QuoteProject
There are so many ways to betray someone. You can whisper behind his back. You can deceive him on purpose. You can deliver him into the hands of his enemy, when he trusts you. You can break a promise. The question is, if you do any of those things, are you also betraying yourself?
Jodi Picoult
ShareWTF𝕏

Interpretation

What this quote means

Betraying someone can take many forms, but it can also reflect a betrayal of one's own integrity.

This quote explores the multifaceted nature of betrayal, suggesting that it can be inflicted in numerous ways, such as through deceit or broken promises. Moreover, it raises a profound question about self-betrayal, prompting the reader to consider how actions that harm others may also compromise their own values and integrity.

Themes

BetrayalTrustIntegrityRelationshipsHonesty

In practice

Example use cases

During a discussion on trust and relationships, this quote can be used to highlight the importance of self-honesty.

More from Jodi Picoult

Normal, in our house, is like a blanket too short for a bed--sometimes it covers you just fine, and other times it leaves you cold and shaking; and worst of all, you never know which of the two it's going to be.
Jodi PicoultRead
Whether it was power they sought, or revenge, or love-well, those were all just different forms of hunger. The bigger the hole inside you, the more desperate you became to fill it.
Jodi PicoultRead
she told me she'd be a phoenix." The image of the mythical creature rising from the ashes glitters in my mind. "They don't really exist." "She said that depends on whether or not there's someone who can see them.
Jodi PicoultRead
for 100,000 (dollars), you [can] flatten a house with a wrecking ball. Imagine how much less it [takes] to destroy something than it [does] to build it in the first place.
Jodi PicoultRead
But if you seek forgiveness, doesn't that automatically mean you cannot be a monster? By definition, doesn't that desperation make you human again?
Jodi PicoultRead
when you [lose someone], it feels like the hole in your gum when a tooth falls out. You can chew, you can eat, you have plenty of other teeth, but your tongue keeps going back to that empty place, where all nerves are still a little raw
Jodi PicoultRead

Similar quotes

With cats, some say, one rule is true: Don't speak till you are spoken to.
T. S. EliotRead
I think it's important for people to stay human and remember that genuine human connection is more fulfilling than anything that technology has to offer. We all have it within us, and music is something that can bring that out of us.
Jon BatisteRead
If we fetishize trauma as incommunicable, then survivors are trapped - unable to feel truly known by their nonmilitary friends and family.
Phil KlayRead
The only relationship we can have in this life is the relationship we have with ourselves. We cannot love anybody more than we love ourselves. We cannot treat anyone any better than we treat ourselves. When you forget you, give up on you, or devalue yourself, anyone coming into your life has a universal responsibility to follow your lead.
Iyanla VanzantRead
You said i could call you when i wanted but that you wouldn’t call me. you have to decide where and when, you said. if you leave it up to me i’ll want to see you every day. At least you were honest, which is more than i can say for me.
Junot DiazRead
The mouth obeys poorly when the heart murmurs.
VoltaireRead

A little wisdom, now and then

Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.

Quote by Jodi Picoult | QuoteProject