--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I always kind of conflated openness with…" description: "\"I always kind of conflated openness with honesty and I thought that if I was completely transparent and bared every aspect of my soul that people would..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a47/ethel-cain-5354_cool_i-always-kind-of-conflated-openness-with_828183.jpg" --- # I always kind of conflated openness with honesty and I… ![“I always kind of conflated openness with honesty and I thought that if I was completely transparent and bared every aspect of my soul that people would think I was relatable and kinda cool. Then I was like, I don't want to know you. I don't want to be friends with you.” quote by Ethel Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a47/ethel-cain-5354_cool_i-always-kind-of-conflated-openness-with_828183.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a47/ethel-cain-5354_cool_i-always-kind-of-conflated-openness-with_828183.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a47/ethel-cain-5354_cool_i-always-kind-of-conflated-openness-with_828183.jpg) > “I always kind of conflated openness with honesty and I thought that if I was completely transparent and bared every aspect of my soul that people would think I was relatable and kinda cool. Then I was like, I don't want to know you. I don't want to be friends with you.” [Ethel Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-cain/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Assuming total openness equates to honesty leads to over‑sharing, which can create distance rather than connection. **In simple terms:** Full transparency can push people away. Key Takeaway Balance honesty with appropriate boundaries. Themes communication authenticity boundaries Mood cautious introspective Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - dating - teamwork - leadership - personal relationships Key Concepts self‑disclosure theory social trust Questions to Reflect On - When is it wise to hold back? - How do you gauge how much to share? A Different Perspective Too much openness can cause vulnerability and burnout. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Friends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friends/) [Friendship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship/) [Honesty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honesty/) [Openness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/openness/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soul/) ## Related quotes > [Honesty of thought and speech and written word is a jewel, and they who curb prejudice and seek honorably to know and speak the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-galsworthy/honesty-of-thought-and-speech-and-written-word-is-a-jewel-and-they/) [John Galsworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-galsworthy/) > [My career is based on openness and honesty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-kardashian/my-career-is-based-on-openness-and-honesty/) [Kim Kardashian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-kardashian/) > [Empathy is important, openness, honesty, and an understanding for others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niko-kovac/empathy-is-important-openness-honesty-and-an-understanding-for-others/) [Niko Kovac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niko-kovac/) > [Commitment to truth telling lays the groundwork for the openness and honesty that is the heartbeat of love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/commitment-to-truth-telling-lays-the-groundwork-for-the-openness-and/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [Living such an opaque life has forced me never to take transparency, openness, and honesty for granted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chelsea-manning/living-such-an-opaque-life-has-forced-me-never-to-take-transparency/) [Chelsea Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chelsea-manning/) > [What would happen if people practiced openness and honesty? If people talked about their real challenges without shame or fear of rejection? My guess…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-reber/what-would-happen-if-people-practiced-openness-and-honesty-if-people/) [Deborah Reber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-reber/) > [When I interview someone, I know in the first two minutes if I like them or not. I find that if it's easy to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobbi-brown/when-i-interview-someone-i-know-in-the-first-two-minutes-if-i-like/) [Bobbi Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobbi-brown/) > [“Openness and honesty rather than a closed mind inspire trust in others.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohit/openness-and-honesty-rather-than-a-closed-mind-inspire-trust-in-others/) Mohit > [“Confidence allows us to face life with boldness, openness, and honesty. It enables us to live without worry and to feel safe. It enables…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/confidence-allows-us-to-face-life-with-boldness-openness-and-honesty/) [Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/) > [“Valor in the leader is often an expression of the leader's character, fortitude, grace, vulnerability, openness, and honesty.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-robinson-walker/valor-in-the-leader-is-often-an-expression-of-the-leader-s-character/) [Catherine Robinson-Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-robinson-walker/) > [“When all else fails, go away completely, however long feels necessary.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shellen-lubin/when-all-else-fails-go-away-completely-however-long-feels-necessary/) [Shellen Lubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shellen-lubin/) > [“Sometimes, the only way to evolve is to open ourselves fully.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamal-ravikant/sometimes-the-only-way-to-evolve-is-to-open-ourselves-fully/) [Kamal Ravikant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamal-ravikant/) > [Honesty is always the best policy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/honesty-is-always-the-best-policy/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [The thing that I think a lot of guys need to know how to do is not take your mother's advice about honesty being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-devine/the-thing-that-i-think-a-lot-of-guys-need-to-know-how-to-do-is-not/) [Adam DeVine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-devine/) > [“I was flipping channels, watching this cheerleading program on MTV. They took a field hockey girl and “transformed” her into a cheerleader by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jess-c-scott/i-was-flipping-channels-watching-this-cheerleading-program-on-mtv/) [Jess C Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jess-c-scott/) ## More by Ethel Cain > [I'm used to being alone in a quiet, isolated environment - I'm kind of a low-energy, low-vibration, low-stamina person to begin with - so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-cain/i-m-used-to-being-alone-in-a-quiet-isolated-environment-i-m-kind-of-a/) [Ethel Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-cain/) > [There's this weird misconstrued notion that everybody in this industry is rich. A lot of people in the industry are mad exploited. It's not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-cain/there-s-this-weird-misconstrued-notion-that-everybody-in-this/) [Ethel Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-cain/) > [I feel like 'Preacher's Daughter' was my Trojan horse, in a way. I'm excited to pull back, be behind the camera instead of in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-cain/i-feel-like-preacher-s-daughter-was-my-trojan-horse-in-a-way-i-m/) [Ethel Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-cain/) > [I was very homeschooled.