---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I use my work as catharsis. That's often…"
description: "\"I use my work as catharsis. That's often the best thing that we can do, is to allow ourselves to rage because it's so rare that we get to. We're told t..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2fa/margaret-cho-1136_abusers_i-use-my-work-as-catharsis-that-s-often_999303.jpg"
---

#  I use my work as catharsis. That's often the best thing…

![“I use my work as catharsis. That's often the best thing that we can do, is to allow ourselves to rage because it's so rare that we get to. We're told to forgive - I don't want to! I don't want to forgive my abuser! I don't care to and I don't like that assumption that forgiveness makes me a better…” quote by Margaret Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2fa/margaret-cho-1136_abusers_i-use-my-work-as-catharsis-that-s-often_999303.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2fa/margaret-cho-1136_abusers_i-use-my-work-as-catharsis-that-s-often_999303.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2fa/margaret-cho-1136_abusers_i-use-my-work-as-catharsis-that-s-often_999303.jpg)

> “I use my work as catharsis. That's often the best thing that we can do, is to allow ourselves to rage because it's so rare that we get to. We're told to forgive - I don't want to! I don't want to forgive my abuser! I don't care to and I don't like that assumption that forgiveness makes me a better person. It's not authentic to me, my feelings and what I need. But everyone has their own way.”

[Margaret Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-cho/)

## About This Quote

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

She argues that expressing anger authentically can be healthier than forced forgiveness, emphasizing personal emotional truth.

**In simple terms:** Express anger honestly instead of forced forgiveness.

Key Takeaway

Honor your true feelings.

Themes

authenticity emotion forgiveness self‑care

Mood

frustrated defiant reflective

Type

personal emotional

When to use this quote

- therapy sessions
- personal journaling
- conflict resolution
- creative work
- activism

Key Concepts

psychology personal boundaries emotional intelligence

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you balance authentic anger with relational repair?
- When is forgiveness truly beneficial?

A Different Perspective

Forgiveness may still be necessary for healing in some relationships.

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> [We may not know how to forgive, and we may not want to forgive; but the very fact we say we are willing to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-hay/we-may-not-know-how-to-forgive-and-we-may-not-want-to-forgive-but-the/)

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> [Dear person&lt; 3, I made a huge mistake.. the biggest one of my life. I left you. I hurt you, I called you names.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cuts-and-scars/dear-person-3-i-made-a-huge-mistake-the-biggest-one-of-my-life-i-left/)

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> [Honestly I want to forgive you but what you said keeps replaying in my head.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/honestly-i-want-to-forgive-you-but-what-you-said-keeps-replaying-in/)

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> [“I'm an old man now. Old on the inside. I'm a drunk, and I hate to tell you, but I'm not prepared to change.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-palmieri/i-m-an-old-man-now-old-on-the-inside-i-m-a-drunk-and-i-hate-to-tell/)

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## More by Margaret Cho

> [As a child, I had a lot of older gay men taking care of me. There's a trust there. I feel like little girls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-cho/as-a-child-i-had-a-lot-of-older-gay-men-taking-care-of-me-there-s-a/)

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> [I don't like pot anymore -- I forget why.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-cho/i-don-t-like-pot-anymore-i-forget-why/)

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> [I'm not a mom, but I think the word 'mother' is about wisdom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-cho/i-m-not-a-mom-but-i-think-the-word-mother-is-about-wisdom/)

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> [Why can't all different types of women be considered beautiful? Why can't we can't we all be considered possible love interests?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-cho/why-can-t-all-different-types-of-women-be-considered-beautiful-why/)

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[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

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