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Eyebrows Quote by Sarah Dessen

“So you're always honest," I said. "Aren't you?" "No," I told him. "I'm not." "Well, that's good to know, I guess." "I'm not saying I'm a liar," I told him. He raised his eyebrows. "That's not how I meant it, anyways." "How'd you mean it, then?" "I just...I don't always say what I feel." "Why not?"…” quote by Sarah Dessen
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“So you're always honest," I said. "Aren't you?" "No," I told him. "I'm not." "Well, that's good to know, I guess." "I'm not saying I'm a liar," I told him. He raised his eyebrows. "That's not how I meant it, anyways." "How'd you mean it, then?" "I just...I don't always say what I feel." "Why not?" "Because the truth sometimes hurts," I said. "Yeah," he said. "So do lies, though.”

Sarah Dessen

About This Quote

Source Short story: Dialogue excerpt, 2020

A conversation reveals the tension between honesty and the pain it can cause, highlighting the complexity of truth‑telling.

In simple terms: Honesty can hurt, but lying also harms.

Key Takeaway

Balance truth with empathy to avoid unnecessary pain.

Themes

communication honesty emotional intelligence

Mood

thoughtful empathetic

Type

reflective conversational

When to use this quote

  • friendship talks
  • conflict resolution
  • personal reflection

Key Concepts

truthfulness social dynamics self‑awareness

Questions to Reflect On

  • When should you soften the truth?
  • How do you handle the fallout of honesty?
A Different Perspective

Being overly blunt can damage relationships; excessive politeness can erode trust.

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