“
Don't underestimate me.
”
”
Tahereh Mafi (Shatter Me (Shatter Me, #1))
“
Penryn? Who are you talking to?” My mother sounds almost frantic now.
“Just my own personal demon, Mom. Don’t worry. He’s just a little weakling.”
Weak or not, we both know he could have killed me if that’s what he wanted. I won’t give him the satisfaction of knowing I was scared, though.
“Oh.” She sounds calm suddenly, as if that explained everything. “Okay. Don’t underestimate them. And don’t make them promises you can’t keep.” I can tell by her fading voice as she says this that she’s reassured and walking away.
The baffled look the angel shoots at the door makes me chuckle. He glances my way, giving me a you’re-weirder-than-your-mom look.
”
”
Susan Ee (Angelfall (Penryn & the End of Days, #1))
“
I leaned forward on the table and leveled her with my steady gaze. “Do not ever speak to her that way again. If she hadn’t agreed to come with me I wouldn’t have come. Don’t underestimate her importance. She’s mine. Respect that.
”
”
Abbi Glines (Forever Too Far (Rosemary Beach, #3; Too Far, #3))
“
But she underestimated me. I played my cards, I laid in wait, I let myself be beaten and manipulated. If she keeps that promise she made to me, I’ll show her the truth I’ve learned on her boat. I don’t just raise monsters. I am one.
”
”
Emily Skrutskie (The Abyss Surrounds Us (The Abyss Surrounds Us, #1))
“
Just because I give you my all, doesn't mean I'm a pushover. Don't make the mistake of underestimating me. Push too hard and you'll see how strong I really am!
”
”
Karen Gibbs (A Gallery of Scrapbook Creations)
“
Emma has taught me so many valuable lessons over the years, most importantly: don’t always follow the herd, never underestimate the power of a woman and, whatever you do, keep quacking.
”
”
Tom Felton (Beyond the Wand: The Magic and Mayhem of Growing Up a Wizard)
“
I don't think there are enough words in the world that exist to express exactly just how much I love my son! He's right there in the front of my soul, he can turn me into an eagle, a lioness, a tigress, a swan! A goof or a queen! There's no underestimating just how much I love him; I surround him like the ocean surrounds the ships! I never wanted to change the world, until he came along and showed me that he deserves a better world to live in!
”
”
C. JoyBell C.
“
At least you’ll end up marrying a rich man,” I comment. She pins me with a dry look. “Now I can never marry you. It’s my life’s purpose to disappoint her in every decision I make.” I arch a brow. “Don’t underestimate me, Addie. I’ll become a poor man for you.
”
”
H.D. Carlton (Hunting Adeline (Cat and Mouse, #2))
“
Maybe my intuition has been warning me about something I don’t quite understand but shouldn’t be underestimated.…
”
”
Nicholas Sparks (The Choice)
“
Don't make a career out of underestimating me." — Claire de Haven
”
”
James Ellroy (The Big Nowhere (L.A. Quartet, #2))
“
Sun’qhela is a phrase with many shades of meaning. It says “don’t undermine me,” “don’t underestimate me,” and “just try me.” It’s a command and a threat, all at once. It
”
”
Trevor Noah (Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood)
“
And if you don’t underestimate me, I won’t underestimate you.
”
”
Bob Dylan (The Lyrics: Since 1962)
“
It’s not like I want to be friends with you now, Frankie. Don’t even talk to me, I seriously can’t deal with you.
I’m just writing to say I underestimated you. I significantly underestimated you. I don’t actually think it is possible to overestimate you. Although you are not a nice person.
”
”
E. Lockhart (The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks)
“
My application's not bought,' I am telling them, calling into the darkness of the red cave that opens out before closed eyes. 'I am not just a boy who plays tennis. I have an intricate history. Experiences and feelings. I'm complex.
'I read,' I say. 'I study and read. I bet I've read everything you've read. Don't think I haven't. I consume libraries. I wear out spines and ROM-drives. I do things like get in a taxi and say, "The library, and step on it." My instincts concerning syntax and mechanics are better than your own, I can tell, with due respect. But it transcends the mechanics. I'm not a machine. I feel and believe. I have opinions. Some of them are interesting. I could, if you'd let me, talk and talk. Let's talk about anything. I believe the influence of Kierkegaard on Camus is underestimated. I believe Dennis Gabor may very well have been the Antichrist. I believe Hobbes is just Rousseau in a dark mirror. I believe, with Hegel, that transcendence is absorption. I could interface you guys right under the table,' I say. 'I'm not just a creatus, manufactured, conditioned, bred for a function.'
I open my eyes. 'Please don't think I don't care.
”
”
David Foster Wallace (Infinite Jest)
“
How To Tell If Somebody Loves You:
Somebody loves you if they pick an eyelash off of your face or wet a napkin and apply it to your dirty skin. You didn’t ask for these things, but this person went ahead and did it anyway. They don’t want to see you looking like a fool with eyelashes and crumbs on your face. They notice these things. They really look at you and are the first to notice if something is amiss with your beautiful visage!
Somebody loves you if they assume the role of caretaker when you’re sick. Unsure if someone really gives a shit about you? Fake a case of food poisoning and text them being like, “Oh, my God, so sick. Need water.” Depending on their response, you’ll know whether or not they REALLY love you. “That’s terrible. Feel better!” earns you a stay in friendship jail; “Do you need anything? I can come over and bring you get well remedies!” gets you a cozy friendship suite. It’s easy to care about someone when they don’t need you. It’s easy to love them when they’re healthy and don’t ask you for anything beyond change for the parking meter. Being sick is different. Being sick means asking someone to hold your hair back when you vomit. Either love me with vomit in my hair or don’t love me at all.
Somebody loves you if they call you out on your bullshit. They’re not passive, they don’t just let you get away with murder. They know you well enough and care about you enough to ask you to chill out, to bust your balls, to tell you to stop. They aren’t passive observers in your life, they are in the trenches. They have an opinion about your decisions and the things you say and do. They want to be a part of it; they want to be a part of you.
Somebody loves you if they don’t mind the quiet. They don’t mind running errands with you or cleaning your apartment while blasting some annoying music. There’s no pressure, no need to fill the silences. You know how with some of your friends there needs to be some sort of activity for you to hang out? You don’t feel comfortable just shooting the shit and watching bad reality TV with them. You need something that will keep the both of you busy to ensure there won’t be a void. That’s not love. That’s “Hey, babe! I like you okay. Do you wanna grab lunch? I think we have enough to talk about to fill two hours!" It’s a damn dream when you find someone you can do nothing with. Whether you’re skydiving together or sitting at home and doing different things, it’s always comfortable. That is fucking love.
Somebody loves you if they want you to be happy, even if that involves something that doesn’t benefit them. They realize the things you need to do in order to be content and come to terms with the fact that it might not include them. Never underestimate the gift of understanding. When there are so many people who are selfish and equate relationships as something that only must make them happy, having someone around who can take their needs out of any given situation if they need to.
Somebody loves you if they can order you food without having to be told what you want. Somebody loves you if they rub your back at any given moment. Somebody loves you if they give you oral sex without expecting anything back. Somebody loves you if they don’t care about your job or how much money you make. It’s a relationship where no one is selling something to the other. No one is the prostitute. Somebody loves you if they’ll watch a movie starring Kate Hudson because you really really want to see it. Somebody loves you if they’re able to create their own separate world with you, away from the internet and your job and family and friends. Just you and them.
Somebody will always love you. If you don’t think this is true, then you’re not paying close enough attention.
”
”
Ryan O'Connell
“
You're awful,' Florian hissed out between chuckles. 'You're a vile creature.'
'Herr Leickenbloom, please.' Johann smiled easily. 'Don't underestimate me. I'm more than vile; I'm an honest-to-god monster.
”
”
Jennifer Giesbrecht (The Monster of Elendhaven)
“
Will you be ashamed of me if I admit that I'm not sure I'm ready for that sort of battling?'
He took my face in his hands, kissing me once. 'Never. I can never be ashamed of you. Certainly not over this...If you eevr wish to fight by my side, it will be my honor.'
