---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: That's the thing about abuse - it can…"
description: "\"That's the thing about abuse - it can make the victim feel an overwhelming sense of shame, a shame so disabling that one suffers in silence.\" — Jagmeet..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a9/jagmeet-singh-6118_abuse_that-s-the-thing-about-abuse-it-can-make_2425384.jpg"
---

#  That's the thing about abuse - it can make the victim feel…

![“That's the thing about abuse - it can make the victim feel an overwhelming sense of shame, a shame so disabling that one suffers in silence.” quote by Jagmeet Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a9/jagmeet-singh-6118_abuse_that-s-the-thing-about-abuse-it-can-make_2425384.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a9/jagmeet-singh-6118_abuse_that-s-the-thing-about-abuse-it-can-make_2425384.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a9/jagmeet-singh-6118_abuse_that-s-the-thing-about-abuse-it-can-make_2425384.jpg)

> “That's the thing about abuse - it can make the victim feel an overwhelming sense of shame, a shame so disabling that one suffers in silence.”

[Jagmeet Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jagmeet-singh/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Abuse can cause deep shame that silences victims, preventing them from seeking help.

**In simple terms:** Abuse creates disabling shame that keeps victims silent.

Key Takeaway

Recognize and address shame to break silence.

Themes

shame abuse silence mental health

Mood

empathetic serious

Type

advice educational

When to use this quote

- counseling
- support groups
- education campaigns
- legal advocacy

Key Concepts

psychology trauma social stigma

Questions to Reflect On

- How does shame affect a victim’s willingness to speak out?
- What support systems can reduce shame?

A Different Perspective

Shame may also be internalized, making external support harder.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Abuse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abuse/) [Sense](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sense/) [Shame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shame/) [Shame Disabling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shame-disabling-6150634/) [Shame Shame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shame-shame-580563/) [Silence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/silence/) [Victim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/victim/) [Victim Feel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/victim-feel-2251073/)

## Related quotes

> [Looking for approval or blaming others or feeling like a victim. Whenever I feel myself doing that I try to stop and see myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alanis-morissette/looking-for-approval-or-blaming-others-or-feeling-like-a-victim/)

[Alanis Morissette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alanis-morissette/)

> [If you are taught bitterness and anger, then you will believe you are a victim. You will feel aggrieved and the twin brother of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/condoleezza-rice/if-you-are-taught-bitterness-and-anger-then-you-will-believe-you-are/)

[Condoleezza Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/condoleezza-rice/)

> [One still gets a sense from some people that I got this or that gig only because I'm Ian McKellen's ex, which isn't the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-mathias/one-still-gets-a-sense-from-some-people-that-i-got-this-or-that-gig/)

[Sean Mathias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-mathias/)

> [“Isn't it interesting that emotionally abusive personalities always expect their victim to feel guilt for them so that they can feel sorry for themselves?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-sacredfire/isn-t-it-interesting-that-emotionally-abusive-personalities-always/)

[Robin Sacredfire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-sacredfire/)

> [You are putting yourself in serious danger...' I think that I preferred to put myself in serious danger rather than confront my shame. My…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marjane-satrapi/you-are-putting-yourself-in-serious-danger-i-think-that-i-preferred/)

[Marjane Satrapi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marjane-satrapi/)

> [“The God, when he draws near, will the heart stand fast. But, oh my, shame! when of My shame! And let me say at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-h-lderlin/the-god-when-he-draws-near-will-the-heart-stand-fast-but-oh-my-shame/)

[Friedrich Hölderlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-h-lderlin/)

> [“Conviction says, 'My behavior was wrong.' Satan, on the other hand, floods our hearts with shame. Shame says, 'There is something wrong with me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-forehand/conviction-says-my-behavior-was-wrong-satan-on-the-other-hand-floods/)

[Dale Forehand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-forehand/)

> [“Toxic shame, the shame that binds us, is experienced as the all-pervasive sense that “I am flawed and defective as a human being.” Toxic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bradshaw/toxic-shame-the-shame-that-binds-us-is-experienced-as-the-all/)

[John Bradshaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bradshaw/)

> [“...it was ludicrous to think that we could just talk our way out of shame, that shame was necessary, that it prevented us from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miriam-toews/it-was-ludicrous-to-think-that-we-could-just-talk-our-way-out-of/)

[Miriam Toews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miriam-toews/)

> [“The shame attached to rape was men’s shame, shame they were too weak to carry: that their gender could do this, that they could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nevada-barr/the-shame-attached-to-rape-was-men-s-shame-shame-they-were-too-weak/)

[Nevada Barr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nevada-barr/)

> [“Oh, such a shame, such a shame. Oh, such a shame. What’s it all about anyhow?” “I’ve wondered for a long time.” “But why…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/oh-such-a-shame-such-a-shame-oh-such-a-shame-what-s-it-all-about/)

