ken Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-berry/) > [In acting process, it's very difficult to explain. It's something very intimate, very private](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-bellucci/in-acting-process-it-s-very-difficult-to-explain-it-s-something-very/) [Monica Bellucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-bellucci/) > [It's very difficult to explain to a normal working citizen the implications of what $18 trillion in debt means and what it means when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-wynn/it-s-very-difficult-to-explain-to-a-normal-working-citizen-the/) [Steve Wynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-wynn/) > [When you fall in love with someone you find it difficult to explain the reason for it because it is the reason itself. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoheb/when-you-fall-in-love-with-someone-you-find-it-difficult-to-explain/) [Zoheb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoheb/) > [I find it difficult to explain, but I'm quite ashamed of being an actress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-scott-thomas/i-find-it-difficult-to-explain-but-i-m-quite-ashamed-of-being-an/) [Kristin Scott Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-scott-thomas/) > [“Truth is simple but difficult to explain… Loving is easy but difficult to express.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hussain-rasheed/truth-is-simple-but-difficult-to-explain-loving-is-easy-but-difficult/) [Hussain Rasheed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hussain-rasheed/) > [“Partners: Tied together by stuff too difficult to explain to someone new”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-andreas/partners-tied-together-by-stuff-too-difficult-to-explain-to-someone/) [Brian Andreas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-andreas/) > [“When you were trying to enforce law and order, it was difficult to explain that the rules did not actually apply to you personally.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-follett/when-you-were-trying-to-enforce-law-and-order-it-was-difficult-to/) [Ken Follett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-follett/) > [It's something that's difficult to explain but I think all writers work this way to some extent, whether we're aware of it or not.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-j-miller/it-s-something-that-s-difficult-to-explain-but-i-think-all-writers/) [Mary J. Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-j-miller/) > [There's a real contradiction that's difficult to explain to the West and the outside world about China and about the Internet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-mackinnon/there-s-a-real-contradiction-that-s-difficult-to-explain-to-the-west/) [Rebecca MacKinnon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-mackinnon/) > [It's difficult to explain love. You want to explain water? You need a book for it. There are many different ways to explain what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yoko-ono/it-s-difficult-to-explain-love-you-want-to-explain-water-you-need-a/) [Yoko Ono](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yoko-ono/) ## More by Diana Gabaldon > [Alright, all right," I said. "What if I tell you a story, instead?" Highlanders loved stories, and Jamie was no exception. "Oh, aye, "…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/alright-all-right-i-said-what-if-i-tell-you-a-story-instead/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [There were moments, of course. Those small spaces in time, too soon gone, when everything seems to stand still, and existence is balanced on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/there-were-moments-of-course-those-small-spaces-in-time-too-soon-gone/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [If it was a sin for you to choose me . . . then I would go to the Devil himself and bless him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/if-it-was-a-sin-for-you-to-choose-me-then-i-would-go-to-the-devil/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [When I turned 35, I thought, 'Mozart was dead at 36, so I set the bar: I'm going to start writing a book on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/when-i-turned-35-i-thought-mozart-was-dead-at-36-so-i-set-the-bar-i-m/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [I stagger out of bed, take the dogs outside, and then I'll get a Diet Coke and a couple of dog biscuits and go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/i-stagger-out-of-bed-take-the-dogs-outside-and-then-i-ll-get-a-diet/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [“It was…hard. I didna call out, or let them see I was scairt, but I couldna keep my feet. Halfway through it, I fell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/it-was-hard-i-didna-call-out-or-let-them-see-i-was-scairt-but-i/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [I have all the time and space in the world when I write a book.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/i-have-all-the-time-and-space-in-the-world-when-i-write-a-book/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [I discovered that, given the indescribable nature of what I write, the only way to sell it is to give people free samples.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/i-discovered-that-given-the-indescribable-nature-of-what-i-write-the/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [“We are bound,you and I, and nothing on this earth shall part me from you."One large hand rose to stroke my hair. "D'ye mind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/we-are-bound-you-and-i-and-nothing-on-this-earth-shall-part-me-from/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [I think characters are going to be, if not a reflection of the author, at least some refraction of some part of their personality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/i-think-characters-are-going-to-be-if-not-a-reflection-of-the-author/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [My husband asked me once why I read so many mysteries, and part of it is just intellectual, part of it is the joy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/my-husband-asked-me-once-why-i-read-so-many-mysteries-and-part-of-it/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [“My Da says you’re never drunk, so long as ye can hold on to the floor.