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It was astonishing to see how angry Cersei could wax over accusations she knew perfectly well to be true.
George R. R. Martin
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Interpretation

What this quote means

The quote highlights the dissonance between self-awareness and outward emotional reactions.

This quote by George R. R. Martin reflects on the nature of human emotion, particularly anger, and how it can be provoked even when one is aware of the truth of a situation. It underscores the complexity of human psychology where people may react strongly against truths they would rather ignore, illustrating the conflict between self-acceptance and the defense of one's ego.

Themes

AngerTruthSelf-AwarenessEmotionPsychology

In practice

Example use cases

In a discussion about how people react to criticism, this quote can highlight the emotional defense mechanisms at play.

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But a voice inside her whispered, There are no heroes, and she remembered what Lord Petyr had said to her, here in this very hall. 'Life is not a song, sweetling,' he'd told her, 'You may learn that one day to your sorrow.' In life, the monsters win, she told herself.
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I write from this tight third-person viewpoint, where each chapter is seen through the eyes of one individual character. When I'm writing that character, I become that character and identify with that character.
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