--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The Little Man does not know that he is…" description: "\"The Little Man does not know that he is little, and he is afraid of knowing it. He covers up his smallness and narrowness with illusions of strength an..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af5/wilhelm-reich-2565_cover-ups_the-little-man-does-not-know-that-he-is_848208.jpg" --- # The Little Man does not know that he is little, and he is… ![“The Little Man does not know that he is little, and he is afraid of knowing it. He covers up his smallness and narrowness with illusions of strength and greatness...” quote by Wilhelm Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af5/wilhelm-reich-2565_cover-ups_the-little-man-does-not-know-that-he-is_848208.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af5/wilhelm-reich-2565_cover-ups_the-little-man-does-not-know-that-he-is_848208.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af5/wilhelm-reich-2565_cover-ups_the-little-man-does-not-know-that-he-is_848208.jpg) > “The Little Man does not know that he is little, and he is afraid of knowing it. He covers up his smallness and narrowness with illusions of strength and greatness...” [Wilhelm Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilhelm-reich/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People often hide their insecurities by projecting false confidence, avoiding self-awareness. **In simple terms:** Fear of self‑knowledge leads to pretended greatness. Key Takeaway Recognize and accept true self. Themes self‑deception insecurity ego illusion Mood anxious reflective Type philosophical psychological When to use this quote - personal relationships - leadership - therapy - public speaking Key Concepts psychology self‑image defense mechanisms Questions to Reflect On - What aspects of yourself are you masking? - How does false confidence affect your decisions? A Different Perspective Illusions may temporarily protect ego but hinder growth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cover ups](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cover-ups/) [Covers Smallness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/covers-smallness-719620/) [Doe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doe/) [Greatness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greatness/) [Illusion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/illusion/) [Knowing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowing/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Little](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/little/) [Little Afraid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/little-afraid-719619/) [Little man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/little-man/) [Littles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/littles/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Smallness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smallness/) ## Related quotes > [You are different from the really great man in only one thing: The great man, at one time, also was a very little man,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-reich/you-are-different-from-the-really-great-man-in-only-one-thing-the/) [Wilhelm Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilhelm-reich/) > [“You differ from a great man in only one respect: the great man was once a very little man, but he developed one important…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-reich/you-differ-from-a-great-man-in-only-one-respect-the-great-man-was/) [Wilhelm Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilhelm-reich/) > [“Love meant always being a little afraid.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-hannah/love-meant-always-being-a-little-afraid/) [Kristin Hannah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-hannah/) > [Isabelle, it's all right for you to be a little afraid, but you should also be very excited and joyful, too. 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He fried it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-t-kiyosaki/so-when-you-re-in-doubt-and-feeling-a-little-afraid-just-do-what/) [Robert T. Kiyosaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-t-kiyosaki/) > [“Honestly, I only went first because I’m a little afraid of her.” “Everyone is.” Livia smiled.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-anastasia/honestly-i-only-went-first-because-i-m-a-little-afraid-of-her/) [Debra Anastasia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-anastasia/) > [“There were places inside him that she couldn’t reach, not with her words or her body. And if she could? She was a little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/skye-warren/there-were-places-inside-him-that-she-couldn-t-reach-not-with-her/) [Skye Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/skye-warren/) > [“When I was little, I was afraid of monsters. I mistook the silhouettes flitting to and fro in the midst of the bamboo trees…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kinoko-nasu/when-i-was-little-i-was-afraid-of-monsters-i-mistook-the-silhouettes/) [Kinoko Nasu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kinoko-nasu/) > [We're all born creative, it takes a little while to become afraid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/we-re-all-born-creative-it-takes-a-little-while-to-become-afraid/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) ## More by Wilhelm Reich > [The question of how and why the encrustations and rigidifications of human emotional life are brought about led directly into the realm of vegetative…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-reich/the-question-of-how-and-why-the-encrustations-and-rigidifications-of/) [Wilhelm Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilhelm-reich/) > [“Saw a film on cancer yesterday, shown by the English delegation. No doubt about it. I'm right. 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