--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: and it was the pretending that might…" description: "\"“and it was the pretending that might explain how she could smile so brightly while her mind felt nothing - as if, at these times, there existed a disc..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/620/sue-saliba-88008_depression_and-it-was-the-pretending-that-might-exp_1334875.jpg" --- # and it was the pretending that might explain how she could… ![“and it was the pretending that might explain how she could smile so brightly while her mind felt nothing - as if, at these times, there existed a disconnection between outer and inner, a shutting off, and the key to her happiness lay in warding off pain, or dodging it, or pushing it into the shape…” quote by Sue Saliba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/620/sue-saliba-88008_depression_and-it-was-the-pretending-that-might-exp_1334875.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/620/sue-saliba-88008_depression_and-it-was-the-pretending-that-might-exp_1334875.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/620/sue-saliba-88008_depression_and-it-was-the-pretending-that-might-exp_1334875.jpg) > ““and it was the pretending that might explain how she could smile so brightly while her mind felt nothing - as if, at these times, there existed a disconnection between outer and inner, a shutting off, and the key to her happiness lay in warding off pain, or dodging it, or pushing it into the shape of something else - like shame or anger or even hope.”” [Sue Saliba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-saliba/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote describes a person who masks inner emptiness with a bright exterior, using denial or emotional displacement to avoid pain, turning it into other feelings like shame, anger, or hope. **In simple terms:** She hides inner emptiness with a forced smile, turning pain into other emotions. Key Takeaway Recognize and address true feelings instead of masking them. Themes emotional masking inner conflict coping mechanisms self-deception Mood reflective melancholic introspective Type literary psychological emotional When to use this quote - personal relationships - therapy sessions - creative writing - self‑reflection - mental health care Key Concepts psychology emotional regulation defense mechanisms Questions to Reflect On - What emotions are you pushing aside? - How does pretending affect your long‑term wellbeing? A Different Perspective Masking may prevent genuine healing and can deepen underlying distress. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Depression](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/depression/) [Emotions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emotions/) [Explain Smile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/explain-smile-4491442/) [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Happiness Lay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness-lay-3541441/) [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) [Pretending](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pretending/) [Pretending Explain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pretending-explain-4491443/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Smile Brightly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smile-brightly-4491444/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [“There's only so long you can smile brightly at the man who has your heart but loves someone else.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-kinsella/there-s-only-so-long-you-can-smile-brightly-at-the-man-who-has-your/) [Sophie Kinsella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-kinsella/) > [“When you have a blueprint for what happiness is, lay it over your life and see what you need to change so the images…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augusten-burroughs/when-you-have-a-blueprint-for-what-happiness-is-lay-it-over-your-life/) [Augusten Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augusten-burroughs/) > [“...The thought of how much happiness lay scattered across the universe, unrealized, in fragments, waiting for the right twist of fate to bring it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leah-raeder/the-thought-of-how-much-happiness-lay-scattered-across-the-universe/) [Leah Raeder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leah-raeder/) > [Happiness is something you lay siege to, it is a battle like a game of go. 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