--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Cheating is like a girl’s maidenhead…" description: "\"“Cheating is like a girl’s maidenhead. Doesn’t matter if she’s done it once or a hundred times; she’s ruined just the same.”\" — Jennifer Egan" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d3/jennifer-egan-825_cheating_cheating-is-like-a-girl-s-maidenhead-doe_3177493.jpg" --- # Cheating is like a girl’s maidenhead. Doesn’t matter if… ![“Cheating is like a girl’s maidenhead. Doesn’t matter if she’s done it once or a hundred times; she’s ruined just the same.” quote by Jennifer Egan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d3/jennifer-egan-825_cheating_cheating-is-like-a-girl-s-maidenhead-doe_3177493.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d3/jennifer-egan-825_cheating_cheating-is-like-a-girl-s-maidenhead-doe_3177493.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d3/jennifer-egan-825_cheating_cheating-is-like-a-girl-s-maidenhead-doe_3177493.jpg) > ““Cheating is like a girl’s maidenhead. Doesn’t matter if she’s done it once or a hundred times; she’s ruined just the same.”” [Jennifer Egan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-egan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote suggests that a single act of betrayal permanently damages trust, regardless of frequency. **In simple terms:** Betrayal permanently damages trust. Key Takeaway Guard trust, avoid betrayal. Themes trust betrayal relationships Mood cautious reflective Type moral cautionary When to use this quote - marriage - friendship - business partnerships Key Concepts psychology social stigma Questions to Reflect On - Can trust ever be fully restored after betrayal? - How does society judge repeated versus single transgressions? A Different Perspective Trust can be rebuilt with effort, but scars may remain. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cheating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cheating/) [Cheating Like](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cheating-like-438731/) [Girl Maidenhead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/girl-maidenhead-5808315/) [Like Girl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-girl/) [Ruined](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ruined/) ## Related quotes > [Cheating is like eating fast food. You do it, you enjoy it, and then you end up feeling like shit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/cheating-is-like-eating-fast-food-you-do-it-you-enjoy-it-and-then-you/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [“Cheating seems like such a hard life when you can be loyal and faithful and live out your life in happiness!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/cheating-seems-like-such-a-hard-life-when-you-can-be-loyal-and/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [Relationships are like roller coasters, cheating is like throwing up, if you do decide to go on the relation ship roller coaster, be ready.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamiee-leen/relationships-are-like-roller-coasters-cheating-is-like-throwing-up/) [Jamiee Leen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamiee-leen/) > [I think people who sample are cheating. It is like people who do collages. Use all of your own stuff.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-dixon/i-think-people-who-sample-are-cheating-it-is-like-people-who-do/) [Bill Dixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-dixon/) > [“Cheating is like jumping into the middle of an ocean and expect not to drown.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gift-gugu-mona/cheating-is-like-jumping-into-the-middle-of-an-ocean-and-expect-not/) [Gift Gugu Mona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gift-gugu-mona/) > [I like that girl more that I can remember likin’ anything in my life. I’m not about to give her up. I’ll start carin’…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-elkeles/i-like-that-girl-more-that-i-can-remember-likin-anything-in-my-life-i/) [Simone Elkeles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-elkeles/) > [I'm trying to be perfect. Ah wait! NO! I'm trying to be like how my girl wants.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yash-tiwari/i-m-trying-to-be-perfect-ah-wait-no-i-m-trying-to-be-like-how-my-girl/) [Yash Tiwari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yash-tiwari/) > [A nice thick ting like you girl and you don't have a Man? What is wrong with you? Like your legs can't open or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glen-rambharack/a-nice-thick-ting-like-you-girl-and-you-don-t-have-a-man-what-is/) [Glen Rambharack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glen-rambharack/) > [Women like me because I don't look like a girl who would steal a husband. At least not for long.