--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The main question is not, how can we hide…" description: "\"The main question is not, how can we hide our wounds...but how can we put our woundedness in service to others.\" — Henri Nouwen" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f9/henri-nouwen-600_hide_the-main-question-is-not-how-can-we-hide_2683676.png" --- # The main question is not, how can we hide our wounds...but… ![“The main question is not, how can we hide our wounds...but how can we put our woundedness in service to others.” quote by Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f9/henri-nouwen-600_hide_the-main-question-is-not-how-can-we-hide_2683676.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f9/henri-nouwen-600_hide_the-main-question-is-not-how-can-we-hide_2683676.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f9/henri-nouwen-600_hide_the-main-question-is-not-how-can-we-hide_2683676.png) > “The main question is not, how can we hide our wounds...but how can we put our woundedness in service to others.” [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Transform personal pain into service, using woundedness to help others heal. **In simple terms:** Turn wounds into service. Key Takeaway Serve others with your experience. Themes service healing vulnerability purpose Mood hopeful inspirational Type spiritual advice When to use this quote - counseling - volunteering - mentorship - support groups Key Concepts theology psychology spiritual care Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance helping others with caring for yourself? - What personal wounds can you share to inspire? A Different Perspective Focusing on others may neglect self‑care. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Service to others](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/service-to-others/) [Woundedness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/woundedness/) [Wounds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wounds/) ## Related quotes > [How strange that we should ordinarily feel compelled to hide our wounds when we are all wounded.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-scott-peck/how-strange-that-we-should-ordinarily-feel-compelled-to-hide-our-2/) [M. Scott Peck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-scott-peck/) > [How strange that we should ordinarily feel compelled to hide our wounds when we are all wounded! Community requires the ability to expose our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-scott-peck/how-strange-that-we-should-ordinarily-feel-compelled-to-hide-our/) [M. Scott Peck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-scott-peck/) > [Nobody escapes being wounded. We are all wounded people, whether physically, emotionally, mentally, or spiritually. The main question is not, 'How can we hide…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/nobody-escapes-being-wounded-we-are-all-wounded-people-whether/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) > [The doctor is effective only when he himself is affected. Only the wounded physician heals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-doctor-is-effective-only-when-he-himself-is-affected-only-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“In our own woundedness, we can become sources of life for others.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/in-our-own-woundedness-we-can-become-sources-of-life-for-others/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Only love can heal the wounds of the past. However, the intensity of our woundedness often leads to a closing of the heart, making…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/only-love-can-heal-the-wounds-of-the-past-however-the-intensity-of/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [Jealousy always has been my cross, the weakness and woundedness in me that has most often caused me to feel ugly and unlovable, like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-lamott/jealousy-always-has-been-my-cross-the-weakness-and-woundedness-in-me/) [Anne Lamott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-lamott/) > [“It can be proven that wounded people wound others. Walk circumspectly among wounded people, their injuries are deeply submerged in their brain's amygdala, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracey-bond/it-can-be-proven-that-wounded-people-wound-others-walk-circumspectly/) [Tracey Bond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracey-bond/) > [The path of descent is the path of transformation. Darkness, failure, relapse, death, and woundedness are our primary teachers, rather than ideas or doctrines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rohr/the-path-of-descent-is-the-path-of-transformation-darkness-failure/) [Richard Rohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rohr/) > [“My scars remind me that I did indeed survive my deepest wounds. That in itself is an accomplishment. And they bring to mind something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-goodier/my-scars-remind-me-that-i-did-indeed-survive-my-deepest-wounds-that/) [Steve Goodier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-goodier/) > [I had no idea what I was signing up for. I auditioned for some random character. I knew the sides were fake, but what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caity-lotz/i-had-no-idea-what-i-was-signing-up-for-i-auditioned-for-some-random/) [Caity Lotz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caity-lotz/) > [I had lots of hurt and lots of pain, lots of woundedness, bruises, broken heartedness in my life. I was abused sexually by my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/i-had-lots-of-hurt-and-lots-of-pain-lots-of-woundedness-bruises/) [Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/) > [Life is as complex as we are. Sometimes our vulnerability is our strength, our fear develops our courage, and our woundedness is the road…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-naomi-remen/life-is-as-complex-as-we-are-sometimes-our-vulnerability-is-our/) [Rachel Naomi Remen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-naomi-remen/) > [Love, Mercy, and Grace, sisters all, attend your wounds of silence and hope.