--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Sitting there, watching my sister, I…" description: "\"“Sitting there, watching my sister, I wondered which was harder, in the end. The act of telling, or who you told it to. Or maybe if, when you finally g..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc3/sarah-dessen-110_telling_sitting-there-watching-my-sister-i-wonde_2884950.jpg" --- # Sitting there, watching my sister, I wondered which was… ![“Sitting there, watching my sister, I wondered which was harder, in the end. The act of telling, or who you told it to. Or maybe if, when you finally got itout, the story was really all that mattered.” quote by Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc3/sarah-dessen-110_telling_sitting-there-watching-my-sister-i-wonde_2884950.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc3/sarah-dessen-110_telling_sitting-there-watching-my-sister-i-wonde_2884950.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc3/sarah-dessen-110_telling_sitting-there-watching-my-sister-i-wonde_2884950.jpg) > ““Sitting there, watching my sister, I wondered which was harder, in the end. The act of telling, or who you told it to. Or maybe if, when you finally got itout, the story was really all that mattered.”” [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Sharing personal stories can be harder than the act of telling; the audience matters. **In simple terms:** Who you tell matters. Key Takeaway Choose your confidants wisely. Themes communication vulnerability storytelling Mood introspective empathetic Type fictional personal When to use this quote - confiding in friends - therapy - public speaking - writing Key Concepts audience impact emotional labor Questions to Reflect On - Who can you trust with your story? - How does audience shape the narrative? A Different Perspective Fear of judgment may silence truth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet ## Related quotes > [I wondered which was harder, in the end. The act of telling, or who you told it to. Or maybe if, when you finally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/i-wondered-which-was-harder-in-the-end-the-act-of-telling-or-who-you/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [“So are you telling me…" he composed his thoughts. 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And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/if-we-accept-being-talked-to-any-kind-of-a-way-then-we-are-telling/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [When you put your hand on the Bible, you are saying something much stronger than just telling your peers that you're going to tell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-greenwood/when-you-put-your-hand-on-the-bible-you-are-saying-something-much/) [Lee Greenwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-greenwood/) ## More by Sarah Dessen > [Sometimes a question can hurt more than an answer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/sometimes-a-question-can-hurt-more-than-an-answer/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [“if i were a book i would be so open”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/if-i-were-a-book-i-would-be-so-open/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [Harder to get in than out, like so little else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/harder-to-get-in-than-out-like-so-little-else/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [“At times, I found myself questioning his very existence, even though I knew I had, in fact, spotted him, with my own eyes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/at-times-i-found-myself-questioning-his-very-existence-even-though-i/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [You don't have to say it out loud. I already know why you like me.' 'You do, huh?' 'Yep.' He wrapped his arms around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/you-don-t-have-to-say-it-out-loud-i-already-know-why-you-like-me-you/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [No relationship is perfect, ever. There are always some ways you have to bend, to compromise, to give something up in order to gain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/no-relationship-is-perfect-ever-there-are-always-some-ways-you-have/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [When you had to do something, you had to do it. And eventually, if you were lucky, you did it well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/when-you-had-to-do-something-you-had-to-do-it-and-eventually-if-you/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [the truth about forever is that it is happening right now](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/the-truth-about-forever-is-that-it-is-happening-right-now/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [I jammed my hand in my jacket pocket, bracing myself fo the next hit, and fel something. Something grainy and samll, sticking to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/i-jammed-my-hand-in-my-jacket-pocket-bracing-myself-fo-the-next-hit/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [I had no illusions about love anymore. It came, it went, it left casualties or it didn't. 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Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin/) > [Your job as a writer is to find storylines, narrative structures, and characters to show the things that you believe rather than saying them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philipp-meyer/your-job-as-a-writer-is-to-find-storylines-narrative-structures-and/) [Philipp Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philipp-meyer/) > [I don't think any crime in the world is greater than telling a child: You're no good at it..!!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/i-don-t-think-any-crime-in-the-world-is-greater-than-telling-a-child/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [I get a little tired of people telling me what might have been. I think I've done OK. 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