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-harlow/women-like-me-because-i-don-t-look-like-a-girl-who-would-steal-a/) [Jean Harlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-harlow/) > [The Perfect Gentleman~~~\| ¢ Gives Her One of His T-Shirts to Sleep In, ¢ Give Her One of His Hobbies; To Wear so everyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/the-perfect-gentleman-gives-her-one-of-his-t-shirts-to-sleep-in-give/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [Somewhere around 24, 25. I met Kelsea Ballerini... we were like in a girl's therapy group for artists. And she was the only one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carly-pearce/somewhere-around-24-25-i-met-kelsea-ballerini-we-were-like-in-a-girl/) [Carly Pearce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carly-pearce/) > [I think that a lot of men, especially once they're married, feel like their girl is just who she is, so don't treat her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-dice-clay/i-think-that-a-lot-of-men-especially-once-they-re-married-feel-like/) [Andrew Dice Clay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-dice-clay/) > [I don't like a girl on social media, when you have an open inbox, answering questions from dudes left and right, every day. What's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meek-mill/i-don-t-like-a-girl-on-social-media-when-you-have-an-open-inbox/) [Meek Mill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meek-mill/) > [“I can be tough, i can be strong, but with you, it's not like that at all. there's a girl that gives a s---…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/avril-lavigne/i-can-be-tough-i-can-be-strong-but-with-you-it-s-not-like-that-at-all/) [Avril Lavigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/avril-lavigne/) > [If you really like a girl, make her feel as special as you can while the spark is there, because if that spark ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jermaine-mciver/if-you-really-like-a-girl-make-her-feel-as-special-as-you-can-while/) [Jermaine McIver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jermaine-mciver/) ## More by Jennifer Egan > [“Behind the desk was nothing but view-the whole city flung out in front of us the way street vendors fling out their towels packed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-egan/behind-the-desk-was-nothing-but-view-the-whole-city-flung-out-in/) [Jennifer Egan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-egan/) > [I just think that, for my particular personality, feeling slightly invisible is always a help.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-egan/i-just-think-that-for-my-particular-personality-feeling-slightly/) [Jennifer Egan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-egan/) > [Between books, I have to throw out everything I did before, because the tools I've used to write the previous book will not only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-egan/between-books-i-have-to-throw-out-everything-i-did-before-because-the/) [Jennifer Egan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-egan/) > [As a reader and a writer, I'm happiest when apparently mutually exclusive states can somehow coexist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-egan/as-a-reader-and-a-writer-i-m-happiest-when-apparently-mutually/) [Jennifer Egan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-egan/) > [I teach intermittently, and while I enjoy it, I don't find that it's a calling for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-egan/i-teach-intermittently-and-while-i-enjoy-it-i-don-t-find-that-it-s-a/) [Jennifer Egan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-egan/) > [Like all failed experiments, that one taught me something I didn’t expect: one key ingredient of so-called experience is the delusional faith that it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-egan/like-all-failed-experiments-that-one-taught-me-something-i-didn-t/) [Jennifer Egan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-egan/) > [“Thousands of solar panels lift and tilt at the same time, in the same way. I clutch at Dad's arm: "Why are they doing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-egan/thousands-of-solar-panels-lift-and-tilt-at-the-same-time-in-the-same/) [Jennifer Egan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-egan/) > [It was the hat. He looked sweet in the hat. How could a man in a fuzzy blue hat have used human bones to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-egan/it-was-the-hat-he-looked-sweet-in-the-hat-how-could-a-man-in-a-fuzzy/) [Jennifer Egan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-egan/) > [I was a stepchild in two different families. The hardest thing about being a stepchild is you know that in some way everything would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-egan/i-was-a-stepchild-in-two-different-families-the-hardest-thing-about/) [Jennifer Egan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-egan/) > [“The seconds pass. I know what’s going on because it’s the same thing that always happens: give me something nice, something I love or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-egan/the-seconds-pass-i-know-what-s-going-on-because-it-s-the-same-thing/) [Jennifer Egan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-egan/) > [I had this idea that I could hire myself out as a person to go on archeological digs and dig, without any training! I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-egan/i-had-this-idea-that-i-could-hire-myself-out-as-a-person-to-go-on/) [Jennifer Egan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-egan/) > [At night, the house thick with sleep, she would peer out her bedroom window at the trees and sky and feel the presence of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-egan/at-night-the-house-thick-with-sleep-she-would-peer-out-her-bedroom/) [Jennifer Egan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-egan/) > [I number my drafts, and by the time a book is done, I'll have 75 or 80 drafts of some sections.