--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I know they're not getting divorced or…" description: "\"I know they're not getting divorced or anything, but when your parents argue it makes the whole universe seem like it's tipping, like everything could ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/88f/e-lockhart-1636_argue_i-know-they-re-not-getting-divorced-or-a_2686711.png" --- # I know they're not getting divorced or anything, but when… ![“I know they're not getting divorced or anything, but when your parents argue it makes the whole universe seem like it's tipping, like everything could change if they got mad enough at each other, like the world isn't a safe place. And of course, that's true, isn't it? The world is not a safe place.” quote by E. Lockhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/88f/e-lockhart-1636_argue_i-know-they-re-not-getting-divorced-or-a_2686711.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/88f/e-lockhart-1636_argue_i-know-they-re-not-getting-divorced-or-a_2686711.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/88f/e-lockhart-1636_argue_i-know-they-re-not-getting-divorced-or-a_2686711.png) > “I know they're not getting divorced or anything, but when your parents argue it makes the whole universe seem like it's tipping, like everything could change if they got mad enough at each other, like the world isn't a safe place. And of course, that's true, isn't it? The world is not a safe place.” [E. Lockhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-lockhart/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Parental conflict destabilizes a child's sense of safety, making the world feel precarious. **In simple terms:** Family fights make the world feel unsafe. Key Takeaway Seek stability beyond family drama. Themes family safety uncertainty Mood anxious thoughtful Type emotional psychological When to use this quote - personal coping - family counseling Key Concepts psychological impact childhood development Questions to Reflect On - How do you maintain personal security amid family tension? - What strategies help restore a sense of safety? A Different Perspective Children may internalize conflict negatively. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Argue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/argue/) [Arguing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arguing/) [Divorced](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/divorced/) [Divorced parents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/divorced-parents/) [Enough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enough/) [Isn Safe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/isn-safe-476631/) [Mad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mad/) [Parent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parent/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Parents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parents/) [Parents Argue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parents-argue-1561195/) [Safe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/safe/) [Safe place](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/safe-place/) [Safe places](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/safe-places/) [Tipping](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tipping/) [Universe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/universe/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [“Home isn't a safe place where everything stays the same; it's a place where you are safe and loved despite nothing staying the same.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-meissner/home-isn-t-a-safe-place-where-everything-stays-the-same-it-s-a-place/) [Susan Meissner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-meissner/) > [I started when I was three, and on some courses they wouldn't let me play because they said I was too little. They wouldn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matteo-manassero/i-started-when-i-was-three-and-on-some-courses-they-wouldn-t-let-me/) [Matteo Manassero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matteo-manassero/) > [I hate when Parents Argue in front of us like we don't understand what's going on!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/militon-munney/i-hate-when-parents-argue-in-front-of-us-like-we-don-t-understand/) [Militon Munney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/militon-munney/) > [“Everyone's parents argue-that just happens in any relationship-but parents shouldn't fight in front of their kids.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/courtney-allison-moulton/everyone-s-parents-argue-that-just-happens-in-any-relationship-but/) [Courtney Allison Moulton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/courtney-allison-moulton/) > [I never thought that people my own age could die, let alone be murdered. Things like that didn't happen in 1955. The suburbs were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-downing-hahn/i-never-thought-that-people-my-own-age-could-die-let-alone-be/) [Mary Downing Hahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-downing-hahn/) > [Outside our small safe place flies mystery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/outside-our-small-safe-place-flies-mystery/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I appreciate that something I've done has found a safe place to land.