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aberjhani/love-mercy-and-grace-sisters-all-attend-your-wounds-of-silence-and/) [Aberjhani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aberjhani/) > [We come unbidden into this life, and if we are lucky we find a purpose beyond starvation, misery, and early death which, lest we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-verghese/we-come-unbidden-into-this-life-and-if-we-are-lucky-we-find-a-purpose/) [Abraham Verghese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-verghese/) ## More by Henri Nouwen > [We are not the healers, we are not the reconcilers, we are not the givers of life. We are sinful, broken, vulnerable people who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/we-are-not-the-healers-we-are-not-the-reconcilers-we-are-not-the/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) > [The more we touch the intimate love of God which creates, sustains, and guides us, the more we recognize the multitude of fruits that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/the-more-we-touch-the-intimate-love-of-god-which-creates-sustains-and/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) > [Feelings of guilt dominate our work as peacemakers we cannot last long. But when we have opened each other's eyes to the great human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/feelings-of-guilt-dominate-our-work-as-peacemakers-we-cannot-last/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) > [...we all want to hear stories, from the moment we are born to the moment we die. Stories connect our little lives with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/we-all-want-to-hear-stories-from-the-moment-we-are-born-to-the-moment/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) > [I have found it very important...to let go of my wishes and start hoping.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/i-have-found-it-very-important-to-let-go-of-my-wishes-and-start-hoping/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) > [Simply being with someone is difficult because it asks of us that we share in the other's vulnerability, enter with him or her into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/simply-being-with-someone-is-difficult-because-it-asks-of-us-that-we/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) > [Somewhere we know that without silence, words lose their meaning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/somewhere-we-know-that-without-silence-words-lose-their-meaning/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) > [Jesus says, "Keep your heart on the kingdom first. Keep your heart on God's love. Keep focused on the fact that you are God's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/jesus-says-keep-your-heart-on-the-kingdom-first-keep-your-heart-on/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) > [This sounds very simple and maybe even trite, but very few people know that they are loved without condition or limits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/this-sounds-very-simple-and-maybe-even-trite-but-very-few-people-know/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) > [“The more preoccupied we are with security the more visible the force of death becomes, whether in the form of a pistol beside our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/the-more-preoccupied-we-are-with-security-the-more-visible-the-force/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) > [If you feel a great loneliness and a deep longing for human contact, you have to be extremely discerning...and ask yourself whether this situation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/if-you-feel-a-great-loneliness-and-a-deep-longing-for-human-contact/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) > [I choose L'Arche; L'Arche chooses me. I would be dead if I weren't here. I need people to love me and care for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/i-choose-l-arche-l-arche-chooses-me-i-would-be-dead-if-i-weren-t-here/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) > [The truth, even though I cannot feel it right now, is that I am the chosen child of God, precious in God's eyes, called…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/the-truth-even-though-i-cannot-feel-it-right-now-is-that-i-am-the/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) > [In a world so torn apart by rivalry, anger, and hatred, we have the privileged vocation to be living signs of a love that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/in-a-world-so-torn-apart-by-rivalry-anger-and-hatred-we-have-the/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) > [Where true inner freedom is, there is God. And where God is, there we want to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/where-true-inner-freedom-is-there-is-god-and-where-god-is-there-we/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) [Explore all 452 Henri Nouwen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) ## More Hide quotes > [I wonder: when a Jehovah's Witness dies and goes to Heaven, does God hide behind the door and pretend He's not home?