---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: He showed me his scars, and in return he…"
description: "\"“He showed me his scars, and in return he let me pretend that I had none.”\" — Madeline Miller"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d5d/madeline-miller-2938_circe_he-showed-me-his-scars-and-in-return-he_2737644.jpg"
---

#  He showed me his scars, and in return he let me pretend…

![“He showed me his scars, and in return he let me pretend that I had none.” quote by Madeline Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d5d/madeline-miller-2938_circe_he-showed-me-his-scars-and-in-return-he_2737644.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d5d/madeline-miller-2938_circe_he-showed-me-his-scars-and-in-return-he_2737644.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d5d/madeline-miller-2938_circe_he-showed-me-his-scars-and-in-return-he_2737644.jpg)

> ““He showed me his scars, and in return he let me pretend that I had none.””

[Madeline Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeline-miller/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

A person reveals their wounds, allowing another to pretend innocence, highlighting empathy and shared vulnerability.

**In simple terms:** Sharing scars invites mutual empathy.

Key Takeaway

Offer honesty, accept vulnerability.

Themes

empathy vulnerability trust

Mood

reflective intimate

Type

literary philosophical

When to use this quote

- relationships
- therapy
- conflict resolution

Key Concepts

psychology human connection

Questions to Reflect On

- How does sharing pain affect intimacy?
- What risks come with pretending innocence?

A Different Perspective

Pretending none can hinder genuine connection.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Circe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/circe/) [Greek mythology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greek-mythology/) [Intimacy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intimacy/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Odysseus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/odysseus/) [Scars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scars/) [Vulnerability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vulnerability/)

## Related quotes

> [“Odysseus, son of Laertes, the great traveller, prince of wiles and tricks and a thousand ways. He showed me his scars, and in return…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeline-miller/odysseus-son-of-laertes-the-great-traveller-prince-of-wiles-and/)

[Madeline Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeline-miller/)

> [“Living with him was like standing beside the sea. Each day a different colour, a different foam-capped height, but always the same restless intensity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeline-miller/living-with-him-was-like-standing-beside-the-sea-each-day-a-different/)

[Madeline Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeline-miller/)

> [“But Athena had no babe, and she never would. Her only love was reason. And that has never been the same as reason.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeline-miller/but-athena-had-no-babe-and-she-never-would-her-only-love-was-reason/)

[Madeline Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeline-miller/)

> [“But gods are born of ichor and nectar, their excellences already bursting from their fingertips. So they find their fame by proving what they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeline-miller/but-gods-are-born-of-ichor-and-nectar-their-excellences-already/)

[Madeline Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeline-miller/)

> [“But in a solitary life, there are rare moments when another soul dips near yours, as stars once a year brush the earth. Such…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeline-miller/but-in-a-solitary-life-there-are-rare-moments-when-another-soul-dips/)

[Madeline Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeline-miller/)

> [“-’Tell me’, he said, ‘who gives better offerings, a miserable man or a happy one’? -’A happy one, of course.’ -’Wrong. A happy man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeline-miller/tell-me-he-said-who-gives-better-offerings-a-miserable-man-or-a-happy/)

[Madeline Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeline-miller/)

> [“He liked such sharpness, for there was nothing in him that had any blood you might spill.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeline-miller/he-liked-such-sharpness-for-there-was-nothing-in-him-that-had-any/)

[Madeline Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeline-miller/)

> [“It was work, day after day of it. Witchcraft is the same. I have laboured for centuries and still I have not mastered it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeline-miller/it-was-work-day-after-day-of-it-witchcraft-is-the-same-i-have/)

[Madeline Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeline-miller/)

> [I chose a specialty in plastic and reconstructive surgery because it's very rewarding to watch someone with broken bones or bad scars return to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-nassif/i-chose-a-specialty-in-plastic-and-reconstructive-surgery-because-it/)

[Paul Nassif](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-nassif/)

> [“ In A.D. 1223 an infant was born, clutching a jewel in her tiny fist. Her peasant father ran to the castle to bring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynne-ewing/in-a-d-1223-an-infant-was-born-clutching-a-jewel-in-her-tiny-fist-her/)

[Lynne Ewing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynne-ewing/)

> [“Brides, nymphs were called, but that is not really how the world saw us. We were an endless feast laid out upon a table,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/circe-madeline-miller/brides-nymphs-were-called-but-that-is-not-really-how-the-world-saw-us/)

Circe Madeline Miller

> [“Who could blame her for seeking my scars in return? When we are unhappy we hurt.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-greene/who-could-blame-her-for-seeking-my-scars-in-return-when-we-are/)