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/my-da-says-you-re-never-drunk-so-long-as-ye-can-hold-on-to-the-floor/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [When you're an artist, you can't write with the intent of affecting anyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/when-you-re-an-artist-you-can-t-write-with-the-intent-of-affecting/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [“But a man is not forgotten, as long as there are two people left under the sky. One, to tell the story; the other,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/but-a-man-is-not-forgotten-as-long-as-there-are-two-people-left-under/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [“I didn’t answer, occupied in dissolving the penicillin tablets in the vial of sterile water. I selected a glass barrel, fitted a needle, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/i-didn-t-answer-occupied-in-dissolving-the-penicillin-tablets-in-the/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) [Explore all 952 Diana Gabaldon quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) ## More Difficult Explain quotes > [It's difficult to explain love. You want to explain water? You need a book for it. There are many different ways to explain what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yoko-ono/it-s-difficult-to-explain-love-you-want-to-explain-water-you-need-a/) [Yoko Ono](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yoko-ono/) > [There's a real contradiction that's difficult to explain to the West and the outside world about China and about the Internet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-mackinnon/there-s-a-real-contradiction-that-s-difficult-to-explain-to-the-west/) [Rebecca MacKinnon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-mackinnon/) > [It's something that's difficult to explain but I think all writers work this way to some extent, whether we're aware of it or not.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-j-miller/it-s-something-that-s-difficult-to-explain-but-i-think-all-writers/) [Mary J. Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-j-miller/) > [“When you were trying to enforce law and order, it was difficult to explain that the rules did not actually apply to you personally.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-follett/when-you-were-trying-to-enforce-law-and-order-it-was-difficult-to/) [Ken Follett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-follett/) > [“Partners: Tied together by stuff too difficult to explain to someone new”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-andreas/partners-tied-together-by-stuff-too-difficult-to-explain-to-someone/) [Brian Andreas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-andreas/) > [“Truth is simple but difficult to explain… Loving is easy but difficult to express.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hussain-rasheed/truth-is-simple-but-difficult-to-explain-loving-is-easy-but-difficult/) [Hussain Rasheed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hussain-rasheed/) > [I find it difficult to explain, but I'm quite ashamed of being an actress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-scott-thomas/i-find-it-difficult-to-explain-but-i-m-quite-ashamed-of-being-an/) [Kristin Scott Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-scott-thomas/) > [When you fall in love with someone you find it difficult to explain the reason for it because it is the reason itself. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoheb/when-you-fall-in-love-with-someone-you-find-it-difficult-to-explain/) [Zoheb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoheb/) > [It's very difficult to explain to a normal working citizen the implications of what $18 trillion in debt means and what it means when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-wynn/it-s-very-difficult-to-explain-to-a-normal-working-citizen-the/) [Steve Wynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-wynn/) > [In acting process, it's very difficult to explain. It's something very intimate, very private](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-bellucci/in-acting-process-it-s-very-difficult-to-explain-it-s-something-very/) [Monica Bellucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-bellucci/) > [It's very difficult for me to explain myself. I used to park blocks away from NBC when I went to work there so I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-berry/it-s-very-difficult-for-me-to-explain-myself-i-used-to-park-blocks/) [Ken Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-berry/) > [Don't misunderstand me. I am not scoffing at goodness, which is far more difficult to explain than evil, and far more complicated. But sometimes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/don-t-misunderstand-me-i-am-not-scoffing-at-goodness-which-is-far/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [“Persephone flapped a hand as if it were too difficult for her to explain.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/persephone-flapped-a-hand-as-if-it-were-too-difficult-for-her-to/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) > [He thought: How difficult it is to explain yourself to yourself. Sometimes there only is, and no knowing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aidan-chambers/he-thought-how-difficult-it-is-to-explain-yourself-to-yourself/) [Aidan Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aidan-chambers/) > [Film is difficult to explain because it is easy to understand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-metz/film-is-difficult-to-explain-because-it-is-easy-to-understand/) [Christian Metz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-metz/) [Browse all 34 Difficult Explain quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/difficult-explain-721788/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“It’s … difficult to explain. It’s … it’s like … I think it’s as though everyone has a small place inside themselves, maybe, a private bit that they keep to themselves. It’s like a little fortress, where the most private part of you lives—maybe it’s your soul, maybe just that bit that makes you yourself and not anyone else.” His tongue probed his swollen lip unconsciously as he thought. “You don’t show that bit of yourself to anyone, usually, unless sometimes to someone that ye love greatly.” The hand relaxed, curling around my knee. Jamie’s eyes were closed again, lids sealed against the light. “Now, it’s like … like my own fortress has been blown up with gunpowder—there’s nothing left of it but ashes and a smoking rooftree, and the little naked thing that lived there once is out in the open, squeaking and whimpering in fear, tryin’ to hide itself under a blade of grass or a bit o’ leaf, but … but not … makin’ m-much of a job of it.” His voice broke, and he turned his head so that his face was hidden in my skirt.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Diana Gabaldon" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/it-s-difficult-to-explain-it-s-it-s-like-i-think-it-s-as-though/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Difficult Explain" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/it-s-difficult-to-explain-it-s-it-s-like-i-think-it-s-as-though/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/415/diana-gabaldon-185_quote_it-s-difficult-to-explain-it-s-it-s-like_1614812.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/415/diana-gabaldon-185_quote_it-s-difficult-to-explain-it-s-it-s-like_1614812.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/415/diana-gabaldon-185_quote_it-s-difficult-to-explain-it-s-it-s-like_1614812.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It’s … difficult to explain. 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