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-celio/i-wonder-when-a-jehovah-s-witness-dies-and-goes-to-heaven-does-god/) [Brian Celio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-celio/) > [Im not as strong as I wanna be and I'm not as brave as you. But what ive been through is enough to break…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/im-not-as-strong-as-i-wanna-be-and-i-m-not-as-brave-as-you-but-what/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Honest people don't hide their deeds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-bronte/honest-people-don-t-hide-their-deeds/) [Emily Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-bronte/) > [I grew up in a blue-collar neighborhood and was raised by a man who did not emote, ever... I always cry at movies, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-quick/i-grew-up-in-a-blue-collar-neighborhood-and-was-raised-by-a-man-who/) [Matthew Quick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-quick/) > [Statistics are like miniskirts: They give you good ideas but hide the important things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ebbe-skovdahl/statistics-are-like-miniskirts-they-give-you-good-ideas-but-hide-the/) Ebbe Skovdahl > [“The easiest way to hide a relationship is not to attempt to hide it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-fast/the-easiest-way-to-hide-a-relationship-is-not-to-attempt-to-hide-it/) [Howard Fast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-fast/) > [I'm only a man with a candle to guide me, I'm taking a stand to escape what's inside me: a monster, I've turned into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/imagine-dragons/i-m-only-a-man-with-a-candle-to-guide-me-i-m-taking-a-stand-to-escape/) [Imagine Dragons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/imagine-dragons/) > [I never really endeavored to hide anything, but there were times I chose not to relegate my history to the back page of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-never-really-endeavored-to-hide-anything-but-there-were-times-i/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Uruguayans are competitive, and we always want to win. Even though we try to hide it, it is impossible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diego-godin/uruguayans-are-competitive-and-we-always-want-to-win-even-though-we/) [Diego Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diego-godin/) > [I think that ties in with issues of identity as well - that sometimes there are parts of us we want to hide, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-myracle/i-think-that-ties-in-with-issues-of-identity-as-well-that-sometimes/) [Lauren Myracle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-myracle/) > [Politicians who lack the vision to lead the community on big issues like public transport often hide their inaction by blaming other levels of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-albanese/politicians-who-lack-the-vision-to-lead-the-community-on-big-issues/) [Anthony Albanese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-albanese/) > [Leadership is the ability to hide your panic from others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/leadership-is-the-ability-to-hide-your-panic-from-others/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Modern capitalism seeks to assure us that it operates according to the principles of free creativity, endless development and diversity. It glosses over its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nadezhda-tolokonnikova/modern-capitalism-seeks-to-assure-us-that-it-operates-according-to/) [Nadezhda Tolokonnikova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nadezhda-tolokonnikova/) > [“The sun cannot hide from its own light.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/the-sun-cannot-hide-from-its-own-light/) [Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/) > [You can run from the grave, but you can't hide.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeaniene-frost/you-can-run-from-the-grave-but-you-can-t-hide/) [Jeaniene Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeaniene-frost/) Browse all 1,474 Hide quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The main question is not, how can we hide our wounds...but how can we put our woundedness in service to others.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Henri Nouwen" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/the-main-question-is-not-how-can-we-hide-our-wounds-but-how-can-we/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Hide" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/the-main-question-is-not-how-can-we-hide-our-wounds-but-how-can-we/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f9/henri-nouwen-600_hide_the-main-question-is-not-how-can-we-hide_2683676.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f9/henri-nouwen-600_hide_the-main-question-is-not-how-can-we-hide_2683676.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f9/henri-nouwen-600_hide_the-main-question-is-not-how-can-we-hide_2683676.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The main question is not, how can we hide our wounds...but how can we put our woundedness in service to…” — Henri Nouwen", "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": "Henri Nouwen", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The main question is not, how...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/the-main-question-is-not-how-can-we-hide-our-wounds-but-how-can-we/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/the-main-question-is-not-how-can-we-hide-our-wounds-but-how-can-we/#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 } } ] } ```