--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There's a great deal of power in…" description: "\"“There's a great deal of power in pretending.”\" — Suzanne Palmieri" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/49a/suzanne-palmieri-11031_delusions_there-s-a-great-deal-of-power-in-pretend_2831944.jpg" --- # There's a great deal of power in pretending. ![“There's a great deal of power in pretending.” quote by Suzanne Palmieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/49a/suzanne-palmieri-11031_delusions_there-s-a-great-deal-of-power-in-pretend_2831944.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/49a/suzanne-palmieri-11031_delusions_there-s-a-great-deal-of-power-in-pretend_2831944.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/49a/suzanne-palmieri-11031_delusions_there-s-a-great-deal-of-power-in-pretend_2831944.jpg) > ““There's a great deal of power in pretending.”” [Suzanne Palmieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-palmieri/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Pretending can be a potent tool for influence and coping. **In simple terms:** Pretending holds power. Key Takeaway Use role‑play to explore possibilities. Themes psychology strategy creativity Mood thoughtful inspirational Type psychological strategic When to use this quote - therapy - leadership - writing - performance Key Concepts role‑play theory social influence Questions to Reflect On - When is pretending ethical? - How does it shape identity? A Different Perspective Pretend can become deception. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power/) [Truth of life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth-of-life/) ## Related quotes > [You gain power by pretending to be weak.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/you-gain-power-by-pretending-to-be-weak/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [We never get far from wealth and all of its masks when we deal with power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-herbert/we-never-get-far-from-wealth-and-all-of-its-masks-when-we-deal-with/) [Frank Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-herbert/) > [You gain power by pretending to be weak. By contrast, you make people feel strong. You save people by letting them save you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/you-gain-power-by-pretending-to-be-weak-by-contrast-you-make-people/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [“Many do not have the courage to face the truth of life and instead dwell upon some delusions to escape it. Any such escapism…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-vazhakunnathu/many-do-not-have-the-courage-to-face-the-truth-of-life-and-instead/) [Thomas Vazhakunnathu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-vazhakunnathu/) > [“I'd forgotten so many important things. I'd stolen away my own past. It made me feel like a coward.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-palmieri/i-d-forgotten-so-many-important-things-i-d-stolen-away-my-own-past-it/) [Suzanne Palmieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-palmieri/) > [“Too much work, I guess, to figure out each person as a whole instead of parts of this and parts of that.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-palmieri/too-much-work-i-guess-to-figure-out-each-person-as-a-whole-instead-of/) [Suzanne Palmieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-palmieri/) > [“You're a girl on fire. And it seems to me, you been dousing those flames for years. Let yourself burn a little.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-palmieri/you-re-a-girl-on-fire-and-it-seems-to-me-you-been-dousing-those/) [Suzanne Palmieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-palmieri/) > [“I'm like the moon," he started, "the hidden side of the moon. Not seen because it don't want to be seen. Everyone knows ther's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-palmieri/i-m-like-the-moon-he-started-the-hidden-side-of-the-moon-not-seen/) [Suzanne Palmieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-palmieri/) > [ “\[P\]eople think that in order for something to be frightening, it has to be dark, musty, and full of cobwebs and secrets. That's a… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-palmieri/p-eople-think-that-in-order-for-something-to-be-frightening-it-has-to/) [Suzanne Palmieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-palmieri/) > [“You'll be just fine," he said. "Listen to your heart and mind together, that's the trick. Not one or the other, both.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-palmieri/you-ll-be-just-fine-he-said-listen-to-your-heart-and-mind-together/) [Suzanne Palmieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-palmieri/) > [The great inlet by which a colour for oppression has entered into the world is by one man's pretending to determine concerning the happiness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/the-great-inlet-by-which-a-colour-for-oppression-has-entered-into-the/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) > [Paranoia is a state of heightened awareness. Most people are persecuted beyond their wildest delusions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claude-steiner/paranoia-is-a-state-of-heightened-awareness-most-people-are/) Claude Steiner > [“Thinking no more about it, he stepped off into that cool space, that fast descent to her, with nothing in his mind but a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-highsmith/thinking-no-more-about-it-he-stepped-off-into-that-cool-space-that/) [Patricia Highsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-highsmith/) > [The religions of mankind must be classed among the mass-delusions of this kind. No