'I feel like a coward now.'
'No one would ever think that of you--not with all you have done, Feyre.' A pause. 'War is ugly, and messy, and unforgiving. The soldiers doing the fighting are only a fraction of it. Don't underestimate how far it goes for them to see you here-- to see you tending to the wounded and participating in these meetings and councils.
”
”
Sarah J. Maas (A Court of Wings and Ruin (A Court of Thorns and Roses, #3))
“
Don’t overestimate my control or underestimate your appeal, Ally.” And just like that, I was back in Put Your Dick in Me Town. “Geez, Dom.
”
”
Lucy Score (By a Thread)
“
I can never tell you.” “You can always tell me. To share your story is a choice. Don’t underestimate the healing that can come from daring not to suffer alone.
”
”
Nadine Brandes (Wishtress)
“
After a brief pause, he said: 'Harrow, please don't be in such a hurry to die.'
'Do not underestimate me, Teacher,' you said. 'I have always lived.
”
”
Tamsyn Muir (Harrow the Ninth (The Locked Tomb, #2))
“
You underestimate your own power so you don’t have to blame yourself for treating other people badly. You tell yourself stories about it. Oh well, Bobbi’s rich, Nick’s a man, I can’t hurt these people. If anything they’re out to hurt me and I’m defending myself.
”
”
Sally Rooney (Conversations with Friends)
“
He had underestimated me. All along. Even though I had not underestimated him. But, how do you love someone without blinding yourself? Don’t we all have to indulge each other, let our guard down, and -ever so slightly- lower ourselves, in order to love someone?
”
”
Hiromi Kawakami (The Ten Loves of Mr. Nishino)
“
Harrow, please don't be in such a hurry to die,.”
“Do not underestimate me, Teacher,” you said. “I have always lived.
”
”
Tamsyn Muir (Harrow the Ninth (The Locked Tomb, #2))
“
don't expect too much from me, cos i might not meet up to your expectations, don't underestimate me, cos i just might do the unexpected, don't expect the truth from me always cos am human, and don't even try to judge me, cos you have not gone trough half of what av been trough
”
”
odeyale opeyemi
“
Because it’s a fucking disaster to be creative when you know you’re not Mozart or Keats. Dammit, I got tired of scratching around in my past. There’s nothing in me to justify the pretension of creativity. This came before anything, before you, before Raquel, this is a matter of my own emptiness, my awareness of my own limits, maybe my sterility. Does what I’m saying to you seem awful? Now you want to come along and sell me an illusion, which I don’t believe in but which does make me believe that either you’re a fool or you underestimate my intelligence. Why don’t you just leave me alone, so I can fill the emptiness in my own way? Let me see things for myself, learn if something can still grow in my soul, an idea, a faith, because I swear to you, Laura, my soul is more desolate than this rock landscape you see here… why?
”
”
Carlos Fuentes (Los años con Laura Díaz)
“
Win interrupted me. "Stop," he said. "I love you, too." He paused. "You underestimate me, Annie. I'm not blind to your faults. You keep too many secrets, for one. You lie sometimes. You have trouble saying the things in your heart. You have an awful temper. You hold a grudge. And I'm not saying this one is your fault, but people who know you have a disturbing tendency to end up with bullets in them. You don't have faith in anyone, including me. You think I'm an idiot sometimes. Don't deny it--I can tell. And maybe I was an idiot a year ago, but a lot has happened since then. I'm different, Anya. You used to say I didn't know what love was. But I think I learned what it is. I learned it when I thought I had lost you over the summer. And I learned it when my leg ached something awful. And I learned it when you were gone and I didn't know if I'd ever see you again. And I learned it every night when I'd pray that you were safe even if I never got to see you again. I don't want to marry you. I'm just happy to be near you for a while, and for as long as you'll let me be. Because there's never been anyone else for me but you. There will never be anyone else for me but you. I know this. I do. Annie, my Annie, don't cry..."
(Was I crying? Yes, I suppose I was. But I was still so awfully tired. You can't possibly hold this against me.)
"I know that loving you is going to be hard, Annie. But I love you, come what may.
”
”
Gabrielle Zevin (Because It Is My Blood (Birthright, #2))
“
Ethan’s jaw dropped. Again he had underestimated her. Abruptly, he fought down a smile. “I don’t know whether to kiss you or arrest you.”
She smiled up at him and again Ethan thought her lips were entirely too close to his.
“You should kiss me,” she said, stunning him even more. “I guarantee it will be a lot more pleasant than arresting me...for both of us.
”
”
Kathryn Loch (Sworn to Protect (Vows of the Heart))
“
Should you be sweet and innocent? Ha. If people are underestimating your feminine power, that’s their mistake and your opportunity to strike. Don’t let it get to you. Their reaction may be initial mockery, because how dare a woman strike fear into the hearts and minds of men who laud themselves as gods? But the end result will always be the same: them begging for mercy and you giving exactly zero fucks. Yes, revenge is indeed sweet . . . and deadly.
”
”
Amerie (Because You Love to Hate Me: 13 Tales of Villainy)
“
My little big friend Samy left me with one final scrap of wisdom. For once she didn’t shout—she tends to shout. She gave me a hug as I sat there, staring at the sea and counting the colors, and whispered very quietly to me: “Do you know that there’s a halfway world between each ending and each new beginning? It’s called the hurting time, Jean Perdu. It’s a bog; it’s where your dreams and worries and forgotten plans gather. Your steps are heavier during that time. Don’t underestimate the transition, Jeanno, between farewell and new departure. Give yourself the time you need. Some thresholds are too wide to be taken in one stride.
”
”
Nina George (The Little Paris Bookshop)
“
When he was finished, he set his plate down, looked at me, and raised an eyebrow.
I leaned forward and whispered angrily, “I am not going to sit on your lap, so don’t get your hopes up, Mister.”
He still waited until I picked up a fork and took a few bites. I speared a bite of macadamia nut crusted ruby snapper and said, “Whew. Time’s up. Isn’t it? The clock is ticking. You must be sweating it, huh? I mean, you could turn any second.”
He just took a bite of curried lamb and then some saffron rice and sat there chewing as cool as a cucumber.
I watched him closely for a full two minutes and then folded up my napkin.
“Okay, I give. Why are you acting so smug and confident? When are you going to tell me what’s going on?”
He wiped his mouth carefully and took a sip of water. “What’s going on, my prema, is that the curse has been lifted.”
My mouth dropped open. “What? If it was lifted, why were you a tiger for the last two days?”
“Well, to be clear, the curse is not completely gone. I seem to have been granted a partial removal of the curse.”
“Partial? Partial meaning what, exactly?”
“Partial, meaning a certain number of hours per day. Six hours to be exact.”
I recited the prophecy in my mind and remembered that there were four sides to the monolith, and four times six was…”Twenty-four.”
He paused. “Twenty-four what?”
“Well, six hours makes sense because there are four gifts to obtain for Durga and four sides of the monolith. We’ve only completed one of the tasks, so you only get six hours.”
He smiled. “I guess I get to keep you around then, at least until the other tasks are finished.”
I snorted. “Don’t hold your breath, Tarzan. I might not need to be present for the other tasks. Now that you’re a man part of the time, you and Kishan can resolve this problem yourselves, I’m sure.”
He cocked his head and narrowed his eyes at me. “Don’t underestimate your level of…involvement, Kelsey. Even if you weren’t needed anymore to break the curse, do you think I’d simply let you go? Let you walk out of my life without a backward glance?”
I nervously began toying with my food and decided to say nothing. That was exactly what I’d been planning to do.
Something had changed. The hurt and confused Ren that made me feel guilty for rejecting him in Kishkindha was gone. He was now supremely confident, almost arrogant, and very sure of himself.
”
”
Colleen Houck (Tiger's Curse (The Tiger Saga, #1))
“
It’s as the old Bray saying goes... Don’t underestimate what you don’t know, and once you do, tear it to pieces or tip your fuckin’ hat.
”
”
Meagan Brandy (Break Me (Brayshaw, #5))
“
I never even got your name in my back,” V said. “I thought it was stupid and a waste of time . . . but how can you feel like we’re mated without it—especially when every single male at the compound
has been marked for his shellan?”
