---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: PRETTY LITTLE LIARS works as a metaphor…"
description: "\"PRETTY LITTLE LIARS works as a metaphor for our central human experience: we have no way to objectively know about anything, no way to move forward wit..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/842/norman-buckley-108616_authentic-self_pretty-little-liars-works-as-a-metaphor_1057516.jpg"
---

#  PRETTY LITTLE LIARS works as a metaphor for our central…

![“PRETTY LITTLE LIARS works as a metaphor for our central human experience: we have no way to objectively know about anything, no way to move forward with certainty, and yet move forward we must. We stumble through life, trying to find our own way, not knowing whom to listen to, whom to trust, whom…” quote by Norman Buckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/842/norman-buckley-108616_authentic-self_pretty-little-liars-works-as-a-metaphor_1057516.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/842/norman-buckley-108616_authentic-self_pretty-little-liars-works-as-a-metaphor_1057516.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/842/norman-buckley-108616_authentic-self_pretty-little-liars-works-as-a-metaphor_1057516.jpg)

> “PRETTY LITTLE LIARS works as a metaphor for our central human experience: we have no way to objectively know about anything, no way to move forward with certainty, and yet move forward we must. We stumble through life, trying to find our own way, not knowing whom to listen to, whom to trust, whom to suspect, what to believe. But in that process we discover our most authentic selves.”

Norman Buckley

## About This Quote

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

The series uses liars as a metaphor for humanity’s uncertainty, suggesting we must act despite not knowing truth, discovering authenticity in the process.

**In simple terms:** We act amid uncertainty, learning who we truly are.

Key Takeaway

Embrace uncertainty to find authenticity.

Themes

uncertainty authenticity trust search human experience

Mood

thoughtful inquisitive

Type

literary philosophical

When to use this quote

- decision‑making
- personal development
- storytelling
- critical thinking

Key Concepts

philosophy psychology media studies

Questions to Reflect On

- What does authenticity mean to you?
- How do you decide whom to trust?

A Different Perspective

Uncertainty can paralyze; action is needed.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Authentic self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/authentic-self/) [Certainty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/certainty/) [Human experience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-experience/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Liars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liars/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Metaphor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/metaphor/) [Move forward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/move-forward/) [Moving forward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moving-forward/) [Process](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/process/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/)

## Related quotes

> [We no longer know whom to trust. This is the greatest damage the NSA has done to the Internet, and will be the hardest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-schneier/we-no-longer-know-whom-to-trust-this-is-the-greatest-damage-the-nsa/)

[Bruce Schneier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-schneier/)

> [Ultimately, the Indian public is not fool. They can spot the difference between what is said for effect and what is done in reality.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rahul-bose/ultimately-the-indian-public-is-not-fool-they-can-spot-the-difference/)

[Rahul Bose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rahul-bose/)

> [None of the male characters are as powerful or as interesting as the four central female characters. The men work best as representations of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-buckley/none-of-the-male-characters-are-as-powerful-or-as-interesting-as-the/)

Norman Buckley

> ['Twisted' is similar to 'Pretty Little Liars' in that it's about trying to find out who did it, but it's more about the human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/avan-jogia/twisted-is-similar-to-pretty-little-liars-in-that-it-s-about-trying/)

[Avan Jogia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/avan-jogia/)

> [Does anybody know WHERE CAN I WATCH PRETTY LITTLE LIARS Season 3 ON MY IPAD? (Not on Abc family 'cause it saysi gotta install…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/does-anybody-know-where-can-i-watch-pretty-little-liars-season-3-on/)

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

> [Honestly I'm not a huge TV person. The only show that I've seen every episode of is 'Pretty Little Liars.' It's my favorite show.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sabrina-carpenter/honestly-i-m-not-a-huge-tv-person-the-only-show-that-i-ve-seen-every/)

[Sabrina Carpenter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sabrina-carpenter/)

> [That was definitely the best episode of Pretty Little Liars yet!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/that-was-definitely-the-best-episode-of-pretty-little-liars-yet/)

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

> ['Pretty Little Liars' is very all-consuming of my time, but I guess it's a great problem to have... there have been other things that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-harding/pretty-little-liars-is-very-all-consuming-of-my-time-but-i-guess-it-s/)

[Ian Harding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-harding/)

> [I was going to move to New York after college and had no interest in pilot season. I'd seen what happened on TV shows…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/troian-bellisario/i-was-going-to-move-to-new-york-after-college-and-had-no-interest-in/)

[Troian Bellisario](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/troian-bellisario/)

> [“I think that's why my parents can't even look at me anymore - they know they lost the wrong kid." - Jason Dilaurentis, Pretty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-shepard/i-think-that-s-why-my-parents-can-t-even-look-at-me-anymore-they-know/)

[Sara Shepard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-shepard/)

> [My sister and I visited Iceland in 2001, and I incorporated it into 'Pretty Little Liars.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-shepard/my-sister-and-i-visited-iceland-in-2001-and-i-incorporated-it-into/)

[Sara Shepard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-shepard/)

> [ People have the "ships" that they love, and I think they love the show's \["Pretty Little Liars"\] original relationship the most. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucy-hale/people-have-the-ships-that-they-love-and-i-think-they-love-the-show-s/)

[Lucy Hale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucy-hale/)

> [I feel like - and maybe you're going to think I'm crazy for saying this - 'Vampire Diaries' has crazy fans, 'Pretty Little Liars'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/torrey-devitto/i-feel-like-and-maybe-you-re-going-to-think-i-m-crazy-for-saying-this/)

[Torrey DeVitto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/torrey-devitto/)

