--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Everyone always asks, was he mad at you…" description: "\"Everyone always asks, was he mad at you for writing the book? and I have to say, Yes, yes, he was. He still is. It is one of the most fascinating thing..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ce8/nora-ephron-1217_behave_everyone-always-asks-was-he-mad-at-you-f_2637664.jpg" --- # Everyone always asks, was he mad at you for writing the… ![“Everyone always asks, was he mad at you for writing the book? and I have to say, Yes, yes, he was. He still is. It is one of the most fascinating things to me about the whole episode: he cheated on me, and then got to behave as if he was the one who had been wronged because I wrote about it! I…” quote by Nora Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ce8/nora-ephron-1217_behave_everyone-always-asks-was-he-mad-at-you-f_2637664.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ce8/nora-ephron-1217_behave_everyone-always-asks-was-he-mad-at-you-f_2637664.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ce8/nora-ephron-1217_behave_everyone-always-asks-was-he-mad-at-you-f_2637664.jpg) > “Everyone always asks, was he mad at you for writing the book? and I have to say, Yes, yes, he was. He still is. It is one of the most fascinating things to me about the whole episode: he cheated on me, and then got to behave as if he was the one who had been wronged because I wrote about it! I mean, it's not as if I wasn't a writer. It's not as if I hadn't often written about myself. I'd even written about him. What did he think was going to happen? That I would take a vow of silence for the first time in my life? "” [Nora Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-ephron/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. She reveals the paradox of being harmed by a subject she writes about, yet still feeling compelled to tell the story. **In simple terms:** Writing about betrayal feels necessary despite pain. Key Takeaway Embrace truth even when it hurts. Themes betrayal writing truth Mood reflective defiant Type literary personal When to use this quote - memoir writing - public speaking - conflict resolution Key Concepts ethics personal narrative Questions to Reflect On - Why do we share painful truths? - How does betrayal shape creativity? A Different Perspective Writing may expose the writer to further harm. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Asks Mad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asks-mad-2241747/) [Behave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/behave/) [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Cheated](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cheated/) [Cheated on](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cheated-on/) [Episodes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/episodes/) [First time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first-time/) [Firsts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/) [Hadn Written](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hadn-written-536743/) [Mad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mad/) [Mad Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mad-writing-429323/) [Mean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mean/) [Silence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/silence/) [Stills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stills/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Vow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vow/) [Vow of silence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vow-of-silence/) [Wasn Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wasn-writer-1350402/) [Writer Hadn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer-hadn-2241748/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) [Wronged](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wronged/) ## Related quotes > [I can't stop myself from finding information that makes me mad and writing about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-commerford/i-can-t-stop-myself-from-finding-information-that-makes-me-mad-and/) [Tim Commerford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-commerford/) > [I don't think I would have been a writer if I hadn't been a mother. I wanted to construct something that contained some of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-shields/i-don-t-think-i-would-have-been-a-writer-if-i-hadn-t-been-a-mother-i/) [Carol Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-shields/) > [I wouldn't be a very good writer if someone hadn't taught me how to read.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-ford/i-wouldn-t-be-a-very-good-writer-if-someone-hadn-t-taught-me-how-to/) [Richard Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-ford/) > [If I wasn't a writer, I would be depressed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling-2/if-i-wasn-t-a-writer-i-would-be-depressed/) [J. K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling-2/) > [“Then I understood. There was no book. My father wasn’t a writer. He wasn’t even a vampire. He was a madman.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kami-garcia/then-i-understood-there-was-no-book-my-father-wasn-t-a-writer-he-wasn/) [Kami Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kami-garcia/) > [If I wasn't a writer, I don't know what I'd be. Probably a marine biologist or something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-vandermeer/if-i-wasn-t-a-writer-i-don-t-know-what-i-d-be-probably-a-marine/) [Jeff VanderMeer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-vandermeer/) > [I thought I was depressed because I wasn't a writer/director. I moved into a space where I'm a writer/director, my movie is a hit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-simien/i-thought-i-was-depressed-because-i-wasn-t-a-writer-director-i-moved/) [Justin Simien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-simien/) > [“I re-traced your footsteps to that miserable little Tibetan monastery. It was hard to get the monks to talk, what with that vow of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-flanagan/i-re-traced-your-footsteps-to-that-miserable-little-tibetan-monastery/) [Anne Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-flanagan/) > [“I