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-cain/i-was-very-homeschooled/) [Ethel Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-cain/) > [Being transgender is easily the most boring and human aspect about me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-cain/being-transgender-is-easily-the-most-boring-and-human-aspect-about-me/) [Ethel Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-cain/) > [I was always singing as a kid. I was really annoying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-cain/i-was-always-singing-as-a-kid-i-was-really-annoying/) [Ethel Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-cain/) > [I did not get out, and all I had to do was tell myself stories and get invested, and I've never gone out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-cain/i-did-not-get-out-and-all-i-had-to-do-was-tell-myself-stories-and-get/) [Ethel Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-cain/) > [Ethel Cain lived and died loving and praying to be loved back. The entire 'Preacher's' trilogy is centred around love. Love lost, love gained,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-cain/ethel-cain-lived-and-died-loving-and-praying-to-be-loved-back-the/) [Ethel Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-cain/) > [I work very slow. That's how I like it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-cain/i-work-very-slow-that-s-how-i-like-it/) [Ethel Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-cain/) > [Yes, fries always more fries but specifically I would say, curly fries curly from Arby's. They are the best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-cain/yes-fries-always-more-fries-but-specifically-i-would-say-curly-fries/) [Ethel Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-cain/) > [I have to work myself up to even go to concerts at small venues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-cain/i-have-to-work-myself-up-to-even-go-to-concerts-at-small-venues/) [Ethel Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-cain/) > [I did not have a lot of friends growing up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-cain/i-did-not-have-a-lot-of-friends-growing-up/) [Ethel Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-cain/) > [To me, the Ethel Cain story is a horror story.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-cain/to-me-the-ethel-cain-story-is-a-horror-story/) [Ethel Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-cain/) > [If 'Preacher's Daughter' was my learning experience of what not to do with trauma and healing, 'Willoughby Tucker' has been my experience of what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-cain/if-preacher-s-daughter-was-my-learning-experience-of-what-not-to-do/) [Ethel Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-cain/) > [I was extremely into the escapism of fantasy, so series like 'Redwall' and 'Eragon' were my bread and butter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-cain/i-was-extremely-into-the-escapism-of-fantasy-so-series-like-redwall/) [Ethel Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-cain/) [Explore all 101 Ethel Cain quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-cain/) ## More Cool quotes > [Hats off to starting a franchise younger than we all did in 'Twilight' and keeping your cool. The 'Harry Potter' men and women had,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kellan-lutz/hats-off-to-starting-a-franchise-younger-than-we-all-did-in-twilight/) [Kellan Lutz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kellan-lutz/) > [I love being in Malibu. It's so cool there, and the water is just, it's nice and, and I love the beach. And I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-evancho/i-love-being-in-malibu-it-s-so-cool-there-and-the-water-is-just-it-s/) [Jackie Evancho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-evancho/) > [When you're in your twenties and starting out, the problem is that you care about being cool. Being older, I can care less about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-righton/when-you-re-in-your-twenties-and-starting-out-the-problem-is-that-you/) [James Righton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-righton/) > [Vo5C0y Muchos Gracias for your article.Really looking forward to read more. Really Cool.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/serivce/vo5c0y-muchos-gracias-for-your-article-really-looking-forward-to-read/) Serivce > [What a cool job to be part of - whether it's doing lighting or acting or serving food on set. You're part of telling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-dern/what-a-cool-job-to-be-part-of-whether-it-s-doing-lighting-or-acting/) [Laura Dern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-dern/) > [Jail is definitely not cool. Education is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ja-rule/jail-is-definitely-not-cool-education-is/) [Ja Rule](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ja-rule/) > [It's been really fun to see with each album when I change to see the fans of the show emulate my style and with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/avril-lavigne/it-s-been-really-fun-to-see-with-each-album-when-i-change-to-see-the/) [Avril Lavigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/avril-lavigne/) > [My family environment wasn't cool.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keyshia-cole/my-family-environment-wasn-t-cool/) [Keyshia Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keyshia-cole/) > [It would be really cool to have my dad here to witness this, to see his grandchildren, to see this woman that I chose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sterling-k-brown/it-would-be-really-cool-to-have-my-dad-here-to-witness-this-to-see/) [Sterling K. Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sterling-k-brown/) > [To us, being the bad guys is cool, because we always root for the bad guys in the movies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-hanneman/to-us-being-the-bad-guys-is-cool-because-we-always-root-for-the-bad/) [Jeff Hanneman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-hanneman/) > [On my podcast, I got to interview Will Ferrell, Sam Hunt, Colin Cowherd - all these different names - and it was just really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-darnold/on-my-podcast-i-got-to-interview-will-ferrell-sam-hunt-colin-cowherd/) [Sam Darnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-darnold/) > [“Take care of your costume and your confidence will take care of itself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/take-care-of-your-costume-and-your-confidence-will-take-care-of-itself/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [I had always been scared of the unknown, and I think it had a lot to do with a lack of self-confidence (and wearing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-levy/i-had-always-been-scared-of-the-unknown-and-i-think-it-had-a-lot-to/) [Dan Levy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-levy/) > [There are a lot of movies about misfits that are quite cool, that kind of glamorize it on some level. I think there are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-hall/there-are-a-lot-of-movies-about-misfits-that-are-quite-cool-that-kind/) [Rebecca Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-hall/) > [Rather be dead than cool.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-cobain/rather-be-dead-than-cool/) [Kurt Cobain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-cobain/) Browse all 4,681 Cool quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I always kind of conflated openness with honesty and I thought that if I was completely transparent and bared every aspect of my soul that people would think I was relatable and kinda cool. Then I was like, I don't want to know you. 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