--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It’s a dangerous thing, to divide…" description: "\"“It’s a dangerous thing, to divide yourself, to break off bits of yourself until there’s no solid core. We are, after all, just the sum of our total ex..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c1c/mia-fontaine-66193_quote_it-s-a-dangerous-thing-to-divide-yoursel_933180.jpg" --- # It’s a dangerous thing, to divide yourself, to break off… ![“It’s a dangerous thing, to divide yourself, to break off bits of yourself until there’s no solid core. We are, after all, just the sum of our total experiences, each one lying beneath us like a brick in the foundation of a house. To be selective, to block out portions, is to destabilize the very…” quote by Mia Fontaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c1c/mia-fontaine-66193_quote_it-s-a-dangerous-thing-to-divide-yoursel_933180.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c1c/mia-fontaine-66193_quote_it-s-a-dangerous-thing-to-divide-yoursel_933180.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c1c/mia-fontaine-66193_quote_it-s-a-dangerous-thing-to-divide-yoursel_933180.jpg) > ““It’s a dangerous thing, to divide yourself, to break off bits of yourself until there’s no solid core. We are, after all, just the sum of our total experiences, each one lying beneath us like a brick in the foundation of a house. To be selective, to block out portions, is to destabilize the very ground on which you stand.”” [Mia Fontaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mia-fontaine/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Dividing oneself by rejecting parts of experience weakens personal foundation and identity. **In simple terms:** Rejecting parts of yourself hurts your core. Key Takeaway Embrace all experiences to stay grounded. Themes identity self‑acceptance psychology Mood reflective thoughtful Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - therapy - personal growth - relationship building - career development Key Concepts integration self‑concept resilience Questions to Reflect On - Which parts of yourself are you avoiding? - How does acceptance strengthen you? A Different Perspective Ignoring painful experiences can lead to unresolved trauma. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Block Portions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/block-portions-1535091/) [Divide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/divide/) [Divide Break](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/divide-break-1535090/) [Like Brick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-brick-589963/) [Thing Divide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thing-divide-1535089/) ## Related quotes > [It was one thing to divide the major assets, but how was it possible to divide the heart?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/it-was-one-thing-to-divide-the-major-assets-but-how-was-it-possible/) [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) > [“Time wasn't a thing you could divide easily; there was no defined middle or beginning or end. I could pretend to leave the past…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/time-wasn-t-a-thing-you-could-divide-easily-there-was-no-defined/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [Sometimes life hits you like a brick in the face. Don't give up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/sometimes-life-hits-you-like-a-brick-in-the-face-don-t-give-up/) [Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/) > [Enlightenment! When it comes, it comes like a brick to the head, doesn't it?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-lynch/enlightenment-when-it-comes-it-comes-like-a-brick-to-the-head-doesn-t/) [Scott Lynch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-lynch/) > [Lookin like a million bucks smelln like a brick of raw.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meek-mill/lookin-like-a-million-bucks-smelln-like-a-brick-of-raw/) [Meek Mill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meek-mill/) > [We Stand Together Like A Brick Wall, Side By Side](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ms-freshie/we-stand-together-like-a-brick-wall-side-by-side/) [Ms\_Freshie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ms-freshie/) > [“A brick could be an object to measure your life against. Are you square, rigid, and inflexible? If yes, are you in the military?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/a-brick-could-be-an-object-to-measure-your-life-against-are-you/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [If I dream that I'm directing, it's not a film, it's like a commercial for cotton candy, and I've got four feet of cotton…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-birbiglia/if-i-dream-that-i-m-directing-it-s-not-a-film-it-s-like-a-commercial/) [Mike Birbiglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-birbiglia/) > [“I have a fist like a brick, but I don’t punch through walls—I build them and become them. ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/i-have-a-fist-like-a-brick-but-i-don-t-punch-through-walls-i-build/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [Love is like a brick. You can build a house, or you can sink a dead body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lady-gaga/love-is-like-a-brick-you-can-build-a-house-or-you-can-sink-a-dead-body/) [Lady Gaga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lady-gaga/) > [“What was the point of being a mind anchored to this read weight-or dying weight, that was it, a blooby mass already becoming old,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daryl-gregory/what-was-the-point-of-being-a-mind-anchored-to-this-read-weight-or/) [Daryl Gregory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daryl-gregory/) > [Don't just be like another Brick in the wall.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/don-t-just-be-like-another-brick-in-the-wall/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Nothing says ‘I love you’ like a brick through the window.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-oliver/nothing-says-i-love-you-like-a-brick-through-the-window/) [Lauren Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-oliver/) > [“A brick could be renamed something clever and cute, like President, and repackaged and resold to a solid base of sheep consumers every four…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/a-brick-could-be-renamed-something-clever-and-cute-like-president-and/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [Well, duh. He was six feet, six inches tall and built like a brick shithouse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/well-duh-he-was-six-feet-six-inches-tall-and-built-like-a-brick/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) ## More by Mia Fontaine > [“Nor did I grasp the capacity of love's absence to destroy, that my lack of love for myself made my own life unbearable. