--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: They all had them. Secrets. But some…" description: "\"“They all had them. Secrets. But some stank more than others.”\" — Louise Penny" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fff/louise-penny-1059_secrets_they-all-had-them-secrets-but-some-stank_1301495.png" --- # They all had them. Secrets. But some stank more than others. ![“They all had them. Secrets. But some stank more than others.” quote by Louise Penny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fff/louise-penny-1059_secrets_they-all-had-them-secrets-but-some-stank_1301495.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fff/louise-penny-1059_secrets_they-all-had-them-secrets-but-some-stank_1301495.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fff/louise-penny-1059_secrets_they-all-had-them-secrets-but-some-stank_1301495.png) > ““They all had them. Secrets. But some stank more than others.”” [Louise Penny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-penny/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Everyone hides secrets, but some are more harmful than others. **In simple terms:** Secrets vary in severity. Key Takeaway Practice empathy while guarding personal boundaries. Themes secrets trust human nature morality Mood cautious empathetic Type ethical psychological When to use this quote - family counseling - workplace culture - law enforcement - personal relationships - media reporting Key Concepts ethical judgment psychological safety social dynamics Questions to Reflect On - What makes a secret more dangerous? - How should we handle harmful secrets? A Different Perspective Not all secrets are equally damaging. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Secrets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/secrets/) ## Related quotes > [Do I Stank or was it already Stanky in Here?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-b-wilderson-iii/do-i-stank-or-was-it-already-stanky-in-here/) Frank B. Wilderson III > [“The rivers stank, the marketplaces stank, the churches stank, it stank beneath the bridges and in the palaces. The peasant stank as did the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-s-skind/the-rivers-stank-the-marketplaces-stank-the-churches-stank-it-stank/) [Patrick Süskind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-s-skind/) > [They were painfully clean. But inwardly they stank. Never once had they opened the door which leads to the soul; never once did they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-miller/they-were-painfully-clean-but-inwardly-they-stank-never-once-had-they/) [Henry Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-miller/) > [In bonded labour cases, judges would ask me why I had brought those people to the courts who stank. 'You are here precisely for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asma-jahangir/in-bonded-labour-cases-judges-would-ask-me-why-i-had-brought-those/) [Asma Jahangir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asma-jahangir/) > [“The van stank of cabbage and cornered like a drunken elephant. It would do.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-griffin/the-van-stank-of-cabbage-and-cornered-like-a-drunken-elephant-it/) [Kate Griffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-griffin/) > [That's why your breath stank because you talk so much shit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rolando-vargas/that-s-why-your-breath-stank-because-you-talk-so-much-shit/) Rolando Vargas > [“The night stank and was loud with flies.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/the-night-stank-and-was-loud-with-flies/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [Tell Me I Love You Show Me How Beautiful I Am When I Wake Up Looking A Mess Hair All Over The Place With…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spoken-words/tell-me-i-love-you-show-me-how-beautiful-i-am-when-i-wake-up-looking/) [Spoken Words](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spoken-words/) > [Maybe you's a stank ho, maybe that's a bit mean/Maybe you grew up and I'm still living like I'm sixteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freddie-gibbs/maybe-you-s-a-stank-ho-maybe-that-s-a-bit-mean-maybe-you-grew-up-and/) [Freddie Gibbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freddie-gibbs/) > [I don't understand why people feel the need to be stank. Smile a bit. Wave a hello to a stranger. Be nice goddamn!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-don-t-understand-why-people-feel-the-need-to-be-stank-smile-a-bit/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [My ding o ling stank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lil-wayne/my-ding-o-ling-stank/) [Lil Wayne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lil-wayne/) > [I hated turning 40; the whole idea of it stank. But once I got through it, I was fine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cindy-crawford/i-hated-turning-40-the-whole-idea-of-it-stank-but-once-i-got-through/) [Cindy Crawford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cindy-crawford/) > [The name Dirtee Stank came from a lyric I had when I was 17 or 16. Lyrical tank, like my name was Frank, going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dizzee-rascal/the-name-dirtee-stank-came-from-a-lyric-i-had-when-i-was-17-or-16/) [Dizzee Rascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dizzee-rascal/) > [I have a sound. It's called 'funk mixed with stank.' That's what I do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-robinson/i-have-a-sound-it-s-called-funk-mixed-with-stank-that-s-what-i-do/) [Craig Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-robinson/) > [“The smog was heavy, my eyes were weeping from it, the sun was hot, the air stank, a regular hell is L.A.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/the-smog-was-heavy-my-eyes-were-weeping-from-it-the-sun-was-hot-the/) [Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/) ## More by Louise Penny > [“Whale oil beef hooked,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-penny/whale-oil-beef-hooked/) [Louise Penny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-penny/) > [“I am tired,” Gamache murmured as he walked into the gentle little village. “But I am at peace.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-penny/i-am-tired-gamache-murmured-as-he-walked-into-the-gentle-little/) [Louise Penny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-penny/) > [“The reason “belonging” was so potent, so attractive, so much a part of the human yearning, was that it also meant safety, and loyalty.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-penny/the-reason-belonging-was-so-potent-so-attractive-so-much-a-part-of/) [Louise Penny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-penny/) > [“She picked up her book and tried to read but it was heavy in her hands. She struggled to hold it, wanting to finish…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-penny/she-picked-up-her-book-and-tried-to-read-but-it-was-heavy-in-her/) [Louise Penny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-penny/) > [“We’re used to the film versions of psychopaths. The clearly crazies. But most psychopaths are clever. They have to be. They know how to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-penny/we-re-used-to-the-film-versions-of-psychopaths-the-clearly-crazies/) [Louise Penny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-penny/) > [“Instead he stood erect, the snow insinuating itself down his collar and up his sleeves, plastering against his face and into his unblinking eyes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-penny/instead-he-stood-erect-the-snow-insinuating-itself-down-his-collar/) [Louise Penny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-penny/) > [“He was an emotional communist. Everyone counted equally, but none too much.