--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Face it,\" Gary told her kindly. \"You'll…" description: "\"Face it,\" Gary told her kindly. \"You'll never catch up. You just do as much as you can and take the punishments without saying anything. Sometimes I wo..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a8/tamora-pierce-935_faces_face-it-gary-told-her-kindly-you-ll-neve_36235.png" --- # Face it," Gary told her kindly. "You'll never catch up… ![“Face it," Gary told her kindly. "You'll never catch up. You just do as much as you can and take the punishments without saying anything. Sometimes I wonder if that isn't what they're really trying to teach us--to take plenty and keep our mouths shut.” quote by Tamora Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a8/tamora-pierce-935_faces_face-it-gary-told-her-kindly-you-ll-neve_36235.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a8/tamora-pierce-935_faces_face-it-gary-told-her-kindly-you-ll-neve_36235.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a8/tamora-pierce-935_faces_face-it-gary-told-her-kindly-you-ll-neve_36235.png) > “Face it," Gary told her kindly. "You'll never catch up. You just do as much as you can and take the punishments without saying anything. Sometimes I wonder if that isn't what they're really trying to teach us--to take plenty and keep our mouths shut.” [Tamora Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamora-pierce/) ## 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 warns that society often rewards silent endurance over vocal dissent, urging acceptance of imposed hardships without protest. **In simple terms:** Endurance vs. expression Key Takeaway Silence can be a tool of control Themes power dynamics conformity resilience social conditioning authority Mood defiant reflective cynical Type advice observation caution When to use this quote - workplace bullying - authoritarian regimes - family expectations - educational settings Key Concepts obedience self-censorship social pressure Practical Applications - advocacy training - critical thinking workshops Questions to Reflect On - When does speaking up become necessary? - How can we balance self-preservation with truth-telling? A Different Perspective Silence may also be a strategic choice for safety, not merely oppression. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Faces](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faces/) [Gary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gary/) [Gary Told](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gary-told-441967/) [Just Punishments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/just-punishments-441968/) [Mouths](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mouths/) [Mouths Shut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mouths-shut-441965/) [Plenty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plenty/) [Punishment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/punishment/) [Punishments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/punishments/) [Punishments Saying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/punishments-saying-441966/) [Sometimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sometimes/) [Sometimes i wonder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sometimes-i-wonder/) [Teach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teach/) [Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying/) [Wonder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wonder/) ## Related quotes > [“Gary told me they were paying for CrowdStrike’s cybersecurity services out of the building fund, not paying it out of regular receipts, thereby depleting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-brazile/gary-told-me-they-were-paying-for-crowdstrike-s-cybersecurity/) [Donna Brazile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-brazile/) > [“Try as she might to elicit some passion from him, Gary was impassive, oblivious. "I don't naturally express my feelings,' Gary told the therapist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/try-as-she-might-to-elicit-some-passion-from-him-gary-was-impassive/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Women need not always keep their mouths shut and their wombs open.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-goldman/women-need-not-always-keep-their-mouths-shut-and-their-wombs-open/) [Emma Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/) > [ The people I know who would support \[Donald\] Trump are keeping their mouths shut. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junot-diaz/the-people-i-know-who-would-support-donald-trump-are-keeping-their/) [Junot Diaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junot-diaz/) > [“You better keep your mouths shut if you know what's good for you." Rider strolled up to her, a punch glass in each hand.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-mcpherren/you-better-keep-your-mouths-shut-if-you-know-what-s-good-for-you/) [Charlotte McPherren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-mcpherren/) > [Empty heads should keep their mouths shut. An empty barrel makes the most noise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lleeann/empty-heads-should-keep-their-mouths-shut-an-empty-barrel-makes-the/) [Lleeann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lleeann/) > [“HANDS UP, FEET APART, MOUTHS SHUT. DON’T MOVE AND WE WON’T SHOOT YOU.” I”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/hands-up-feet-apart-mouths-shut-don-t-move-and-we-won-t-shoot-you-i/) [Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) > [There is a great deal of trouble in this world which is not caused by people keeping their mouths shut.