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mia-fontaine/nor-did-i-grasp-the-capacity-of-love-s-absence-to-destroy-that-my/) [Mia Fontaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mia-fontaine/) > [“Your first period may unequivocally announce puberty, but your first 9–5 doesn’t definitively mean you’ve grown up.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mia-fontaine/your-first-period-may-unequivocally-announce-puberty-but-your-first-9/) [Mia Fontaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mia-fontaine/) > [“The world is full of instructions and advice on how to mother, in bookstores, in academia, on the playgrounds, in the media. Mothers are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mia-fontaine/the-world-is-full-of-instructions-and-advice-on-how-to-mother-in/) [Mia Fontaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mia-fontaine/) [Explore all 4 Mia Fontaine quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mia-fontaine/) ## More Divide quotes > [To divide one's life by years is of course to tumble into a trap set by our own arithmetic. The calendar consents to carry…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clifton-fadiman/to-divide-one-s-life-by-years-is-of-course-to-tumble-into-a-trap-set/) [Clifton Fadiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clifton-fadiman/) > [“If you have half a nothing - sell it for a double something, resell half at double-price, and buy another something and a half…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-advise/if-you-have-half-a-nothing-sell-it-for-a-double-something-resell-half/) [Will Advise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-advise/) > [The work-family divide is the biggest issue for American women. But in some ways it's amazing how adjusted society has become to it. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-collins/the-work-family-divide-is-the-biggest-issue-for-american-women-but-in/) [Gail Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-collins/) > [In my first remarks as Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission to the agency's terrific staff, I stressed that one of my top priorities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ajit-pai/in-my-first-remarks-as-chairman-of-the-federal-communications/) [Ajit Pai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ajit-pai/) > [But it is impossible to divide a cube into two cubes, or a fourth power into fourth powers, or generally any power beyond the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-de-fermat/but-it-is-impossible-to-divide-a-cube-into-two-cubes-or-a-fourth/) [Pierre de Fermat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-de-fermat/) > [“The Republicrat Junta promotes our separation into fragmented ethnic, religious, and social groups, for well they know that to divide is to conquer. Their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-befumo/the-republicrat-junta-promotes-our-separation-into-fragmented-ethnic/) [Joseph Befumo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-befumo/) > [The forces that divide us are not as strong as those that unite us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/the-forces-that-divide-us-are-not-as-strong-as-those-that-unite-us/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [I always divide people into two groups. Those who live by what they know to be a lie, and those who live by what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hampton/i-always-divide-people-into-two-groups-those-who-live-by-what-they/) [Christopher Hampton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hampton/) > [“I’ve seen too many leaders misunderstand leadership for legacy. Even the most experienced leaders will divide instead of delegate and incite instead of unite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richie-norton/i-ve-seen-too-many-leaders-misunderstand-leadership-for-legacy-even/) [Richie Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richie-norton/) > [“So how you’re gonna play this?” Trenton asked. “Divide and conquer.” “Divide what?” “His head from the rest of his body.” Trenton nodded quickly.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-mcguire/so-how-you-re-gonna-play-this-trenton-asked-divide-and-conquer-divide/) [Jamie McGuire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-mcguire/) > [Africa doesn't look like it's changed that much to me since I first went in '94. There is still a major economic divide, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/goapele/africa-doesn-t-look-like-it-s-changed-that-much-to-me-since-i-first/) [Goapele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/goapele/) > [Grief can take of itself,but to get the full value from joy you must have somebody to divide it with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-laurence-torcuator/grief-can-take-of-itself-but-to-get-the-full-value-from-joy-you-must/) [Mark Laurence Torcuator](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-laurence-torcuator/) > [Words outlive people, institutions, civilizations. Words spur images, associations, memories, inspirations and synapse pulsations. Words send off physical resonations of thought into the nethersphere.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/inga-muscio/words-outlive-people-institutions-civilizations-words-spur-images/) [Inga Muscio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/inga-muscio/) > [Cancer essentially lives in us and becomes activated at some point, and then cells begin to psychotically divide. Initially, the cancer cell looks like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eve-ensler/cancer-essentially-lives-in-us-and-becomes-activated-at-some-point/) [Eve Ensler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eve-ensler/) > [“Pick a leader who will keep jobs in your country by offering companies incentives to hire only within their borders, not one who allows…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzy-kassem/pick-a-leader-who-will-keep-jobs-in-your-country-by-offering/) [Suzy Kassem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzy-kassem/) [Browse all 318 Divide quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/divide/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“It’s a dangerous thing, to divide yourself, to break off bits of yourself until there’s no solid core. We are, after all, just the sum of our total experiences, each one lying beneath us like a brick in the foundation of a house. 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