--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Guilt was a thief. It would steal your…" description: "\"“Guilt was a thief. It would steal your mind, mess with your priorities and would eventually steer you from your original plan. I couldn’t allow it any..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c0/l-j-shen-1983_life_guilt-was-a-thief-it-would-steal-your-mi_1952728.jpg" --- # Guilt was a thief. It would steal your mind, mess with… ![“Guilt was a thief. It would steal your mind, mess with your priorities and would eventually steer you from your original plan. I couldn’t allow it any room in the life, so I pushed it aside, convincing myself that on some level, these moments we shared weren’t lies. Just half-truths.” quote by L.J. Shen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c0/l-j-shen-1983_life_guilt-was-a-thief-it-would-steal-your-mi_1952728.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c0/l-j-shen-1983_life_guilt-was-a-thief-it-would-steal-your-mi_1952728.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c0/l-j-shen-1983_life_guilt-was-a-thief-it-would-steal-your-mi_1952728.jpg) > ““Guilt was a thief. It would steal your mind, mess with your priorities and would eventually steer you from your original plan. I couldn’t allow it any room in the life, so I pushed it aside, convincing myself that on some level, these moments we shared weren’t lies. Just half-truths.”” [L.J. Shen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-j-shen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Guilt disrupts focus and priorities, so the narrator rejects it to stay true to their goals, treating it as a deceptive influence. **In simple terms:** Guilt distracts, so ignore it to stay on track. Key Takeaway Dismiss guilt to protect your purpose. Themes self‑control focus psychology deception Mood reflective determined introspective Type motivational psychological When to use this quote - personal goal setting - mental health management - conflict resolution - creative writing Key Concepts cognitive bias emotional regulation self‑identity truth vs lie Questions to Reflect On - What benefits might guilt provide in decision‑making? - How can we acknowledge guilt without being paralyzed? A Different Perspective Guilt can be a useful moral signal, not just a hindrance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Guilt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guilt/) [Guilt Thief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guilt-thief-441434/) [Half Truths](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/half-truths/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Regret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/regret/) [Steal Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/steal-mind-3178078/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Truths](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truths/) ## Related quotes > [“Survivor guilt is a thief of joy—yet another secondary loss from death.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheryl-sandberg/survivor-guilt-is-a-thief-of-joy-yet-another-secondary-loss-from-death/) [Sheryl Sandberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheryl-sandberg/) > [Guilt is the thief of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-hopkins/guilt-is-the-thief-of-life/) [Anthony Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-hopkins/) > [“some women can steal your heart by their beauty, some can steal your mind by their intelligence and others can steal your soul by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/savi-sharma/some-women-can-steal-your-heart-by-their-beauty-some-can-steal-your/) [Savi Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/savi-sharma/) > [“That's why we're here". "So you can murder me and steal Marshmallow?" … He blinked. "Steal what?" "Never mind." You are a very strange girl,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/courtney-allison-moulton/that-s-why-we-re-here-so-you-can-murder-me-and-steal-marshmallow-he/) [Courtney Allison Moulton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/courtney-allison-moulton/) > [You have to steal back yourself. You have to steal back your own mind. Meditation helps in that area.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-walker/you-have-to-steal-back-yourself-you-have-to-steal-back-your-own-mind/) [Alice Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-walker/) > [The truths that seem most truthful, if you look at them from all sides, if you look at them close up, turn out to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-vargas-llosa/the-truths-that-seem-most-truthful-if-you-look-at-them-from-all-sides/) [Mario Vargas Llosa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-vargas-llosa/) > [Complete truth and half-truths](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kp-yohannan/complete-truth-and-half-truths/) [Kp Yohannan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kp-yohannan/) > [Two half truths do not make a truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/two-half-truths-do-not-make-a-truth/) [Arthur Koestler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-koestler/) > [“The half-truths have been in fashion again.