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-harper/i-appreciate-that-something-i-ve-done-has-found-a-safe-place-to-land/) [Ben Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-harper/) > [I wonder if novels work for women because they give us a safe place to talk about our ish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-weiner/i-wonder-if-novels-work-for-women-because-they-give-us-a-safe-place/) [Jennifer Weiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-weiner/) > [As I do not live in an age when rustling black skirts billow about me, and I do not carry an ebony stick to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/florida-scott-maxwell/as-i-do-not-live-in-an-age-when-rustling-black-skirts-billow-about-me/) [Florida Scott-Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/florida-scott-maxwell/) > [Acting probably saved my life. It gave me a home and a safe place to let out all of my emotions and have it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vanessa-marcil/acting-probably-saved-my-life-it-gave-me-a-home-and-a-safe-place-to/) [Vanessa Marcil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vanessa-marcil/) > [A good zoo," Stella said, "is a large domain. A wild cage. A safe place to be. It has room to roam and humans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-applegate/a-good-zoo-stella-said-is-a-large-domain-a-wild-cage-a-safe-place-to/) [Katherine Applegate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-applegate/) > [TV is a safe place to develop real characters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-liman/tv-is-a-safe-place-to-develop-real-characters/) [Doug Liman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-liman/) > [Don't play games with me! You just killed someone I like, that is not a safe place to stand! I'm the Doctor, and you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-moffat/don-t-play-games-with-me-you-just-killed-someone-i-like-that-is-not-a/) [Steven Moffat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-moffat/) > [Every child should have a safe place in their life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-manchin/every-child-should-have-a-safe-place-in-their-life/) [Joe Manchin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-manchin/) > [I love to play; a stage is a safe place for me to be. It's not that way for most folks, but I'd be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-danko/i-love-to-play-a-stage-is-a-safe-place-for-me-to-be-it-s-not-that-way/) [Rick Danko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-danko/) ## More by E. Lockhart > [“She makes the world seem shiny and sunlit. -Noel”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-lockhart/she-makes-the-world-seem-shiny-and-sunlit-noel/) [E. Lockhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-lockhart/) > [“And then he's grabbing my hand, and pulling me into a storage room they use for art supplies. And he puts his finger to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-lockhart/and-then-he-s-grabbing-my-hand-and-pulling-me-into-a-storage-room/) [E. Lockhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-lockhart/) > [“Noel shook his head. "You think better of this scene than I do, Ruby. Don't you see how fake those girls are? Let it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-lockhart/noel-shook-his-head-you-think-better-of-this-scene-than-i-do-ruby-don/) [E. Lockhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-lockhart/) > [“the best way to avoid having your heart broken was to pretend you don’t have one.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-lockhart/the-best-way-to-avoid-having-your-heart-broken-was-to-pretend-you-don/) [E. Lockhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-lockhart/) > [Secrets are more powerful when people know you've got them," said Mr. Sutton. "You show them the tiniest edge of your secret, but the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-lockhart/secrets-are-more-powerful-when-people-know-you-ve-got-them-said-mr/) [E. Lockhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-lockhart/) > [“Also, I was living in the middle of my parents' marriage. No one ever says this about families, and maybe people who aren't only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-lockhart/also-i-was-living-in-the-middle-of-my-parents-marriage-no-one-ever/) [E. Lockhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-lockhart/) > [“At least, these guys were looking. And seeing something. A milkshake.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-lockhart/at-least-these-guys-were-looking-and-seeing-something-a-milkshake/) [E. Lockhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-lockhart/) > [...Mr. Wodehouse is a prose stylist of such startling talent that Frankie nearly skipped around with glee when she first read some of his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-lockhart/mr-wodehouse-is-a-prose-stylist-of-such-startling-talent-that-frankie/) [E. Lockhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-lockhart/) > [“Why is it a good idea for you and not a good idea for me?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-lockhart/why-is-it-a-good-idea-for-you-and-not-a-good-idea-for-me/) [E. Lockhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-lockhart/) > [“Now, he was free to go forth and make a name for himself in the wide, wide world. And maybe, just maybe, he'd come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-lockhart/now-he-was-free-to-go-forth-and-make-a-name-for-himself-in-the-wide/) [E. Lockhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-lockhart/) > [“It doesn't matter if one of us is desperately, desperately in love. So much in love, that equally desperate measures must be taken”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-lockhart/it-doesn-t-matter-if-one-of-us-is-desperately-desperately-in-love-so/) [E. Lockhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-lockhart/) > [“The presentation of self in everyday life. This guy Goffman had the idea that in different situations, you perform yourself differently. Your character isn’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-lockhart/the-presentation-of-self-in-everyday-life-this-guy-goffman-had-the/) [E. Lockhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-lockhart/) > [“She