--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Lauren: \"Can I ask you a question?\"…" description: "\"“Lauren: \"Can I ask you a question?\" Angie: \"Generally that's a question one should say no to. Often hell no.”\" — Kristin Hannah" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a4/kristin-hannah-1106_permission_lauren-can-i-ask-you-a-question-angie-ge_2290769.png" --- # Lauren: "Can I ask you a question?" Angie: "Generally… ![“Lauren: "Can I ask you a question?" Angie: "Generally that's a question one should say no to. Often hell no.” quote by Kristin Hannah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a4/kristin-hannah-1106_permission_lauren-can-i-ask-you-a-question-angie-ge_2290769.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a4/kristin-hannah-1106_permission_lauren-can-i-ask-you-a-question-angie-ge_2290769.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a4/kristin-hannah-1106_permission_lauren-can-i-ask-you-a-question-angie-ge_2290769.png) > ““Lauren: "Can I ask you a question?" Angie: "Generally that's a question one should say no to. Often hell no.”” [Kristin Hannah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-hannah/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Questioning and refusing can be a protective response, but it may also close doors to dialogue. **In simple terms:** Saying no can protect or block. Key Takeaway Weigh the cost of refusal. Themes communication boundaries relationships Mood thoughtful cautious Type philosophical advisory When to use this quote - personal relationships - team meetings - conflict resolution Key Concepts assertiveness social dynamics trust Questions to Reflect On - When is it better to say yes? - How do you decide to set a boundary? A Different Perspective Always saying no can hinder collaboration. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Truth Seeking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth-seeking/) ## Related quotes > [Lie to me once, & I'll question everything you say after that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/lie-to-me-once-i-ll-question-everything-you-say-after-that/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I don't want you to trust me, I want you to question everything I say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacque-fresco/i-don-t-want-you-to-trust-me-i-want-you-to-question-everything-i-say/) [Jacque Fresco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacque-fresco/) > [“Imagine you come upon a house painted brown. What color would you say the house was?" "Why brown, of course." "But what if I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-chance/imagine-you-come-upon-a-house-painted-brown-what-color-would-you-say/) [Megan Chance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-chance/) > [Lying is really a big turn off. Like what's the point. It makes me question everything you say and do and I dont have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/lying-is-really-a-big-turn-off-like-what-s-the-point-it-makes-me/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Once I catch you in a LIE it makes me question everything you SAY...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/once-i-catch-you-in-a-lie-it-makes-me-question-everything-you-say/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The creeds and beliefs Turning one against another. The differences that separate Instead of inspire. So ask yourself why you say - I must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-crisp/the-creeds-and-beliefs-turning-one-against-another-the-differences/) Tony Crisp > [I always question myself, but I always say, 'Come on, we can do something good.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claudio-ranieri/i-always-question-myself-but-i-always-say-come-on-we-can-do-something/) [Claudio Ranieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claudio-ranieri/) > [You can say, "Well, I have a question," and someone will say, "Oh, so you hate America." And it has nothing to do with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/you-can-say-well-i-have-a-question-and-someone-will-say-oh-so-you/) [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) > [Whoever can find the answer to this question: "How can I say this to my dog" has already won the game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-von-stephanitz/whoever-can-find-the-answer-to-this-question-how-can-i-say-this-to-my/) [Max von Stephanitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-von-stephanitz/) > [Earlier, I used to always ask people if they want me to answer as Supriya or Hansa. If they said Hansa, and asked me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/supriya-pathak/earlier-i-used-to-always-ask-people-if-they-want-me-to-answer-as/) [Supriya Pathak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/supriya-pathak/) > [I did once answer the question 'What would you say on your tombstone?' I know what I would say: 'Mario Cuomo, 1932 - dash,'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-cuomo/i-did-once-answer-the-question-what-would-you-say-on-your-tombstone-i/) [Mario Cuomo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-cuomo/) > [Even if you lie to me once, it makes me question everything else you say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-banks/even-if-you-lie-to-me-once-it-makes-me-question-everything-else-you/) [Carlos Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-banks/) > [Sir, I see a lot of documents in my day-to-day business, and I can't tell you every document that I've seen. It may have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-beers/sir-i-see-a-lot-of-documents-in-my-day-to-day-business-and-i-can-t/) [Rand Beers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-beers/) > [Every time someone asks me where I'm from, I'm not sure how to answer that question... so I say I have no roots.