Believe Quote by Paul Auster
“At that point, Noriko finally breaks down and begins to cry sobbing into her hands as the floodgates open - this young woman who has suffered in silence for so long, this good woman who refuse to believe she's good, for only the good doubt their own goodness, which is what makes them good in the first place. The bad know they are good, but the good know nothing. They spend their lives forgiving others, but they can't forgive themselves.”
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Book of Disquiet, 1999
A woman finally confronts her suppressed emotions, realizing that self‑forgiveness is harder for those who see themselves as inherently good.
In simple terms: Good people struggle to forgive themselves.
Key Takeaway
Allow yourself compassion and let go of self‑judgment.
Themes
self‑forgiveness
identity
emotional release
self‑esteem
Mood
reflective
melancholic
Type
literary
emotional
When to use this quote
- therapy sessions
- personal journaling
- support groups
- conflict resolution
Key Concepts
psychology
humanism
self‑compassion
Questions to Reflect On
- How does seeing yourself as “good” hinder self‑forgiveness?
- What steps can you take to forgive yourself?
A Different Perspective
Self‑criticism can block healing.
![“If woman alone had suffered under these mistaken traditions [of women's subordination], if she could have borne the evil by herself, it would have been less pitiful, but her brother man, in the laws he created and ignorantly worshipped, has suffered with her. He has lost her highest help; he has…” quote by Clara Barton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/5ba/clara-barton-16924_brother_if-woman-alone-had-suffered-under-these_2990641.jpg)