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sir-kristian-goldmund-aumann/the-half-truths-have-been-in-fashion-again/) [sir kristian goldmund aumann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sir-kristian-goldmund-aumann/) > [“Everything is just a matter of perspective so that the quotes only half-truths .”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nagy-s-ndor/everything-is-just-a-matter-of-perspective-so-that-the-quotes-only/) [Nagy Sándor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nagy-s-ndor/) > [“It is possible of course that there are no more real men here, on his ball of half-truths, the earth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-barthelme/it-is-possible-of-course-that-there-are-no-more-real-men-here-on-his/) [Donald Barthelme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-barthelme/) > [Half truths were a wonderful way to inspire credibility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-baldacci/half-truths-were-a-wonderful-way-to-inspire-credibility/) [David Baldacci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-baldacci/) > [Half-truths are the devil's IOUs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-ban-breathnach/half-truths-are-the-devil-s-ious/) [Sarah Ban Breathnach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-ban-breathnach/) > [There are no whole truths: All truths are half-truths.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-north-whitehead/there-are-no-whole-truths-all-truths-are-half-truths/) [Alfred North Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-north-whitehead/) > [Aristotle discovered all the half-truths which were necessary to the creation of science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-north-whitehead/aristotle-discovered-all-the-half-truths-which-were-necessary-to-the/) [Alfred North Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-north-whitehead/) ## More by L.J. Shen > [“I put her under my spell, to make sure she was mine. Scribbling onto her the notes only I could play. Now that Tania…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-j-shen/i-put-her-under-my-spell-to-make-sure-she-was-mine-scribbling-onto/) [L.J. Shen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-j-shen/) > [“Group hug!” Daisy announced, and before I knew it, I was buried in my friends’ arms. I inhaled their scents, feminine and hopeful, closing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-j-shen/group-hug-daisy-announced-and-before-i-knew-it-i-was-buried-in-my/) [L.J. Shen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-j-shen/) > [“A sadistic jerk?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-j-shen/a-sadistic-jerk/) [L.J. Shen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-j-shen/) > [“All you have to do is not fuck it up. Is it really that hard?” Was he kidding? Of course it was that hard.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-j-shen/all-you-have-to-do-is-not-fuck-it-up-is-it-really-that-hard-was-he/) [L.J. Shen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-j-shen/) > [“You’re awfully possessive.” …“That’s because you’re awfully mine.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-j-shen/you-re-awfully-possessive-that-s-because-you-re-awfully-mine/) [L.J. Shen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-j-shen/) > [“That was me. I was The Fixer. Everything was fixed. Well, other than what was important. I walked down the hallway of the hospital…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-j-shen/that-was-me-i-was-the-fixer-everything-was-fixed-well-other-than-what/) [L.J. Shen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-j-shen/) > [“Why the fuck did I know what any of these terms meant, you might wonder? Because my soulless arse did Armani and Balmain campaigns…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-j-shen/why-the-fuck-did-i-know-what-any-of-these-terms-meant-you-might/) [L.J. Shen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-j-shen/) > [“Because when you’re a rock star and make a crap ton of money, everyone wants a piece of the pie. A pie you baked.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-j-shen/because-when-you-re-a-rock-star-and-make-a-crap-ton-of-money-everyone/) [L.J. Shen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-j-shen/) > [“I’d finally found him. The one man scarier than my father. Not that I was looking. Because while Vicious made a lot of noise,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-j-shen/i-d-finally-found-him-the-one-man-scarier-than-my-father-not-that-i/) [L.J. Shen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-j-shen/) > [“Another beat of silence on my end. If you wanted to win a negotiation, rule number one was to talk less. Show minimal interest.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-j-shen/another-beat-of-silence-on-my-end-if-you-wanted-to-win-a-negotiation/) [L.J. Shen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-j-shen/) > [“Wanker had the manners of a used tampon.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-j-shen/wanker-had-the-manners-of-a-used-tampon/) [L.J. Shen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-j-shen/) > [“You can’t stand here.” I pushed her away with my butt, “Why can’t I…” But there was no need to finish the sentence. