--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What are you doing?\" she asked, trying to…" description: "\"What are you doing?\" she asked, trying to raise herself. \"First, I thought I'd show you what a pity it would be if they cut off my wicked tongue.\" — Me..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/26a/melina-marchetta-392_cutting_what-are-you-doing-she-asked-trying-to-r_1157776.jpg" --- # What are you doing?" she asked, trying to raise herself… ![“What are you doing?" she asked, trying to raise herself. "First, I thought I'd show you what a pity it would be if they cut off my wicked tongue.” quote by Melina Marchetta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/26a/melina-marchetta-392_cutting_what-are-you-doing-she-asked-trying-to-r_1157776.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/26a/melina-marchetta-392_cutting_what-are-you-doing-she-asked-trying-to-r_1157776.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/26a/melina-marchetta-392_cutting_what-are-you-doing-she-asked-trying-to-r_1157776.jpg) > “What are you doing?" she asked, trying to raise herself. "First, I thought I'd show you what a pity it would be if they cut off my wicked tongue.” [Melina Marchetta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melina-marchetta/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A character contemplates self‑expression versus silence, weighing the cost of speaking out against being silenced. **In simple terms:** Choosing to speak up can be painful but powerful. Key Takeaway Speak your truth despite fear. Themes courage self‑expression silence identity Mood determined reflective Type motivational literary When to use this quote - family conflict - personal growth - standing up for beliefs Key Concepts oral agency personal autonomy Questions to Reflect On - What truth are you holding back? - How does silence protect you? A Different Perspective Speaking may provoke backlash or danger. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Pity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pity/) ## Related quotes > [“A wicked tongue: Slander, gossip, cussing, sarcasm, poisonous tongue, bearing false witness, and murmuring.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ana-mendez-ferrell/a-wicked-tongue-slander-gossip-cussing-sarcasm-poisonous-tongue/) [Ana Mendez Ferrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ana-mendez-ferrell/) > [“Once upon a time,” Nora said, as she fluttered a series of kisses over his shoulders that sent every nerve in his body reeling,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tiffany-reisz/once-upon-a-time-nora-said-as-she-fluttered-a-series-of-kisses-over/) [Tiffany Reisz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tiffany-reisz/) > [I thought: pity the poor in spirit who know neither the enchantment nor the beauty of language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muriel-barbery/i-thought-pity-the-poor-in-spirit-who-know-neither-the-enchantment/) [Muriel Barbery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muriel-barbery/) > [“...she thought with pity of all the men and women who were not light-hearted when they loved, who were cold, who were reluctant, who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daphne-du-maurier/she-thought-with-pity-of-all-the-men-and-women-who-were-not-light/) [Daphne du Maurier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daphne-du-maurier/) > [It was such a lovely day I thought it a pity to get up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/it-was-such-a-lovely-day-i-thought-it-a-pity-to-get-up/) [W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/) > [I suppose I could have sat back and pitied myself. For a time I wondered if I'd ever be able to go on to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patsy-cline/i-suppose-i-could-have-sat-back-and-pitied-myself-for-a-time-i/) [Patsy Cline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patsy-cline/) > [“And on the way home I thought: pity the poor in spirit who know neither the enchantment nor the beauty of language.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muriel-barbery/and-on-the-way-home-i-thought-pity-the-poor-in-spirit-who-know/) [Muriel Barbery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muriel-barbery/) > [Every thought of pity is like the balm of Gilead to our souls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-darrow/every-thought-of-pity-is-like-the-balm-of-gilead-to-our-souls/) [Clarence Darrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-darrow/) > [“Wickedness never rests easily so, in a way, one might almost feel pity for the wicked, for they are destined to live their lives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-connolly/wickedness-never-rests-easily-so-in-a-way-one-might-almost-feel-pity/) [John Connolly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-connolly/) > [Fanaticism, to which men are so much inclined, has always served not only to render them more brutalized but more wicked.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/fanaticism-to-which-men-are-so-much-inclined-has-always-served-not/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [We're like the wicked witch. We promise gingerbread, then eat the little brats alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/we-re-like-the-wicked-witch-we-promise-gingerbread-then-eat-the/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [As an actor, it was great to work with Harry Lloyd because he's wicked smart, and he is very kind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-gabriel/as-an-actor-it-was-great-to-work-with-harry-lloyd-because-he-s-wicked/) [Betty Gabriel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-gabriel/) > [...it isn't foolish or wicked to enjoy. Wickedness is hurting people on purpose. I love what you are and who you are and how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-d-macdonald/it-isn-t-foolish-or-wicked-to-enjoy-wickedness-is-hurting-people-on/) [John D. MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-d-macdonald/) > [A wicked man in prayer may lift up his hands, but he cannot lift up his face.