As women, we get the message about how to be a good girl - how to be a good, pretty girl - from such an early age. Then, at the same time, we're told that well-behaved girls won't change the world or ever make a splash.
Phoebe Waller-BridgeRead
If you hear somebody say something absolutely horrendous about their own life, in quite a flippant, offbeat kind of way, when you meet people clearly trying to be strong and brave, the ones who are really good at it are the ones who break my heart the most.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote highlights the contrast between casual self-deprecation and genuine vulnerability, revealing the depth of human emotions.
Phoebe Waller-Bridge reflects on how the casual manner in which people might speak about their struggles can mask a deeper pain. She emphasizes that those who present themselves as strong and brave, often while hiding their true feelings, evoke the most compassion and sorrow. The nuance of their resilience juxtaposed with their hidden struggles resonates profoundly, making them appear more relatable and heart-wrenching.
Themes
VulnerabilityStrengthPainEmotionsResilience
In practice
Example use cases
In a mental health awareness event, to encourage openness about emotions.
More from Phoebe Waller-Bridge
All quotes →You don't often see a cross section of female characters interacting with each other at the top of a chain.
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I think, a lot of time, I'm just writing my worst fears, of the idea of losing my mom or my best friend or doing something so terrible to somebody that's kind of deemed unforgivable or having a really broken family.
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You're allowed to bore your friends and family, but to bore your audience is unforgivable.
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When an audience is laughing with a character, they make themselves so vulnerable, and they open up. They expose their heart the moment they're laughing, because they're relaxed and they're disarmed.
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I feel liberated being around women who are liberated.
Phoebe Waller-BridgeRead
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