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-j-shen/you-can-t-stand-here-i-pushed-her-away-with-my-butt-why-can-t-i-but/) [L.J. Shen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-j-shen/) > [“Sweet? Maybe. Yours? No,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-j-shen/sweet-maybe-yours-no/) [L.J. Shen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-j-shen/) > [“Sparrow was my lovebird, and I couldn’t clip her wings anymore. I have bent her with the weight of my actions and lies for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-j-shen/sparrow-was-my-lovebird-and-i-couldn-t-clip-her-wings-anymore-i-have/) [L.J. Shen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-j-shen/) > [“In my mind, we were two asteroids orbiting around each other. I thought I was the sun and you were earth, but now I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-j-shen/in-my-mind-we-were-two-asteroids-orbiting-around-each-other-i-thought/) [L.J. Shen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-j-shen/) [Explore all 191 L.J. Shen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-j-shen/) ## More Guilt quotes > [Never fight on the wrong side; you might win but the burden of guilt is more than a loss.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lilian-salan/never-fight-on-the-wrong-side-you-might-win-but-the-burden-of-guilt/) [Lilian Salan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lilian-salan/) > [“As parents who make every effort we can to raise our children in loving security, we do not need to feel more guilt than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabor-mat/as-parents-who-make-every-effort-we-can-to-raise-our-children-in/) [Gabor Maté](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabor-mat/) > [When the Lord Jesus Christ became my surety . . . He went to Calvary's cross, and all my guilt was charged against Him.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-allen-ironside/when-the-lord-jesus-christ-became-my-surety-he-went-to-calvary-s/) [Henry Allen Ironside](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-allen-ironside/) > [“Even in the miserable guilt we feel over our beastlike insensitivity, the glory of God shines. If God were not gloriously desirable, why would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/even-in-the-miserable-guilt-we-feel-over-our-beastlike-insensitivity/) [John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/) > [“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/) > [But victimhood was seductive, a release from responsibility and caring. Fear would be transmuted into weary resignation; failure would no longer generate guilt but,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-koontz/but-victimhood-was-seductive-a-release-from-responsibility-and-caring/) [Dean Koontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-koontz/) > [Regrets are just a way for the foolish and the guilty to pass the time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gensoumaden-saiyuki/regrets-are-just-a-way-for-the-foolish-and-the-guilty-to-pass-the-time/) [Gensoumaden Saiyuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gensoumaden-saiyuki/) > [(I)f we are going to be kind, let it be out of simple generosity, not because we fear guilt or retribution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-f-we-are-going-to-be-kind-let-it-be-out-of-simple-generosity-not/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Money should not be in the hands of individuals; otherwise it will create this problem of being burdened with guilt. And money can make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/money-should-not-be-in-the-hands-of-individuals-otherwise-it-will/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [Food ... love ... mother ... career ... Live every day to the fullest. Partake of the four basic guilt groups.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-guisewite/food-love-mother-career-live-every-day-to-the-fullest-partake-of-the/) [Cathy Guisewite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy-guisewite/) > [Anger was better than tears, better than grief, better than guilt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/anger-was-better-than-tears-better-than-grief-better-than-guilt/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Phil and Hannah had decided that Christian guilt was better than bad math”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhoda-janzen/phil-and-hannah-had-decided-that-christian-guilt-was-better-than-bad/) [rhoda janzen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhoda-janzen/) > [No amount of guilt can solve the past & No amount of anxiety can change the future](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ananymous/no-amount-of-guilt-can-solve-the-past-no-amount-of-anxiety-can-change/) [Ananymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ananymous/) > [The essence of having fun is enjoying without guilt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-essence-of-having-fun-is-enjoying-without-guilt/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If all the world hated you and believed you wicked, while your own conscience approved of you and absolved you from guilt, you would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/if-all-the-world-hated-you-and-believed-you-wicked-while-your-own/) [Charlotte Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/) [Browse all 2,943 Guilt quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guilt/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Guilt was a thief. 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