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-merton/every-time-someone-asks-me-where-i-m-from-i-m-not-sure-how-to-answer/) [Alice Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-merton/) > [I always said all my life if I wasn't born and they gave me the question I'd say I don't want to be born.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kevorkian/i-always-said-all-my-life-if-i-wasn-t-born-and-they-gave-me-the/) [Jack Kevorkian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kevorkian/) ## More by Kristin Hannah > [She still felt shell-shocked by all of it, numb. Beneath the numbness, though, was a raw and terrible anger that was unlike anything she'd…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-hannah/she-still-felt-shell-shocked-by-all-of-it-numb-beneath-the-numbness/) [Kristin Hannah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-hannah/) > [“Terrible beautiful combination of happiness and pain.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-hannah/terrible-beautiful-combination-of-happiness-and-pain/) [Kristin Hannah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-hannah/) > [She waited for you in a thousand different ways.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-hannah/she-waited-for-you-in-a-thousand-different-ways/) [Kristin Hannah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-hannah/) > [“Antoine took her in his arms. The scent of jasmine was intoxicating, and she knew suddenly, certainly, that from now on, whenever she smelled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-hannah/antoine-took-her-in-his-arms-the-scent-of-jasmine-was-intoxicating/) [Kristin Hannah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-hannah/) > [what shall we drink to?" "How about family?" Stacy said, showing up just in time to pour a fourth shot. "To those who are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-hannah/what-shall-we-drink-to-how-about-family-stacy-said-showing-up-just-in/) [Kristin Hannah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-hannah/) > [He is a man, and he is afraid. This is not a good combination.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-hannah/he-is-a-man-and-he-is-afraid-this-is-not-a-good-combination/) [Kristin Hannah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-hannah/) > [Goddamn, sometimes it hurt to be free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-hannah/goddamn-sometimes-it-hurt-to-be-free/) [Kristin Hannah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-hannah/) > [“I was not good at the whole making-death-a-positive-transition thing. How could I? I wanted her to fight to the last breath. It was a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-hannah/i-was-not-good-at-the-whole-making-death-a-positive-transition-thing/) [Kristin Hannah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-hannah/) > [“Kate heard the bravado in her friend’s voice and saw it in her eyes. “I prayed for you.” “You did?” Tully asked. “Wow. Thanks.”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-hannah/kate-heard-the-bravado-in-her-friend-s-voice-and-saw-it-in-her-eyes-i/) [Kristin Hannah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-hannah/) > [“The trip from Portland to New York City was like climbing Mount Everest without oxygen. It went on and on, and by the time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-hannah/the-trip-from-portland-to-new-york-city-was-like-climbing-mount/) [Kristin Hannah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-hannah/) > [“So now books were her only friends. She'd read Lord of the Rings so often she could recite whole scenes by memory. It was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-hannah/so-now-books-were-her-only-friends-she-d-read-lord-of-the-rings-so/) [Kristin Hannah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-hannah/) > [She used to tell me that she couldn't feel the sunlight anymore, not even when she was standing in it, not even when it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-hannah/she-used-to-tell-me-that-she-couldn-t-feel-the-sunlight-anymore-not/) [Kristin Hannah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-hannah/) > [“Tragedy was like that, a razor that sliced through time, severing the now from the before, incising the what-might-have-been from reality as cleanly as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-hannah/tragedy-was-like-that-a-razor-that-sliced-through-time-severing-the/) [Kristin Hannah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-hannah/) > [“I want to imagine there will be peace when I am gone, that I will see all of the people I have loved and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-hannah/i-want-to-imagine-there-will-be-peace-when-i-am-gone-that-i-will-see/) [Kristin Hannah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-hannah/) > [What good did it do to light the world on fire if she had to watch the glow alone?