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About this quote

What does it mean?
Crisp advises against telling your mother you’re gay, suggesting secrecy protects relationships.
In plain terms
He says never tell your mother anything, including being gay.
What can you take from it?
Sometimes secrecy keeps peace.

Where it applies

  • coming out
  • family dynamics
  • parental relations

Putting it to work

  • consider family reactions
  • weigh disclosure risks

Questions to consider

  • Is secrecy always better?
  • When is truth worth the risk?

Another view

The advice is too absolute and ignores supportive families.

More from Quentin Crisp

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  2. Teaching is for teachers, not students... and if you'd known that when you were at school, all of your suffering would have been at least explicable.

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  3. If at first you don't succeed, failure may be your style.

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