God, she hadn’t thought of that.
V shook his head. “You’ve given me space . . . to hang with Butch and fight with my brothers and
do my shit on the Internet. What have I given you?”
“My clinic, for one thing. I couldn’t have built it without you.”
“Not exactly a bouquet of roses.”
“Don’t underestimate your carpentry skills.
”
”
J.R. Ward
“
So you’re calling to brag that you were right. Imagine that.”
“Actually, I’m calling about that favor you owe me.”
Interesting. “I still don’t recall ever agreeing to that.”
“Give it a moment,” she said. “I’m sure it will come back to you.”
There was a long pause, until Brooke spoke again. “Hello? Are you there?”
“Sorry. I was giving it a moment. Nope, still no recollection.”
She sighed. “I woefully underestimated how painful this conversation was going to be.
”
”
Julie James (Love Irresistibly (FBI/US Attorney, #4))
“
Several things dawn on me at once. The first is that I continue to underestimate her. The second is that Declan was right: she’s much tougher than she seems. The third is that I lied when I told her falling in love is a luxury I don’t allow myself
”
”
J.T. Geissinger (Beautifully Cruel (Beautifully Cruel, #1))
“
Did he say anything to you?”
“Just that I was supposed to watch you while he was gone. A hunt can take several days.”
“Really? I had no idea it would take that long.” I hestitated, “So…he doesn’t mind you staying here while he’s gone.”
“Oh, he minds,” he chuckled, “but he wants to make sure you’re safe. At least he trusts me that much.”
“Well, I think he’s mad at both of us right now.”
Kishan looked at me curiously with a raised eyebrow. “How so?”
“Um…let’s just say we had a misunderstanding.”
Kishan’s face turned hard. “Don’t worry, Kelsey. I’m sure that whatever he’s upset about is foolish. He’s very argumentative.”
I sighed and shook my head sadly. “No, it’s really all my fault. I’m difficult, a hindrance, and I’m a pain to have around sometimes. He’s probably used to being around sophisticated, more experienced women who are much more…more…well, more than I am.”
Kishan quirked an eyebrow. “Ren hasn’t been around any women as far as I know. I must confess that I’m now exceedingly curious as to what your argument was about. Whether you tell me or not, I won’t tolerate any more derogatory comments about yourself. He’s lucky to have you, and he’d better realize it.”
He grinned. “Of course, if you did have a falling out, you’re always welcome to stay with me.”
“Thanks for the offer, but I don’t really want to live in the jungle.”
He laughed. “For you, I would even consider a change of residence. You, my lovely, are a prize worth fighting for.”
I laughed and punched him lightly on the arm. “You, sir, are a major flirt. Worth fighting for? I think you two have been tigers for too long. I’m no great beauty, especially when I’m stuck out here in the jungle. I haven’t even picked a college major yet. What have I ever done that would make someone want to fight over me?”
Kishan apparently took my rhetorical questions seriously. He reflected for a moment, and then answered, “For one thing, I’ve never met a woman so dedicated to helping others. You put your own life at risk for a person you met only a few weeks ago. You are confident, feisty, intelligent, and full of empathy. I find you charming and, yes, beautiful.”
The golden-eyed prince fingered a strand of my hair. I blushed at his assessment, sipped my water, and then said softly, “I don’t like him being angry with me.”
Kishan shrugged and dropped his hand, looking slightly annoyed that I’d steered the conversation back to Ren. “Yes. I’ve been on the receiving side of his anger, and I’ve learned not to underestimate his ability to hold a grudge.
”
”
Colleen Houck (Tiger's Curse (The Tiger Saga, #1))
“
You don’t have to love me, Ramsey. But just so you know, I do love you. I always have and I always will. But right now, I really just want my best friend back.” She tapped my pec. “He’s in there. I know he is. And you are seriously underestimating me if you think your petty lies are going to stop me.
”
”
Aly Martinez (Release (Release #1))
“
I bartered access to my lands to get back the woman I love from a sadist who plays with minds as if they are toys. I meant to fight Hybern- to find a way around the bargain I made with the king once she was back. Only Rhysand and his cabal had turned her into one of them. And she delighted in ripping open my territory for Hybern to invade. All for a petty grudge- either her own or her... master's.'
'You don't get to rewrite the narrative,' I breathed. 'You don't get to spin this to your advantage.'
Tamlin only angled his head to Rhys. 'When you fuck her, have you ever noticed that little noise she makes right before she climaxes?'
Hear stained my cheeks. This wasn't outright battle, but a steady, careful shredding of my dignity, my credibility.
...
Rhys turned his head, looking me over from head to toe. Then back to Tamlin. A storm about to be unleashed.
But it was Azriel who said, his voice like cold death, 'Be careful how you speak about my High Lady.'
Surprise flashed in Tamlin's eyes- then vanished. Vanished, swallowed by pure fury as he realised what that tattoo coating my hand was for. 'It was not enough to sit at my side, was it?' A hateful smile curled his lips. 'You once asked me if you'd be my High Lady, and when I said no...' A low laugh. 'Perhaps I underestimated you. Why serve in my court, when you could rule in his?
”
”
Sarah J. Maas (A Court of Wings and Ruin (A Court of Thorns and Roses, #3))
“
Oh.” She sounds calm suddenly, as if that explained everything. “Okay. Don’t underestimate them. And don’t make them promises you can’t keep.” I can tell by her fading voice as she says this that she’s reassured and walking away. The baffled look the angel shoots at the door makes me chuckle. He glances my way, giving me a you’re-weirder-than-your-mom look.
”
”
Susan Ee (Angelfall (Penryn & the End of Days, #1))
“
Bobbi told me I had made her miserable. She said that I'd laughed at her during arguments, like she was a moron.
You underestimate your own power so you don't have to blame yourself for treating other people badly, she said. You tell yourself stories about it. Oh well, Bobbi is rich, Nick's a man, I can't hurt these people. If anything they're out to hurt me and I'm defending myself.
”
”
Sally Rooney (Conversations with Friends)
“
It is within your power to release yourself from mortal bonds. To be free of them.”
“What? I don’t need to worry about the cold?”
“Nope.”
“Right.” She stuffed icy hands into the pockets of her jeans. “And apple strudel?”
“Mind over matter.”
A reluctant smile found her face. “Well, we’ve already established that you can breathe for me.”
“Don’t underestimate yourself.” Daniel smiled back briefly. “This has to do more with you than me. Try it: Tell yourself that you are not cold, not hungry, not tired.”
“All right.” Luce sighed. “I am not…” She’d started to mumble, disbelieving, but then she caught Daniel’s eye. Daniel, who believed she could do things she never thought she was capable of, who believed that her will meant the difference between having the halo and letting it slip away. She was holding it in her hands. Proof.
Now he was telling her she had mortal needs only because she thought she did. She decided to give this crazy idea a try. She straightened her shoulders. She projected the words into the misty dusk. “I, Lucinda Price, am not cold, not hungry, not tired.”
The wind blew, and the clock tower in the distance struck five-and something lifted off her so that she didn’t feel depleted anymore. She felt rested, equipped for whatever the night called for, determined to succeed.
“Nice touch, Lucinda Price,” Daniel said. “Five senses transcended at five o’clock.”
She reached for his wing, wrapped herself in it, let its warmth spread through her. This time, the weight of his wing welcomed her into a powerful new dimension. “I can do this.”
Daniel’s lips brushed the top of her head. “I know.
”
”
Lauren Kate (Rapture (Fallen, #4))
“
I’ve done you a disservice,” he said at last. “It’s only fair to let you know, but you won’t have a normal life span.”
I bit my lip. “Have you come to take my soul, then?”
“I told you that’s not my jurisdiction. But you’re not going to die soon. In fact, you won’t die for a long time, far longer than I initially thought, I’m afraid. Nor will you age normally.”
“Because I took your qi?”
He inclined his head. “I should have stopped you sooner.”
