Ability Quote by Peter Høeg
“The knives in my apartment are only sharp enough to open envelopes with. Cutting a slice of coarse bread is on the borderline of their ability. I don't need anything sharper. Otherwise, on bad days, it might easily occur to me that I could always go stand in the bathroom in front of the mirror and slit my throat. On such occasions it's nice to have the added security of needing to go downstairs and borrow a decent knife from a neighbor.”
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Woman and the Ape, 1996
The narrator uses dull knives as a safeguard against self-harm, illustrating how mundane objects can become protective barriers.
In simple terms: Sharp knives prevent impulsive suicide.
Key Takeaway
Find safe outlets for distress.
Themes
mental health
self-harm
coping
Mood
somber
hopeful
Type
psychological
inspirational
When to use this quote
- therapy
- support groups
- personal safety plans
Key Concepts
protective objects
impulse control
Questions to Reflect On
- What healthier coping mechanisms can you adopt?
- How can you build internal resilience?
A Different Perspective
Reliance on external objects may not address underlying issues.
![“When Yoko [Ono] and I got married, we got terrible racialist letters - you know, warning me that she would slit my throat. Those mainly came from Army people living in Aldershot. Officers.” quote by John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/63d/john-lennon-322_army_when-yoko-ono-and-i-got-married-we-got-t_350323.jpg)
![“Everything in this country [the US] has got to be good looks and unlined faces and thin bodies and people running around in skirts slit up to their ass. It has nothing to do with thinking or with being a human being. There is life in mature people; it's not all over at 24½.” quote by Lauren Bacall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/1f0/lauren-bacall-2297_ass_everything-in-this-country-the-us-has-go_314596.jpg)
