--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Sarah's right. We punish ourselves so…" description: "\"“Sarah's right. We punish ourselves so much in our own imaginations. We convince ourselves everything we do, everything we think, is wrong. For eightee..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/288/robin-talley-43492_lies-we-tell-ourselv_sarah-s-right-we-punish-ourselves-so-muc_696215.jpg" --- # Sarah's right. We punish ourselves so much in our own… ![“Sarah's right. We punish ourselves so much in our own imaginations. We convince ourselves everything we do, everything we think, is wrong. For eighteen years I've believed what other people told me about what was right and what was wrong. From now. I'm deciding.” quote by Robin Talley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/288/robin-talley-43492_lies-we-tell-ourselv_sarah-s-right-we-punish-ourselves-so-muc_696215.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/288/robin-talley-43492_lies-we-tell-ourselv_sarah-s-right-we-punish-ourselves-so-muc_696215.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/288/robin-talley-43492_lies-we-tell-ourselv_sarah-s-right-we-punish-ourselves-so-muc_696215.jpg) > ““Sarah's right. We punish ourselves so much in our own imaginations. We convince ourselves everything we do, everything we think, is wrong. For eighteen years I've believed what other people told me about what was right and what was wrong. From now. I'm deciding.”” [Robin Talley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-talley/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. We often self‑criticize based on imagined standards; reclaiming agency means choosing our own truth. **In simple terms:** Stop judging yourself by imagined rules. Key Takeaway Choose your own standards. Themes self‑esteem personal growth mindset autonomy Mood introspective empowering Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - career decisions - relationship choices - creative projects - mental health therapy Key Concepts cognitive bias self‑validation inner critic Questions to Reflect On - What imagined standards hold you back? - How will you define your own right? A Different Perspective Changing mindset may face external pressure and doubt. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Lies we tell ourselves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lies-we-tell-ourselves/) [Punish Imaginations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/punish-imaginations-5520667/) [Sarah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sarah/) [Sarah Right](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sarah-right-5520666/) [Think Wrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-wrong/) [Told Right](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/told-right-1046930/) ## Related quotes > [“Other people will try to decide things for you, she says. They'll try to tell you who you are. Remember, no matter what they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-talley/other-people-will-try-to-decide-things-for-you-she-says-they-ll-try/) [Robin Talley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-talley/) > [“Everyone is just looking to be told that who he or she is is right and true and wholly acceptable. No need to tinker…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-boyle/everyone-is-just-looking-to-be-told-that-who-he-or-she-is-is-right/) [Gregory Boyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-boyle/) > [Stories in themselves are not automatically good; it has to be the right kind of story told by the right kind of person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-wilson/stories-in-themselves-are-not-automatically-good-it-has-to-be-the/) [Douglas Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-wilson/) > [I grew up kind of not being told what was right and wrong. In the long run, I grew up seeing for myself what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liv-morgan/i-grew-up-kind-of-not-being-told-what-was-right-and-wrong-in-the-long/) [Liv Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liv-morgan/) > [There were voices that told me right from wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-jones/there-were-voices-that-told-me-right-from-wrong/) [George Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-jones/) > [“Don't do it because I told you to. Do it because it's the right thing to do.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-a-long/don-t-do-it-because-i-told-you-to-do-it-because-it-s-the-right-thing/) [Gordon A. Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-a-long/) > [“I told myself it was all right, I wasn’t disappointed, it was better this way. I wondered in a detached way whether it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-eisler/i-told-myself-it-was-all-right-i-wasn-t-disappointed-it-was-better/) [Barry Eisler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-eisler/) > [Do what you're told, and everything will be all right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-jewison/do-what-you-re-told-and-everything-will-be-all-right/) [Norman Jewison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-jewison/) > [“The fact is that we have no way of knowing if the person who we think we are is at the core of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-landy/the-fact-is-that-we-have-no-way-of-knowing-if-the-person-who-we-think/) [Derek Landy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-landy/) > [“Truth can come to liberate, but not the truth you were taught. Where you always sought refuge.You only met lies since you were born.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-neil-fleischer/truth-can-come-to-liberate-but-not-the-truth-you-were-taught-where/) [Robert Neil Fleischer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-neil-fleischer/) > [“The truth will only offend those who would rather defend lies.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-wallace/the-truth-will-only-offend-those-who-would-rather-defend-lies/) [Carlos Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-wallace/) > [The lies we tell other people are nothing to the lies we tell ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-landy/the-lies-we-tell-other-people-are-nothing-to-the-lies-we-tell/) [Derek Landy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-landy/) > [“Telling people Jesus loves them is a lie if you are not showing them!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-m-sheehan/telling-people-jesus-loves-them-is-a-lie-if-you-are-not-showing-them/) [John M. Sheehan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-m-sheehan/) > [“Reality Check His lying is not contigent on who you are or what you do. His lying is not your fault. Lying is his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-forward/reality-check-his-lying-is-not-contigent-on-who-you-are-or-what-you/) [Susan Forward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-forward/) > [“Satan wants you to believe that you don't have a choice in the matter. You can't be happy until things go the way that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsey-rietzsch/satan-wants-you-to-believe-that-you-don-t-have-a-choice-in-the-matter/) [Lindsey Rietzsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsey-rietzsch/) ## More by Robin Talley > [“Lie #4 I'm not lonely.