--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: That's how it started: a series of small…" description: "\"“That's how it started: a series of small hurts and excuses between two people that built up slowly, widening over time to form a vast and yawning divi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d7/nenia-campbell-1294_divide_that-s-how-it-started-a-series-of-small_605062.jpg" --- # That's how it started: a series of small hurts and excuses… ![“That's how it started: a series of small hurts and excuses between two people that built up slowly, widening over time to form a vast and yawning divide.” quote by Nenia Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d7/nenia-campbell-1294_divide_that-s-how-it-started-a-series-of-small_605062.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d7/nenia-campbell-1294_divide_that-s-how-it-started-a-series-of-small_605062.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d7/nenia-campbell-1294_divide_that-s-how-it-started-a-series-of-small_605062.jpg) > ““That's how it started: a series of small hurts and excuses between two people that built up slowly, widening over time to form a vast and yawning divide.”” [Nenia Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nenia-campbell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Minor grievances accumulate over time, creating a widening gap between people if **In simple terms:** Small hurts can grow into big divides. Key Takeaway Address issues early. Themes relationships conflict accumulation Mood reflective cautionary Type advisory philosophical When to use this quote - friendships - marriages - team dynamics Key Concepts emotional distance communication breakdown trust erosion Questions to Reflect On - What small hurts are you ignoring? - How can you prevent escalation? A Different Perspective Ignoring small hurts can be damaging. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Divide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/divide/) [Friendship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship/) [Growing apart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/growing-apart/) [Hurt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hurt/) [Hurts Excuses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hurts-excuses-4925549/) [Slowly Widening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slowly-widening-4697432/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Yawning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/yawning/) [Yawning Divide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/yawning-divide-4925548/) ## Related quotes > [It is my goal to learn as much about the people I'm surrounded by. I am slowly widening who I am close with, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-schwartz/it-is-my-goal-to-learn-as-much-about-the-people-i-m-surrounded-by-i/) [Josh Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-schwartz/) > [The most beautiful discovery true friends make is that they can grow separately without growing apart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-most-beautiful-discovery-true-friends-make-is-that-they-can-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“So many times in my life I’ve felt as though looking at Em is like seeing another variation of myself, but I don’t feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ally-condie/so-many-times-in-my-life-i-ve-felt-as-though-looking-at-em-is-like/) [Ally Condie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ally-condie/) > [Growing apart doesn't change the fact that for a long time we grew side by side; our roots will always be tangled. I'm glad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ally-condie/growing-apart-doesn-t-change-the-fact-that-for-a-long-time-we-grew-2/) [Ally Condie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ally-condie/) > [I spent my time watching the spaces that have grown between us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-howard/i-spent-my-time-watching-the-spaces-that-have-grown-between-us/) [Ben Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-howard/) > [The most beautiful discovery that true friends can make is that they can grow separately without growing apart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-foley/the-most-beautiful-discovery-that-true-friends-can-make-is-that-they/) [Elizabeth Foley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-foley/) > [“It was exciting to see her grow - both of us grow and change together. 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Being with someone because you feel guilty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessi-kirby/because-that-s-the-worse-that-s-worse-than-growing-apart-or-falling/) [Jessi Kirby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessi-kirby/) > [“We did not exist, the we we thought we'd always be.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-lacey/we-did-not-exist-the-we-we-thought-we-d-always-be/) [Catherine Lacey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-lacey/) > [“Growing apart doesn’t change the fact that for a long time we grew side by side; our roots will always be tangled.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ally-condie/growing-apart-doesn-t-change-the-fact-that-for-a-long-time-we-grew/) [Ally Condie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ally-condie/) > [That feeling you get when you know it's not the same anymore...