Eating lunch Quote by Sarah Blake
““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 tell others to protect them, and about the lies we tell ourselves in order not to acknowledge what we can't bear: that we are alive, for instance, and eating lunch, while bombs are falling, and refugees are crammed into camps, and the news comes toward us every hour of the day. And what, in the end, do we do?””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Land of Milk and Honey by Sarah Blake, 2022
The quote examines how people create comforting narratives to avoid confronting harsh realities, especially amid conflict and suffering.
In simple terms: We tell lies to shield ourselves from painful truths.
Recognize and confront uncomfortable truths.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- war reporting
- personal reflection
- media consumption
- humanitarian work
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- What lies are you telling yourself about global crises?
- How can honest narratives foster empathy?
Stories can also obscure responsibility and hinder action.