---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When we hold secrets it creates shame…"
description: "\"“When we hold secrets it creates shame, and shame is a great barrier to success. When you carry the shame you do not allow yourself to fulfill your gre..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98f/oprah-winfrey-186_guilt_when-we-hold-secrets-it-creates-shame-an_2383316.jpg"
---

#  When we hold secrets it creates shame, and shame is a…

![“When we hold secrets it creates shame, and shame is a great barrier to success. When you carry the shame you do not allow yourself to fulfill your greatest potential, you do not honour the truth of yourself, you do not honour your highest self. When you let go of the secret, only then you live to…” quote by Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98f/oprah-winfrey-186_guilt_when-we-hold-secrets-it-creates-shame-an_2383316.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98f/oprah-winfrey-186_guilt_when-we-hold-secrets-it-creates-shame-an_2383316.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98f/oprah-winfrey-186_guilt_when-we-hold-secrets-it-creates-shame-an_2383316.jpg)

> ““When we hold secrets it creates shame, and shame is a great barrier to success. When you carry the shame you do not allow yourself to fulfill your greatest potential, you do not honour the truth of yourself, you do not honour your highest self. When you let go of the secret, only then you live to your greatest potential.””

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

## About This Quote

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

Holding secrets breeds shame, which blocks personal potential; releasing them frees growth.

**In simple terms:** Secrets cause shame and limit potential.

Key Takeaway

Release secrets to unlock potential.

Themes

self‑acceptance authenticity growth psychology freedom

Mood

introspective hopeful

Type

philosophical motivational

When to use this quote

- therapy sessions
- personal coaching
- creative endeavors
- relationship counseling

Key Concepts

shame self‑honor potential fulfillment

Questions to Reflect On

- What secret are you ready to let go?
- How might honesty change your life?

A Different Perspective

Some secrets may protect others or be legally required to stay hidden.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Carry Shame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/carry-shame-5318789/) [Guilt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guilt/) [Highest Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/highest-self/) [Hold Secrets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hold-secrets-1240491/) [Life-lessons-value-of-life-truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-lessons-value-of-life-truth/) [Shame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shame/) [Shame Allow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shame-allow-1240489/) [Shame Shame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shame-shame-580563/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/)

## Related quotes

> [“When we hold secrets it creates shame, and shame is a great barrier to success because when you carry the shame you do not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/when-we-hold-secrets-it-creates-shame-and-shame-is-a-great-barrier-to-2/)

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

> [You see it is important to understand how damaged people don't always know how to say yes, or to choose the big thing, even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lidia-yuknavitch/you-see-it-is-important-to-understand-how-damaged-people-don-t-always/)

[Lidia Yuknavitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lidia-yuknavitch/)

> [“Why hold secrets? Why harbor anything? Let me just share everything with you. Let me just talk. Let me let go of the censor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-scott-mcleod/why-hold-secrets-why-harbor-anything-let-me-just-share-everything/)

[T. Scott McLeod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-scott-mcleod/)

> [“Just know that you can. I won’t tell. I might not be able to do much for you, but I’ll hold your secrets.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nyrae-dawn/just-know-that-you-can-i-won-t-tell-i-might-not-be-able-to-do-much/)

[Nyrae Dawn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nyrae-dawn/)

> [“Sharing secrets is the way in which women tie themselves together, for it reveals complicity and trust. Holding secrets shows trustworthiness and a sort…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathleen-kent/sharing-secrets-is-the-way-in-which-women-tie-themselves-together-for/)

[Kathleen Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathleen-kent/)

> [“We must hold our secrets to ourselves. They define us. They are all we have.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sondra-allan-carr/we-must-hold-our-secrets-to-ourselves-they-define-us-they-are-all-we/)

[Sondra Allan Carr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sondra-allan-carr/)

> [“I’ve told too many lies. I hold too many secrets. Who can I really trust? Who can trust me when I don’t even trust…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-owen/i-ve-told-too-many-lies-i-hold-too-many-secrets-who-can-i-really/)

[Katherine Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-owen/)

> [Books hold most of the secrets of the world, most of the thoughts that men and women have had. And when you are reading…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-b-white/books-hold-most-of-the-secrets-of-the-world-most-of-the-thoughts-that/)

[E. B. White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-b-white/)

> [“All houses hold secrets, and I am one of them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaime-jo-wright/all-houses-hold-secrets-and-i-am-one-of-them/)