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/that-feeling-you-get-when-you-know-it-s-not-the-same-anymore/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Even with the best intentions, growing apart might just be an inevitable part of growing up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-mccafferty/even-with-the-best-intentions-growing-apart-might-just-be-an/) [Megan McCafferty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-mccafferty/) > [Religion is always in danger of growing apart from the people when its leaders forget to reflect carefully on their own behavior and come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/senora-roy/religion-is-always-in-danger-of-growing-apart-from-the-people-when/) [Senora Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/senora-roy/) > [The most beautiful discovery true friends make is that thay can grow separately without growing apart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-most-beautiful-discovery-true-friends-make-is-that-thay-can-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Nenia Campbell > [“Once upon a time, there was a naïve and innocent girl who thought she could tame the beast and live happily ever after. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nenia-campbell/once-upon-a-time-there-was-a-na-ve-and-innocent-girl-who-thought-she/) [Nenia Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nenia-campbell/) > [“When we mated I felt your heart stop beating and it was as if the world had stopped turning. It was only while surrounded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nenia-campbell/when-we-mated-i-felt-your-heart-stop-beating-and-it-was-as-if-the/) [Nenia Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nenia-campbell/) > [“You mean you don't want to come in and hold my hand while I piss?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nenia-campbell/you-mean-you-don-t-want-to-come-in-and-hold-my-hand-while-i-piss/) [Nenia Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nenia-campbell/) > [“He was everything your mother warned you about when she told you not to walk alone in the dark.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nenia-campbell/he-was-everything-your-mother-warned-you-about-when-she-told-you-not/) [Nenia Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nenia-campbell/) > [“They said the shape-shifters fucked with the enthusiasm of animals—if they didn't devour you with the enthusiasm of one first.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nenia-campbell/they-said-the-shape-shifters-fucked-with-the-enthusiasm-of-animals-if/) [Nenia Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nenia-campbell/) > [“No. I made that choice. I let all that anger and pain get twisted up in my thoughts for you.” He leaned in. “It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nenia-campbell/no-i-made-that-choice-i-let-all-that-anger-and-pain-get-twisted-up-in/) [Nenia Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nenia-campbell/) > [“We both want you dead. I'm bringing the friendship bracelets to the next meeting.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nenia-campbell/we-both-want-you-dead-i-m-bringing-the-friendship-bracelets-to-the/) [Nenia Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nenia-campbell/) > [“She has built her whole life on the foundation of beauty: each chiseled plane, each sloping dimple, each soft curve as crucial as keystones…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nenia-campbell/she-has-built-her-whole-life-on-the-foundation-of-beauty-each/) [Nenia Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nenia-campbell/) > [“Does your family play games, too?" She tries to sound off-hand. "No. Just me - and my brother." Which means her parents are in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nenia-campbell/does-your-family-play-games-too-she-tries-to-sound-off-hand-no-just/) [Nenia Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nenia-campbell/) > [“I feel I could kill. I feel that I might like it. And I know that this should scare me. But it doesn't. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nenia-campbell/i-feel-i-could-kill-i-feel-that-i-might-like-it-and-i-know-that-this/) [Nenia Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nenia-campbell/) > [“If people are meant to live, they'll live. If not, more room for the rest of us.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nenia-campbell/if-people-are-meant-to-live-they-ll-live-if-not-more-room-for-the/) [Nenia Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nenia-campbell/) > [“You were a well-respected agent, Michael, a rags-to-riches fairytale ending. Until you became disgraced. Now it appears your own organization wishes to be rid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nenia-campbell/you-were-a-well-respected-agent-michael-a-rags-to-riches-fairytale/) [Nenia Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nenia-campbell/) > [“If a woman defined herself solely by the man she was with—and vice versa—the world would be a very shallow and insipid place, indeed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nenia-campbell/if-a-woman-defined-herself-solely-by-the-man-she-was-with-and-vice/) [Nenia Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nenia-campbell/) > [“Everyone needs to escape sometimes, and retreating into somebody else's fantasy isn't nearly as satisfying as slipping into your own.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nenia-campbell/everyone-needs-to-escape-sometimes-and-retreating-into-somebody-else/) [Nenia Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nenia-campbell/) > [“But fairytales were, at best, dirty mirrors whose warped and pitted surfaces reflected a highly distorted view of the truth, quite different from reality.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nenia-campbell/but-fairytales-were-at-best-dirty-mirrors-whose-warped-and-pitted/) [Nenia Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nenia-campbell/) [Explore all 260 Nenia Campbell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nenia-campbell/) ## 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. 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