made me act normal. Because I was. Because I could. She told me to breathe and sit up. And”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-lockhart/she-made-me-act-normal-because-i-was-because-i-could-she-told-me-to/) [E. Lockhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-lockhart/) > [“And now, she was walking down the hall with her books clutched to her chest, looking down at the floor while guys called, "Don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-lockhart/and-now-she-was-walking-down-the-hall-with-her-books-clutched-to-her/) [E. Lockhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-lockhart/) > [“Please, that is so antiquated. The institutions of male supremacy only have real power over you if you buy into that notion. Go found…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-lockhart/please-that-is-so-antiquated-the-institutions-of-male-supremacy-only/) [E. Lockhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-lockhart/) [Explore all 218 E. Lockhart quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-lockhart/) ## More Argue quotes > [I'd rather argue with you than kiss someone else](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fad-ibra/i-d-rather-argue-with-you-than-kiss-someone-else/) [Fad Ibra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fad-ibra/) > [I do wish you wouldn't argue with me when I'm knitting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-durrell/i-do-wish-you-wouldn-t-argue-with-me-when-i-m-knitting/) [Gerald Durrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-durrell/) > [“But that is not true for all folk. Some folk are meant to argue with fate. And win.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-hobb/but-that-is-not-true-for-all-folk-some-folk-are-meant-to-argue-with/) [Robin Hobb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-hobb/) > [To argue with a person who has renounced the use of reason is like administering medicine to the dead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/to-argue-with-a-person-who-has-renounced-the-use-of-reason-is-like/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [Argue for your limitations, and sure enough they're yours.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-bach/argue-for-your-limitations-and-sure-enough-they-re-yours/) [Richard Bach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-bach/) > [I like the fact that we argue but in the end we come together again realising how much we each need the other](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josephine/i-like-the-fact-that-we-argue-but-in-the-end-we-come-together-again/) [Josephine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josephine/) > [The surest sign that you haven't any sense is to argue with one who hasn't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-j-peter/the-surest-sign-that-you-haven-t-any-sense-is-to-argue-with-one-who/) [Laurence J. Peter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-j-peter/) > [Has learned that sometimes it is just easier to agree with someone, than to argue a stupid point they think they have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hussein-nishah/has-learned-that-sometimes-it-is-just-easier-to-agree-with-someone/) [Hussein Nishah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hussein-nishah/) > [If you dont know, please ask. If you dont agree, argue. If you dont like it, please say it. But don't sit there quiet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-dont-know-please-ask-if-you-dont-agree-argue-if-you-dont-like/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [America gave the world the notion of the melting pot - an alchemical cooking device wherein diverse ethnic and religious groups voluntarily mix together,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivan-krastev/america-gave-the-world-the-notion-of-the-melting-pot-an-alchemical/) [Ivan Krastev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivan-krastev/) > [Don't worry when I argue with you. Worry when I stop because it means there's nothing left to fight for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anurag-prakash-ray/don-t-worry-when-i-argue-with-you-worry-when-i-stop-because-it-means/) [Anurag Prakash Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anurag-prakash-ray/) > [“Be quick to resolve conflicts before they mature to become wars. The energetic crocodile was once a delicate egg!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/be-quick-to-resolve-conflicts-before-they-mature-to-become-wars-the/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [I taught my executive team how to argue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-mulally/i-taught-my-executive-team-how-to-argue/) [Alan Mulally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-mulally/) > [“People argue between Pele or Maradona. Di Stéfano is the best, much more complete.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pel/people-argue-between-pele-or-maradona-di-st-fano-is-the-best-much/) [Pelé](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pel/) > [“The more women argue, loudly, against feminism, the more they both prove it exists and that they enjoy its hard-won privileges.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caitlin-moran/the-more-women-argue-loudly-against-feminism-the-more-they-both-prove/) [Caitlin Moran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caitlin-moran/) [Browse all 642 Argue quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/argue/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I know they're not getting divorced or anything, but when your parents argue it makes the whole universe seem like it's tipping, like everything could change if they got mad enough at each other, like the world isn't a safe place. And of course, that's true, isn't it? 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