clutched the basin of the sink as I checked my reflection. I was badly bruised on my neck and décolleté. I then realized…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebekah-armusik/i-clutched-the-basin-of-the-sink-as-i-checked-my-reflection-i-was/) [Rebekah Armusik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebekah-armusik/) > [“The serious writer must take serious vows…a vow of silence, except through his work. A vow of consistency, sticking with writing to the exclusion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-e-sissman/the-serious-writer-must-take-serious-vows-a-vow-of-silence-except/) [L.E. Sissman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-e-sissman/) > [I began observing, making paintings of my surroundings, taking a vow of silence, listening, composing music, writing, and making time for formal education. Then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-francis/i-began-observing-making-paintings-of-my-surroundings-taking-a-vow-of/) [John Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-francis/) > [I hope my New Year's Resolution to only say nice things about people isn't misinterpreted as a vow of silence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hussein-nishah/i-hope-my-new-year-s-resolution-to-only-say-nice-things-about-people/) [Hussein Nishah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hussein-nishah/) > [Ultimately when I gave up the use of motorized vehicles, I walked everywhere, from town to town, across states and two continents. When I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-francis/ultimately-when-i-gave-up-the-use-of-motorized-vehicles-i-walked/) [John Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-francis/) > [The vow of silence, that's the mind-blower. See, talking is what I do... i t's a real need with me, a craving, I'm like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-schneider/the-vow-of-silence-that-s-the-mind-blower-see-talking-is-what-i-do-i/) [Andrew Schneider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-schneider/) > [I'm sitting her thinking, -God, I swear I will take a vow of silence and move to a monastery and worship you for all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/i-m-sitting-her-thinking-god-i-swear-i-will-take-a-vow-of-silence-and/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) ## More by Nora Ephron > [ “\[S\]ometimes, when you are a food person, the possible irrelevance of what you are doing doesn’t cross your mind until it’s too late. (Once,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-ephron/s-ometimes-when-you-are-a-food-person-the-possible-irrelevance-of/) [Nora Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-ephron/) > [“That's the catch about betrayal, of course: that it feels good, that there's something immensely pleasurable about moving from a complicated relationship which involves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-ephron/that-s-the-catch-about-betrayal-of-course-that-it-feels-good-that/) [Nora Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-ephron/) > [“The whole purpose of places like Starbucks is for people with no decision-making ability whatsoever to make six decisions just to buy one cup…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-ephron/the-whole-purpose-of-places-like-starbucks-is-for-people-with-no/) [Nora Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-ephron/) > [Death is a sniper. It strikes people you love, people you like, people you know - it's everywhere. You could be next. But then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-ephron/death-is-a-sniper-it-strikes-people-you-love-people-you-like-people/) [Nora Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-ephron/) > ['When you slip on a banana peel, people laugh at you. When you tell people you slipped on a banana peel, it's your laugh.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-ephron/when-you-slip-on-a-banana-peel-people-laugh-at-you-when-you-tell/) [Nora Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-ephron/) > [“I wish he were better at hailing taxis than I am; on the other hand, I realize that expectation is culturally conditioned, utterly foolish,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-ephron/i-wish-he-were-better-at-hailing-taxis-than-i-am-on-the-other-hand-i/) [Nora Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-ephron/) > [You enter into a certain amount of madness when you marry a person with pets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-ephron/you-enter-into-a-certain-amount-of-madness-when-you-marry-a-person/) [Nora Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-ephron/) > [I never went near the Wellesley College chapel in my four years there, but I am still amazed at the amount of Christian charity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-ephron/i-never-went-near-the-wellesley-college-chapel-in-my-four-years-there/) [Nora Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-ephron/) > [You can't call yourself a feminist if you don't believe in the right to abortion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-ephron/you-can-t-call-yourself-a-feminist-if-you-don-t-believe-in-the-right/) [Nora Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-ephron/) > [“I always read the last page of a book first so that if I die before I finish I'll know how it turned out.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-ephron/i-always-read-the-last-page-of-a-book-first-so-that-if-i-die-before-i/) [Nora Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-ephron/) > [“If I was home alone at night, I cooked myself an entire meal from one of these cookbooks. Then I sat down in front…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-ephron/if-i-was-home-alone-at-night-i-cooked-myself-an-entire-meal-from-one/) [Nora Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-ephron/) > [“The next man I was involved with lived in Boston. He taught me to cook mushrooms. He taught me that if you heat the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-ephron/the-next-man-i-was-involved-with-lived-in-boston-he-taught-me-to-cook/) [Nora Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-ephron/) > [“Whatever you choose, however many roads you travel, I hope that you choose not to be a lady. I hope you will find some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-ephron/whatever-you-choose-however-many-roads-you-travel-i-hope-that-you/) [Nora Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-ephron/) > [A man who finishes a book is always alone when he finishes it...