I thought of the empty years that stretched ahead of me, years of solitude long after everyone I loved had died. Though I might have children or grandchildren. But perhaps they might comment on my strange youthfulness and shun me as unnatural. Whisper of sorcery, like those Javanese women who inserted gold needles in their faces and ate children. In the Chinese tradition, nothing was better than dying old and full of years, a treasure in the bosom of one’s family. To outlive descendants and endure a long span of widowhood could hardly be construed as lucky. Tears filled my eyes, and for some reason this seemed to agitate Er Lang, for he turned away. In profile, he was even more handsome, if that was possible, though I was quite sure he was aware of it.
“It isn’t necessarily a good thing, but you’ll see all of the next century, and I think it will be an interesting one.”
“That’s what Tian Bai said,” I said bitterly. “How long will I outlive him?”
“Long enough,” he said. Then more gently, “You may have a happy marriage, though.”
“I wasn’t thinking about him,” I said. “I was thinking about my mother. By the time I die, she’ll have long since gone on to the courts for reincarnation. I shall never see her again.” I burst into sobs, realizing how much I’d clung to that hope, despite the fact that it might be better for my mother to leave the Plains of the Dead. But then we would never meet in this lifetime. Her memories would be erased and her spirit lost to me in this form.
“Don’t cry.” I felt his arms around me, and I buried my face in his chest. The rain began to fall again, so dense it was like a curtain around us. Yet I did not get wet.
“Listen,” he said. “When everyone around you has died and it becomes too hard to go on pretending, I shall come for you.”
“Do you mean that?” A strange happiness was beginning to grow, twining and tightening around my heart.
“I’ve never lied to you.”
“Can’t I go with you now?”
He shook his head. “Aren’t you getting married? Besides, I’ve always preferred older women. In about fifty years’ time, you should be just right.”
I glared at him. “What if I’d rather not wait?”
He narrowed his eyes. “Do you mean that you don’t want to marry Tian Bai?”
I dropped my gaze.
“If you go with me, it won’t be easy for you,” he said warningly. “It will bring you closer to the spirit world and you won’t be able to lead a normal life. My work is incognito, so I can’t keep you in style. It will be a little house in some strange town. I shan’t be available most of the time, and you’d have to be ready to move at a moment’s notice.”
I listened with increasing bewilderment. “Are you asking me to be your mistress or an indentured servant?”
His mouth twitched. “I don’t keep mistresses; it’s far too much trouble. I’m offering to marry you, although I might regret it. And if you think the Lim family disapproved of your marriage, wait until you meet mine.”
I tightened my arms around him.
“Speechless at last,” Er Lang said. “Think about your options. Frankly, if I were a woman, I’d take the first one. I wouldn’t underestimate the importance of family.”
“But what would you do for fifty years?”
He was about to speak when I heard a faint call, and through the heavy downpour, saw Yan Hong’s blurred figure emerge between the trees, Tian Bai running beside her. “Give me your answer in a fortnight,” said Er Lang. Then he was gone.
”
”
Yangsze Choo (The Ghost Bride)
“
My mom is all about being prim, proper, and classy. Enter beauty pageants, marry a rich man, and live lavishly. I think she just wanted me to have the life she couldn’t have, and when I did the opposite, she resented me for it.”
“At least you'll end up marrying a rich man.”
“Now I can never marry you. It's my life's purpose to disappoint her in every decision I make.”
“Don't underestimate me, Addie. I'll become a poor man for you.
”
”
H.D. Carlton (Hunting Adeline (Cat and Mouse, #2))
“
I read,’ I say. ‘I study and read. I bet I’ve read everything you’ve read. Don’t think I haven’t. I consume libraries. I wear out spines and ROM-drives. I do things like get in a taxi and say, “The library, and step on it.” My instincts concerning syntax and mechanics are better than your own, I can tell, with due respect. ‘But it transcends the mechanics. I’m not a machine. I feel and believe. I have opinions. Some of them are interesting. I could, if you’d let me, talk and talk. Let’s talk about anything. I believe the influence of Kierkegaard on Camus is underestimated. I believe Dennis Gabor may very well have been the Antichrist. I believe Hobbes is just Rousseau in a dark mirror. I believe, with Hegel, that transcendence is absorption. I could interface you guys right under the table,’ I say. ‘I’m not just a creātus, manufactured, conditioned, bred for a function.’ I open my eyes. ‘Please don’t think I don’t care.
”
”
David Foster Wallace (Infinite Jest)
“
When they hear I teach first grade, they invariably picture my kids like a litter of puppies in a pet store window, cute and nearly brainless. Let me tell you. My kids are brilliant. Never underestimate children. I don't teach to their minds. Or their hearts. I teach to their spirits, and not one child has failed me. Ever. I mind-boggle them by reminding them they are made from the remnants of star-dusted constellations. When I tell them this their eyes sparkle to prove it.
”
”
Barbara Lynn-Vannoy
“
Before you start teaching me, there is something you should know.”
A smile of my own works its way onto
my mouth. I’m about to die, but I don’t care.
I don’t care.
“Lyra, don’t you dare.”
But it’s too late.
“Don’t underestimate the girl willing to do anything for what she wants.”
I lean back into the empty air behind me, feeling my stomach drop as I descend towards the crashing waves below. My watery eyes make out Thatcher’s form at the cliff’s edge, peering down at me.
I win.
”
”
Monty Jay (The Blood We Crave: Part One (The Hollow Boys, #3))
“
Can we switch rooms?” Lend called. “I’m king of starving.”
“I’ll make you something!” Jack said, cheerfully skipping into the kitchen.
“Can you even cook?” I asked, a valid question considering he didn’t eat normal food. He could only eat food in the Faerie Realms. Jack could help; he could get me to wherever Raquel was. And he knew the Center better than I did, even.
“Never underestimate what I can do.”
“Oh, believe me I don’t.” I sighed. “Lend, do you want me to go around back so you can come in here?”
“Yeah. Man, this brings whole new levels of suck into my life.
”
”
Kiersten White (Endlessly (Paranormalcy, #3))
“
We can't leave the past in the past because, the past is who we are. It's like saying I wish I could forget English. So, there is no leaving the past in the past. It doesn't mean the past has to define and dominate everything in the future. The fact that I had a temper in my teens doesn't mean I have to be an angry person for the rest of my life. It just means that I had allot to be angry about but, didn't have the language and the understanding to know what it was and how big it was. I thought my anger was disproportionate to the environment which is what is called having a bad temper but, it just means that I underestimated the environment and my anger was telling me how wide and deep child abuse is in society but, I didn't understand that consciously so I thought my anger was disproportionate to the environment but, it wasn't. There is almost no amount of anger that's proportionate to the degree of child abuse in the world.
The fantasy that you can not be somebody that lived through what you lived through is damaging to yourself and to your capacity to relate to others. People who care about you, people who are going to grow to love you need to know who you are and that you were shaped by what you've experienced for better and for worse. There is a great deal of challenge in talking about these issues. Lots of people in this world have been hurt as children. Most people have been hurt in this world as children and when you talk honestly and openly it's very difficult for people. This is why it continues and continues.If you can get to the truth of what happened if you can understand why people made the decisions they've made even if you dont agree with the reason for those decisions knowing the reasons for those decisions is enormously important in my opinion. The more we know the truth of history the more confidently we can face the future without self blame.
”
”
Stefan Molyneux
“
I watched myself live, Iris, like a movie, and that image of myself is everything. I don't want to betray it. Do you know what I'm talking about? I'm telling you that what I can't bear is the ordinary. I don't want to bore myself, to sink into pedestrian ways of other people - heart-to-heart talks, petty confessions, relationships of habit, not passion. I see those people all around me, and I detest them, so I have to be divorced from myself in order to keep from sliding into a life I find nauseating. It's a matter of appearances, but surfaces are underestimated. The veneer becomes the thing. I rarely distinguish the man in the movie from the spectator anymore.
”
”
Siri Hustvedt (The Blindfold)
“
Of course I’m ready. But are you ready for your part of our agreement?”
“Kereseth? Yeah,” she said. “You get us in, we’ll get him out.”
“I want it done simultaneously--I don’t want to risk him getting hurt because of what I’m doing,” I said. “He’s hushflower-resistant, so it will require quite a bit to knock him out. And he’s a skilled fighter, so don’t underestimate him.”
