"It is the answers, not the questions, that are embarrassing"
- Helen Suzman
About this Quote
This quote by Helen Suzman speaks to the idea that it is frequently the answers to challenging questions that can be more embarrassing than the questions themselves. This is since the responses can expose uneasy realities or expose something about ourselves that we would rather keep hidden. It is frequently much easier to ask questions than to address them, as the responses can be more revealing and hard to deal with. This quote encourages us to be truthful and open with our responses, even if they are awkward, as it is typically the answers that can cause greater understanding and development. By being honest and open with our answers, we can find out more about ourselves and the world around us.
"If the present Congress errs in too much talking, how can it be otherwise in a body to which the people send one hundred and fifty lawyers, whose trade it is to question everything, yield nothing, and talk by the hour?"