--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When we protect ourselves so we won't…" description: "\"When we protect ourselves so we won't feel pain, that protection becomes like armor, like armor that imprisons the softness of of the heart.\" — Pema Ch..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d02/pema-ch-dr-n-327_armor_when-we-protect-ourselves-so-we-won-t-fe_1376375.png" --- # When we protect ourselves so we won't feel pain, that… ![“When we protect ourselves so we won't feel pain, that protection becomes like armor, like armor that imprisons the softness of of the heart.” quote by Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d02/pema-ch-dr-n-327_armor_when-we-protect-ourselves-so-we-won-t-fe_1376375.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d02/pema-ch-dr-n-327_armor_when-we-protect-ourselves-so-we-won-t-fe_1376375.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d02/pema-ch-dr-n-327_armor_when-we-protect-ourselves-so-we-won-t-fe_1376375.png) > “When we protect ourselves so we won't feel pain, that protection becomes like armor, like armor that imprisons the softness of of the heart.” [Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Self-protection can become confinement, limiting emotional openness and growth. **In simple terms:** Too much protection blocks feeling. Key Takeaway Balance protection with openness. Themes vulnerability self-protection growth Mood contemplative calm Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - therapy - personal relationships - creative work Key Concepts psychology mindfulness emotional health Questions to Reflect On - When have you felt emotionally trapped? - How can you safely lower your defenses? A Different Perspective Excessive shielding can stunt empathy. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Armor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/armor/) [Armor Like](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/armor-like-1421407/) [Feel Pain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feel-pain/) [Feels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feels/) [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) [Imprisons Softness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/imprisons-softness-4754652/) [Like Armor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-armor-610309/) [Pain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pain/) [Protect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/protect/) [Protection](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/protection/) [Softness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/softness/) ## Related quotes > [My armor is like tenfold shields, my teeth are swords, my claws spears, the shock of my tail a thunderbolt, my wings a hurricane,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/my-armor-is-like-tenfold-shields-my-teeth-are-swords-my-claws-spears/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [There is no armor like perseverance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sogyal-rinpoche/there-is-no-armor-like-perseverance/) [Sogyal Rinpoche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sogyal-rinpoche/) > [Against logic there is no armor like ignorance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-j-peter/against-logic-there-is-no-armor-like-ignorance/) [Laurence J. Peter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-j-peter/) > [I think fashion is like putting on armor. I like that aspect of it, but it's not something I want to think about every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keira-knightley/i-think-fashion-is-like-putting-on-armor-i-like-that-aspect-of-it-but/) [Keira Knightley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keira-knightley/) > [I did have an emo phase. It was sort of like armor for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-purser/i-did-have-an-emo-phase-it-was-sort-of-like-armor-for-me/) [Shannon Purser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-purser/) > [My role in all of this is very simple. I make clothing like armor. My clothing protects you from unwelcome eyes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yohji-yamamoto/my-role-in-all-of-this-is-very-simple-i-make-clothing-like-armor-my/) [Yohji Yamamoto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yohji-yamamoto/) > [Any swagger is just defense. When youre reminded so much of who you are by people - not a fame thing, but with my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-dinklage/any-swagger-is-just-defense-when-youre-reminded-so-much-of-who-you/) [Peter Dinklage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-dinklage/) > [There is something about a well-fitted modern jacket that feels like armor. If it's cut well, it adds a dose of cool to anything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stacy-london/there-is-something-about-a-well-fitted-modern-jacket-that-feels-like/) [Stacy London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stacy-london/) > [Never Forget what you are. The rest of the world will not.wear it like armor ,and it can never be used to hurt you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/never-forget-what-you-are-the-rest-of-the-world-will-not-wear-it-like/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Naught can deform the human race Like to the armor's iron brace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-blake/naught-can-deform-the-human-race-like-to-the-armor-s-iron-brace/) [William Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-blake/) > [Maybe the most important teaching is to lighten up and relax. It's such a huge help in working with our crazy mixed-up minds to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/maybe-the-most-important-teaching-is-to-lighten-up-and-relax-it-s/) [Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [“His eyes moved over me, but hovered mostly on my face. That was almost worse. Who am I without this? I thought. Without the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leah-raeder/his-eyes-moved-over-me-but-hovered-mostly-on-my-face-that-was-almost/) [Leah Raeder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leah-raeder/) > [I use glamour as a tool, almost like armor to confidently take up space, to provoke questions and conversations about society and gender norms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/violet-chachki/i-use-glamour-as-a-tool-almost-like-armor-to-confidently-take-up/) [Violet Chachki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/violet-chachki/) > [“I use blankets like armor for cold. ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/i-use-blankets-like-armor-for-cold/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [“They wore their professional clothes like armor. They wielded their work like weapons, warding off the presumption of inferiority because they were Negro or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margot-lee-shetterly/they-wore-their-professional-clothes-like-armor-they-wielded-their/) [Margot Lee Shetterly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margot-lee-shetterly/) ## More by Pema Chodron > [“LIFE’S work is to wake up, to let the things that enter into your life wake you up rather than put you to sleep.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/life-s-work-is-to-wake-up-to-let-the-things-that-enter-into-your-life/) [Pema Chödrön](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [Since death is certain and the time of death is uncertain, what is the most important thing?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/since-death-is-certain-and-the-time-of-death-is-uncertain-what-is-the/) [Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [Buddhist words such as compassion and emptiness don't mean much until we start cultivating our innate ability simply to be there with pain with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/buddhist-words-such-as-compassion-and-emptiness-don-t-mean-much-until/) [Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [The essence of generosity is letting go. Pain is always a sign that we are holding on to something - usually ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/the-essence-of-generosity-is-letting-go-pain-is-always-a-sign-that-we/) [Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [“If the object of meditation were something concrete, something solid and graspable - an image or a statue or a dot on the floor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/if-the-object-of-meditation-were-something-concrete-something-solid/) [Pema Chödrön](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [It's a transformative experience to simply pause instead of immediately fill up the space. By waiting, we begin to connect with fundamental restlessness as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/it-s-a-transformative-experience-to-simply-pause-instead-of/) [Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [“The essence of life is that it’s challenging. Sometimes it is sweet, and sometimes it is bitter. Sometimes your body tenses, and sometimes it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/the-essence-of-life-is-that-it-s-challenging-sometimes-it-is-sweet/) [Pema Chödrön](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [If we run a hundred miles an hour to the other end of the continent in order to get away from the obstacle, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/if-we-run-a-hundred-miles-an-hour-to-the-other-end-of-the-continent/) [Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [“But in this meditation technique, we are with the out-breath; there's no particular instruction about what to do until the next out-breath.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/but-in-this-meditation-technique-we-are-with-the-out-breath-there-s/) [Pema Chödrön](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [“Nothing ever goes away until it has taught us what we need to know. Nothing ever really attacks us except our own confusion. Perhaps…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/nothing-ever-goes-away-until-it-has-taught-us-what-we-need-to-know/) [Pema Chödrön](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [So even if the hot loneliness is there, and for 1.6 seconds we sit with that restlessness when yesterday we couldn't sit for even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/so-even-if-the-hot-loneliness-is-there-and-for-1-6-seconds-we-sit/) [Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [If you have rage and righteously act it out and blame it all on others, it's really you who suffers. The other people and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/if-you-have-rage-and-righteously-act-it-out-and-blame-it-all-on/) [Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [“When we realize that the path is the goal, there’s a sense of workability. Trungpa Rinpoche said, “Whatever occurs in the confused mind is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/when-we-realize-that-the-path-is-the-goal-there-s-a-sense-of/) [Pema Chödrön](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [Every day is a new opportunity to work with what you have inside toward enlightenment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/every-day-is-a-new-opportunity-to-work-with-what-you-have-inside/) [Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [If someone comes along and shoots an arrow into your heart, it’s fruitless to stand there and yell at the person. It would be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/if-someone-comes-along-and-shoots-an-arrow-into-your-heart-it-s/) [Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) [Explore all 664 Pema Chodron quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) ## More Armor quotes > [We will make sure our troops have all that is necessary to complete their missions. That's why I went to the Congress last September…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/we-will-make-sure-our-troops-have-all-that-is-necessary-to-complete/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [“Tonight, I'll strip off all this armor and let it be as it was before..”