--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We all overlay our feelings with too much…" description: "\"“We all overlay our feelings with too much thinking. We are afraid of our feelings because they are arbitrary and volatile, and we often need literatur..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c6/joanna-trollope-18494_books_we-all-overlay-our-feelings-with-too-muc_1218310.jpg" --- # We all overlay our feelings with too much thinking. We are… ![“We all overlay our feelings with too much thinking. We are afraid of our feelings because they are arbitrary and volatile, and we often need literature to make our feelings intelligible to us, to make us see that our reaction to what we can't choose and what we can is what shapes our lives.” quote by Joanna Trollope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c6/joanna-trollope-18494_books_we-all-overlay-our-feelings-with-too-muc_1218310.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c6/joanna-trollope-18494_books_we-all-overlay-our-feelings-with-too-muc_1218310.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c6/joanna-trollope-18494_books_we-all-overlay-our-feelings-with-too-muc_1218310.jpg) > ““We all overlay our feelings with too much thinking. We are afraid of our feelings because they are arbitrary and volatile, and we often need literature to make our feelings intelligible to us, to make us see that our reaction to what we can't choose and what we can is what shapes our lives.”” [Joanna Trollope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanna-trollope/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. We overlay emotions with analysis, fearing their instability; literature helps us understand and shape our reactions. **In simple terms:** Thinking hides feelings; stories clarify them. Key Takeaway Use narrative to process emotions. Themes emotion analysis literature Mood introspective thoughtful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - therapy sessions - reading groups - journaling Key Concepts Psychology Narrative therapy Questions to Reflect On - How can you trust raw emotion? - What stories have helped you reframe a feeling? A Different Perspective Over‑analysis can paralyze feeling. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Afraid Feelings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afraid-feelings-982967/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Feelings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feelings/) [Feelings Arbitrary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feelings-arbitrary-3720922/) [Feelings Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feelings-thinking-530046/) [Thinking Afraid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking-afraid-760566/) ## Related quotes > [“Silly little vamp, afraid of her feelings.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-harrison/silly-little-vamp-afraid-of-her-feelings/) [Kim Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-harrison/) > [\*Most people are more afraid of themselves then anything else; me too. \*Feelings about myself, or life is an illusion that I alone can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezell-thompson/most-people-are-more-afraid-of-themselves-then-anything-else-me-too/) [Ezell Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezell-thompson/) > [Don't be afraid to show your feelings to the one that you like so much, express your feelings and maybe they will like you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-anthony/don-t-be-afraid-to-show-your-feelings-to-the-one-that-you-like-so/) [Sean Anthony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-anthony/) > [“You are not afraid of anything outside of you, you are only afraid of your own feelings and reactions.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-carod/you-are-not-afraid-of-anything-outside-of-you-you-are-only-afraid-of/) [F. Carod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-carod/) > [Don't be afraid to show your feelings. Wear your heart on your sleeves. The right one will see](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-zahara/don-t-be-afraid-to-show-your-feelings-wear-your-heart-on-your-sleeves/) [Rita Zahara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-zahara/) > [Whether you want to do a letter-writing campaign or a march or start a social media hashtag - whatever it is - know that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-rye/whether-you-want-to-do-a-letter-writing-campaign-or-a-march-or-start/) [Angela Rye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-rye/) > [For better or worse, I say what I'm thinking or say what other people are thinking and might be afraid to say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-viall/for-better-or-worse-i-say-what-i-m-thinking-or-say-what-other-people/) [Nick Viall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-viall/) > [Don't underestimate the power of silence, when you don't know what someone is thinking, is when you should be most afraid!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/don-t-underestimate-the-power-of-silence-when-you-don-t-know-what/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I like to write and draw and paint, and my mom's an artist, so I think I get caught up in thinking, 'I'm afraid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-wiig/i-like-to-write-and-draw-and-paint-and-my-mom-s-an-artist-so-i-think/) [Kristen Wiig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-wiig/) > [One things for sure, I can't ever stop thinking about you. . . 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When your original sketch evolves into a tangible,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eva-zeisel/the-pleasure-of-making-things-beautiful-or-useful-involves-your/) [Eva Zeisel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eva-zeisel/) > [“Teenage girls engage in emotional reasoning, which is the belief that if you feel something is true, it must be true. If a teenager…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-pipher/teenage-girls-engage-in-emotional-reasoning-which-is-the-belief-that/) [Mary Pipher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-pipher/) > [I can mingle with a thousand of people but no one could ever cumpare the feelings that I have when I'm thinking of you =)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cherrymae/i-can-mingle-with-a-thousand-of-people-but-no-one-could-ever-cumpare/) [Cherrymae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cherrymae/) ## More by Joanna Trollope > [I'm an enormous fan of people who have had a lot of faith in themselves, and been on a tremendous journey.