[F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/)

> [Always be yourself. never try to hide who you are. the only shame is to have shame. always stand up for what you believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/always-be-yourself-never-try-to-hide-who-you-are-the-only-shame-is-to/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [No, not shame on you. Shame on her. She can't see what's right in front of her giving her his all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danialla/no-not-shame-on-you-shame-on-her-she-can-t-see-what-s-right-in-front/)

[DaniAlla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danialla/)

> [“Oh shame, shame! Oh crying shame! How can we? Why do we allow ourselves? What are we doing? The last little room of dirt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-bellow/oh-shame-shame-oh-crying-shame-how-can-we-why-do-we-allow-ourselves/)

[Saul Bellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-bellow/)

> [“But focus always on your shame, and your shame will eat you. It will become you. That is the coward's way. A coward never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marjorie-m-liu/but-focus-always-on-your-shame-and-your-shame-will-eat-you-it-will/)

[Marjorie M. Liu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marjorie-m-liu/)

## More by Jagmeet Singh

> [For any kid who feels like a newcomer, who feels like they don't belong, my candidacy says, 'Not only do you belong, you can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jagmeet-singh/for-any-kid-who-feels-like-a-newcomer-who-feels-like-they-don-t/)

[Jagmeet Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jagmeet-singh/)

> [I believe that if we are able to, obviously we need to ensure that we have a robust budget that's balanced, but there's no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jagmeet-singh/i-believe-that-if-we-are-able-to-obviously-we-need-to-ensure-that-we/)

[Jagmeet Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jagmeet-singh/)

> [We are the party that hears the stories of people, the struggles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jagmeet-singh/we-are-the-party-that-hears-the-stories-of-people-the-struggles/)

[Jagmeet Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jagmeet-singh/)

> [We need to, as a society, collectively, unequivocally denounce any time innocent lives are lost.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jagmeet-singh/we-need-to-as-a-society-collectively-unequivocally-denounce-any-time/)

[Jagmeet Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jagmeet-singh/)

> [We need to truly understand what economic injustice and inequality looks like for hard-working Canadians grappling with it every day on the ground, at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jagmeet-singh/we-need-to-truly-understand-what-economic-injustice-and-inequality/)

[Jagmeet Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jagmeet-singh/)

> [I am proud of the work that I have done in the Sikh community and across Canada.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jagmeet-singh/i-am-proud-of-the-work-that-i-have-done-in-the-sikh-community-and/)

[Jagmeet Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jagmeet-singh/)

> [We're a trading nation. We need to have trade, we rely on it, a vast proportion of our jobs in our country rely on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jagmeet-singh/we-re-a-trading-nation-we-need-to-have-trade-we-rely-on-it-a-vast/)

[Jagmeet Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jagmeet-singh/)

> [If someone doesn't like Saudi Arabia's human rights record, that doesn't mean that you are in any way attacking Muslims. You're attacking a government's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jagmeet-singh/if-someone-doesn-t-like-saudi-arabia-s-human-rights-record-that-doesn/)

[Jagmeet Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jagmeet-singh/)

> [For me, style wasn't something that was a luxury or an option, really: It was a necessity. I knew that there were certain negative…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jagmeet-singh/for-me-style-wasn-t-something-that-was-a-luxury-or-an-option-really/)

[Jagmeet Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jagmeet-singh/)

> [No climate plan can leave workers and communities behind nor trample the rights of Indigenous communities. Canadians must have opportunity and income security during…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jagmeet-singh/no-climate-plan-can-leave-workers-and-communities-behind-nor-trample/)

[Jagmeet Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jagmeet-singh/)

> [I've never been afraid of taking on issues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jagmeet-singh/i-ve-never-been-afraid-of-taking-on-issues/)

[Jagmeet Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jagmeet-singh/)

> [The ability to become more accessible, to spread a message further, and to share stories at a faster rate are great things to come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jagmeet-singh/the-ability-to-become-more-accessible-to-spread-a-message-further-and/)

[Jagmeet Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jagmeet-singh/)

> [It's hard to love yourself when you've been told your whole life that there is something wrong with you - when you are called…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jagmeet-singh/it-s-hard-to-love-yourself-when-you-ve-been-told-your-whole-life-that/)

[Jagmeet Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jagmeet-singh/)

> [We're gonna work hard to make sure young people have a future that's filled with hope. That's right. We want young people to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jagmeet-singh/we-re-gonna-work-hard-to-make-sure-young-people-have-a-future-that-s/)

[Jagmeet Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jagmeet-singh/)

> [I don't have a firm line on balanced budgets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jagmeet-singh/i-don-t-have-a-firm-line-on-balanced-budgets/)

[Jagmeet Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jagmeet-singh/)

[Explore all 100 Jagmeet Singh quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jagmeet-singh/)