one, needless to say, who shares a delusion ever recognizes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sigmund-freud/the-religions-of-mankind-must-be-classed-among-the-mass-delusions-of/) [Sigmund Freud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sigmund-freud/) > [“From what I can see of humans, you often destroy wonderful things in the pursuit of something that your delusions make you think is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-l-davroe/from-what-i-can-see-of-humans-you-often-destroy-wonderful-things-in/) A.L. Davroe ## More by Suzanne Palmieri > [“The only problem is the heart is quiet. It takes a very special kind of person to hear what the heart says. Most can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-palmieri/the-only-problem-is-the-heart-is-quiet-it-takes-a-very-special-kind/) [Suzanne Palmieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-palmieri/) > [“All the Amore siblings had The Sight in varying degrees, and its fickleness got us into trouble sometimes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-palmieri/all-the-amore-siblings-had-the-sight-in-varying-degrees-and-its/) [Suzanne Palmieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-palmieri/) > [“You really are a chameleon, aren't you? Fitting in wherever you go. "Aren't we all?" she said...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-palmieri/you-really-are-a-chameleon-aren-t-you-fitting-in-wherever-you-go-aren/) [Suzanne Palmieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-palmieri/) > [“Here's a secret to love," she said. "Always make sure that the man loves you just a breath more than you love him." "Oh…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-palmieri/here-s-a-secret-to-love-she-said-always-make-sure-that-the-man-loves/) [Suzanne Palmieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-palmieri/) > [“No matter how silly I think it all is, society is still society and we are not free of the burdens of hate.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-palmieri/no-matter-how-silly-i-think-it-all-is-society-is-still-society-and-we/) [Suzanne Palmieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-palmieri/) > [“I'm a Lost Witch. Are you a Lost Witch too?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-palmieri/i-m-a-lost-witch-are-you-a-lost-witch-too/) [Suzanne Palmieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-palmieri/) > [“A game like sardines is scary, not so much for the hider but for the seekers. It's scary because you lose your companions and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-palmieri/a-game-like-sardines-is-scary-not-so-much-for-the-hider-but-for-the/) [Suzanne Palmieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-palmieri/) > [“Truth is worse than soap in the eyes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-palmieri/truth-is-worse-than-soap-in-the-eyes/) [Suzanne Palmieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-palmieri/) > [“You can’t heal someone who doesn’t want to get well. You just can’t.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-palmieri/you-can-t-heal-someone-who-doesn-t-want-to-get-well-you-just-can-t/) [Suzanne Palmieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-palmieri/) > [“You'll be just fine," he said. "Listen to your heart and mind together, that's the trick. Not one or the other, both.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-palmieri/you-ll-be-just-fine-he-said-listen-to-your-heart-and-mind-together/) [Suzanne Palmieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-palmieri/) > [ “\[P\]eople think that in order for something to be frightening, it has to be dark, musty, and full of cobwebs and secrets. That's a… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-palmieri/p-eople-think-that-in-order-for-something-to-be-frightening-it-has-to/) [Suzanne Palmieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-palmieri/) > [“I'm like the moon," he started, "the hidden side of the moon. Not seen because it don't want to be seen. Everyone knows ther's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-palmieri/i-m-like-the-moon-he-started-the-hidden-side-of-the-moon-not-seen/) [Suzanne Palmieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-palmieri/) > [“She told us about how some people just had magic built into them. That her family firmly believed somehow, somewhere, at the very moment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-palmieri/she-told-us-about-how-some-people-just-had-magic-built-into-them-that/) [Suzanne Palmieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-palmieri/) > [“Last week you looked at me with love. You wanted to touch me. Last week I was happy. Now? Who are you? I don’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-palmieri/last-week-you-looked-at-me-with-love-you-wanted-to-touch-me-last-week/) [Suzanne Palmieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-palmieri/) > [“Spring came slowly to the Bronx with a lot of rain & soft water-color tree blossoms.