--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I’m not going to say what was wrong with…" description: "\"“I’m not going to say what was wrong with Claire, not here. I consider that a private matter. It’s nobody’s business what kind of illnesses you’ve had—..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/160/herman-koch-7856_quote_i-m-not-going-to-say-what-was-wrong-with_1588779.jpg" --- # I’m not going to say what was wrong with Claire, not here… ![“I’m not going to say what was wrong with Claire, not here. I consider that a private matter. It’s nobody’s business what kind of illnesses you’ve had—in any case it’s up to her if she wants to talk about it, and not up to me.” quote by Herman Koch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/160/herman-koch-7856_quote_i-m-not-going-to-say-what-was-wrong-with_1588779.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/160/herman-koch-7856_quote_i-m-not-going-to-say-what-was-wrong-with_1588779.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/160/herman-koch-7856_quote_i-m-not-going-to-say-what-was-wrong-with_1588779.jpg) > ““I’m not going to say what was wrong with Claire, not here. I consider that a private matter. It’s nobody’s business what kind of illnesses you’ve had—in any case it’s up to her if she wants to talk about it, and not up to me.”” [Herman Koch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-koch/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A character defends privacy, refusing to discuss personal health, emphasizing personal agency and boundaries. **In simple terms:** Respect privacy and personal boundaries. Key Takeaway Honor others' privacy. Themes privacy boundaries personal agency Mood thoughtful reserved Type ethical interpersonal When to use this quote - family discussions - workplace conversations - media interviews Key Concepts ethics interpersonal dynamics Questions to Reflect On - When should you share personal health info? - How do you balance privacy with caring for others? A Different Perspective May limit openness needed for support. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Claire Consider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/claire-consider-6017385/) [Consider Private](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consider-private-671025/) [Private](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/private/) [Private Matter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/private-matter-962939/) [Wrong Claire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wrong-claire-6017384/) ## Related quotes > [Nutrition is not a private matter!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonah/nutrition-is-not-a-private-matter/) [Jonah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonah/) > [I consider myself a private person most of the time so it's hard to perform in a very public situation and have to do...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-ii-prince-of-monaco/i-consider-myself-a-private-person-most-of-the-time-so-it-s-hard-to/) [Albert II, Prince of Monaco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-ii-prince-of-monaco/) > [There are drones flying over the air randomly that are recording everything that's happening on what we consider our private property. That type of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonia-sotomayor/there-are-drones-flying-over-the-air-randomly-that-are-recording/) [Sonia Sotomayor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonia-sotomayor/) > [I actually don't consider myself that private. I know that's how I've been characterized. That's OK.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-bird/i-actually-don-t-consider-myself-that-private-i-know-that-s-how-i-ve/) [Sue Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-bird/) > [I don't consider my private feelings to be relevant in any way, actually.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-lee-jones/i-don-t-consider-my-private-feelings-to-be-relevant-in-any-way/) [Tommy Lee Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-lee-jones/) > [“Marzipan's a private matter!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-mortimer/marzipan-s-a-private-matter/) [Bob Mortimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-mortimer/) > [My best feature is unfortunately a private matter, although I'm told it is spectacular. But you can't really walk it down the red carpet.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-beckinsale/my-best-feature-is-unfortunately-a-private-matter-although-i-m-told/) [Kate Beckinsale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-beckinsale/) > [“The reason is that as far as I am concerned, what happened to me is a purely private matter. In another time, in another…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-m-coetzee/the-reason-is-that-as-far-as-i-am-concerned-what-happened-to-me-is-a/) [J.M. Coetzee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-m-coetzee/) > [I believe that tears should be very private, and no matter what issue or what situation, we should have a very dignified demeanor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-hesselbein/i-believe-that-tears-should-be-very-private-and-no-matter-what-issue/) [Frances Hesselbein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-hesselbein/) > [Opinions are a private matter. The public has an interest only in judgments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-benjamin/opinions-are-a-private-matter-the-public-has-an-interest-only-in/) [Walter Benjamin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-benjamin/) > [Your past's a private matter, sweetheart. You just keep it locked up in xbox where it can't hurt anyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherynne-m-valente/your-past-s-a-private-matter-sweetheart-you-just-keep-it-locked-up-in/) [Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/) > [Sexuality is a private matter; some believe that broadcasting it destroys the very things that make it sacred.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lance-loud/sexuality-is-a-private-matter-some-believe-that-broadcasting-it/) [Lance Loud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lance-loud/) > [The house has to please everyone, contrary to the work of art which does not. The work is a private matter for the artist.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-loos/the-house-has-to-please-everyone-contrary-to-the-work-of-art-which/) [Adolf Loos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-loos/) > [The act of creation, as you very well know, is a lonely and private matter and has nothing to do with the public area...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-albee/the-act-of-creation-as-you-very-well-know-is-a-lonely-and-private/) [Edward Albee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-albee/) > [Education is a private matter between the person and the world of knowledge and experience, and has little to do with school or college.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lillian-smith/education-is-a-private-matter-between-the-person-and-the-world-of/) [Lillian Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lillian-smith/) ## More by Herman Koch > [“We looked at each other. At that moment, I was also a hundred percent sure that Van Dieren and I were thinking the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-koch/we-looked-at-each-other-at-that-moment-i-was-also-a-hundred-percent/) [Herman Koch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-koch/) > [The stupid woman is the one who thinks she doesn’t need any help.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-koch/the-stupid-woman-is-the-one-who-thinks-she-doesn-t-need-any-help/) [Herman Koch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-koch/) > [“Christ, what an asshole!" Babette said.