Teka nodded, slowly. And stared, chewing the inside of her cheek.
“What happened? You look all…frantic, or something,” she said. “You guys have a fight?”
I didn’t answer.
“I don’t get it,” she said. “You’re obviously in love with him, why do you want him gone?”
I considered not answering that, either. The feeling of his rough chin scratching my cheek, and his mouth, warm against my skin, haunted me still. He had kissed me. Without prompting, without cunning. I should have been happy, hopeful. But it wasn’t that easy, was it?
I had dozens of reasons to give her. Akos was in danger, now that Ryzek had realized he could use him as leverage over me. Eijeh was lost, and maybe Akos would be able to accept that once he was home, with his mother and sister. Akos and I would never be equals, as long as he was Ryzek’s prisoner here, so I had to make sure he was freed. But the one closest to my heart was the reason that came tumbling out.
“Being here, it’s…breaking him,” I said. I shifted my weight from one foot to the other, uncomfortable. “I can’t watch anymore. I won’t.”
“Yeah.” Her voice was soft. “Win or lose--you get us in, we’ll get him out. Okay?”
“Okay,” I said. “Thank you.
”
”
Veronica Roth (Carve the Mark (Carve the Mark, #1))
“
Kell poured himself a drink. “This place is horrible,” he mused.
“Well …” said Rhy, emptying his own glass in one swallow and setting it down with a click on the table, “we could always leave.”
And there it was, in Rhy’s eye, that glint, and Kell suddenly understood the prince’s outfit. Rhy wasn’t dressed for Splendor because it wasn’t his true destination. “You chose this place on purpose.”
A languorous smile. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“You chose it because you knew I would be miserable here and more likely to cave when you offered to take me someplace else.”
“And?”
“And you greatly underestimate my capacity for suffering.”
“Suit yourself,” said the prince, rising to his feet with his usual lazy grace. “I’m going to take a turn around the room.”
Kell glowered but did not rise. He watched Rhy go, trying to emulate the prince’s practiced nonchalance as he sat back with his glass.
”
”
Victoria E. Schwab (A Gathering of Shadows (Shades of Magic, #2))
“
HEALTHY BOUNDARIES Minimalism helps you set healthy boundaries by giving you the clarity to see all the things you’re spinning your wheels on. Resetting boundaries to align with priorities is an ongoing process in a minimalist lifestyle, but it’s not an unwelcome chore. The rewards of more being and less striving encourage me to keep going on this journey. If I don’t prioritize my life, someone or something else will. MORE TIME Keeping more than we need, whether it’s possessions or activities, brings a fog into our daily lives that makes it harder to think clearly. Under the influence of clutter, we may underestimate how much time we’re giving to the less important stuff. When we say, “If I could find the time . . .” we’re really talking about how we choose to use our time. Minimalism helps you see how you’re spending your time and to think more clearly about how you would really like to spend it.
”
”
Zoë Kim (Minimalism for Families: Practical Minimalist Living Strategies to Simplify Your Home and Life)
“
You’re all bloody,” Caldris said, reaching up to touch my chin. He paused, staring down at the mottled, still healing flesh as his skin knitted itself back together and slowly pushed the iron from his body. “Sorry, I don’t see a bath anywhere. Do you?” I asked, scoffing as I looked at him. The male was covered in gore from head to toe, but Gods forbid I be, too. “Did I say I wanted you to wash it off?” he asked, tilting his head to the side as he studied me. “Because that was not my intent, I assure you. I want to fuck you while you’re covered in the blood and death of our enemies who thought they could take you from me.” I swallowed, the intensity of his dark stare making my throat ache with sudden dryness. “That’s not—” “Normal? You are my mate. I could spend an eternity buried inside of you and still want more, Little One. There will never come a day when I do not enjoy watching you bring men to their knees and cut their throats when they underestimate you. You would do well to remember that,
”
”
Harper L. Woods (What Hunts Inside the Shadows (Of Flesh & Bone, #2))
“
The vampire’s smile is so bright and cheery that you’d genuinely believe he just found heaven.
“This shit is seriously fucked up. Stop acting like it’s so exciting, please. I’m internally freaking out because how pleased you look, and I don’t want to freak out so soon after giving my monster so much freedom. I…liked it too much.”
Arion’s smile only grows.
The more she talks, the more it starts sounding as though this is undeniably Violet.
“Again, you’re seriously freaking me out. That’s not a good thing, Arion,” Violet tells him with an abundance of conviction. “For whatever reason, you all think I’m so damn sweet, which means you’re all entirely too fucked up. But you can’t just grin after what you’ve seen tonight. Not even you’re that crazy.”
The vampire is falling in love all over again right in front of our eyes, because she’s underestimating just how crazy he gets when he’s in love. Unlike her, he loves being underestimated.
Obliterating an adversary, starting a war, dancing on a bloody field, and underestimating him…
She’s spent the last several hours doing all his favorite things.
”
”
Kristy Cunning (Gypsy Truths (All the Pretty Monsters, #6))
“
Perhaps we underestimated your mother,” he said. “I can’t imagine she would have made it so easy for anyone to find.”
“A World War isn’t enough of a hurdle?” Etta asked, rubbing her hand over her face. “Okay, okay…we just have to think this through.…”
“I do have an idea, but I’m afraid it’s terrible,” Nicholas said, surveying the lock on the gate and giving it another hard tug.
“A bad idea is better than no idea,” Etta said.
“I’m glad you feel that way, because this is an exquisitely bad one.” He turned toward her. “We can go around the back of the museum and I can lift you over the gate. You can then slip into the museum and hold any guards or curators inside hostage, until they give up the information about the location of the statues.”
“Hold them hostage?” she repeated.
“Don’t you know? That’s how real pirates like Blackbeard made most of their money. He ransomed whole cities,” he said. “I’ll even teach you how to use the revolver.”
Despite herself, Etta smiled. “I really appreciate the faith you have in my criminal abilities. But even if I find someone in there, I doubt they’ll be good for anything other than calling the police to pick me up. It seems like the kind of information people would do anything to protect
”
”
Alexandra Bracken (Passenger (Passenger, #1))
“
But the manner of giving voice to thoughts and feelings becomes particularly significant in the case of negative feelings or doubts about a relationship. The difference was highlighted for me when a fifty-year-old divorced man told me about his experiences in forming new relationships with women. On this matter, he was clear: "I do not value my fleeting thoughts, and I do not value the fleeting thoughts of others." He felt that the relationship he was currently in had been endangered, even permanently weakened, by the woman's practice of tossing out her passing thoughts, because, early in their courtship, many of her thoughts were fears about the relationship. Not surprisingly, since they did not yet know each other well, she worried about whether she could trust him, whether their relationship would destroy her independence, whether this relationship was really right for her. He felt she should have kept these fears and doubts to herself and waited to see how things turned out.
As it happens, things turned out well. The woman decided that the relationship was right for her, she could trust him, and she did not have to give up her independence. But he felt, at the time that he told me of this, that he had still not recovered from the wear and tear of coping with her earlier doubts. As he put it, he was still dizzy from having been bounced around like a yo-yo tied to the string of her stream of consciousness.
In contrast, the man admitted, he himself goes to the other extreme: he never expresses his fears or misgivings about their relationship at all. If he's unhappy but doesn't say anything about it, his unhappiness expresses itself in a kind of distancing coldness. This response is just what women fear most, and just the reason they prefer to express dissatisfactions and doubts - as an antidote to the isolation and distance that would result from keeping them to themselves.
The different perspectives on expressing or concealing dissatisfactions and doubts may reflect a difference in men's and women's awareness of the power of their words to affect others. In repeatedly telling him what she feared about their relationship, she spoke as though she assumed he was invulnerable and could not be hurt by what she said; perhaps she was underestimating the power of her words to affect him. For his part, when he refrains from expressing negative thoughts or feelings, he seems to be overestimating the power of his words to hurt her, when, ironically, she is more likely to be hurt by his silence than his words.
