--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Women lose their lives not knowing they…" description: "\"Women lose their lives not knowing they can do something different. Men eat themselves up believing they have to be the thing they have been made. Chil..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a5/dorothy-allison-2041_believe_women-lose-their-lives-not-knowing-they_1152656.jpg" --- # Women lose their lives not knowing they can do something… ![“Women lose their lives not knowing they can do something different. Men eat themselves up believing they have to be the thing they have been made. Children go crazy. Really, even children go crazy, believing the shape of the life they must live is as small and mean and broken as they are told.” quote by Dorothy Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a5/dorothy-allison-2041_believe_women-lose-their-lives-not-knowing-they_1152656.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a5/dorothy-allison-2041_believe_women-lose-their-lives-not-knowing-they_1152656.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a5/dorothy-allison-2041_believe_women-lose-their-lives-not-knowing-they_1152656.jpg) > “Women lose their lives not knowing they can do something different. Men eat themselves up believing they have to be the thing they have been made. Children go crazy. Really, even children go crazy, believing the shape of the life they must live is as small and mean and broken as they are told.” [Dorothy Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-allison/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People often feel trapped by societal expectations, leading to self‑destruction and mental strain across genders and ages. **In simple terms:** People feel stuck by expectations. Key Takeaway Question and break limiting beliefs. Themes identity societal pressure mental health gender roles Mood thoughtful empathetic Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - career counseling - parenting - education - mental health support Key Concepts self‑actualization psychology social conditioning Questions to Reflect On - What expectations limit you? - How can you support others breaking free? A Different Perspective Changing expectations can be slow; resistance may be strong. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) [Broken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/broken/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Crazy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crazy/) [Different](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/different/) [Knowing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowing/) [Lose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lose/) [Lose Lives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lose-lives-549084/) [Made](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/made/) [Mean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mean/) [Mean Broken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mean-broken-1288454/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Not knowing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/not-knowing/) [Shape Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shape-life/) [Shapes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shapes/) [Women Lose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/women-lose-373116/) ## Related quotes > [Women lose their lives not knowing they can do something different..." from Two or Three Things i Know For Sure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-allison/women-lose-their-lives-not-knowing-they-can-do-something-different-2/) [Dorothy Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-allison/) > [“One small crack in your heart does not mean it’s broken. It means you need superglue. Or”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/celia-kyle/one-small-crack-in-your-heart-does-not-mean-it-s-broken-it-means-you/) [Celia Kyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/celia-kyle/) > [It does not mean you're broken to have depression and anxiety. I would encourage you to speak out. Don't hold it inside. Talk to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-reynolds/it-does-not-mean-you-re-broken-to-have-depression-and-anxiety-i-would/) [Dan Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-reynolds/) > [Just because you're hurt, doesn't mean you're broken.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/just-because-you-re-hurt-doesn-t-mean-you-re-broken/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Promises mean everything but when there broken sorry means nothing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/promises-mean-everything-but-when-there-broken-sorry-means-nothing/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Promises mean everything but when they are broken, sorry means nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/promises-mean-everything-but-when-they-are-broken-sorry-means-nothing/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [One small crack does not mean that you are broken, It means that you were put to the test and you didn't fall a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/one-small-crack-does-not-mean-that-you-are-broken-it-means-that-you-2/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Promises mean everything but once their broken; ''sorry'' means nothing!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/promises-mean-everything-but-once-their-broken-sorry-means-nothing/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“You’re not broken,” Ryan said fiercely, pulling back so he could look Phillip in the face. He refused to allow his P.J. to think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/piper-vaughn/you-re-not-broken-ryan-said-fiercely-pulling-back-so-he-could-look/) [Piper Vaughn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/piper-vaughn/) > [One small crack doesn't mean you're broken, it means that you were put to test & you didn't fall apart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/one-small-crack-doesn-t-mean-you-re-broken-it-means-that-you-were-put/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Guys: promises mean everything to her...but after they are broken, sorry will mean nothing to her.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/guys-promises-mean-everything-to-her-but-after-they-are-broken-sorry/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [One small crack does not mean you are broken, it means that you were put to the test and didn't fall apart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-poindexter/one-small-crack-does-not-mean-you-are-broken-it-means-that-you-were/) [Linda Poindexter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-poindexter/) > [One small crack does not mean that you are broken, it means that you were put to the test and you didn't fall apart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/one-small-crack-does-not-mean-that-you-are-broken-it-means-that-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Some men focuse more on how to get a women. But once they get her..They lose focused on how to keep her.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiara-sellars/some-men-focuse-more-on-how-to-get-a-women-but-once-they-get-her-they/) [Kiara Sellars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiara-sellars/) > [One of our rules for the show, I guess the filter we try to pass everything through, is it's a safe place for women…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elvis-duran/one-of-our-rules-for-the-show-i-guess-the-filter-we-try-to-pass/) [Elvis Duran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elvis-duran/) ## More by Dorothy Allison > [she got a reputation for an easy smile and a sharp tongue, and using one to balance the other, she seemed friendly but distant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-allison/she-got-a-reputation-for-an-easy-smile-and-a-sharp-tongue-and-using/) [Dorothy Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-allison/) > [“Simple answers, reductionist politics, are the most prone to compromise, to saying we’re addressing the essential issue and all that other stuff can slide.