[Graham Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-greene/)

> [“The only way to power for woman is sorcery. Medea, Calypso, now there were powerful woman! And me, of course. The greatest of all.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/the-only-way-to-power-for-woman-is-sorcery-medea-calypso-now-there/)

[Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/)

> [“You know, Mac,”Cadmus said still looking out the window. “We may have to work on the way we tell our story …apparently it’s not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sulari-gentill/you-know-mac-cadmus-said-still-looking-out-the-window-we-may-have-to/)

[Sulari Gentill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sulari-gentill/)

> [“What could you possibly write at Gates of Hades?” Cadmus asked. “Keep your spirits up.” Lycon sheathed the dagger he’d used to chisel the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sulari-gentill/what-could-you-possibly-write-at-gates-of-hades-cadmus-asked-keep/)

[Sulari Gentill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sulari-gentill/)

## More by Madeline Miller

> [I feel like I could eat the world raw.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeline-miller/i-feel-like-i-could-eat-the-world-raw/)

[Madeline Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeline-miller/)

> [“This was a man who moved like the gods were watching: every gesture he made was upright and correct. There was no one else…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeline-miller/this-was-a-man-who-moved-like-the-gods-were-watching-every-gesture-he/)

[Madeline Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeline-miller/)

> [“Bury us, and mark our names above. Let us be free.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeline-miller/bury-us-and-mark-our-names-above-let-us-be-free/)

[Madeline Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeline-miller/)

> [“Patroclus, he says, Patroclus. Patroclus. Over and over until it is sound only.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeline-miller/patroclus-he-says-patroclus-patroclus-over-and-over-until-it-is-sound/)

[Madeline Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeline-miller/)

> [“True is what men believe, and they believe this of you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeline-miller/true-is-what-men-believe-and-they-believe-this-of-you/)

[Madeline Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeline-miller/)

> [“Strange that such a small kindness felt like grace.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeline-miller/strange-that-such-a-small-kindness-felt-like-grace/)

[Madeline Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeline-miller/)

> [“Briseis is kneeling by my body. She has brought water and cloth, and washes the blood and dirt from my skin. Her hands are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeline-miller/briseis-is-kneeling-by-my-body-she-has-brought-water-and-cloth-and/)

[Madeline Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeline-miller/)

> [Odysseus inclines his head. "True. But fame is a strange thing. Some men gain glory after they die, while others fade. What is admired…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeline-miller/odysseus-inclines-his-head-true-but-fame-is-a-strange-thing-some-men/)

[Madeline Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeline-miller/)

> [“I would like to say that all the while I waited to break out, but the truth is, I'm afraid I might have floated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeline-miller/i-would-like-to-say-that-all-the-while-i-waited-to-break-out-but-the/)

[Madeline Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeline-miller/)

> [“I gaped at the cold shock of his beauty, deep-green eyes, features fine as a girl's. It struck from me a sudden, springing dislike.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeline-miller/i-gaped-at-the-cold-shock-of-his-beauty-deep-green-eyes-features-fine/)

[Madeline Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeline-miller/)

> [I found myself grinning until my cheeks hurt, my scalp prickling till I thought it might lift off my head. My tongue ran away…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeline-miller/i-found-myself-grinning-until-my-cheeks-hurt-my-scalp-prickling-till/)

[Madeline Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeline-miller/)

> [“When he died, all things soft and beautiful and bright would be buried with him.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeline-miller/when-he-died-all-things-soft-and-beautiful-and-bright-would-be-buried/)

[Madeline Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeline-miller/)

> [“Bring him back to me,' he told them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeline-miller/bring-him-back-to-me-he-told-them/)

[Madeline Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeline-miller/)

> [“Her mouth was a gash of red, like the torn-open stomach of a sacrifice, bloody and oracular. Behind it her teeth shone sharp and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeline-miller/her-mouth-was-a-gash-of-red-like-the-torn-open-stomach-of-a-sacrifice/)

[Madeline Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeline-miller/)

> [and her skin shone luminous and impossibly pale, as if it drank light from the moon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeline-miller/and-her-skin-shone-luminous-and-impossibly-pale-as-if-it-drank-light/)

[Madeline Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeline-miller/)

[Explore all 142 Madeline Miller quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeline-miller/)

## More Circe quotes

> [“I would like to say that all the while I waited to break out, but the truth is, I'm afraid I might have floated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeline-miller/i-would-like-to-say-that-all-the-while-i-waited-to-break-out-but-the/)

[Madeline Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeline-miller/)