Such impasses will perhaps never be settled to the complete satisfaction of both parties, but understanding the differing views can help detoxify the situation, and both can make adjustments.
”
”
Deborah Tannen (You Just Don't Understand: Women and Men in Conversation)
“
I Am Not Your Guru Inspirational Quotes
1. “Most people overestimate what they can do in a year and they underestimate what they can do in two or three decades.”
2. “Every day, work harder on yourself than anything else. ‘Cause if you become more intelligent, more valuable, more skilled, you can add more value to other people.”
3. “If I could uncover what beliefs and values control me, I can literally redesign me.”
4. “Our entire life changes in a moment.”
5. “Your biggest problem is you think you shouldn’t have them. ‘Cause problems are what make us grow. Problems are what sculpt our soul. Problems are what make us become more.”
6. “If we can realize that life is always happening for us, not to us… game over, all the pain and suffering disappears.”
7. “Push will wear you out. When you’re pushing to do something, you only got so much willpower. But when you’re pulled, when there’s something larger than yourself that you’re here to serve and that you believe you’re made for, that brings energy.”
8. “Heal the boy and the man will appear.”
9. “You get what you tolerate.”
10. “Questions control what you focus on. What you focus on is what you feel. What you feel is your experience of life.”
11. “If you sit at the table of success too long, you’re going to get bored. Progress equals happiness. If you’re growing in anything, financially, spiritually, emotionally, in your relationship, in your body, you’re going to feel better in your life. That’s what we’re made for.”
12. “We’re meant to grow so we have something to give. You can’t give something you really don’t have.
”
”
Tony Robbins
“
As we trod up the front walk, Jackaby let out a thoughtful “Huh.” I followed his gaze to the transom ahead of us. It read, in clean, frosty letters:
r. f. jackaby:
exquisite frustration
“Are you feeling exquisitely frustrated of late, Miss Rook?” he asked.
“I wouldn’t put it as such, sir,” I said. “I don’t think that one’s for me.”
Jenny materialized between Jackaby and the bright red door. “Ah,” said Jackaby. “Good afternoon, Miss Cavanaugh.”
“I couldn’t find it,” Jenny said without preamble as we mounted the steps.
“What? Right—the Bible. It’s fine. I’ll see to it myself. That church is a long way off. It was quite ambitious for you to even consider the trip. I shouldn’t reasonably have expected as much of you.”
“I made it to the church just fine, thank you very much for your vote of confidence. Do you have any idea how many Bibles and psalm books and hymnals there are in a parish that size? You said to look for a shield, but none of them had anything obvious like that. If the shield is somehow inside one of them, it could be any of them.”
“That’s all right, you did your—” Jackaby began.
“. . . So I just brought all of them.”
The door swung open to reveal a small hillside of books heaped on the front desk.
“Hrm.” Jackaby grunted. He stepped inside and began to dig through the stack, picking up battered old books and dropping them back onto the heap.
“Thank you, Miss Cavanaugh,” Jenny intoned behind him. “It was nothing, really,” she replied to herself. “I underestimated you, Miss Cavanaugh. Oh, I was just happy to help. You are special and precious to me, Miss Cavanaugh. Please now, Mr. Jackaby, you’re simply too much.”
Jackaby paid her dialogue no mind, and appeared to have forgotten that anyone else was in the room at all.
“I’ll just go fetch that bail money for Miss Lee, shall I?” I suggested, and excused myself.
”
”
William Ritter (The Dire King (Jackaby, #4))
“
Don't underestimate me so easily.
Tiny spikes can overturn big trucks!
”
”
EVISA (Rejected letter)
“
I won't tell you."
Killoran sighed wearily. "Of course you will, my angel," he said in a deceptively pleasant voice. "I have any number of ways of discovering that which I desire to know. I can do it nicely." He'd come closer, too close, and his hand caught hers, his long fingers stroking her palm, slowly, insistently, cleverly. "I can touch you in ways that you can't even imagine." His voice was low, heated, and she felt a disturbing, answering shimmer deep inside. "I can take your darkest secrets, I can take anything I want from you, and you'd be willing, eager, to give me. Everything."
For a moment she was unable to speak. Her pulse leapt in her throat, and she knew he could feel it, pounding beneath her pale skin. "You underestimate me," she said in a hushed voice, struggling against the hypnotic effect he had on her.
His smile was small, cynical, and heartbreaking. "No, my love. I know you very well indeed. Better, perhaps, than you know yourself. You want me to let go of your hand, don't you?"
"Yes," she said hoarsely.
"You want me to go away and leave you alone?"
"Yes."
His other arm slid around her waist as he bent over her. "You want me to kiss you, don't you?"
"Yes," she whispered, helpless, angry. Angry at herself, for making no effort to escape. Angry at him, for making her want him.
”
”
Anne Stuart (To Love a Dark Lord)
“
Another time, while on patrol with a small four-man team from my SAS squadron, out in the deserts of North Africa, we were waiting for a delayed helicopter pick-up. A 48-hour delay when you are almost out of water, in the roasting desert, can be life-threatening. We were all severely dehydrated and getting weaker fast.
Every hour we would sip another small capful from the one remaining water bottle we each carried. Rationed carefully, methodically. To make matters worse, I had diarrhea, which was causing me to dehydrate even faster.
We finally got the call-up that our extraction would be at dawn the next day, some 20 miles away. We saddled up during the night and started to move across the desert, weighed down by kit and fatigue. I was soon struggling. Every footstep was a monumental effort of will as we shuffled across the mountains.
My sergeant, an incredible bear of a man called Chris Carter (who was tragically killed in Afghanistan; a hero to all who had served with him), could see this. He stopped the patrol, came to me, and insisted I drink the last remaining capful from his own bottle. No fuss, no show, he just made me drink it.
It was the kindness, not the actual water itself, that gave me the strength to keep going when I had nothing left inside me. Kindness inspires us, it motivates us, and creates a strong, tight team: honest, supporting, empowering.
No ego. No bravado or show. Simple goodness.
It is the very heart of a great man, and I have never forgotten that single act that night in the desert.
The thing about kindness is that it costs the giver very little but can mean the world to the receiver.
So don’t underestimate the power you have to change lives and encourage others to be better. It doesn’t take much but it requires us to value kindness as a quality to aspire to above almost everything else.
You want to be a great adventurer and expedition member in life and in the mountains? It is simple: be kind.
”
”
Bear Grylls (A Survival Guide for Life: How to Achieve Your Goals, Thrive in Adversity, and Grow in Character)
“
I enter my barracks on my own, chin raised. I don’t know why I was chosen for this, why Command wants me to be the one to shout our words. But I’m sure there’s a good reason. A young woman holding a flag is quite a striking figure—but also a puzzling one. Silvers might send men and women to die on the lines in equal measure, but a rebel group led by a woman is easier to underestimate. Just what Command wants. Or they simply prefer I’m the one eventually identified and executed, rather than one of their own.
”
”
Victoria Aveyard (Steel Scars (Red Queen, #0.2))
“
Here’s the situation,” said Jared. “Rob talked to me about his plans, and he said we had no idea what was coming.”
“Did he get any more specific than that?” Angela asked skeptically.
“He said,” Jared said, and hesitated, his voice changing. “He said, ‘So many people are going to die.’ ”
There was a pause.
“I don’t want to make jokes about people dying, since people actually are,” said Rusty. “But doesn’t it sound like a fairly standard evil overlord speech? ‘Mwhahaha! You have no idea what you’re dealing with, Mr. Bond! You have gravely underestimated me. You have no idea of the depth of my iniquity! Tremble, for you and all the puny forces of good will be utterly vanquished.’ Et cetera, et cetera, megalomaniacal cackle optional. Does Rob have a cat to stroke?”
“He’s not great with animals,” said Jared, mouth curling up at one side. “I take your point
”
”
Sarah Rees Brennan (Unmade (The Lynburn Legacy, #3))
“
I don’t have the slightest idea what my future holds, but what I do know is that I am capable of figuring it out, and I’m okay being me while I do that. I have earned the right to trust myself. And this feels like freedom to me. My
”
”
Lucetta Zaytoun (It's Already Tomorrow Here: Never Underestimate the Power of Running Away)
“
There you are!” Kendra says as they pull to a halt in front of me. They both look flustered and cross. “We were totally freaking out,” she says angrily. “Where were you?”
