--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: To tell or not to tell?" description: "\"“To tell or not to tell?”\" — Suzanne Collins" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/34a/suzanne-collins-60_tell_to-tell-or-not-to-tell-496559_496559.jpg" --- # To tell or not to tell? ![“To tell or not to tell?” quote by Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/34a/suzanne-collins-60_tell_to-tell-or-not-to-tell-496559_496559.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/34a/suzanne-collins-60_tell_to-tell-or-not-to-tell-496559_496559.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/34a/suzanne-collins-60_tell_to-tell-or-not-to-tell-496559_496559.jpg) > ““To tell or not to tell?”” [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The dilemma of whether to reveal truth or conceal it reflects moral responsibility and risk. **In simple terms:** Choosing to speak or stay silent carries weight. Key Takeaway Weigh truth against potential harm. Themes ethics communication truth responsibility risk Mood thoughtful tense Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - journalism - whistleblowing - personal relationships - political messaging Key Concepts moral philosophy information ethics censorship Questions to Reflect On - When is silence justified? - What are the costs of truth? A Different Perspective Silence can protect but also enable harm. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Tell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tell/) [Tell Tell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tell-tell-600478/) ## Related quotes > [“Tell me again. Tell me you'll marry me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-banks/tell-me-again-tell-me-you-ll-marry-me/) [Maya Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-banks/) > [Everyone has a story to tell. Some of us tell them so much we get better at it. Eventually we get really good...and published.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/everyone-has-a-story-to-tell-some-of-us-tell-them-so-much-we-get/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'd like to say a few words about one of the most popular concepts in the modern education--show and tell. Show and Tell is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-orben/i-d-like-to-say-a-few-words-about-one-of-the-most-popular-concepts-in/) [Robert Orben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-orben/) > [“You must not tell anyone, what I am about to tell you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxine-hong-kingston/you-must-not-tell-anyone-what-i-am-about-to-tell-you/) [Maxine Hong Kingston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxine-hong-kingston/) > [A secret is what you tell everyone not to tell anyone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/badbitch/a-secret-is-what-you-tell-everyone-not-to-tell-anyone-else/) [Badbitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/badbitch/) > [“Everyone has a story to tell...Tell me yours and I'll tell you mine.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mimi-tulane/everyone-has-a-story-to-tell-tell-me-yours-and-i-ll-tell-you-mine/) [Mimi Tulane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mimi-tulane/) > [What you don’t know, you can’t tell. Or made to tell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/what-you-don-t-know-you-can-t-tell-or-made-to-tell/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [Tell me Tell me that I am your girl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/infinite/tell-me-tell-me-that-i-am-your-girl/) [Infinite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/infinite/) > [“Don't let people tell you who you are. You tell them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-martin/don-t-let-people-tell-you-who-you-are-you-tell-them/) [Ricky Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-martin/) > [Whatever story you want to tell, tell it at the right size.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-linklater/whatever-story-you-want-to-tell-tell-it-at-the-right-size/) [Richard Linklater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-linklater/) > [I tell you once, I tell you twice, but third time is the last time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teady/i-tell-you-once-i-tell-you-twice-but-third-time-is-the-last-time/) [$Teady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teady/) > [Do not tell me what to do and do not tell me what I can't do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-blume/do-not-tell-me-what-to-do-and-do-not-tell-me-what-i-can-t-do/) [Judy Blume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-blume/) > [If someone tells you something and you know you should tell, tell the person, you know you would want to know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-someone-tells-you-something-and-you-know-you-should-tell-tell-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [What do you want me to tell Romney? I can't tell him to do that. I can't tell him to do that to himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clint-eastwood/what-do-you-want-me-to-tell-romney-i-can-t-tell-him-to-do-that-i-can/) [Clint Eastwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clint-eastwood/) > [“You’re a big boy now; you’ll never let her go, but that’s just the kind of thing she ought to know. Tell her about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-joel/you-re-a-big-boy-now-you-ll-never-let-her-go-but-that-s-just-the-kind/) [Billy Joel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-joel/) ## More by Suzanne Collins > [It's amazing to see things that are suggested in the book fully developed and so brilliantly realized through the artistry of the designers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/it-s-amazing-to-see-things-that-are-suggested-in-the-book-fully/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [KEEP CALM and HAVE A SUGAR CUBE](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/keep-calm-and-have-a-sugar-cube/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [A furious Peeta hammers Haymitch with the atrocity he could become party to, but I can feel Haymitch watching me. This is the moment,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/a-furious-peeta-hammers-haymitch-with-the-atrocity-he-could-become/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [“The same goes for the other captured tributes, Johanna and Enobaria.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/the-same-goes-for-the-other-captured-tributes-johanna-and-enobaria/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [I don't know how to say it exactly. Only...I want to die as myself. Does that make any sense?' he asks. I shake my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/i-don-t-know-how-to-say-it-exactly-only-i-want-to-die-as-myself-does/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [He never lets go of Annie's hand. Not when they walk, not when they eat. I doubt he ever plans to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/he-never-lets-go-of-annie-s-hand-not-when-they-walk-not-when-they-eat/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [“I want to interrupt the taping and beg Finnick’s forgiveness for every false thought I’ve ever had about him.