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-allison/simple-answers-reductionist-politics-are-the-most-prone-to-compromise/) [Dorothy Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-allison/) > [People don't do right because of the fear of God or love of him. You do right because the world doesn't make sense if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-allison/people-don-t-do-right-because-of-the-fear-of-god-or-love-of-him-you/) [Dorothy Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-allison/) > [“I had to say to her that it isn’t just men, and it isn’t just men “like that.” I had to talk to her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-allison/i-had-to-say-to-her-that-it-isn-t-just-men-and-it-isn-t-just-men-like/) [Dorothy Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-allison/) > [“Entitlement, I have told them, is a matter of feeling like we rather than they.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-allison/entitlement-i-have-told-them-is-a-matter-of-feeling-like-we-rather/) [Dorothy Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-allison/) > [“Love was something I would not have to worry about - the whole mystery of love, heartbreak songs, and family legends. Women who pined,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-allison/love-was-something-i-would-not-have-to-worry-about-the-whole-mystery/) [Dorothy Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-allison/) > [“Behind the story I tell is the one I don't. Behind the story you hear is the one I wish I could make you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-allison/behind-the-story-i-tell-is-the-one-i-don-t-behind-the-story-you-hear/) [Dorothy Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-allison/) > [Hunger makes you restless. you dream about food - not just any food, but perfect food, the best food, magical meals, famous and awe-inspiring,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-allison/hunger-makes-you-restless-you-dream-about-food-not-just-any-food-but/) [Dorothy Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-allison/) > [I think I would have died if there hadn't been the women's movement. It gave me a vision that I could do something different,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-allison/i-think-i-would-have-died-if-there-hadn-t-been-the-women-s-movement/) [Dorothy Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-allison/) > [People begin to write in order to create what they have not found and, a little bit, to give something back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-allison/people-begin-to-write-in-order-to-create-what-they-have-not-found-and/) [Dorothy Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-allison/) > [The hardest thing to teach young writers is that it's wonderful to tell your truth. And that's what you should do. But it damn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-allison/the-hardest-thing-to-teach-young-writers-is-that-it-s-wonderful-to/) [Dorothy Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-allison/) > [“The horror of class stratification, racism, and prejudice is that some people begin to believe that the security of their families and communities depends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-allison/the-horror-of-class-stratification-racism-and-prejudice-is-that-some/) [Dorothy Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-allison/) > [I did not begin with craft, I began with strong feelings and worked toward craft.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-allison/i-did-not-begin-with-craft-i-began-with-strong-feelings-and-worked/) [Dorothy Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-allison/) > [I think I would have died if there hadn't been the women's movement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-allison/i-think-i-would-have-died-if-there-hadn-t-been-the-women-s-movement-2/) [Dorothy Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-allison/) > [When I was growing up, I always read horror books, while my sister read romance novels. My sister became unmarried and pregnant during high…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-allison/when-i-was-growing-up-i-always-read-horror-books-while-my-sister-read/) [Dorothy Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-allison/) [Explore all 189 Dorothy Allison quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-allison/) ## More Believe quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. It makes a mockery of freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-robison/some-people-still-believe-you-should-just-fall-in-line-with-what-s/) [Emily Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-robison/) > [The truth seems to be that propaganda on its own cannot force its way into unwilling minds; neither can it inculcate something wholly new;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-truth-seems-to-be-that-propaganda-on-its-own-cannot-force-its-way/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [Resist discouragement by speaking His Word over your future. Keep standing. Keep hoping; keep believing because He is working behind the scenes. He's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/resist-discouragement-by-speaking-his-word-over-your-future-keep/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [There is no such word as item girl in the dictionary. People have created this word and I don't believe that I am an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shefali-zariwala/there-is-no-such-word-as-item-girl-in-the-dictionary-people-have/) [Shefali Zariwala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shefali-zariwala/) > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/) [Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/) > [“What I have a problem with is not so much religion or god, but faith. When you say you believe something in your heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/what-i-have-a-problem-with-is-not-so-much-religion-or-god-but-faith/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [Bush reiterated his stand to conservatives opposing his decision on stem cell research. He said today he believes life begins at conception and ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/bush-reiterated-his-stand-to-conservatives-opposing-his-decision-on/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [Never underestimate the power of the human mind to believe what it wants to believe, no matter the conflicting evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/never-underestimate-the-power-of-the-human-mind-to-believe-what-it/) [Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/) > [To believe in love, to be ready to give up anything for it, to be willing to risk your life for it, is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/to-believe-in-love-to-be-ready-to-give-up-anything-for-it-to-be/) [Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/) > [That's why I don't generally talk about endorsements because I don't believe we have to tell people who to vote for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-iii/that-s-why-i-don-t-generally-talk-about-endorsements-because-i-don-t/) [Martin Luther King III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-iii/) > [Mankind have been slow to believe that order reigns in the universe-that the world is a cosmos and a chaos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/mankind-have-been-slow-to-believe-that-order-reigns-in-the-universe/) [James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/) > [We instantly believe everything we think. Isn't that insane? It's good for us to explore the depravity of our minds, so we know we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krishna-das/we-instantly-believe-everything-we-think-isn-t-that-insane-it-s-good/) [Krishna Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krishna-das/) [Browse all 47,704 Believe quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Women lose their lives not knowing they can do something different. Men eat themselves up believing they have to be the thing they have been made. Children go crazy. 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