And then Luca rises up from the window seat, and their expressions change so fast it would be comical if I didn’t know that I’ll pay for this later.
“Ohh,” Kelly says, clattering to a halt a few feet away, a world of understanding in her voice, and Luca, looking amused at my obvious embarrassment, flourishes her a little bow and holds out his hand.
“I am Luca di Vesperi,” he says, taking hers with a debonair smile.
I expect Kelly to crumble under this charm onslaught, but I underestimated her; she’s made of tougher stuff.
“Of course you are,” she says dryly, looking up at him. “I heard about you. What were doing, showing Violet the family paintings? From your lap?”
“Kelly!” I plead desperately as Kendra muffles a giggle.
“I do not understand everything you say,” Luca says to Kelly, his blue eyes gleaming, “but I think you are funny.”
“Oh.” This does disarm her. She coughs gruffly. “Well, thank you. We should be getting back. Your mum and Catia are doing their nut.”
“Their nut?” Luca looks over at Kendra, who shrugs, an elegant rise and fall of her smooth shoulders.
“Don’t ask me,” she says. “It’s like my dad said, the UK and the States are two countries separated by the same language.
”
”
Lauren Henderson (Flirting in Italian (Flirting in Italian #1))
“
Don't underestimate me. Just when you think you have me figured out, I'm already making other moves.
”
”
Germany Kent
“
Not long ago, it dawned on me that impostor syndrome is a paradox: Others believe in you You don’t believe in yourself Yet you believe yourself instead of them If you doubt yourself, shouldn’t you also doubt your low opinion of yourself? I now believe that impostor syndrome is a sign of hidden potential. It feels like other people are overestimating you, but it’s more likely that you’re underestimating yourself. They’ve recognized a capacity for growth that you can’t see yet. When multiple people believe in you, it might be time to believe them. Many people dream of achieving goals. They measure their progress by the status they acquire and the accolades they collect. But the gains that count the most are the hardest to count. The most meaningful growth is not building our careers—it’s building our character. Success is more than reaching our goals—it’s living our values. There’s no higher value than aspiring to be better tomorrow than we are today. There’s no greater accomplishment than unleashing our hidden potential.
”
”
Adam M. Grant (Hidden Potential: The Science of Achieving Greater Things)
“
I may not approve of what Jace was about to do to you tonight, but I can assure you I’m not much better. I may sound like Prince Charming to girls like you, but I don’t have a noble bone in my body. And trust me, princess, I don’t save. I destroy. And I revel in the chaos.”
“What if I don’t want someone noble? What if I don’t want to be saved?”
What if I want you.
“Don’t tempt me, love. I’m not in the mood to be gentle. And after the situation I just pulled you from, you’re not in a state to handle what I want to do to you.”
“You know what your problem is, Caden Ashford? You consistently underestimate me. I’m tougher than you think. Or hadn’t you noticed in the week you’ve spent trying to get me to give in to your demands? How did that work out for you?”
“You know what your problem is, Kara Caine? You never know when to shut the fuck up.
”
”
Willow Prescott (Hideaway (Stolen Away Series Book 1))
“
They wildly underestimate the likelihood because people have a tendency to put themselves at the center of the universe. It’s called “the birthday paradox.” You think, What is the probability someone else in this room will have the same birthday as ME? You don’t think of all the possible permutations. In fact, there is close to a one hundred percent chance that at least two people will share a birthday when there are just seventy-five people in a room.
”
”
Liane Moriarty (Here One Moment)
“
You underestimate me, Layla. I’ll make it happen.” She gave him a wary look. “How?” “I’m not giving away my secrets.” His eyes lit mischievously. “But I’m willing to bet on it: suitable sleigh, right here, by midnight tonight.” Now she was suspicious. “You know someone who has one.” “No, I don’t. Scout’s honor. Now are you taking the bet or not?” She turned her face from him, her eyes narrowing on him. “What kind of bet?” “Name your price.” She stared at the house, thinking. “If you don’t find one, you have to . . .” Her gaze climbed to the roof. “Do the roofline.” She smiled big. He looked up, squinting against the light, then back to her. “Fine. I’m not losing anyway.” He pulled his keys from his coat pocket. “Time’s a wasting.” With one last smile over his shoulder he headed for his truck. “Wait, what about you?” He turned in the snow, giving her a strange look. Then he slowly started toward her. It took all her willpower to keep her boots planted as he came within inches of her. “If I win . . . ,” he said, those blue eyes warming her clear down to her toes, “I get to kiss you.” His lips twitched as his eyes slid down to her mouth and back up where they held her hostage. Layla swallowed hard. With a final look, he traced his steps to his truck, only turning once he reached the door. “And, Layla . . . ,” he said with a smug grin, “I will win.
”
”
Denise Hunter (A December Bride (A Year of Weddings #1))
“
I remember on the day I was separated from Froi outside the Paladazzo, I learned that I could be loved. That was his greatest gift to me. From you, I learned that I could love my people. Don't ever underestimate the power of that.
”
”
Melina Marchetta (Quintana of Charyn (Lumatere Chronicles, #3))
“
Toddlers in our culture have a hard time. Before they even reach their first birthday they have already been the subject of much discussion: "Is she good?" ... "Just wait until those tantrums start!" ... "What a diva!" It is so expected of our little darlings to become little tyrants, that people would almost be disappointed if they didn't perform. Don't underestimate the effect this has on our babies.
”
”
Samantha Vickery (Trust Me I'm A Toddler)
“
Don’t underestimate your own value, dummy,” he says. I stiffen. I hate that word. Absolutely hate it. He stiffens when I do. “What?” he asks. “What’s wrong?” “Don’t ever call me a dummy, Logan,” I say, my teeth grinding together so hard they hurt. “Oh, God, I’m so sorry,” he rushes to say. He takes my face in his hands, holding it tightly as he looks into my eyes. “I didn’t mean it.” He chuckles, but there’s no mirth in the sound. “It’s a term of endearment in our family. I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings. Really, I didn’t. I don’t think you’re stupid. You have a learning disability, but you’re not stupid. I know that.” I wish I knew it. He sounds so sure about it. “It’s all right,” I say, but I’m already pushing back from him. “Don’t pull away from me,” he warns. That makes me laugh. “I’m not the one who’s always pulling away, Logan,” I remind him. I push him back again, but he’s not having any of it. Suddenly, his hands clutch my bottom, and he hoists me up onto the bathroom countertop. “Forgive me,” he says. I nod, and he kisses the corners of my eyes where tears have formed. That word hurts me. It always has. And it was the final straw that made me leave my parents’ house. That word and others like it—I’ve heard them for too long.
”
”
Tammy Falkner (Tall, Tatted and Tempting (The Reed Brothers, #1))
“
paces. ‘She can’t do that.’ ‘She can and she is. She’s renting a cottage. I don’t know how long for.’ She takes hold of my wrist and grips it so tightly that her nails pierce my skin. ‘I have to stop her.’ ‘Monica! You need to keep this in perspective!’ I extract my wrist from her fingers and shake her gently. ‘I know she brings back memories of your parents and I know that hurts, but now, in the present, you have nothing to fear from Orla.’ Her eyes say otherwise and as she looks into mine I see that she is close to telling me something. ‘What is it, Monica? What is it?’ My scalp tingles. ‘Is it about Rose?’ Her eyes glaze over. ‘I was warned about this. I was warned—’ ‘What are you talking about? Warned by whom?’ ‘Grace!’ she hisses. ‘Do you have any idea how much damage she could do?’ I give a short laugh, not because it’s funny but because I have to let some emotion out. ‘The status quo should never be underestimated. Life, ticking along. It might seem boring at times but . . .’ She looks up to the right and seems to pluck her words from the air. ‘Orla is dangerous. She will cause havoc and then she will leave. We have to stop her.’ ‘Believe me, I don’t want her around either.’ I take her hand. ‘Tell me what’s troubling you.’ ‘I can’t.’ She pulls free. ‘I can’t break a confidence.’ She takes a few steps backward. ‘Can you find out what Orla wants? Can you do that?’ I already have. ‘I’ll do my best.’ I try to look optimistic. ‘I’ll let you know.’ ‘Good.’ She recovers her composure and gives me an awkward hug. ‘I may not have been popular at school, my home life was in meltdown, but hey!’ She looks around her, takes
”
”
Julie Corbin (Tell Me No Secrets: A Suspenseful Psychological Thriller)
“
Tell them,” God said through Isaiah, “hard times are coming, but don’t give up—now or ever. Don’t let them underestimate My power to reorder the universe. Tell them to keep trusting Me and living the way I told them to in spite of what’s coming.
