--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What a subtle, treacherous thing it was…" description: "\"What a subtle, treacherous thing it was to let yourself go that way! Because once you've started it was terribly difficult to stop; soon you were sayin..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c6/richard-yates-2840_difficult_what-a-subtle-treacherous-thing-it-was-t_1602154.png" --- # What a subtle, treacherous thing it was to let yourself go… ![“What a subtle, treacherous thing it was to let yourself go that way! Because once you've started it was terribly difficult to stop; soon you were saying "I'm sorry, of course you're right", and "Whatever you think is best", and "you're the most wonderful and valuable thing int he world", and the…” quote by Richard Yates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c6/richard-yates-2840_difficult_what-a-subtle-treacherous-thing-it-was-t_1602154.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c6/richard-yates-2840_difficult_what-a-subtle-treacherous-thing-it-was-t_1602154.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c6/richard-yates-2840_difficult_what-a-subtle-treacherous-thing-it-was-t_1602154.png) > “What a subtle, treacherous thing it was to let yourself go that way! Because once you've started it was terribly difficult to stop; soon you were saying "I'm sorry, of course you're right", and "Whatever you think is best", and "you're the most wonderful and valuable thing int he world", and the next thing you knew all honesty, all truth, was as far away and glimmering, as hopelessly unattainable as the world of the golden people.” [Richard Yates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-yates/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Escalating self‑sacrifice leads to loss of authenticity and truth. **In simple terms:** Giving in erodes honesty. Key Takeaway Guard your truth. Themes integrity self‑sacrifice authenticity Mood conflicted cautious Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - relationships - career decisions - personal growth Key Concepts personal boundaries psychological pressure Questions to Reflect On - When have you compromised your truth? - How can you assert authenticity? A Different Perspective Self‑sacrifice can trap you in false narratives. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Difficult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/difficult/) [Far away](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/far-away/) [Glimmering Hopelessly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/glimmering-hopelessly-6095228/) [Golden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/golden/) [Honesty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honesty/) [Hopelessly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hopelessly/) [I m sorry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-m-sorry/) [Knew Honesty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knew-honesty-5945833/) [Next](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/next/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Saying i'm sorry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/saying-i-m-sorry/) [Sorry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sorry/) [Subtle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/subtle/) [Thing Knew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thing-knew-407287/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Treacherous Thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/treacherous-thing-3616562/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) [Unattainable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unattainable/) [Valuable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/valuable/) [Valuable things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/valuable-things/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) [Wonderful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wonderful/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [“So it hadn’t been wrong or dishonest of her to say no this morning, when he asked if she hated him, any more than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-yates/so-it-hadn-t-been-wrong-or-dishonest-of-her-to-say-no-this-morning/) [Richard Yates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-yates/) > [“What a treacherous thing to believe, that a person is more than a person." - Paper Towns”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/what-a-treacherous-thing-to-believe-that-a-person-is-more-than-a-2/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [What a treacherous thing to believe that a person is more than a person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/what-a-treacherous-thing-to-believe-that-a-person-is-more-than-a/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [“What a treacherous thing a body was, how it so blatantly acted out the mind’s secrets.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-hill/what-a-treacherous-thing-a-body-was-how-it-so-blatantly-acted-out-the/) [Nathan Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-hill/) > [“What a treacherous thing, to believe a person is more than a person.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/what-a-treacherous-thing-to-believe-a-person-is-more-than-a-person/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [Hope is the most treacherous thing in the world. 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