--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: My father has a way of persuading people…" description: "\"My father has a way of persuading people without charm that has always confused me. He states his opinions as if they’re facts, and somehow his complet..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f03/veronica-roth-66_believe_my-father-has-a-way-of-persuading-people_1819394.png" --- # My father has a way of persuading people without charm… ![“My father has a way of persuading people without charm that has always confused me. He states his opinions as if they’re facts, and somehow his complete lack of doubt makes you believe him. That quality frightens me now, because I know what he told me: that I was broken, that I was worthless, that…” quote by Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f03/veronica-roth-66_believe_my-father-has-a-way-of-persuading-people_1819394.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f03/veronica-roth-66_believe_my-father-has-a-way-of-persuading-people_1819394.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f03/veronica-roth-66_believe_my-father-has-a-way-of-persuading-people_1819394.png) > “My father has a way of persuading people without charm that has always confused me. He states his opinions as if they’re facts, and somehow his complete lack of doubt makes you believe him. That quality frightens me now, because I know what he told me: that I was broken, that I was worthless, that I was nothing. How many of those things did he make me believe?” [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A father’s unwavering certainty can manipulate and damage a child’s self‑esteem, turning doubt into harmful belief. **In simple terms:** A parent’s certainty can hurt a child’s self‑worth. Key Takeaway Question and challenge harmful absolute statements. Themes family psychology authority self‑esteem Mood conflicted reflective Type personal emotional When to use this quote - family therapy - personal growth - education - support groups Key Concepts confidence manipulation identity emotional abuse Questions to Reflect On - What evidence supports the father’s claims? - How can one rebuild self‑worth after such influence? A Different Perspective The quote reflects personal experience, not a universal truth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) [Broken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/broken/) [Charm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/charm/) [Confused](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confused/) [Doubt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doubt/) [Doubt Makes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doubt-makes-1535584/) [Facts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/facts/) [Father](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/father/) [Lack Doubt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lack-doubt-1542795/) [Opinion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opinion/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Persuading](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/persuading/) [Quality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/quality/) [States](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/states/) [Told Broken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/told-broken-1617463/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) [Worthless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worthless/) ## Related quotes > [That quality frightens me now, because I know what he told me: that I was broken, that I was worthless, that I was nothing.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/that-quality-frightens-me-now-because-i-know-what-he-told-me-that-i/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [Among people I have met, the few whom I would term “great” all share a kind of unquestioned, fierce dedication; an utter lack of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-jay-gould/among-people-i-have-met-the-few-whom-i-would-term-great-all-share-a/) [Stephen Jay Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-jay-gould/) > [“O, lack and doubt and fear can only come Because of plenty, confidence, and love! They are the shadow-forms about their feet, Because they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/o-lack-and-doubt-and-fear-can-only-come-because-of-plenty-confidence/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [“Anything whole can be broken,” Isabelle told her. “And anything broken can be put back together again. That is the meaning of Abracadabra. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-hoffman/anything-whole-can-be-broken-isabelle-told-her-and-anything-broken/) [Alice Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-hoffman/) > [You've been told that you're broken. That you're damaged goods ... there is also Post-Traumatic Growth. You come back from war stronger and more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mattis/you-ve-been-told-that-you-re-broken-that-you-re-damaged-goods-there/) [James Mattis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mattis/) > [You've been told that you're broken, that you're damaged goods and should be labeled victims. I don't buy it. The truth, instead, is that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mattis/you-ve-been-told-that-you-re-broken-that-you-re-damaged-goods-and/) [James Mattis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mattis/) > [“Doubt makes faith true”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-johnston/doubt-makes-faith-true/) [Bill Johnston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-johnston/) > [“Doubt makes a man decent.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-crews/doubt-makes-a-man-decent/) [Harry Crews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-crews/) > [Doubt makes the mountain which faith can move](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/proverb/doubt-makes-the-mountain-which-faith-can-move/) [Proverb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/proverb/) > [Doubt makes us reaffirm what we believe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cook/doubt-makes-us-reaffirm-what-we-believe/) [James Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cook/) > [“When in doubt, do that which makes you the most nervous. The easiest way out, is generally not the best.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-w-collier/when-in-doubt-do-that-which-makes-you-the-most-nervous-the-easiest/) [J.W. Collier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-w-collier/) > [I love it when people doubt me. It makes me work harder to prove them wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-jeter/i-love-it-when-people-doubt-me-it-makes-me-work-harder-to-prove-them/) [Derek Jeter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-jeter/) > [Is there a more pitiable spectacle than that of a wife contending with others for that charm in her husband's sight which no philters…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ouida/is-there-a-more-pitiable-spectacle-than-that-of-a-wife-contending/) [Ouida](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ouida/) > [A wise fellow who is also worthless always charms the rabble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euripides/a-wise-fellow-who-is-also-worthless-always-charms-the-rabble/) [Euripides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euripides/) > [“Is that enough info for you?" His old lady? I thought that was just talk you saw in the movies. Maverick brings his lips…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justine-elvira/is-that-enough-info-for-you-his-old-lady-i-thought-that-was-just-talk/) [Justine Elvira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justine-elvira/) ## More by Veronica Roth > [How strange that something so simple could have been instrumental in my decision to ruin one of my most relationships and friendships, and damage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/how-strange-that-something-so-simple-could-have-been-instrumental-in/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [“I was beginning to feel that I had finally found a place to stay, a place that was not so unstable or corrupt or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/i-was-beginning-to-feel-that-i-had-finally-found-a-place-to-stay-a/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [“He acts so tough that he’s probably afraid of marshmallows and really bright sunrises or something. Overcompensating.