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-stockett/tonight-i-ll-strip-off-all-this-armor-and-let-it-be-as-it-was-before/) [Kathryn Stockett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-stockett/) > [In other words,when GOD is finish, he will be a REAL MAN, but a Man of armor.''](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-poet-of-agent-times/in-other-words-when-god-is-finish-he-will-be-a-real-man-but-a-man-of/) [The Poet Of Agent Times](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-poet-of-agent-times/) > [My grandmother had six kids - one died as an infant - and she was dirt-poor, and all her kids got an education. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucy-alibar/my-grandmother-had-six-kids-one-died-as-an-infant-and-she-was-dirt/) [Lucy Alibar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucy-alibar/) > [It's a question of dropping the armor and getting up and doing the work you want to do. And film at first is frightening…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-dowd/it-s-a-question-of-dropping-the-armor-and-getting-up-and-doing-the/) [Ann Dowd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-dowd/) > [She looked at me. "What? Is there something wrong with my idea?" "It's not very heroic," I said dismissively. "I was expecting something with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/she-looked-at-me-what-is-there-something-wrong-with-my-idea-it-s-not/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [In any story, the villain is the catalyst. The hero's not a person who will bend the rules or show the cracks in his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-manson/in-any-story-the-villain-is-the-catalyst-the-hero-s-not-a-person-who/) [Marilyn Manson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-manson/) > [“It’s our own individual pattern of defenses, rationalizations, paradigms—our ways of responding to anything that threatens our comfort. Unless we’re careful to remain open…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-s-our-own-individual-pattern-of-defenses-rationalizations/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“They can't touch us. We're the Vikings. We go into battle without armor for the flush and the blood of it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-fitch/they-can-t-touch-us-we-re-the-vikings-we-go-into-battle-without-armor/) [Janet Fitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-fitch/) > [He shone all over. 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When we declare ignorance, it should be a) honest and b) in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leah-hager-cohen/is-there-a-wrong-way-to-say-i-don-t-know-yes-when-we-declare/) [Leah Hager Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leah-hager-cohen/) > [Successful people are able to rise above crises by relaxing no matter what the external situation. Their belief in themselves, the strength of their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxwell-maltz/successful-people-are-able-to-rise-above-crises-by-relaxing-no-matter/) [Maxwell Maltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxwell-maltz/) > [I put on an act sometimes, and people think I’m insensitive. Really, it’s like a kind of armor because I’m too sensitive. If there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlon-brando/i-put-on-an-act-sometimes-and-people-think-i-m-insensitive-really-it/) [Marlon Brando](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlon-brando/) [Browse all 390 Armor quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/armor/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When we protect ourselves so we won't feel pain, that protection becomes like armor, like armor that imprisons the softness of of the heart.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Pema Chodron" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/when-we-protect-ourselves-so-we-won-t-feel-pain-that-protection/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Armor" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/when-we-protect-ourselves-so-we-won-t-feel-pain-that-protection/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d02/pema-ch-dr-n-327_armor_when-we-protect-ourselves-so-we-won-t-fe_1376375.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d02/pema-ch-dr-n-327_armor_when-we-protect-ourselves-so-we-won-t-fe_1376375.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d02/pema-ch-dr-n-327_armor_when-we-protect-ourselves-so-we-won-t-fe_1376375.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When we protect ourselves so we won't feel pain, that protection becomes like armor, like armor that…” — Pema Chodron", "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": "Pema Chodron", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "When we protect ourselves so we...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/when-we-protect-ourselves-so-we-won-t-feel-pain-that-protection/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/when-we-protect-ourselves-so-we-won-t-feel-pain-that-protection/#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 } } ] } ```