--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Can I ask you something?\" you said. \"How…" description: "\"“Can I ask you something?\" you said. \"How did you ever survive that scandal?\" She said, \"I refused to be shamed.\" \"How did you do that?\" you asked. \"Wh..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/35d/gabrielle-zevin-626_asked_can-i-ask-you-something-you-said-how-did_1820790.png" --- # Can I ask you something?" you said. "How did you ever… ![“Can I ask you something?" you said. "How did you ever survive that scandal?" She said, "I refused to be shamed." "How did you do that?" you asked. "When they came at me, I kept coming," she said.” quote by Gabrielle Zevin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/35d/gabrielle-zevin-626_asked_can-i-ask-you-something-you-said-how-did_1820790.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/35d/gabrielle-zevin-626_asked_can-i-ask-you-something-you-said-how-did_1820790.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/35d/gabrielle-zevin-626_asked_can-i-ask-you-something-you-said-how-did_1820790.png) > ““Can I ask you something?" you said. "How did you ever survive that scandal?" She said, "I refused to be shamed." "How did you do that?" you asked. "When they came at me, I kept coming," she said.”” [Gabrielle Zevin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-zevin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A resilient person confronts scandal by refusing shame and persisting despite attacks. **In simple terms:** Refuse shame, keep moving forward. Key Takeaway Embrace resilience, reject shame. Themes resilience perseverance integrity Mood determined defiant Type inspirational philosophical When to use this quote - personal crisis - public scandal - career setbacks - relationship conflict Key Concepts self‑esteem social pressure identity courage Questions to Reflect On - How do you maintain dignity when judged? - What supports you when facing shame? A Different Perspective Resilience may waver under prolonged public scrutiny. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ask Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ask-said-2192705/) [Asked](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asked/) [Asked Came](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asked-came-736793/) [Did Asked](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/did-asked-358076/) [Fortitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fortitude/) [Scandal Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scandal-said-2192706/) [Self confidence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-confidence/) [Shame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shame/) ## Related quotes > [I once asked him what came at the end of the sentence... and he said "parole".](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-heenan/i-once-asked-him-what-came-at-the-end-of-the-sentence-and-he-said/) [Bobby Heenan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-heenan/) > [“You're here," he said simply. "Do I know you?" I asked, which came out more haughtily than I had intended. "You will," he answered,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/delilah-s-dawson/you-re-here-he-said-simply-do-i-know-you-i-asked-which-came-out-more/) [Delilah S. Dawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/delilah-s-dawson/) > [Asked where he came from, he said, "I am a citizen of the world."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diogenes/asked-where-he-came-from-he-said-i-am-a-citizen-of-the-world/) [Diogenes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diogenes/) > [Come with me," Reyn said. "I want to show you something." Frankly, I had expected something more original. "Really?" I asked, "That's it? That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cate-tiernan/come-with-me-reyn-said-i-want-to-show-you-something-frankly-i-had/) [Cate Tiernan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cate-tiernan/) > [“She asked me why I never came, said she had heard all sorts of stories about me. This was only to gain time. Asked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-joyce/she-asked-me-why-i-never-came-said-she-had-heard-all-sorts-of-stories/) [James Joyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-joyce/) > [“Where did they go?" asked Coco. "Here? Did Coconut bring Fro-Yo back here?" "No," I said. "They walked into that sunset, because it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-arnold/where-did-they-go-asked-coco-here-did-coconut-bring-fro-yo-back-here/) [David Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-arnold/) > [When did I ever asked from you? For Moon and the stars All I suggested was A little relief And clearer vision So that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-kler/when-did-i-ever-asked-from-you-for-moon-and-the-stars-all-i-suggested/) [Nick Kler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-kler/) > [What did you see?' he asked then. Nothing,' I told him. 'Because nothing is what you wanted me to see, though the man on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-hoffman/what-did-you-see-he-asked-then-nothing-i-told-him-because-nothing-is/) [Alice Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-hoffman/) > [I believe I did well in the under-21s, did everything that was asked of me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kemar-roofe/i-believe-i-did-well-in-the-under-21s-did-everything-that-was-asked/) [Kemar Roofe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kemar-roofe/) > [“Where did you get in from?” she asked. “The desert.” “What do you do in the desert?” “Get hot.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-lane/where-did-you-get-in-from-she-asked-the-desert-what-do-you-do-in-the/) [Nina Lane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nina-lane/) > [“Did you get me what I asked for?” “You asked for a vibrator. No, I did not get you what you asked for.” “The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-doyle/did-you-get-me-what-i-asked-for-you-asked-for-a-vibrator-no-i-did-not/) [S. Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-doyle/) > [“She asked him if he could teleport. (He could.) She asked him if he had superhuman strength. (He did.) She asked him if he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlon-pierre-antoine/she-asked-him-if-he-could-teleport-he-could-she-asked-him-if-he-had/) [Marlon Pierre-Antoine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlon-pierre-antoine/) > [“What are we doing?" "You didn't think that was it, did you?" he asked. "I'm going to fuck you so well, that the next…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/strong-hold-publishing/what-are-we-doing-you-didn-t-think-that-was-it-did-you-he-asked-i-m/) [Strong Hold Publishing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/strong-hold-publishing/) > [ARE YOU CRAZY?" I ASKED. He gave me the same wordless look he always did when I asked that question.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/are-you-crazy-i-asked-he-gave-me-the-same-wordless-look-he-always-did/) [Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/) > [“His dark brown eyes shifted to my covered arms. "You didn't do that-did you? It was done to you?"No one ever asked that question.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-mcgarry/his-dark-brown-eyes-shifted-to-my-covered-arms-you-didn-t-do-that-did/) [Katie McGarry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-mcgarry/) ## More by Gabrielle Zevin > [“He didn't break my heart. No one can break your heart except you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-zevin/he-didn-t-break-my-heart-no-one-can-break-your-heart-except-you/) [Gabrielle Zevin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-zevin/) > [People are capable of great, great change during the span of one lifetime. And women even more than men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-zevin/people-are-capable-of-great-great-change-during-the-span-of-one/) [Gabrielle Zevin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-zevin/) > [That Woman is in love with her own grief.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-zevin/that-woman-is-in-love-with-her-own-grief/) [Gabrielle Zevin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-zevin/) > [He kissed me, though not in a sexy way. Gentle. Tender.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-zevin/he-kissed-me-though-not-in-a-sexy-way-gentle-tender/) [Gabrielle Zevin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-zevin/) > [Daddy always said the only thing worth begging for was your life, but maybe he was wrong. Maybe sometimes your love is a little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-zevin/daddy-always-said-the-only-thing-worth-begging-for-was-your-life-but/) [Gabrielle Zevin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-zevin/) > [“I am repulsed by ghostwritten novels by reality television stars, celebrity picture books, sports memoirs, movie tie-in editions, novelty items, and—I imagine this goes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-zevin/i-am-repulsed-by-ghostwritten-novels-by-reality-television-stars/) [Gabrielle Zevin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-zevin/) > [I wish I could tell you to always follow your heart, but I think it is bad advice. You have a heart, yes, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-zevin/i-wish-i-could-tell-you-to-always-follow-your-heart-but-i-think-it-is/) [Gabrielle Zevin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-zevin/) > [“It is a lie that you should only speak from your heart- you ought to let your brain play a part too.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-zevin/it-is-a-lie-that-you-should-only-speak-from-your-heart-you-ought-to/) [Gabrielle Zevin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-zevin/) > [I wondered if the person who really loves you is the person who knows all your stories, the person who WANTS to know all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-zevin/i-wondered-if-the-person-who-really-loves-you-is-the-person-who-knows/) [Gabrielle Zevin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-zevin/) > [“Most people's problems would be solved if they would only give more things a chance.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-zevin/most-people-s-problems-would-be-solved-if-they-would-only-give-more/) [Gabrielle Zevin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-zevin/) > [“It is lucky, she thinks, that we don’t feel all the love inside us every moment. We couldn’t breathe or walk or eat. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-zevin/it-is-lucky-she-thinks-that-we-don-t-feel-all-the-love-inside-us/) [Gabrielle Zevin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-zevin/) > [“Real love' is not just instinct, but intent.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-zevin/real-love-is-not-just-instinct-but-intent/) [Gabrielle Zevin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-zevin/) > [Hi there," squeaked a precocious little voice, "you are speaking to Chloe Fusakawa, and I have just learned how to answer the phone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-zevin/hi-there-squeaked-a-precocious-little-voice-you-are-speaking-to-chloe/) [Gabrielle Zevin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-zevin/) > [“Well, I’m warning you. I could be a bad book with a good jacket.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-zevin/well-i-m-warning-you-i-could-be-a-bad-book-with-a-good-jacket/) [Gabrielle Zevin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-zevin/) > [“A place ain’t a place without a bookstore,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-zevin/a-place-ain-t-a-place-without-a-bookstore/) [Gabrielle Zevin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-zevin/) [Explore all 425 Gabrielle Zevin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-zevin/) ## More Asked quotes > [“Are you sure?" he asked in a low voice. "Because if I had the chance... I would spend every moment of every day with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-monir/are-you-sure-he-asked-in-a-low-voice-because-if-i-had-the-chance-i/) [Alexandra Monir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-monir/) > [“Who tricked me into this whole thing and leaves me standing here? Who am I? How did I get into the world? Why was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-ren-kierkegaard/who-tricked-me-into-this-whole-thing-and-leaves-me-standing-here-who/) [Søren Kierkegaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-ren-kierkegaard/) > [“The best questions are ones never asked.