[Jaime Jo Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaime-jo-wright/)

> [It's just so crazy how we hold these secrets in or how we hold these feeling in and we don't talk about them. Then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ariana-madix/it-s-just-so-crazy-how-we-hold-these-secrets-in-or-how-we-hold-these/)

[Ariana Madix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ariana-madix/)

> [Relationships last when both of you give it your all. Never hold back and never hold secrets from each other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/advice-therapy/relationships-last-when-both-of-you-give-it-your-all-never-hold-back/)

[Advice Therapy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/advice-therapy/)

> [“Life is filled with endless opportunities. You must search for the opportunities. Seize every opportunity and make it great.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/life-is-filled-with-endless-opportunities-you-must-search-for-the/)

[Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/)

> [“Convince yourself everyday that you are worthy of a good life. Let go of stress, breathe. Stay positive, all is well.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germany-kent/convince-yourself-everyday-that-you-are-worthy-of-a-good-life-let-go/)

[Germany Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germany-kent/)

> [“Who are you if nobody knows your story?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thisuri-wanniarachchi/who-are-you-if-nobody-knows-your-story/)

[Thisuri Wanniarachchi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thisuri-wanniarachchi/)

> [“Focus on your work. Do what you're great at. Don't compare yourself to others and or waste time criticizing the lives and work of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germany-kent/focus-on-your-work-do-what-you-re-great-at-don-t-compare-yourself-to/)

[Germany Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germany-kent/)

## More by Oprah Winfrey

> [I've seen that many times in rural African villages where people have nothing but a hut and a bowl. The joy in the children's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/i-ve-seen-that-many-times-in-rural-african-villages-where-people-have/)

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

> [These French-style caramels are handmade in California. It's always hard to give them away!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/these-french-style-caramels-are-handmade-in-california-it-s-always/)

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

> [I was in a conversation and someone said: "You know, we were talking about the whole issue of transgender and how it has become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/i-was-in-a-conversation-and-someone-said-you-know-we-were-talking/)

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

> [“Forgiveness is about letting go of the past and not holding on to it”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/forgiveness-is-about-letting-go-of-the-past-and-not-holding-on-to-it/)

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

> [The deepest courage we can exercise is continuing to believe in our dreams until we make them come true.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/the-deepest-courage-we-can-exercise-is-continuing-to-believe-in-our/)

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

> [If you can see it, and believe it, it is a LOT easier to achieve it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/if-you-can-see-it-and-believe-it-it-is-a-lot-easier-to-achieve-it/)

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

> [There is no greater gift you can give or receive than to honor your calling. It's why you were born. And how you become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/there-is-no-greater-gift-you-can-give-or-receive-than-to-honor-your/)

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

> [Gratitude is the single greatest treasure I will take with me from this experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/gratitude-is-the-single-greatest-treasure-i-will-take-with-me-from/)

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

> [I am disappointed by this controversy surrounding A Million Little Pieces because I rely on the publishers to define the category that a book…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/i-am-disappointed-by-this-controversy-surrounding-a-million-little/)

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

> [Keep a grateful journal. Every night, list five things that you are grateful for. What it will begin to do is change our perspective…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/keep-a-grateful-journal-every-night-list-five-things-that-you-are/)

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

> [I want every day to be a fresh start on expanding what is possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/i-want-every-day-to-be-a-fresh-start-on-expanding-what-is-possible/)

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

> [We often block our own blessings because we don't feel inherently good enough or smart enough or pretty enough or worthy enough... You're worthy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/we-often-block-our-own-blessings-because-we-don-t-feel-inherently/)

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

> [One if the hardest things in life to learn are which bridges to cross and which bridges to burn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/one-if-the-hardest-things-in-life-to-learn-are-which-bridges-to-cross/)

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

> [You must feed your mind with reading material, thoughts, and ideas that open you to new possibilities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/you-must-feed-your-mind-with-reading-material-thoughts-and-ideas-that/)

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

> [Your soul tells you when it's time to move on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/your-soul-tells-you-when-it-s-time-to-move-on/)

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

[Explore all 971 Oprah Winfrey quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/)

## More Guilt quotes

> [Never fight on the wrong side; you might win but the burden of guilt is more than a loss.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lilian-salan/never-fight-on-the-wrong-side-you-might-win-but-the-burden-of-guilt/)