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-penny/he-was-an-emotional-communist-everyone-counted-equally-but-none-too/) [Louise Penny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-penny/) > [I turned down all the requests for the rights to the books, for years, mostly because they wanted the rights to the characters, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-penny/i-turned-down-all-the-requests-for-the-rights-to-the-books-for-years/) [Louise Penny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-penny/) > [“Chief Superintendent Arnot might hold power, but Armand Gamache was the more powerful man.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-penny/chief-superintendent-arnot-might-hold-power-but-armand-gamache-was/) [Louise Penny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-penny/) > [“Henri kept everything important in his heart. He mostly kept cookies in his head.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-penny/henri-kept-everything-important-in-his-heart-he-mostly-kept-cookies/) [Louise Penny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-penny/) > [A good journalist, as you know, is a great listener. And so's a good writer. And I got to listen to people for almost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-penny/a-good-journalist-as-you-know-is-a-great-listener-and-so-s-a-good/) [Louise Penny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-penny/) > [The question that haunted every investigation was 'why'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-penny/the-question-that-haunted-every-investigation-was-why/) [Louise Penny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-penny/) > [But, like peace, comfort didn't come from hiding away or running away. Comfort first demanded courage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-penny/but-like-peace-comfort-didn-t-come-from-hiding-away-or-running-away/) [Louise Penny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-penny/) > [“He did not suggest that she sit quietly and get to know herself so she could be all the company she needed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-penny/he-did-not-suggest-that-she-sit-quietly-and-get-to-know-herself-so/) [Louise Penny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-penny/) > [“Come hither, all ye empty things,/Ye bubbles raised by breath of kings;/Who float upon the tide of state,/Come hither, and behold your fate.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-penny/come-hither-all-ye-empty-things-ye-bubbles-raised-by-breath-of-kings/) [Louise Penny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-penny/) [Explore all 295 Louise Penny quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-penny/) ## More Secrets quotes > [“Fuck, baby. I can hear it. I hear all your beautiful secrets in my name. I want them. I want you. All of you.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucian-bane/fuck-baby-i-can-hear-it-i-hear-all-your-beautiful-secrets-in-my-name/) [Lucian Bane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucian-bane/) > [Women know things that men will never know. We keep the best secrets. We tell the best stories.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-hoffman/women-know-things-that-men-will-never-know-we-keep-the-best-secrets/) [Alice Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-hoffman/) > [Every person has at least one secret that will break your heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ana/every-person-has-at-least-one-secret-that-will-break-your-heart/) [AnA](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ana/) > [“It hardly needs to be said: sooner or later secrets have a way of making themselves known.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-morton/it-hardly-needs-to-be-said-sooner-or-later-secrets-have-a-way-of/) [Kate Morton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-morton/) > [“People always knew more than you gave them credit for. Perhaps, in the end, no one had any secrets at all.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-russell/people-always-knew-more-than-you-gave-them-credit-for-perhaps-in-the/) [Paul Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-russell/) > [Some secrets are better left at that -as secrets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/candace-bushnell/some-secrets-are-better-left-at-that-as-secrets/) [Candace Bushnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/candace-bushnell/) > [“You can never let your compassion stand in the way of justice because when you do, other people get hurt.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-lynn-hope/you-can-never-let-your-compassion-stand-in-the-way-of-justice-because/) [Donna Lynn Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-lynn-hope/) > [“Research on organised abuse emphasises the diversity of organised abuse cases, and the ways in which serious forms of child maltreatment cluster in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-salter/research-on-organised-abuse-emphasises-the-diversity-of-organised/) [Michael Salter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-salter/) > [“There are plenty of secrets I would like to know about you, Daphne.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brenda-hodnett/there-are-plenty-of-secrets-i-would-like-to-know-about-you-daphne/) [Brenda Hodnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brenda-hodnett/) > [The value of secrets is ever fluctuating although ladies who have been in society for a long time learn that a secret kept can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-godbersen/the-value-of-secrets-is-ever-fluctuating-although-ladies-who-have/) [Anna Godbersen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-godbersen/) > [I wonder if it's ever really possible to know the truth about someone else, or if the best we can do is just stumble…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-oliver/i-wonder-if-it-s-ever-really-possible-to-know-the-truth-about-someone/) [Lauren Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-oliver/) > [“The secrets eternal neither you know nor I And answers to the riddle neither you know nor I Behind the veil there is much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-khayy-m/the-secrets-eternal-neither-you-know-nor-i-and-answers-to-the-riddle/) [Omar Khayyám](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omar-khayy-m/) > [“Life, like love, holds many secrets for us to discover. Some we unearth early on. Others take us most of our days to stumble…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-l-pickering-jr/life-like-love-holds-many-secrets-for-us-to-discover-some-we-unearth/) [Roy L. Pickering Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-l-pickering-jr/) > [The reality is that the work I do is not private work. I bring all my secrets, my life, to my work. Anybody who's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-garcia/the-reality-is-that-the-work-i-do-is-not-private-work-i-bring-all-my/) [Andy Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-garcia/) > [“I know the names of every intelligent being, the spots on the wings of every butterfly that broke out of a cocoon, the genetic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-shan/i-know-the-names-of-every-intelligent-being-the-spots-on-the-wings-of/) [Darren Shan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-shan/) [Browse all 2,415 Secrets quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/secrets/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“They all had them. Secrets. 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