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-cory-molloy/the-best-questions-are-ones-never-asked/) [Robert Cory Molloy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-cory-molloy/) > [A lot of people think I'm snotty. So what? They never asked me out when I was serving cheeseburgers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-moriarty/a-lot-of-people-think-i-m-snotty-so-what-they-never-asked-me-out-when/) [Cathy Moriarty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy-moriarty/) > [I've been so lucky with the people I've worked with, but I'm such a fan girl. When I moved to London at 16, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheridan-smith/i-ve-been-so-lucky-with-the-people-i-ve-worked-with-but-i-m-such-a/) [Sheridan Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheridan-smith/) > [For me to even be talking about bikini confidence is crazy. If you had asked me a couple of months ago, I probably would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordin-sparks/for-me-to-even-be-talking-about-bikini-confidence-is-crazy-if-you-had/) [Jordin Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordin-sparks/) > [Only once have I been made mute. It was when a man asked me, 'Who are you?'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalil-gibran/only-once-have-i-been-made-mute-it-was-when-a-man-asked-me-who-are-you/) [Khalil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalil-gibran/) > [The only thing Steve Jobs has ever asked me in all the years we've been together and have been partners, the only thing he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lasseter/the-only-thing-steve-jobs-has-ever-asked-me-in-all-the-years-we-ve/) [John Lasseter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lasseter/) > [“A girl likes to be asked, dumbass.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-stover/a-girl-likes-to-be-asked-dumbass/) [Matthew Stover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-stover/) > [I've been asked to school dances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/finn-wolfhard/i-ve-been-asked-to-school-dances/) [Finn Wolfhard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/finn-wolfhard/) > [“Which to you have?' Mel asked, blocking the entry with his body. 'Talent or issues?' I paused for a moment, thought about this. 'Both,'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leila-sales/which-to-you-have-mel-asked-blocking-the-entry-with-his-body-talent/) [Leila Sales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leila-sales/) > [“Did you find someone who makes you feel all those things?” she asked, not wanting to think of her own failed union. He locked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mila-rossi/did-you-find-someone-who-makes-you-feel-all-those-things-she-asked/) [Mila Rossi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mila-rossi/) > [Hang on, did you just call me Angel?” I asked. “If I did?” “I don’t like it.” He grinned. “It stays. Angel.” He leaned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becca-fitzpatrick/hang-on-did-you-just-call-me-angel-i-asked-if-i-did-i-don-t-like-it/) [Becca Fitzpatrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becca-fitzpatrick/) > [At first, I asked, Why me? Then I thought, Why not me?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-jonas/at-first-i-asked-why-me-then-i-thought-why-not-me/) [Nick Jonas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-jonas/) > [When scientists are asked what they are working on, their response is seldom 'Finding the origin of the universe' or 'Seeking to cure cancer.'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-rees/when-scientists-are-asked-what-they-are-working-on-their-response-is/) [Martin Rees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-rees/) [Browse all 2,259 Asked quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asked/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Can I ask you something?\" you said. \"How did you ever survive that scandal?\" She said, \"I refused to be shamed.\" \"How did you do that?\" you asked. \"When they came at me, I kept coming,\" she said.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Gabrielle Zevin" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-zevin/can-i-ask-you-something-you-said-how-did-you-ever-survive-that/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Asked" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-zevin/can-i-ask-you-something-you-said-how-did-you-ever-survive-that/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/35d/gabrielle-zevin-626_asked_can-i-ask-you-something-you-said-how-did_1820790.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/35d/gabrielle-zevin-626_asked_can-i-ask-you-something-you-said-how-did_1820790.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/35d/gabrielle-zevin-626_asked_can-i-ask-you-something-you-said-how-did_1820790.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Can I ask you something?\" you said. \"How did you ever survive that scandal?\" She said, \"I refused to be…” — Gabrielle Zevin", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Gabrielle Zevin", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-zevin/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Can I ask you something?\" you...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-zevin/can-i-ask-you-something-you-said-how-did-you-ever-survive-that/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-zevin/can-i-ask-you-something-you-said-how-did-you-ever-survive-that/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```