[Lilian Salan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lilian-salan/)

> [“As parents who make every effort we can to raise our children in loving security, we do not need to feel more guilt than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabor-mat/as-parents-who-make-every-effort-we-can-to-raise-our-children-in/)

[Gabor Maté](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabor-mat/)

> [When the Lord Jesus Christ became my surety . . . He went to Calvary's cross, and all my guilt was charged against Him.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-allen-ironside/when-the-lord-jesus-christ-became-my-surety-he-went-to-calvary-s/)

[Henry Allen Ironside](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-allen-ironside/)

> [“Even in the miserable guilt we feel over our beastlike insensitivity, the glory of God shines. If God were not gloriously desirable, why would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/even-in-the-miserable-guilt-we-feel-over-our-beastlike-insensitivity/)

[John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/)

> [“The sole reason I stand to open it up now is that lots of people who are in pain just like I was, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-dsouza/the-sole-reason-i-stand-to-open-it-up-now-is-that-lots-of-people-who/)

[Patricia Dsouza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-dsouza/)

> [But victimhood was seductive, a release from responsibility and caring. Fear would be transmuted into weary resignation; failure would no longer generate guilt but,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-koontz/but-victimhood-was-seductive-a-release-from-responsibility-and-caring/)

[Dean Koontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-koontz/)

> [Regrets are just a way for the foolish and the guilty to pass the time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gensoumaden-saiyuki/regrets-are-just-a-way-for-the-foolish-and-the-guilty-to-pass-the-time/)

[Gensoumaden Saiyuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gensoumaden-saiyuki/)

> [(I)f we are going to be kind, let it be out of simple generosity, not because we fear guilt or retribution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-f-we-are-going-to-be-kind-let-it-be-out-of-simple-generosity-not/)

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

> [Money should not be in the hands of individuals; otherwise it will create this problem of being burdened with guilt. And money can make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/money-should-not-be-in-the-hands-of-individuals-otherwise-it-will/)

[Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/)

> [Food ... love ... mother ... career ... Live every day to the fullest. Partake of the four basic guilt groups.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-guisewite/food-love-mother-career-live-every-day-to-the-fullest-partake-of-the/)

[Cathy Guisewite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy-guisewite/)

> [Anger was better than tears, better than grief, better than guilt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/anger-was-better-than-tears-better-than-grief-better-than-guilt/)

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

> [“Phil and Hannah had decided that Christian guilt was better than bad math”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhoda-janzen/phil-and-hannah-had-decided-that-christian-guilt-was-better-than-bad/)

[rhoda janzen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhoda-janzen/)

> [No amount of guilt can solve the past &amp; No amount of anxiety can change the future](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ananymous/no-amount-of-guilt-can-solve-the-past-no-amount-of-anxiety-can-change/)

[Ananymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ananymous/)

> [The essence of having fun is enjoying without guilt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-essence-of-having-fun-is-enjoying-without-guilt/)

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

> [If all the world hated you and believed you wicked, while your own conscience approved of you and absolved you from guilt, you would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/if-all-the-world-hated-you-and-believed-you-wicked-while-your-own/)

[Charlotte Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/)

[Browse all 2,943 Guilt quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guilt/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“When we hold secrets it creates shame, and shame is a great barrier to success. When you carry the shame you do not allow yourself to fulfill your greatest potential, you do not honour the truth of yourself, you do not honour your highest self. When you let go of the secret, only then you live to your greatest potential.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Oprah Winfrey"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/when-we-hold-secrets-it-creates-shame-and-shame-is-a-great-barrier-to/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Guilt"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/when-we-hold-secrets-it-creates-shame-and-shame-is-a-great-barrier-to/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98f/oprah-winfrey-186_guilt_when-we-hold-secrets-it-creates-shame-an_2383316.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98f/oprah-winfrey-186_guilt_when-we-hold-secrets-it-creates-shame-an_2383316.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98f/oprah-winfrey-186_guilt_when-we-hold-secrets-it-creates-shame-an_2383316.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“When we hold secrets it creates shame, and shame is a great barrier to success. When you carry the shame you…” — Oprah Winfrey",
                "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": "Oprah Winfrey",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“When we hold secrets it creates...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/when-we-hold-secrets-it-creates-shame-and-shame-is-a-great-barrier-to/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/when-we-hold-secrets-it-creates-shame-and-shame-is-a-great-barrier-to/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
