--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What we did not say was that with these…" description: "\"“What we did not say was that with these hurts an edge was worn down. It happens out of necessity -- it would not be safe to carry a knife that sharp. ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/28c/joan-wickersham-29935_knife_what-we-did-not-say-was-that-with-these_469670.jpg" --- # What we did not say was that with these hurts an edge was… ![“What we did not say was that with these hurts an edge was worn down. It happens out of necessity -- it would not be safe to carry a knife that sharp. But something is lost too: that early, perfect, impractical sharpness, which is so beautiful but which cannot survive being seen. (171)” quote by Joan Wickersham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/28c/joan-wickersham-29935_knife_what-we-did-not-say-was-that-with-these_469670.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/28c/joan-wickersham-29935_knife_what-we-did-not-say-was-that-with-these_469670.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/28c/joan-wickersham-29935_knife_what-we-did-not-say-was-that-with-these_469670.jpg) > ““What we did not say was that with these hurts an edge was worn down. It happens out of necessity -- it would not be safe to carry a knife that sharp. But something is lost too: that early, perfect, impractical sharpness, which is so beautiful but which cannot survive being seen. (171)”” [Joan Wickersham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-wickersham/) ## 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 reflects on how repeated emotional pain dulls our sharpness, making us less vulnerable but also less beautiful and authentic. **In simple terms:** Pain dulls our edge, protecting us but losing some beauty. Key Takeaway Accept that some sharpness must be softened for safety. Themes vulnerability growth loss beauty Mood reflective melancholic Type philosophical literary When to use this quote - personal relationships - grieving - creative work - conflict resolution Key Concepts psychology emotional resilience authenticity Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance safety with authenticity? - What does “sharpness” mean to you? A Different Perspective Over‑protecting can lead to emotional numbness and loss of depth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet ## Related quotes > [Knife that's so sharp it can caused a opened wound and its painful but there's more painful than opened wound and that is seeing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alona-marquez/knife-that-s-so-sharp-it-can-caused-a-opened-wound-and-its-painful/) [Alona Marquez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alona-marquez/) > [My tongue is a knife that is very sharp and you know, it can hurt you very easily.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/my-tongue-is-a-knife-that-is-very-sharp-and-you-know-it-can-hurt-you/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [I carry a knife with me so I can cut images out of cardboard boxes. I'm always cutting cardboard. 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Temporary conditions: poignant "befores" that existed only to contrast with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-wickersham/young-and-poor-sounded-so-promising-the-way-my-mother-always-told-the/) [Joan Wickersham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-wickersham/) > [And while some healing does happen, it isn't a healing of redemption or epiphany. It's more like the slow absorption of a bruise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-wickersham/and-while-some-healing-does-happen-it-isn-t-a-healing-of-redemption/) [Joan Wickersham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-wickersham/) > [“Not just the beating. The words. 'Boris, you're stubborn, lazy, worthless, you can't do anything right, you're evil' -- at least once I heard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-wickersham/not-just-the-beating-the-words-boris-you-re-stubborn-lazy-worthless/) [Joan Wickersham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-wickersham/) > [A love story - your own, or anyone else's - is interior, hidden. 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