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-hannah/what-good-did-it-do-to-light-the-world-on-fire-if-she-had-to-watch/) [Kristin Hannah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-hannah/) [Explore all 282 Kristin Hannah quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-hannah/) ## More Permission quotes > [The idea that someone has to give you permission to become who you want to be, or see it in you in order for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eva-victor/the-idea-that-someone-has-to-give-you-permission-to-become-who-you/) [Eva Victor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eva-victor/) > [No One Can Ruin Your Day Without YOUR Permission.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/no-one-can-ruin-your-day-without-your-permission/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“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/) > [Just make sure you're gone by the time we get to Miles's. It creeps me out to see you sitting in his lap without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alyson-noel/just-make-sure-you-re-gone-by-the-time-we-get-to-miles-s-it-creeps-me/) [Alyson Noel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alyson-noel/) > [When happiness becomes our standard for judging truth, things that make us happy give us permission to do some things that otherwise would be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-groeschel/when-happiness-becomes-our-standard-for-judging-truth-things-that/) [Craig Groeschel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-groeschel/) > [Instead of explaining the sober facts of mechanics and electricity, I want to say a few words about the debt which we owe to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felix-bloch/instead-of-explaining-the-sober-facts-of-mechanics-and-electricity-i/) [Felix Bloch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felix-bloch/) > [ \[Religion\] attacks us in our deepest integrity - the core of our self-respect. Religion says that we would not know right from wrong, we… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/religion-attacks-us-in-our-deepest-integrity-the-core-of-our-self/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [ NaNo\[ National Novel Writing Month\] is an awesome opportunity to stretch your writing muscles and gives you permission to write in a way you… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-j-howard/nano-national-novel-writing-month-is-an-awesome-opportunity-to/) Michelle J. Howard > [Why are women immobile? Because so many feel like they're waiting for someone to say, 'You're good, you're pretty, I give you permission'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eve-ensler/why-are-women-immobile-because-so-many-feel-like-they-re-waiting-for/) [Eve Ensler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eve-ensler/) > [For your information, I'm staying like this, and everyone else can just get used to it! If people don't like me the way I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-watterson/for-your-information-i-m-staying-like-this-and-everyone-else-can-just/) [Bill Watterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-watterson/) > [What he means by this is that instead of saying you'll "try", you need to "do". And as we let our light shine, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/what-he-means-by-this-is-that-instead-of-saying-you-ll-try-you-need/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) > [“Do I need permission to breathe, Sir?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kallypso-masters/do-i-need-permission-to-breathe-sir/) [Kallypso Masters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kallypso-masters/) > [We had to give each other permission to be different as parents. That's why there's a mom and a dad with two different approaches,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bridgette-wilson/we-had-to-give-each-other-permission-to-be-different-as-parents-that/) [Bridgette Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bridgette-wilson/) > [The WRITER of memoir gets incoming weirdness in very odd ways. I was recently talking to a memoir writer whose work just went meteoric…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lidia-yuknavitch/the-writer-of-memoir-gets-incoming-weirdness-in-very-odd-ways-i-was/) [Lidia Yuknavitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lidia-yuknavitch/) > [When she became very ill with heart trouble, I saw that it would be impossible for my parents to provide for my studies, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fritz-sauckel/when-she-became-very-ill-with-heart-trouble-i-saw-that-it-would-be/) [Fritz Sauckel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fritz-sauckel/) Browse all 842 Permission quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Lauren: \"Can I ask you a question?\" Angie: \"Generally that's a question one should say no to. 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