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-palmieri/spring-came-slowly-to-the-bronx-with-a-lot-of-rain-soft-water-color/) [Suzanne Palmieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-palmieri/) [Explore all 62 Suzanne Palmieri quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-palmieri/) ## More Delusions quotes > [“From what I can see of humans, you often destroy wonderful things in the pursuit of something that your delusions make you think is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-l-davroe/from-what-i-can-see-of-humans-you-often-destroy-wonderful-things-in/) A.L. Davroe > [The religions of mankind must be classed among the mass-delusions of this kind. No one, needless to say, who shares a delusion ever recognizes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sigmund-freud/the-religions-of-mankind-must-be-classed-among-the-mass-delusions-of/) [Sigmund Freud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sigmund-freud/) > [“Thinking no more about it, he stepped off into that cool space, that fast descent to her, with nothing in his mind but a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-highsmith/thinking-no-more-about-it-he-stepped-off-into-that-cool-space-that/) [Patricia Highsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-highsmith/) > [Paranoia is a state of heightened awareness. Most people are persecuted beyond their wildest delusions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claude-steiner/paranoia-is-a-state-of-heightened-awareness-most-people-are/) Claude Steiner > [When someone is delusional, there is no point wasting time responding to their delusions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kourtney-kardashian/when-someone-is-delusional-there-is-no-point-wasting-time-responding/) [Kourtney Kardashian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kourtney-kardashian/) > [Through our senses the world appears. Through our reactions we create delusions.Without reactions the world becomes clear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/through-our-senses-the-world-appears-through-our-reactions-we-create/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [One of the most persistent of all delusions is the conviction that the source of our dissatisfaction lies outside ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-alan-wallace/one-of-the-most-persistent-of-all-delusions-is-the-conviction-that/) [B. Alan Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-alan-wallace/) > [Doubt is the big machine. It grinds up the delusions of women and men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-lavalle/doubt-is-the-big-machine-it-grinds-up-the-delusions-of-women-and-men/) [Victor LaValle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-lavalle/) > [“If you're completely off your rocker and have delusions of grandeur in which your personal existence is of special significance to the rest of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-m-wolfe/if-you-re-completely-off-your-rocker-and-have-delusions-of-grandeur/) [Edward M. Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-m-wolfe/) > [“In many ways, life is about managing your delusions; keeping the ones that nourish and eliminating the ones that poison.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-maraboli/in-many-ways-life-is-about-managing-your-delusions-keeping-the-ones/) [Steve Maraboli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-maraboli/) > [“Fear cripples our minds and breeds delusions”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meredith-duran/fear-cripples-our-minds-and-breeds-delusions/) [Meredith Duran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meredith-duran/) > [“Neurotics, proceed with delusions of grandeur. Napoleon Bonaparte, take the lead. Jesus Christ, bring up the rear. Simulate severe depression. Non-communicative with repressed hostility.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-r-delany/neurotics-proceed-with-delusions-of-grandeur-napoleon-bonaparte-take/) [Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/) > [“If you're going to have delusions, you might as well go for the really satisfying ones.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-michael-straczynski/if-you-re-going-to-have-delusions-you-might-as-well-go-for-the-really/) [J. Michael Straczynski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-michael-straczynski/) > [The Enlightenment attacked religion - Christianity, mainly - for two reasons: that it was a set of ideological delusions, and that it was a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tariq-ali/the-enlightenment-attacked-religion-christianity-mainly-for-two/) [Tariq Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tariq-ali/) > [Respect the delicate ecology of your delusions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-kushner/respect-the-delicate-ecology-of-your-delusions/) [Tony Kushner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-kushner/) Browse all 213 Delusions quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“There's a great deal of power in pretending.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Suzanne Palmieri" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-palmieri/there-s-a-great-deal-of-power-in-pretending/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Delusions" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-palmieri/there-s-a-great-deal-of-power-in-pretending/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/49a/suzanne-palmieri-11031_delusions_there-s-a-great-deal-of-power-in-pretend_2831944.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/49a/suzanne-palmieri-11031_delusions_there-s-a-great-deal-of-power-in-pretend_2831944.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/49a/suzanne-palmieri-11031_delusions_there-s-a-great-deal-of-power-in-pretend_2831944.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“There's a great deal of power in pretending.” — Suzanne Palmieri", "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 Palmieri", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-palmieri/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“There's a great deal of power...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-palmieri/there-s-a-great-deal-of-power-in-pretending/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-palmieri/there-s-a-great-deal-of-power-in-pretending/#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 } } ] } ```