## More Abuse quotes

> [I wrote when I was a young teen, but I didn't put an eye on the available markets until I was seventeen. The next…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reed/i-wrote-when-i-was-a-young-teen-but-i-didn-t-put-an-eye-on-the/)

[Robert Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reed/)

> [Amongst the financial Twitterati, the term 'muppets' has come to describe any client used and abused by some financial predator. I've adopted the term…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-ritholtz/amongst-the-financial-twitterati-the-term-muppets-has-come-to/)

[Barry Ritholtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-ritholtz/)

> [Being nice is okay,but don't allow anybody to abuse it...try to fight for your self when you know your on the right way...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-nice-is-okay-but-don-t-allow-anybody-to-abuse-it-try-to-fight/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“Build a bridge over shame by teaching kids about sexual abuse. Give them a chance to run to us should they encounter it. Be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-byers-ruch/build-a-bridge-over-shame-by-teaching-kids-about-sexual-abuse-give/)

[Carolyn Byers Ruch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-byers-ruch/)

> [It is sure that those are most desirous of honour or glory who cry out loudest of its abuse and the vanity of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baruch-spinoza/it-is-sure-that-those-are-most-desirous-of-honour-or-glory-who-cry/)

[Baruch Spinoza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baruch-spinoza/)

> [“The sole reason I stand to open it up now is that lots of people who are in pain just like I was, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-dsouza/the-sole-reason-i-stand-to-open-it-up-now-is-that-lots-of-people-who/)

[Patricia Dsouza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-dsouza/)

> [Democracy must be built through open societies that share information. When there is information, there is enlightenment. When there is debate, there are solutions.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/atifete-jahjaga/democracy-must-be-built-through-open-societies-that-share-information/)

[Atifete Jahjaga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/atifete-jahjaga/)

> [I have a theory that all abuse, no matter what kind of abuse it is, is foremost an assault on the mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tara-westover/i-have-a-theory-that-all-abuse-no-matter-what-kind-of-abuse-it-is-is/)

[Tara Westover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tara-westover/)

> [“Blaming therapy, social work and other caring professions for the confabulation of testimony of 'satanic ritual abuse' legitimated a programme of political and social…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-salter/blaming-therapy-social-work-and-other-caring-professions-for-the/)

[Michael Salter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-salter/)

> [Finally, the scariest thing about abuse of any shape or form, is, in my opinion, not the abuse itself, but that if it continues…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-cumming/finally-the-scariest-thing-about-abuse-of-any-shape-or-form-is-in-my/)

[Alan Cumming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-cumming/)

> [“Research on organised abuse emphasises the diversity of organised abuse cases, and the ways in which serious forms of child maltreatment cluster in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-salter/research-on-organised-abuse-emphasises-the-diversity-of-organised/)

[Michael Salter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-salter/)

> [“Stand up for yourself. Never give any one permission to abuse you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/stand-up-for-yourself-never-give-any-one-permission-to-abuse-you/)

[Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/)

> [All governments should be pressured to correct their abuses of human rights.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-stallman/all-governments-should-be-pressured-to-correct-their-abuses-of-human/)

[Richard Stallman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-stallman/)

> [“Words are free. It does not mean you should abuse them. Be kind with them. They will mirror your actions.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hadinet-tekie/words-are-free-it-does-not-mean-you-should-abuse-them-be-kind-with/)

[Hadinet Tekie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hadinet-tekie/)

> [My illness is one often characterized by dramatic overspending - in my case through frenzied shopping sprees, credit card abuse, excessive hoarding of unnecessary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-behrman/my-illness-is-one-often-characterized-by-dramatic-overspending-in-my/)

[Andy Behrman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-behrman/)

[Browse all 3,113 Abuse quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abuse/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "That's the thing about abuse - it can make the victim feel an overwhelming sense of shame, a shame so disabling that one suffers in silence.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Jagmeet Singh"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jagmeet-singh/that-s-the-thing-about-abuse-it-can-make-the-victim-feel-an/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Abuse"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jagmeet-singh/that-s-the-thing-about-abuse-it-can-make-the-victim-feel-an/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a9/jagmeet-singh-6118_abuse_that-s-the-thing-about-abuse-it-can-make_2425384.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a9/jagmeet-singh-6118_abuse_that-s-the-thing-about-abuse-it-can-make_2425384.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a9/jagmeet-singh-6118_abuse_that-s-the-thing-about-abuse-it-can-make_2425384.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“That's the thing about abuse - it can make the victim feel an overwhelming sense of shame, a shame so…” — Jagmeet Singh",
                "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": "Jagmeet Singh",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jagmeet-singh/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "That's the thing about abuse -...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jagmeet-singh/that-s-the-thing-about-abuse-it-can-make-the-victim-feel-an/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jagmeet-singh/that-s-the-thing-about-abuse-it-can-make-the-victim-feel-an/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
