Parenting Quote by Patrick Ness
““People see stories everywhere,” Regine says. “That’s what my father used to say. We take random events and we put them together in a pattern so we can comfort ourselves with a story, no matter how much it obviously isn’t true.” She glances back at Seth. “We have to lie to ourselves to live. Otherwise, we’d go crazy.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: A Monster Calls, Patrick Ness, 2011
People create comforting stories to cope, even if they’re false; self-deception prevents madness.
In simple terms: We lie to ourselves with stories to stay sane.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and question comforting narratives.
Themes
psychology
storytelling
coping
self-deception
Mood
introspective
melancholic
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- therapy sessions
- creative writing
- daily reflection
- media consumption
Key Concepts
narrative therapy
cognitive bias
Questions to Reflect On
- What stories do you tell yourself?
- When might honesty be more painful than comfort?
A Different Perspective
Self-deception can hinder growth if unexamined.