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/i-want-to-interrupt-the-taping-and-beg-finnick-s-forgiveness-for/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [I pound on the glass, screaming my head off. Everyone ignores me except for some Capitol attendant who appears behind me and offers me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/i-pound-on-the-glass-screaming-my-head-off-everyone-ignores-me-except/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [Because it doesn't matter anymore, and because I'm so desperately lonely I can't stand it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/because-it-doesn-t-matter-anymore-and-because-i-m-so-desperately/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [Then I dive into my tent before I do something stupid like cry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/then-i-dive-into-my-tent-before-i-do-something-stupid-like-cry/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [“¡Es que no quiero que me conozcan! ¡Ya me están quitando el futuro! ¡No pueden llevarse también lo que me importaba en el pasado!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/es-que-no-quiero-que-me-conozcan-ya-me-est-n-quitando-el-futuro-no/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [“I act delighted, but I have zero interest in these Capitol people. They are only distractions from the food.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/i-act-delighted-but-i-have-zero-interest-in-these-capitol-people-they/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [Mostly we just add to the piles of rainbow glass that's been blown off the exteriors of the cany-colored buildings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/mostly-we-just-add-to-the-piles-of-rainbow-glass-that-s-been-blown/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [You're punishing him over and over for things that are out of his control. Now, I'm not saying you shouldn't have a fully loaded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/you-re-punishing-him-over-and-over-for-things-that-are-out-of-his/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [“But the significant difference between Thirteen and the Capitol are the expectations of the populace. Thirteen was used to hardship, wheras in the Capitol,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/but-the-significant-difference-between-thirteen-and-the-capitol-are/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) [Explore all 1,709 Suzanne Collins quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) ## More Tell quotes > [You've got to tell your money what to do or it will leave.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-ramsey/you-ve-got-to-tell-your-money-what-to-do-or-it-will-leave/) [Dave Ramsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-ramsey/) > [If we accept being talked to any kind of a way, then we are telling ourselves we are not quite worth the best. 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/) > [Rule number something or other -- never tell anybody anything unless you're going to get something better in return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-paretsky/rule-number-something-or-other-never-tell-anybody-anything-unless-you/) [Sara Paretsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-paretsky/) > [It's a great story for us whenever an entrepreneur makes a crazy amount of money and we get to tell the world about it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-lacy/it-s-a-great-story-for-us-whenever-an-entrepreneur-makes-a-crazy/) [Sarah Lacy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-lacy/) > [You want me to do something... tell me I can't do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/you-want-me-to-do-something-tell-me-i-can-t-do-it/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [We can never tell what is in store for us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/we-can-never-tell-what-is-in-store-for-us/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [If You Don't Tell Yourself You Are Beautiful, Who Is?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ms-freshie/if-you-don-t-tell-yourself-you-are-beautiful-who-is/) [Ms\_Freshie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ms-freshie/) > [I always want to surprise audiences and tell stories that are entertaining and challenging at the same time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-hechinger/i-always-want-to-surprise-audiences-and-tell-stories-that-are/) [Fred Hechinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-hechinger/) > [My work is a love for me; I'd do it for free, but don't tell my bosses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chick-hearn/my-work-is-a-love-for-me-i-d-do-it-for-free-but-don-t-tell-my-bosses/) [Chick Hearn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chick-hearn/) > [“No one has any right to tell you that the way you perceive yourself is wrong. Because by doing so, they also discourage the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamand-kojouri/no-one-has-any-right-to-tell-you-that-the-way-you-perceive-yourself/) [Kamand Kojouri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamand-kojouri/) > [You can never tell when a commercial space venture will suddenly become viable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buzz-aldrin/you-can-never-tell-when-a-commercial-space-venture-will-suddenly/) [Buzz Aldrin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buzz-aldrin/) > [I've had people call me and tell me, 'You've given me courage.' It's fantastic... it's heart-warming to know you can be a ray of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kubra-sait/i-ve-had-people-call-me-and-tell-me-you-ve-given-me-courage-it-s/) [Kubra Sait](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kubra-sait/) > [I want to tell you, but I cant, becuase I'm afraid if I do you'll never treat me same the again](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cristina-orante/i-want-to-tell-you-but-i-cant-becuase-i-m-afraid-if-i-do-you-ll-never/) [Cristina Orante](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cristina-orante/) > [Don't let other people tell you who you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-sawyer/don-t-let-other-people-tell-you-who-you-are/) [Diane Sawyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-sawyer/) > [When a young artist asks me a question, I want to do what I can to give them an answer if I have it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-tait/when-a-young-artist-asks-me-a-question-i-want-to-do-what-i-can-to/) [Michael Tait](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-tait/) [Browse all 6,348 Tell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tell/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“To tell or not to tell?”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Suzanne Collins" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/to-tell-or-not-to-tell/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Tell" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/to-tell-or-not-to-tell/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/34a/suzanne-collins-60_tell_to-tell-or-not-to-tell-496559_496559.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/34a/suzanne-collins-60_tell_to-tell-or-not-to-tell-496559_496559.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/34a/suzanne-collins-60_tell_to-tell-or-not-to-tell-496559_496559.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“To tell or not to tell?” — Suzanne Collins", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Suzanne Collins", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“To tell or not to tell?”", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/to-tell-or-not-to-tell/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/to-tell-or-not-to-tell/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```