---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If we can't be true to ourselves, what…"
description: "\"If we can't be true to ourselves, what can we be true to?\" — Dolly Parton"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/99e/dolly-parton-366_being-true_if-we-can-t-be-true-to-ourselves-what-ca_781975.jpg"
---

#  If we can't be true to ourselves, what can we be true to?

![“If we can't be true to ourselves, what can we be true to?” quote by Dolly Parton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/99e/dolly-parton-366_being-true_if-we-can-t-be-true-to-ourselves-what-ca_781975.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/99e/dolly-parton-366_being-true_if-we-can-t-be-true-to-ourselves-what-ca_781975.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/99e/dolly-parton-366_being-true_if-we-can-t-be-true-to-ourselves-what-ca_781975.jpg)

> “If we can't be true to ourselves, what can we be true to?”

[Dolly Parton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dolly-parton/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Authenticity is the foundation for any genuine connection or belief

**In simple terms:** Being true to yourself is essential

Key Takeaway

Live authentically

Themes

self‑knowledge integrity relationships

Mood

honest inspirational

Type

philosophical motivational

When to use this quote

- relationships
- leadership
- creative work
- personal decisions

Key Concepts

personal truth moral consistency

Questions to Reflect On

- What does being true to yourself look like daily?
- How does authenticity affect your relationships?

A Different Perspective

Self‑deception can masquerade as authenticity

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

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William Sargant

> [True true and true](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/true/true-true-and-true/)

True

> [“Be true to yourself and others will be true to you, too.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leah-rae-miller/be-true-to-yourself-and-others-will-be-true-to-you-too/)

[Leah Rae Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leah-rae-miller/)

> [“I know now that there is no one thing is true–it is all true.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/i-know-now-that-there-is-no-one-thing-is-true-it-is-all-true/)

[Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/)

> [Be true to those who are true to You.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-s-voice/be-true-to-those-who-are-true-to-you/)

Lisa's Voice

> [When you are true to yourself, you are true to others. When you are true to others, you get the best things in life.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-timmerman/when-you-are-true-to-yourself-you-are-true-to-others-when-you-are/)

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J. Ivy

## More by Dolly Parton

> [Got those moods a swinging, tears a slinging, nothing fits me, when it hits me, ranting, raving, misbehaving, PMS blues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolly-parton/got-those-moods-a-swinging-tears-a-slinging-nothing-fits-me-when-it/)

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> [A great smile is a wonderful asset, but a good heart is pure gold.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolly-parton/a-great-smile-is-a-wonderful-asset-but-a-good-heart-is-pure-gold/)

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> [I know my hair is out of the '60's, my clothes are '50's and the shoes I wear are from the '40's. But I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolly-parton/i-know-my-hair-is-out-of-the-60-s-my-clothes-are-50-s-and-the-shoes-i/)

[Dolly Parton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dolly-parton/)

> [It's great at this stage in my life to still be in the running, that people appreciate you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolly-parton/it-s-great-at-this-stage-in-my-life-to-still-be-in-the-running-that/)

[Dolly Parton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dolly-parton/)

> [No matter how beautiful a woman might be, you're always threatened by certain... You're always threatened by](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolly-parton/no-matter-how-beautiful-a-woman-might-be-you-re-always-threatened-by/)

[Dolly Parton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dolly-parton/)

> [Music is my personal addiction. So much of everything I've done has only been to open more doors for the music itself. It all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolly-parton/music-is-my-personal-addiction-so-much-of-everything-i-ve-done-has/)

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> [If you don't like the road youre walking, start paving another one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolly-parton/if-you-don-t-like-the-road-youre-walking-start-paving-another-one/)

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> [After you reach a certain age, they think you’re over. Well, I will never be over. I’ll be making records if I have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolly-parton/after-you-reach-a-certain-age-they-think-you-re-over-well-i-will/)

[Dolly Parton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dolly-parton/)

> [ I think \[music and acting\], they are connected, all that stuff. It's your emotional self, is pretty much how you do it, I think,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolly-parton/i-think-music-and-acting-they-are-connected-all-that-stuff-it-s-your/)

[Dolly Parton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dolly-parton/)

> [Understanding isn't learned from punishment and anger. An iron has no gentle touch, and love ain't learned from hate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolly-parton/understanding-isn-t-learned-from-punishment-and-anger-an-iron-has-no/)

[Dolly Parton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dolly-parton/)

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[Explore all 638 Dolly Parton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dolly-parton/)

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Browse all 1,447 Being true quotes

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