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/he-acts-so-tough-that-he-s-probably-afraid-of-marshmallows-and-really/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [And is it selfish of me to crave victory, or is it brave?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/and-is-it-selfish-of-me-to-crave-victory-or-is-it-brave/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [You always look like someone's sucked the life right out of you when something fascinates you. -Tris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/you-always-look-like-someone-s-sucked-the-life-right-out-of-you-when/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [“We can be mended. We mend each other.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/we-can-be-mended-we-mend-each-other/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [Don’t worry about me handling the pain," I say. "I’ve had a lot of practice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/don-t-worry-about-me-handling-the-pain-i-say-i-ve-had-a-lot-of/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [Soon I will honor my parents by dying as they died. and if all they believed about death was true, soon I will join…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/soon-i-will-honor-my-parents-by-dying-as-they-died-and-if-all-they/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [“Mas lembre-se, já agora, que por vezes as pessoas que oprimimos tornam-se mais poderosas do que nós gostaríamos.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/mas-lembre-se-j-agora-que-por-vezes-as-pessoas-que-oprimimos-tornam/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [“am aware of how little space there is between us—six inches at most. That space feels charged with electricity. I feel like it should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/am-aware-of-how-little-space-there-is-between-us-six-inches-at-most/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [“Oh, good,” I say, a sour taste in my mouth. “Heroism is what I was focused on. Not, you know, trying not to die.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/oh-good-i-say-a-sour-taste-in-my-mouth-heroism-is-what-i-was-focused/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [“Caleb frowns at him. "How old are you, anyway?" "Eighteen." "And you don't think you're too old to be with my little sister?" Tobias…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/caleb-frowns-at-him-how-old-are-you-anyway-eighteen-and-you-don-t/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [What do you think they're going to do to us when they find us guilty?" she says after a few minutes of silence have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/what-do-you-think-they-re-going-to-do-to-us-when-they-find-us-guilty/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [“La paz está restringida, eso es libertad”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/la-paz-est-restringida-eso-es-libertad/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [In some parts of the ancient world, the hawk symbolized the sun. Back when I got this, I figured if I always had the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/in-some-parts-of-the-ancient-world-the-hawk-symbolized-the-sun-back/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) [Explore all 1,589 Veronica Roth quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) ## More Believe quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. It makes a mockery of freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-robison/some-people-still-believe-you-should-just-fall-in-line-with-what-s/) [Emily Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-robison/) > [The truth seems to be that propaganda on its own cannot force its way into unwilling minds; neither can it inculcate something wholly new;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-truth-seems-to-be-that-propaganda-on-its-own-cannot-force-its-way/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [Resist discouragement by speaking His Word over your future. Keep standing. Keep hoping; keep believing because He is working behind the scenes. He's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/resist-discouragement-by-speaking-his-word-over-your-future-keep/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [There is no such word as item girl in the dictionary. People have created this word and I don't believe that I am an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shefali-zariwala/there-is-no-such-word-as-item-girl-in-the-dictionary-people-have/) [Shefali Zariwala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shefali-zariwala/) > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/) [Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/) > [“What I have a problem with is not so much religion or god, but faith. When you say you believe something in your heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/what-i-have-a-problem-with-is-not-so-much-religion-or-god-but-faith/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [Bush reiterated his stand to conservatives opposing his decision on stem cell research. He said today he believes life begins at conception and ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/bush-reiterated-his-stand-to-conservatives-opposing-his-decision-on/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [Never underestimate the power of the human mind to believe what it wants to believe, no matter the conflicting evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/never-underestimate-the-power-of-the-human-mind-to-believe-what-it/) [Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/) > [To believe in love, to be ready to give up anything for it, to be willing to risk your life for it, is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/to-believe-in-love-to-be-ready-to-give-up-anything-for-it-to-be/) [Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/) > [That's why I don't generally talk about endorsements because I don't believe we have to tell people who to vote for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-iii/that-s-why-i-don-t-generally-talk-about-endorsements-because-i-don-t/) [Martin Luther King III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-iii/) > [Mankind have been slow to believe that order reigns in the universe-that the world is a cosmos and a chaos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/mankind-have-been-slow-to-believe-that-order-reigns-in-the-universe/) [James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/) > [We instantly believe everything we think. Isn't that insane? It's good for us to explore the depravity of our minds, so we know we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krishna-das/we-instantly-believe-everything-we-think-isn-t-that-insane-it-s-good/) [Krishna Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krishna-das/) [Browse all 47,704 Believe quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "My father has a way of persuading people without charm that has always confused me. He states his opinions as if they’re facts, and somehow his complete lack of doubt makes you believe him. That quality frightens me now, because I know what he told me: that I was broken, that I was worthless, that I was nothing. How many of those things did he make me believe?", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Veronica Roth" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/my-father-has-a-way-of-persuading-people-without-charm-that-has/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Believe" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/my-father-has-a-way-of-persuading-people-without-charm-that-has/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f03/veronica-roth-66_believe_my-father-has-a-way-of-persuading-people_1819394.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f03/veronica-roth-66_believe_my-father-has-a-way-of-persuading-people_1819394.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f03/veronica-roth-66_believe_my-father-has-a-way-of-persuading-people_1819394.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“My father has a way of persuading people without charm that has always confused me. He states his opinions…” — Veronica Roth", "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": "Veronica Roth", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "My father has a way of...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/my-father-has-a-way-of-persuading-people-without-charm-that-has/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/my-father-has-a-way-of-persuading-people-without-charm-that-has/#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 } } ] } ```