> [“My eyes flew open and when they did, his dark ones, not looking detached, not blank, not impassive, but heated and turned on and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-ashley/my-eyes-flew-open-and-when-they-did-his-dark-ones-not-looking/)

[Kristen Ashley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-ashley/)

> [“The nymphs wafted around me. Their smothered laughter drifted down the halls. At least, I told myself, it was not their brothers, who would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeline-miller/the-nymphs-wafted-around-me-their-smothered-laughter-drifted-down-the/)

[Madeline Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeline-miller/)

> [“I had not fooled myself with false hope. I was a goddess, and he a mortal, and both of us were imprisoned. But I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeline-miller/i-had-not-fooled-myself-with-false-hope-i-was-a-goddess-and-he-a/)

[Madeline Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeline-miller/)

> [“I know who you are, daughter of the sun. All that the sea touches comes to me at last in the depths. I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeline-miller/i-know-who-you-are-daughter-of-the-sun-all-that-the-sea-touches-comes/)

[Madeline Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeline-miller/)

> [“ "I gave up a world for you." He glared at me, not giving me anything. I kept right on going. "I thought, perhaps,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-ashley/i-gave-up-a-world-for-you-he-glared-at-me-not-giving-me-anything-i/)

[Kristen Ashley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-ashley/)

> [Who knows not Circe, The daughter of the Sun , whose charmed cup Whoever tasted, lost his upright shape, And downward fell into a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/who-knows-not-circe-the-daughter-of-the-sun-whose-charmed-cup-whoever/)

[John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/)

> [“I had stood beside my father's light, I had held Aeetes in my arms, and my bed was heaped with thick-woolled blankets woven by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeline-miller/i-had-stood-beside-my-father-s-light-i-had-held-aeetes-in-my-arms-and/)

[Madeline Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeline-miller/)

> [“Take me home, take me home, take me home, I need to go home. Please, please, whatever magic is out there for me, let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-ashley/take-me-home-take-me-home-take-me-home-i-need-to-go-home-please/)

[Kristen Ashley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-ashley/)

> [“It was work, day after day of it. Witchcraft is the same. I have laboured for centuries and still I have not mastered it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeline-miller/it-was-work-day-after-day-of-it-witchcraft-is-the-same-i-have/)

[Madeline Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeline-miller/)

> [“Oh dear,” Diandra muttered again as I looked down at the baby tiger in my arms. All I felt was the soft, thick fur…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-ashley/oh-dear-diandra-muttered-again-as-i-looked-down-at-the-baby-tiger-in/)

[Kristen Ashley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-ashley/)

> [“I did not pretend to be a mortal. I showed my lambent, yellow eyes at every turn. None of it made a difference. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeline-miller/i-did-not-pretend-to-be-a-mortal-i-showed-my-lambent-yellow-eyes-at/)

[Madeline Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeline-miller/)

> [“Then I whispered, “I love you, my Lahn,” and heard the swift hiss of his intake of breath. Then he buried his face in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-ashley/then-i-whispered-i-love-you-my-lahn-and-heard-the-swift-hiss-of-his/)

[Kristen Ashley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-ashley/)

> [“I already had a feeling I was screwed, seeing I was in sacrificial virgin attire and in a corral. But now I was thinking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-ashley/i-already-had-a-feeling-i-was-screwed-seeing-i-was-in-sacrificial/)

[Kristen Ashley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-ashley/)

> [“Nature is magic, Medea, and magic is nature. It is the rawest essence of our world, a power infused by the divine when they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosie-hewlett/nature-is-magic-medea-and-magic-is-nature-it-is-the-rawest-essence-of/)

Rosie Hewlett

[Browse all 42 Circe quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/circe/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“He showed me his scars, and in return he let me pretend that I had none.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Madeline Miller"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeline-miller/he-showed-me-his-scars-and-in-return-he-let-me-pretend-that-i-had-none/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Circe"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeline-miller/he-showed-me-his-scars-and-in-return-he-let-me-pretend-that-i-had-none/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d5d/madeline-miller-2938_circe_he-showed-me-his-scars-and-in-return-he_2737644.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d5d/madeline-miller-2938_circe_he-showed-me-his-scars-and-in-return-he_2737644.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d5d/madeline-miller-2938_circe_he-showed-me-his-scars-and-in-return-he_2737644.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“He showed me his scars, and in return he let me pretend that I had none.” — Madeline Miller",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Madeline Miller",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeline-miller/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“He showed me his scars, and...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeline-miller/he-showed-me-his-scars-and-in-return-he-let-me-pretend-that-i-had-none/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeline-miller/he-showed-me-his-scars-and-in-return-he-let-me-pretend-that-i-had-none/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
