Skip to content

Enough time Quote by Patrick Rothfuss

“Most secrets are secrets of the mouth. Gossip shared and small scandals whispered. These secrets long to be let loose upon the world. A secret of the mouth is like a stone in your boot. At first you're barely aware of it. Then it grows irritating, then intolerable. Secrets of the mouth grow larger…” quote by Patrick Rothfuss
Download Open image
““Most secrets are secrets of the mouth. Gossip shared and small scandals whispered. These secrets long to be let loose upon the world. A secret of the mouth is like a stone in your boot. At first you're barely aware of it. Then it grows irritating, then intolerable. Secrets of the mouth grow larger the longer you keep them, swelling until they press against your lips. They fight to be let free. Secrets of the heart are different. They are private and painful, and we want nothing more than to hide them from the world. They do not swell and press against the mouth. They live in the heart, and the longer they are kept, the heavier they become. Teccam claims it is better to have a mouthful of poison than a secret of the heart. Any fool will spit out poison, he says, but we hoard these painful treasures. We swallow hard against them every day, forcing them deep inside us. There they sit, growing heavier, festering. Given enough time, they cannot help but crush the heart that holds them.””

Patrick Rothfuss

About This Quote

Mouth secrets fester and irritate, while hidden heart secrets become heavy burdens that can crush the soul.

In simple terms: Keeping secrets hurts; some are more damaging than others.

Key Takeaway

Release secrets before they overwhelm you.

Themes

secrets burden psychology communication

Mood

introspective cautious

Type

advice philosophical

When to use this quote

  • conflict resolution
  • mental health
  • trust building
  • personal reflection

Key Concepts

emotional health interpersonal dynamics

Questions to Reflect On

  • When should you share a secret?
  • How do you decide what to keep hidden?
A Different Perspective

Some secrets may protect others; disclosure can have consequences.

2.1 out of 5 (7 ratings)

More by Patrick Rothfuss

Explore all 896 Patrick Rothfuss quotes

More Enough time quotes

Browse all 941 Enough time quotes