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Janis knew more than I did about 'how it was', but she lacked enough armor for the inevitable hassles. She was open and spontaneous enough to get her heart trampled with a regularity that took me thirty years to experience or understand. On the various occasions when we were together, she seemed to be holding in something she thought I might not want to hear, like older people do when they hear kids they love saying with absolute youthful confidence, 'Oh, that'll never happen to me.' Sometimes you know you can't tell them how it is, they have to find out for themselves. Janis felt like an old soul, a wisecracking grandmother whom everybody loved to visit. When I was with her, I often felt like a part of her distant family, a young upstart relative who was still too full of her own sophistry to hear wisdom. Did we compliment each other? Yes, but not often enough. ~ Grace Slick

Janis Joplin#20

FriendshipSufferingVulnerabilityWisdom

About this quote

What does it mean?
The author reflects on Janis's openness and vulnerability, noting how her lack of defenses led to repeated emotional pain despite her wisdom.
In plain terms
Janis was wise but too open, which caused her heart to get hurt often.
What can you take from it?
Vulnerability without protection can lead to repeated emotional harm.

Where it applies

  • observing a friend
  • reflecting on personal growth
  • discussing resilience

Putting it to work

  • recognize the cost of openness
  • balance wisdom with self-protection

Questions to consider

  • Is openness worth the pain?
  • How do you balance wisdom and defense?

Another view

Not everyone has the capacity to protect themselves emotionally while remaining open.

More from Janis Joplin

  1. Freedom is just another word for nothing left to lose, Nothing don't mean nothing honey if it ain't free... And feeling good was easy, lord, when he sang the b…

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  2. Wow, that's heavy. ~ 'Mama' Cass Elliot, caught on camera mouthing this at the Monterey Pop Festival.

    Permalink to quote #21
  3. You know you got it if it makes you feel good.

    Permalink to quote #18

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