> [I watch Pretty Little Liars with my best friend Telly. We go to each other's houses when it airs and we watch it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naya-rivera/i-watch-pretty-little-liars-with-my-best-friend-telly-we-go-to-each/)

[Naya Rivera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naya-rivera/)

> [My favourite TV show is 'Pretty Little Liars,' and I actually made a guest appearance on it. I didn't really have lines for my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maddie-ziegler/my-favourite-tv-show-is-pretty-little-liars-and-i-actually-made-a/)

[Maddie Ziegler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maddie-ziegler/)

## More by Norman Buckley

> [None of the male characters are as powerful or as interesting as the four central female characters. The men work best as representations of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-buckley/none-of-the-male-characters-are-as-powerful-or-as-interesting-as-the/)

Norman Buckley

Explore all 2 Norman Buckley quotes

## More Authentic self quotes

> [Sometimes being your most authentic self involves accepting others for who they are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-the-drag-queen/sometimes-being-your-most-authentic-self-involves-accepting-others/)

[Bob the Drag Queen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-the-drag-queen/)

> [Accepting the reality of our sinfulness means accepting our authentic self. Judas could not face his shadow; Peter could. The latter befriended the impostor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brennan-manning/accepting-the-reality-of-our-sinfulness-means-accepting-our-authentic/)

[Brennan Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brennan-manning/)

> [“Instead of worrying about what you cannot control, focus your energy on what you can create.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-bennett/instead-of-worrying-about-what-you-cannot-control-focus-your-energy/)

[Roy Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-bennett/)

> [“The biggest mistake people make when trying to be authentic is just that: they try. They see these role models of what an "authentic"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vironika-tugaleva/the-biggest-mistake-people-make-when-trying-to-be-authentic-is-just/)

[Vironika Tugaleva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vironika-tugaleva/)

> [Representing the U.S.A. is one of the greatest honors of my life, and being able to do it as my authentic self makes it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-rippon/representing-the-u-s-a-is-one-of-the-greatest-honors-of-my-life-and/)

[Adam Rippon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-rippon/)

> [I had no idea that being your authentic self could make me as rich as I've become. If I had, I'd have done it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/i-had-no-idea-that-being-your-authentic-self-could-make-me-as-rich-as/)

[Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/)

> [I met people on college campuses who were defining themselves as genderqueer to express revolutionary feelings, or to communicate their individuality; they were gender…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-solomon/i-met-people-on-college-campuses-who-were-defining-themselves-as/)

[Andrew Solomon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-solomon/)

> [ We \[Facebook\] really believe in enabling people to be their authentic selves on the web, and enabling people to communicate directly with each other… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheryl-sandberg/we-facebook-really-believe-in-enabling-people-to-be-their-authentic/)

[Sheryl Sandberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheryl-sandberg/)

> [Bring the best of your Authentic Self to every opportunity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-jantsch/bring-the-best-of-your-authentic-self-to-every-opportunity/)

[John Jantsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-jantsch/)

> [“In spite of the horror, in spite of the tragedy, in spite of the weeks of sleepless nights, I'm finally alive. I'm not pretending.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-bass/in-spite-of-the-horror-in-spite-of-the-tragedy-in-spite-of-the-weeks/)

[Ellen Bass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-bass/)

> [I feel inauthentic at a party. ... Going to a party is a 'low' activity - the authentic self is compromised, fragmented - one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-sontag/i-feel-inauthentic-at-a-party-going-to-a-party-is-a-low-activity-the/)

[Susan Sontag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-sontag/)

> [I was raised by a woman who was her true and authentic self. So I feel like it's very important to put on for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-thee-stallion/i-was-raised-by-a-woman-who-was-her-true-and-authentic-self-so-i-feel/)

[Megan Thee Stallion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-thee-stallion/)

> [Our deepest calling is to grow into our own authentic self-hood, whether or not it conforms to some image of who we ought to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/our-deepest-calling-is-to-grow-into-our-own-authentic-self-hood/)

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

> [“The master in us all lives behind the masks and roles and wounds and beliefs. It calls us to live deep, full, radical lives.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-nordby/the-master-in-us-all-lives-behind-the-masks-and-roles-and-wounds-and/)

[Jacob Nordby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-nordby/)

> [Once you accept and rejoice in your authenticity, you begin to see things as YOU are. You begin to see the authentic self is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-ban-breathnach/once-you-accept-and-rejoice-in-your-authenticity-you-begin-to-see/)

[Sarah Ban Breathnach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-ban-breathnach/)

[Browse all 245 Authentic self quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/authentic-self/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "PRETTY LITTLE LIARS works as a metaphor for our central human experience: we have no way to objectively know about anything, no way to move forward with certainty, and yet move forward we must. We stumble through life, trying to find our own way, not knowing whom to listen to, whom to trust, whom to suspect, what to believe. But in that process we discover our most authentic selves.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Norman Buckley"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-buckley/pretty-little-liars-works-as-a-metaphor-for-our-central-human/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Authentic self"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-buckley/pretty-little-liars-works-as-a-metaphor-for-our-central-human/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/842/norman-buckley-108616_authentic-self_pretty-little-liars-works-as-a-metaphor_1057516.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/842/norman-buckley-108616_authentic-self_pretty-little-liars-works-as-a-metaphor_1057516.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/842/norman-buckley-108616_authentic-self_pretty-little-liars-works-as-a-metaphor_1057516.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“PRETTY LITTLE LIARS works as a metaphor for our central human experience: we have no way to objectively know…” — Norman Buckley",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Norman Buckley",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-buckley/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "PRETTY LITTLE LIARS works as a...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-buckley/pretty-little-liars-works-as-a-metaphor-for-our-central-human/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-buckley/pretty-little-liars-works-as-a-metaphor-for-our-central-human/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