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/myrtle-reed/there-is-a-great-deal-of-trouble-in-this-world-which-is-not-caused-by/) [Myrtle Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/myrtle-reed/) > [I told him that my own opinion was that the time now and the method now to deal with Russia was to keep our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-l-stimson/i-told-him-that-my-own-opinion-was-that-the-time-now-and-the-method/) [Henry L. Stimson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-l-stimson/) > [Let us keep our mouths shut and our pens dry until we know the facts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-julius-carlson/let-us-keep-our-mouths-shut-and-our-pens-dry-until-we-know-the-facts/) [Anton Julius Carlson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-julius-carlson/) > [Men are like fish...neither would get in trouble if they kept their mouths shut.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/men-are-like-fish-neither-would-get-in-trouble-if-they-kept-their/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Players have two things to do. Play and keep their mouths shut.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sparky-anderson/players-have-two-things-to-do-play-and-keep-their-mouths-shut/) [Sparky Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sparky-anderson/) > [“I expected Abe to yell for everyone to shut up or something like that. Of course, Nathan had been trying that for a while…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/i-expected-abe-to-yell-for-everyone-to-shut-up-or-something-like-that/) [Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/) > [Grandparents who want to be truly helpful will do well to keep their mouths shut and their opinions to themselves until these are requested.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-berry-brazelton/grandparents-who-want-to-be-truly-helpful-will-do-well-to-keep-their/) [T. Berry Brazelton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-berry-brazelton/) > [Some people are a waste of good oxygen and others need to learn how to conserve it by keeping their mouths shut!!!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/some-people-are-a-waste-of-good-oxygen-and-others-need-to-learn-how/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) ## More by Tamora Pierce > [Lord Raoul asked me to tell you that if you get yourself killed, he will never speak to you again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamora-pierce/lord-raoul-asked-me-to-tell-you-that-if-you-get-yourself-killed-he/) [Tamora Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamora-pierce/) > [I will be known forever as the Puppy who chased a cutpurse and caught fish garbage instead. My descendants will pretend I'm not in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamora-pierce/i-will-be-known-forever-as-the-puppy-who-chased-a-cutpurse-and-caught/) [Tamora Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamora-pierce/) > [Dreadful sorry mistress. Ma always said I was too silly to die](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamora-pierce/dreadful-sorry-mistress-ma-always-said-i-was-too-silly-to-die/) [Tamora Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamora-pierce/) > [Frostpine made a face. Lifting the cup, he dumped its contents down his throat. “Auugghh!” he yelled, his voice stronger than it had been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamora-pierce/frostpine-made-a-face-lifting-the-cup-he-dumped-its-contents-down-his/) [Tamora Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamora-pierce/) > [“The god inside the man glanced at Aly. "This is your chessboard, I believe, my dear." Aly beamed at him. "So it is. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamora-pierce/the-god-inside-the-man-glanced-at-aly-this-is-your-chessboard-i/) [Tamora Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamora-pierce/) > [She's all over us like maggots on garbage, just because I interfered with one pickpocket yesterday.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamora-pierce/she-s-all-over-us-like-maggots-on-garbage-just-because-i-interfered/) [Tamora Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamora-pierce/) > [What if custom is wrong? demanded the part of her that believed in the code of chivalry. A knight must set things right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamora-pierce/what-if-custom-is-wrong-demanded-the-part-of-her-that-believed-in-the/) [Tamora Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamora-pierce/) > [When it was her own doing, she was always tempted to skip a day, or just glance down, then get back to the ground.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamora-pierce/when-it-was-her-own-doing-she-was-always-tempted-to-skip-a-day-or/) [Tamora Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamora-pierce/) > [Wouldn't--" Kel began to say, but the words stuck in her mouth. She swallowed and tried again. "Wouldn't it be well, not nice to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamora-pierce/wouldn-t-kel-began-to-say-but-the-words-stuck-in-her-mouth-she/) [Tamora Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamora-pierce/) > [You'll see. I'm as good as any boy. I'm better. - Kel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamora-pierce/you-ll-see-i-m-as-good-as-any-boy-i-m-better-kel/) [Tamora Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamora-pierce/) > [“I don't know about some of these other people, particularly the ministers who served my uncle." "Can't you get rid of them?" Kaddar shook…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamora-pierce/i-don-t-know-about-some-of-these-other-people-particularly-the/) [Tamora Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamora-pierce/) > [You must tell Lady Alanna that sometime. I'd do it from a distance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamora-pierce/you-must-tell-lady-alanna-that-sometime-i-d-do-it-from-a-distance/) [Tamora Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamora-pierce/) > [If I have to 'catch' a man to get a husband, I don't want