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanna-trollope/i-m-an-enormous-fan-of-people-who-have-had-a-lot-of-faith-in/) [Joanna Trollope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanna-trollope/) > [“Finding the home had been dispiriting at best. And the best had been only very occasional. 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Only they can do that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanna-trollope/you-can-change-yourself-and-you-can-change-the-situation-but-you/) [Joanna Trollope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanna-trollope/) > [I'm a third done into a new book but sorry - I have a superstition about talking about it!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanna-trollope/i-m-a-third-done-into-a-new-book-but-sorry-i-have-a-superstition/) [Joanna Trollope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanna-trollope/) > [“She trusted her instincts; she trusted those dear to her; she trusted her emotions and her passions. 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I've been married twice, and I love it when it works, but these days we live until we're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanna-trollope/i-don-t-need-to-marry-again-i-ve-been-married-twice-and-i-love-it/) [Joanna Trollope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanna-trollope/) > [“You’re stuck with yourself, so you might as well try and be someone you can stand to live with.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanna-trollope/you-re-stuck-with-yourself-so-you-might-as-well-try-and-be-someone/) [Joanna Trollope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanna-trollope/) > [I am often criticised for being rather accessible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanna-trollope/i-am-often-criticised-for-being-rather-accessible/) [Joanna Trollope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanna-trollope/) > [“a dog would be comfortably companionable and an uncomplicated distraction from the inside of his own head, and that one could safely say, out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanna-trollope/a-dog-would-be-comfortably-companionable-and-an-uncomplicated/) [Joanna Trollope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanna-trollope/) > [You can't be too old to be a writer, but you can definitely be too young!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanna-trollope/you-can-t-be-too-old-to-be-a-writer-but-you-can-definitely-be-too/) [Joanna Trollope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanna-trollope/) > [You can't love a library of e-books. You can't furnish a room with e-books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanna-trollope/you-can-t-love-a-library-of-e-books-you-can-t-furnish-a-room-with-e/) [Joanna Trollope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanna-trollope/) > [“like an emotional tooth-ache, bearable much of the time but with a propensity to flare up without notice and cause agony.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanna-trollope/like-an-emotional-tooth-ache-bearable-much-of-the-time-but-with-a/) [Joanna Trollope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanna-trollope/) [Explore all 34 Joanna Trollope quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanna-trollope/) ## More Books quotes > [I think a new world will arise out of the religious mists when we approach our Bible with the idea that it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/i-think-a-new-world-will-arise-out-of-the-religious-mists-when-we/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [If I had a dollar for every time I couldn’t sleep, I could buy a billion locks and finally read a book in peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aesop-rock/if-i-had-a-dollar-for-every-time-i-couldn-t-sleep-i-could-buy-a/) [Aesop Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aesop-rock/) > [If what I write is literature, I guess you'd better emphasize the 'litter.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lydia-lunch/if-what-i-write-is-literature-i-guess-you-d-better-emphasize-the/) [Lydia Lunch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lydia-lunch/) > [My sentences got sharper and my stories more efficient, and I gradually learned to imagine the reader more clearly and to empathize with that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-thompson-walker/my-sentences-got-sharper-and-my-stories-more-efficient-and-i/) [Karen Thompson Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-thompson-walker/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [“Within the pages of books, I've journeyed to Mandalay, the Milky Way and Santa Fe, without once having to leave my armchair.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-ansbro/within-the-pages-of-books-i-ve-journeyed-to-mandalay-the-milky-way/) [Kevin Ansbro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-ansbro/) > [The Rosary is the book of the blind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/the-rosary-is-the-book-of-the-blind/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) > [“Tacitus did not write a most dangerous book. His readers made it so.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-k-krebs/tacitus-did-not-write-a-most-dangerous-book-his-readers-made-it-so/) [Christopher K. 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There is nothing like a child who knows more about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/floyd-cooper/i-have-many-who-keep-me-going-i-am-very-fortunate-in-this-sense-there/) [Floyd Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/floyd-cooper/) > [I think books in which people are really happy and things are going well are probably the most challenging novels there are to write,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-quindlen/i-think-books-in-which-people-are-really-happy-and-things-are-going/) [Anna Quindlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-quindlen/) > [It's like the query letter problem that I just mentioned, magnified a hundredfold. You might be good at telling a story, but that doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/it-s-like-the-query-letter-problem-that-i-just-mentioned-magnified-a/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [“Be careful about reading health books. 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