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-koch/christ-what-an-asshole-babette-said/) [Herman Koch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-koch/) > [“Some people might say it's not smart to be so insecure about what you wear. But that's not how I see it. The stupid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-koch/some-people-might-say-it-s-not-smart-to-be-so-insecure-about-what-you/) [Herman Koch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-koch/) > [“… when Michel came home from school, for example, and everything was as it should be. My own voice, above all, asking him what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-koch/when-michel-came-home-from-school-for-example-and-everything-was-as/) [Herman Koch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-koch/) > [“They all had to do something: they had to make a start in life; they had to go through life. Even though a single…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-koch/they-all-had-to-do-something-they-had-to-make-a-start-in-life-they/) [Herman Koch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-koch/) > [In one way or another, every parent is curious what their children... what are they doing when we don't see?... What double lives are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-koch/in-one-way-or-another-every-parent-is-curious-what-their-children/) [Herman Koch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-koch/) > [“Life as a widow, she thinks, will always be like this. The friends will go on proposing toasts for months (for years!). To her.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-koch/life-as-a-widow-she-thinks-will-always-be-like-this-the-friends-will/) [Herman koch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-koch/) > [“Er was een dokter in de zaal.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-koch/er-was-een-dokter-in-de-zaal/) [Herman Koch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-koch/) > [“The smile remained suspended on her face, but it was as though it had been disconnected from the emotion behind it – if there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-koch/the-smile-remained-suspended-on-her-face-but-it-was-as-though-it-had/) [Herman Koch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-koch/) > [“I let go of the pump as well now. I registered a sense of fatigue. And regret. It was the same fatigue and regret…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-koch/i-let-go-of-the-pump-as-well-now-i-registered-a-sense-of-fatigue-and/) [Herman Koch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-koch/) > [“Is it life threatening?” they asked. They said it slightly sotto voce, but you could hear the thirst for sensation right through it: when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-koch/is-it-life-threatening-they-asked-they-said-it-slightly-sotto-voce/) [Herman Koch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-koch/) > [“happiness needs nothing but itself, it doesn’t have to be validated.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-koch/happiness-needs-nothing-but-itself-it-doesn-t-have-to-be-validated/) [Herman Koch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-koch/) > [Around here, we're as happy as God in France.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-koch/around-here-we-re-as-happy-as-god-in-france/) [Herman Koch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-koch/) > [“...het was van dat weer dat je niet weet of het al avond wordt of dat de dag nog moet beginnen...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-koch/het-was-van-dat-weer-dat-je-niet-weet-of-het-al-avond-wordt-of-dat-de/) [Herman Koch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-koch/) [Explore all 65 Herman Koch quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-koch/) ## More Private quotes > [I don't like to meddle in my private affairs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-kraus/i-don-t-like-to-meddle-in-my-private-affairs/) [Karl Kraus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-kraus/) > [Nothing is more private than a woman's body; it is her physical, emotional, and moral citadel. She cannot be free at all if she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-b-smedes/nothing-is-more-private-than-a-woman-s-body-it-is-her-physical/) [Lewis B. Smedes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-b-smedes/) > [Markets are designed to allow individuals to look after their private needs and to pursue profit. It's really a great invention and I wouldn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-soros/markets-are-designed-to-allow-individuals-to-look-after-their-private/) [George Soros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-soros/) > [I'm against unanswerable concentrations of power, whether that be government or private industry or religious figures - anybody who is not accountable to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-suarez/i-m-against-unanswerable-concentrations-of-power-whether-that-be/) [Daniel Suarez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-suarez/) > [Each time I think I've created time for myself, along comes a throwback to disrupt my private space.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wole-soyinka/each-time-i-think-i-ve-created-time-for-myself-along-comes-a/) [Wole Soyinka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wole-soyinka/) > [Research promoted by NARA within a major coalition of Federal and private sector research partners has at last demonstrated that an Electronic Records Archives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-weinstein/research-promoted-by-nara-within-a-major-coalition-of-federal-and/) [Allen Weinstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-weinstein/) > [Every reform was once a private opinion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/every-reform-was-once-a-private-opinion/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Ninety-eight percent of the singing I did was private singing - it was in the shower, at the dishwasher, driving my car, singing with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-ronstadt/ninety-eight-percent-of-the-singing-i-did-was-private-singing-it-was/) [Linda Ronstadt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-ronstadt/) > [The reality is that the work I do is not private work. I bring all my secrets, my life, to my work. Anybody who's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-garcia/the-reality-is-that-the-work-i-do-is-not-private-work-i-bring-all-my/) [Andy Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-garcia/) > [I love being a private company. I don't ever want to be forced to not do the things I need to do to keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kendra-scott/i-love-being-a-private-company-i-don-t-ever-want-to-be-forced-to-not/) [Kendra Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kendra-scott/) > [“The public good must come before private interests.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/the-public-good-must-come-before-private-interests/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [People initially think I'm a snob because I'm intensely private.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evangeline-lilly/people-initially-think-i-m-a-snob-because-i-m-intensely-private/) [Evangeline Lilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evangeline-lilly/) > [The claim of the State Socialists, however, that this right would not be exercised in matters pertaining to the individual in the more intimate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-tucker/the-claim-of-the-state-socialists-however-that-this-right-would-not/) [Benjamin Tucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-tucker/) > [Pro-lifers have long been castigated for bringing private values into the public square. But actually it is the pro-abortion position that is based on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-pearcey/pro-lifers-have-long-been-castigated-for-bringing-private-values-into/) [Nancy Pearcey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-pearcey/) > [With things in my personal life, if I talk about it, it doesn't stay personal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-szohr/with-things-in-my-personal-life-if-i-talk-about-it-it-doesn-t-stay/) [Jessica Szohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-szohr/) [Browse all 1,400 Private quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/private/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I’m not going to say what was wrong with Claire, not here. I consider that a private matter. 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