one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamora-pierce/if-i-have-to-catch-a-man-to-get-a-husband-i-don-t-want-one/) [Tamora Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamora-pierce/) > [George looked at her for a long moment. Finally he replied, "And why do you find it so hard to think someone might like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamora-pierce/george-looked-at-her-for-a-long-moment-finally-he-replied-and-why-do/) [Tamora Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamora-pierce/) > [She would have kissed him, if she kissed stupid men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamora-pierce/she-would-have-kissed-him-if-she-kissed-stupid-men/) [Tamora Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamora-pierce/) [Explore all 323 Tamora Pierce quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamora-pierce/) ## More Faces quotes > [It can sometimes make people fold into themselves and kind of run away, but I think in this case these characters are being forced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-deschanel/it-can-sometimes-make-people-fold-into-themselves-and-kind-of-run/) [Emily Deschanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-deschanel/) > [Because the truth is that gossip is as good as gospel in this town. You can save face but you won't ever save your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conor-oberst/because-the-truth-is-that-gossip-is-as-good-as-gospel-in-this-town/) [Conor Oberst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conor-oberst/) > [My friends, this body - perhaps more than any other gathering in human history - now faces that difficult task.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/my-friends-this-body-perhaps-more-than-any-other-gathering-in-human/) [Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/) > [His fingertips slid down from my face, lightly stroking the line of my neck, down toward my shoulder. Everywhere he touched, a trail of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/his-fingertips-slid-down-from-my-face-lightly-stroking-the-line-of-my/) [Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/) > [I've seen every one, from Motley Crue to John Denver, with tears running down my face. I had no idea everyone had such a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stevie-nicks/i-ve-seen-every-one-from-motley-crue-to-john-denver-with-tears/) [Stevie Nicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stevie-nicks/) > [So," I said. "Seems you're going to be stuck with me for a while." He smiled. A real smile that lit up his whole…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/so-i-said-seems-you-re-going-to-be-stuck-with-me-for-a-while-he/) [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) > [We have a fear of facing ourselves. That is the obstacle. Experiencing the innermost core of our existence is very embarrassing to a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chogyam-trungpa/we-have-a-fear-of-facing-ourselves-that-is-the-obstacle-experiencing/) [Chogyam Trungpa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chogyam-trungpa/) > [ I went to a mosque in Philadelphia with \[my wife\] in December 24, 1999. And we we went to this mosque in Philly, and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahershala-ali/i-went-to-a-mosque-in-philadelphia-with-my-wife-in-december-24-1999/) [Mahershala Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahershala-ali/) > [If I had a million dollars, I just wouldn't just completely set back. I'd have to get out there and show my face to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muddy-waters/if-i-had-a-million-dollars-i-just-wouldn-t-just-completely-set-back-i/) [Muddy Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muddy-waters/) > [It is proposed that a form of free dialogue may well be one of the most effective ways of investigating the crisis which faces…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bohm/it-is-proposed-that-a-form-of-free-dialogue-may-well-be-one-of-the/) [David Bohm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bohm/) > [If enough money is involved and enough people believe that two plus two equals five the media will report the story with a straight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-jacoby/if-enough-money-is-involved-and-enough-people-believe-that-two-plus/) [Susan Jacoby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-jacoby/) > [Here comes old Rosie she's looking mighty fine, here comes hot Nancy she's steppin' right on time. There go the street lights bringing on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-seger/here-comes-old-rosie-she-s-looking-mighty-fine-here-comes-hot-nancy/) [Bob Seger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-seger/) > [A face is too slight a foundation for happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-wortley-montagu/a-face-is-too-slight-a-foundation-for-happiness/) [Mary Wortley Montagu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-wortley-montagu/) > [ That's probably why my face was looking so crazy when I was crying \[in "Hardball"\] because it was some real. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-b-jordan/that-s-probably-why-my-face-was-looking-so-crazy-when-i-was-crying-in/) [Michael B. Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-b-jordan/) > [Are we fighting?" I asked Morelli. "No. Were discussing." "Are you sure?" "Am I yelling?" Morelli asked. "Is my face purple? Are the cords…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-evanovich/are-we-fighting-i-asked-morelli-no-were-discussing-are-you-sure-am-i/) [Janet Evanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-evanovich/) [Browse all 13,128 Faces quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faces/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Face it,\" Gary told her kindly. \"You'll never catch up. You just do as much as you can and take the punishments without saying anything. 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