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-talley/lie-4-i-m-not-lonely/) [Robin Talley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-talley/) > [“Lie #3 I don't care what they think of me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-talley/lie-3-i-don-t-care-what-they-think-of-me/) [Robin Talley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-talley/) > [“Other people will try to decide things for you, she says. They'll try to tell you who you are. Remember, no matter what they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-talley/other-people-will-try-to-decide-things-for-you-she-says-they-ll-try/) [Robin Talley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-talley/) > [“Lie #6 I'm not strong enough for this.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-talley/lie-6-i-m-not-strong-enough-for-this/) [Robin Talley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-talley/) > [“Lie #2 I'm sure I'm doing the right thing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-talley/lie-2-i-m-sure-i-m-doing-the-right-thing/) [Robin Talley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-talley/) > [“Lie #7 They won't really hurt me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-talley/lie-7-they-won-t-really-hurt-me/) [Robin Talley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-talley/) > [“Lie #5 This can't last forever.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-talley/lie-5-this-can-t-last-forever/) [Robin Talley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-talley/) > [“Lie #1 There's no need to be afraid.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-talley/lie-1-there-s-no-need-to-be-afraid/) [Robin Talley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-talley/) [Explore all 9 Robin Talley quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-talley/) ## More Lies we tell ourselves quotes > [“Satan wants you to believe that you don't have a choice in the matter. You can't be happy until things go the way that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsey-rietzsch/satan-wants-you-to-believe-that-you-don-t-have-a-choice-in-the-matter/) [Lindsey Rietzsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsey-rietzsch/) > [“Reality Check His lying is not contigent on who you are or what you do. His lying is not your fault. Lying is his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-forward/reality-check-his-lying-is-not-contigent-on-who-you-are-or-what-you/) [Susan Forward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-forward/) > [“Telling people Jesus loves them is a lie if you are not showing them!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-m-sheehan/telling-people-jesus-loves-them-is-a-lie-if-you-are-not-showing-them/) [John M. Sheehan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-m-sheehan/) > [The lies we tell other people are nothing to the lies we tell ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-landy/the-lies-we-tell-other-people-are-nothing-to-the-lies-we-tell/) [Derek Landy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-landy/) > [“The truth will only offend those who would rather defend lies.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-wallace/the-truth-will-only-offend-those-who-would-rather-defend-lies/) [Carlos Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-wallace/) > [“Truth can come to liberate, but not the truth you were taught. Where you always sought refuge.You only met lies since you were born.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-neil-fleischer/truth-can-come-to-liberate-but-not-the-truth-you-were-taught-where/) [Robert Neil Fleischer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-neil-fleischer/) > [“The fact is that we have no way of knowing if the person who we think we are is at the core of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-landy/the-fact-is-that-we-have-no-way-of-knowing-if-the-person-who-we-think/) [Derek Landy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-landy/) > [“Hope is the lies we tell ourselves about the future.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brent-weeks/hope-is-the-lies-we-tell-ourselves-about-the-future/) [Brent Weeks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brent-weeks/) > [Deliver us from evil - from moral duplicity and weakness, from laziness and spiritual complacency, from those lies we tell ourselves from our fear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-mullins/deliver-us-from-evil-from-moral-duplicity-and-weakness-from-laziness/) [Rich Mullins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-mullins/) > [And you take care, too, Shahara. Remember the lies we tell ourselves to survive seldom bring peace to our souls. (Nero)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/and-you-take-care-too-shahara-remember-the-lies-we-tell-ourselves-to/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [“Other people will try to decide things for you, she says. They'll try to tell you who you are. Remember, no matter what they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-talley/other-people-will-try-to-decide-things-for-you-she-says-they-ll-try/) [Robin Talley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-talley/) > [“#297. "...the lies we tell ourselves to survive seldom bring peace to our souls.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/born-of-fire-by-sherrilyn-kenyon/297-the-lies-we-tell-ourselves-to-survive-seldom-bring-peace-to-our/) [Born Of Fire by Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/born-of-fire-by-sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [“It is the story that lies around the edges of the photographs, or at the end of newspaper account. It's about the lies we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-blake/it-is-the-story-that-lies-around-the-edges-of-the-photographs-or-at/) [Sarah Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-blake/) > [“You can't always expect people to apply your wisdom when they didn't use wisdom before they found themselves knee deep in their version of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder/you-can-t-always-expect-people-to-apply-your-wisdom-when-they-didn-t/) [Shannon L. Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder/) > [“When you've grown up mis-educated, surrounded by fear and hate, unaware of your privilege, lies can sound like the truth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dashanne-stokes/when-you-ve-grown-up-mis-educated-surrounded-by-fear-and-hate-unaware/) [DaShanne Stokes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dashanne-stokes/) [Browse all 38 Lies we tell ourselves quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lies-we-tell-ourselves/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Sarah's right. We punish ourselves so much in our own imaginations. We convince ourselves everything we do, everything we think, is wrong. For eighteen years I've believed what other people told me about what was right and what was wrong. From now. 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