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-ephron/a-man-who-finishes-a-book-is-always-alone-when-he-finishes-it/) [Nora Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-ephron/) > [“I hear myself saying these words: What this movement is about is options. I say it to friends who are frustrated, or housebound, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-ephron/i-hear-myself-saying-these-words-what-this-movement-is-about-is/) [Nora Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-ephron/) [Explore all 272 Nora Ephron quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-ephron/) ## More Behave quotes > [If you are well-mannered towards those whose views are similar to yours, you may be said to exhibit a fairly good character. But, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-are-well-mannered-towards-those-whose-views-are-similar-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [To behave creatively in art means behavior with skill; and skill comes from discipline, not derangement. The artist who knows the rules -and proportion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/burne-hogarth/to-behave-creatively-in-art-means-behavior-with-skill-and-skill-comes/) [Burne Hogarth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/burne-hogarth/) > [You can behave as badly as you like in America. Nobody notices.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-crisp/you-can-behave-as-badly-as-you-like-in-america-nobody-notices/) [Quentin Crisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-crisp/) > [For war to man, like childbirth to women, is simplifying in its emotions and activities. All the real problems of life can be put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pearl-s-buck/for-war-to-man-like-childbirth-to-women-is-simplifying-in-its/) [Pearl S. Buck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pearl-s-buck/) > [“Then Olympus it is. But do try to behave. I know it’s hard for you, but… (Delphine) I won’t piss on the floor. (Jericho)…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/then-olympus-it-is-but-do-try-to-behave-i-know-it-s-hard-for-you-but/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [The possibility of saying anything about a thing rests on the assumption that it preserves its identity, or continues to be the same thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-knight/the-possibility-of-saying-anything-about-a-thing-rests-on-the/) [Frank Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-knight/) > [Why does man behave like perfect idiot? This is the problem I wish to deal with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-szent-gyorgyi/why-does-man-behave-like-perfect-idiot-this-is-the-problem-i-wish-to/) [Albert Szent-Gyorgyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-szent-gyorgyi/) > [This is a time in my life where I'm gonna behave like an elegant human being. Or not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-stritch/this-is-a-time-in-my-life-where-i-m-gonna-behave-like-an-elegant/) [Elaine Stritch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-stritch/) > [Most people, even in simple risky situations, don't behave the way the theory of utility would have them behave.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-raiffa/most-people-even-in-simple-risky-situations-don-t-behave-the-way-the/) [Howard Raiffa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-raiffa/) > [As a club, we have an educational purpose: to give back to those people who love Arsenal so that they learn moral values from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arsene-wenger/as-a-club-we-have-an-educational-purpose-to-give-back-to-those-people/) [Arsene Wenger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arsene-wenger/) > [What astonishes many of us is not so much that human nature is fundamentally corrupt; we are astonished rather that it does not behave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morton-irving-seiden/what-astonishes-many-of-us-is-not-so-much-that-human-nature-is/) [Morton Irving Seiden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morton-irving-seiden/) > [Do we behave out of fear of punishment, or out of the demands of our heart? For me, it is the latter, as I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/do-we-behave-out-of-fear-of-punishment-or-out-of-the-demands-of-our/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When you are in hard labor, remember that the length of labor is usually proportional to the number of people around. Avoid the presence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-odent/when-you-are-in-hard-labor-remember-that-the-length-of-labor-is/) [Michel Odent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-odent/) > [The superpowers often behave like two heavily armed blind men feeling their way around a room, each believing himself in mortal peril from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-superpowers-often-behave-like-two-heavily-armed-blind-men-feeling/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [For political and bureaucratic reasons, governments at all levels are telling far less to the public than to insiders about how to prepare for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barton-gellman/for-political-and-bureaucratic-reasons-governments-at-all-levels-are/) [Barton Gellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barton-gellman/) [Browse all 1,587 Behave quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/behave/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Everyone always asks, was he mad at you for writing the book? and I have to say, Yes, yes, he was. He still is. It is one of the most fascinating things to me about the whole episode: he cheated on me, and then got to behave as if he was the one who had been wronged because I wrote about it! I mean, it's not as if I wasn't a writer. It's not as if I hadn't often written about myself. I'd even written about him. What did he think was going to happen? 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