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-watson/a-wicked-man-in-prayer-may-lift-up-his-hands-but-he-cannot-lift-up/) [Thomas Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-watson/) > [Before Noah, men having only water to drink, could not find the truth. Accordingly...they became abominably wicked, and they were justly exterminated by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/before-noah-men-having-only-water-to-drink-could-not-find-the-truth/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) ## More by Melina Marchetta > [Some of us weren't born for rewards, Froi. We were born for sacrifices.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melina-marchetta/some-of-us-weren-t-born-for-rewards-froi-we-were-born-for-sacrifices/) [Melina Marchetta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melina-marchetta/) > [I'm very disturbed to find out that the leader of the Townies has a soul and I'm beginning to develop a bit of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melina-marchetta/i-m-very-disturbed-to-find-out-that-the-leader-of-the-townies-has-a/) [Melina Marchetta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melina-marchetta/) > [In the games of queens and kings, we leave our dreams at the door and we make do with what we have. Sometimes if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melina-marchetta/in-the-games-of-queens-and-kings-we-leave-our-dreams-at-the-door-and/) [Melina Marchetta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melina-marchetta/) > [And then you came along and you spoke to me and nobody had looked me in the eye for years. (...) But I remember…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melina-marchetta/and-then-you-came-along-and-you-spoke-to-me-and-nobody-had-looked-me/) [Melina Marchetta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melina-marchetta/) > [Do you want to know something about tyrants? When faced with death, they weep and they beg just like the rest of us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melina-marchetta/do-you-want-to-know-something-about-tyrants-when-faced-with-death/) [Melina Marchetta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melina-marchetta/) > [“you do that all the time you know. you ask me questions when you know the answer will piss you off. ask me a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melina-marchetta/you-do-that-all-the-time-you-know-you-ask-me-questions-when-you-know/) [Melina Marchetta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melina-marchetta/) > [I need voices of reason and of hysteria and of empathy. I need to have an Alanis moment. I need advice from Elizabeth Bennett.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melina-marchetta/i-need-voices-of-reason-and-of-hysteria-and-of-empathy-i-need-to-have/) [Melina Marchetta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melina-marchetta/) > [“When I saw "Ulysses" on Georgie's bedside table and Tom Finch's name written on it in a scrawl so like my old man's, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melina-marchetta/when-i-saw-ulysses-on-georgie-s-bedside-table-and-tom-finch-s-name/) [Melina Marchetta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melina-marchetta/) > [“Our bodies aren't strangers,' he said, his voice ragged. 'Our spirits aren't strangers'. He held her face in his hands. 'Tell me what part…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melina-marchetta/our-bodies-aren-t-strangers-he-said-his-voice-ragged-our-spirits-aren/) [Melina Marchetta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melina-marchetta/) > [Phaedra of Alonso’s death was a never-ending pain that gnawed at his insides. It made him a prisoner in his own cottage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melina-marchetta/phaedra-of-alonso-s-death-was-a-never-ending-pain-that-gnawed-at-his/) [Melina Marchetta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melina-marchetta/) > [You know what? You didn't do anything wrong. I did. It's this dumb thing I do. I look into things and see more than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melina-marchetta/you-know-what-you-didn-t-do-anything-wrong-i-did-it-s-this-dumb-thing/) [Melina Marchetta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melina-marchetta/) > [Everything's going to be fine. She'll be back at work soon. Let's just keep the house clean." Oh yeah, I want to say, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melina-marchetta/everything-s-going-to-be-fine-she-ll-be-back-at-work-soon-let-s-just/) [Melina Marchetta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melina-marchetta/) > [See them together and you will feel a force that will take your breath away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melina-marchetta/see-them-together-and-you-will-feel-a-force-that-will-take-your/) [Melina Marchetta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melina-marchetta/) > [We don't even love each other. I do a bit, you know. You do what a bit? You know. Like you...whatever...love you a bit.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melina-marchetta/we-don-t-even-love-each-other-i-do-a-bit-you-know-you-do-what-a-bit/) [Melina Marchetta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melina-marchetta/) > [I’m scared I’m going to spend the rest of my life in a state of yearning, regardless of where I am.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melina-marchetta/i-m-scared-i-m-going-to-spend-the-rest-of-my-life-in-a-state-of/) [Melina Marchetta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melina-marchetta/) [Explore all 602 Melina Marchetta quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melina-marchetta/) ## More Cutting quotes > [“I locked the door and turned on the water to fill the tub. 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