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-egan/i-number-my-drafts-and-by-the-time-a-book-is-done-i-ll-have-75-or-80/) [Jennifer Egan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-egan/) > [Read at the level at which you want to write. Reading is the nourishment that feeds the kind of writing you want to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-egan/read-at-the-level-at-which-you-want-to-write-reading-is-the/) [Jennifer Egan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-egan/) > [I was a stepchild in two different families. The hardest thing about being a stepchild is you know that in some way everything would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-egan/i-was-a-stepchild-in-two-different-families-the-hardest-thing-about-2/) [Jennifer Egan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-egan/) [Explore all 358 Jennifer Egan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-egan/) ## More Cheating quotes > [Where I grew up, learning was a collective activity. But when I got to school and tried to share learning with other students that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-giroux/where-i-grew-up-learning-was-a-collective-activity-but-when-i-got-to/) [Henry Giroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-giroux/) > [Being faithful shouldn't be challenging, cheating should. Too bad its the other way around though.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-faithful-shouldn-t-be-challenging-cheating-should-too-bad-its/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If you leave someone for another person, don't be surprised if that person leaves you for someone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-leave-someone-for-another-person-don-t-be-surprised-if-that/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The one thing I absolutely hate about social media are the people who abuse it. Whenever I see a person who constantly posts negative…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jazmin-garcia/the-one-thing-i-absolutely-hate-about-social-media-are-the-people-who/) [Jazmin Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jazmin-garcia/) > [They have no right to complain! If women were cool with knowing their man is cheating on them then they have no right to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-williams/they-have-no-right-to-complain-if-women-were-cool-with-knowing-their/) [Eric Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-williams/) > [Sometimes it's better to shut up and leave me alone then pester me constantly because I am a human and I have feelings too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamika-leeigh/sometimes-it-s-better-to-shut-up-and-leave-me-alone-then-pester-me/) [Tamika-leeigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamika-leeigh/) > [I dont play when it comes to being unfaithful. You cheat, you get no second chance & you lost the best thing that ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-dont-play-when-it-comes-to-being-unfaithful-you-cheat-you-get-no/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It's not the cheating. It's the hunger...The hunger for an alternative, and the refusal to accept a life of unhappiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-winslet/it-s-not-the-cheating-it-s-the-hunger-the-hunger-for-an-alternative/) [Kate Winslet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-winslet/) > [“To keep myself from harming or calling N and to stave off the rage and despair, I focus on my extraordinary son, drink midrange…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-finnamore/to-keep-myself-from-harming-or-calling-n-and-to-stave-off-the-rage/) [Suzanne Finnamore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-finnamore/) > [Here is your government at work. A congressman from Colorado said he wants to draft a rule that would make it unethical to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/here-is-your-government-at-work-a-congressman-from-colorado-said-he/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [Cheaters are like fruit flies. They taste each fruit from time to time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teejay-david/cheaters-are-like-fruit-flies-they-taste-each-fruit-from-time-to-time/) [Teejay David](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teejay-david/) > [Cheating is like eating fast food. You do it, you enjoy it, and then you end up feeling like shit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/cheating-is-like-eating-fast-food-you-do-it-you-enjoy-it-and-then-you/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [One of two things when the guy you're dating isn't really ready to commit. He's an a\*\*hole and he's cheating on you; bottom line…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-catherwood/one-of-two-things-when-the-guy-you-re-dating-isn-t-really-ready-to/) [Michael Catherwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-catherwood/) > [If you can't count, they can cheat you. If you can't read, they can beat you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-morrison/if-you-can-t-count-they-can-cheat-you-if-you-can-t-read-they-can-beat/) [Toni Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-morrison/) > [“For me, it´s sloth," I say. "Hedonistic sloth and escapism.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-finnamore/for-me-it-s-sloth-i-say-hedonistic-sloth-and-escapism/) [Suzanne Finnamore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-finnamore/) [Browse all 1,488 Cheating quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cheating/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Cheating is like a girl’s maidenhead. 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