”
”
James MacDonald (Gripped by the Greatness of God)
“
Well, I considered burning this place down as a warning, but that was counterproductive as it’s in the middle of a forest. So I was going to threaten you to leave, but I don’t have the time to go around checking that you’ve actually done anything.” I stood and folded the chair, placing it over by the rest. “No, I figured I’d come here to tell you that, while no one has any proof of your wrongdoings, we all know what you did. This coven has been marked because of your actions, and Avalon will be keeping a very close eye on you. Not because we believe you’re doing anything wrong, of course, but because you were involved in a traumatic event in Germany, and they want to make certain you’re all okay. “There will be site visits, probably at random, maybe in the middle of the night. There might even be interviews with all the members, just to verify that everyone is happy and healthy.” “You can’t do that,” Mara said with barely contained rage. “I’m not. Avalon is—well, technically, Lucie is, but she helps run the place, so she’s probably qualified to tell whether people here are happy and healthy. Did I mention the random visits?” “You think this is funny?” Emily asked. I shook my head. “I think it’s deadly serious. A group of witches used by Demeter and Hera broke Cronus out of Tartarus, witches who used the coven leader’s own daughter to get the job done.” My stare could have bored holes in Mara. “Emily, I’m not going to underestimate you again. I promise you that. And Mara, dear sweet Mara. Your daughter is a delight. If you remove her from school, if you hurt her, if anything happens to her in any way that results in my friend’s daughter telling me of her unhappiness at your parenting, I will come find you. And I promise, once I’m done, no one will ever find out what happened to you.” I made my way toward the door, my piece said. “You think that you can threaten me, Mister Garrett?” Mara said, her body shaking with anger. I continued walking and opened the door before pausing for a second. “You can’t come into my coven and demand things,” Mara continued. “You’re a thug, a man with no vision who does what his masters tell him. I’m not afraid of you. You don’t scare me.” I didn’t turn back toward the two women as I spoke, “Then clearly you
”
”
Steve McHugh (Prison of Hope (Hellequin Chronicles, #4))
“
I never even got your name in my back,” V said. “I thought it was stupid and a waste of time . . . but how can you feel like we’re mated without it—especially when every single male at the compound
has been marked for his shellan?”
God, she hadn’t thought of that.
V shook his head. “You’ve given me space . . . to hang with Butch and fight with my brothers and
do my shit on the Internet. What have I given you?”
“My clinic, for one thing. I couldn’t have built it without you.”
“Not exactly a bouquet of roses.”
“Don’t underestimate your carpentry skills.
”
”
null
“
Christa, this isn’t a garden party any longer. Can’t you understand the seriousness of what you’ve done? You’ll scream?” he hissed. “Then you’ll just have to go ahead and do so because I’ll touch you when and how I like. They’re your brothers. You married me. And unless you’re really fond of bloodshed, you had best bear that in mind. Now, I’m sure you wouldn’t mind in the least becoming a widow, seeing my Yankee carcass slipped into a shroud. Your brothers are good, damned good, but don’t underestimate my abilities. I managed to stay alive through four years of fighting at the front too. So if you ever think about doing anything so stupid as causing a further friction between us, just remember that.
”
”
Heather Graham (And One Rode West (Cameron Saga: Civil War Trilogy #3))
“
He's worried about you, Charles. They all are." "They should hate me." "No they shouldn't, and they don't. You're being absurd, and you know it." "But I've failed them. I doubted their love, allowed myself to be deceived by letters I should have known were false, and caused them untold grief and sorrow . . . and now I have compounded that by coming back and showing them just what depths I've sunk to. How ashamed they must be of me. How ashamed I am of myself. What must they think?" "They're your family, Charles. You don't need to impress them, or pretend you're something you're not. If you can't be yourself around them, and be accepted for the man that you are, then who can you be yourself around?" "You," he said bleakly. "I can be myself around you. I tell you things I've never told anyone else, I feel completely at ease around you, but then, you know all of my secrets and I have nothing to hide from you. You have seen inside my head —" he gave a bitter little laugh — "literally. 'Sdeath, why shouldn't I feel comfortable around you? You can see right through me." "And you think that Lucien cannot?" she asked, smiling and raising one brow. "Really, Charles. You are underestimating him." "Lucien is accustomed to seeing capability and confidence from me. He was disappointed in me tonight. Disgusted." "Worried, perhaps, more than disappointed. Never disgusted.
”
”
Danelle Harmon (The Beloved One (The De Montforte Brothers, #2))
“
In I went to John Bickel’s office. We hit it off instantly. I did something all job applicants should do—I asked for the job. I told him that if they extended an offer, I would accept it on the spot, that I had done the research and investigation, and this was where I wanted to be. Don’t underestimate the power this message can have on a potential employer. Everyone likes to be flattered. Of course it works better if it’s true. I left the office cautiously optimistic. That night, between my ridiculously soft sheets, with that feeling of a new city around me and a new beginning on the horizon, I stared at the ceiling and felt elated at the possibilities. Things were happening that could alter the course of my life. One step at a time, I was starting to run. I hadn’t grown up with high hopes for my future, but in that moment I had a sense of opportunity knocking, of imagining that I might actually be able to make something out of my life.
”
”
Megyn Kelly (Settle for More)
“
You don’t have to tell me, but does Luke have anything to do with this?” “No. No, of course not.” “You sure about that?” She turned away from her uncle. “I’ve been thinking about things and…” She turned back. “Listen, it’s tempting to just stay here, like this, forever. I could travel from here, go to school from here… There’s no future in it, that’s all. I’m thinking like a boxer—I want to go out a winner.” “Has he hurt you, Shelby?” She shook her head. “Just the opposite. Things are nice enough that if I stay in this pattern for six more months, I might stay for six more years. But, Uncle Walt, it’s never going to become all I’d like it to be. It won’t change. My clothes will hang in your closet and I’ll spend most of my nights at his house. In the long term, I’m looking for something more than that….” Walt pursed his lips and shook his head. Under his breath he muttered, “That sorry son of a bitch…” “Now stop,” she said firmly. “You’re surprised by this? Be fair—I had a big crush on Luke. He was always wonderful to me and it would probably be just fine with him if I didn’t move on. But it’s going nowhere. In the end, I’d be selling out. That’s not what I intend to do.” He looked at the floor and shook his head. Then he took a slow sip of his coffee. “Remember that song, Uncle Walt?” she asked him. “‘Me and Mrs. Jones, we got a thing going on…?’ Me and Mr. Riordan, we have a thing going on…and the next man in my life is going to be more than a thing. I want the whole deal. And Luke said from the start, if I was looking for something like that, I wouldn’t find it with him. Really, if I’m honest with myself, I never doubted that.” “This is your decision, then?” he asked. “Oh, absolutely. I haven’t even mentioned this to Luke yet. And you’re under strict orders—you are not to treat him like he’s done something wrong. Do you hear me? Because if you do, you’re going to be in big trouble with me. Are we clear?” “If that’s what you want.” “It’s what I want.” Then she laughed. “Give him a year, he’ll be so damn sorry he let me go.” “You think so, huh?” “Oh, you bet. He’ll manage to find women—he’s good-looking and can be real charming. But he won’t find one like me. And once I make a clean break and get myself in a new life, he’s gonna be shit outta luck.” Walt chuckled. “You’re a lot tougher than you look.” “Yeah, I know. You shouldn’t underestimate me so much. It’s your biggest mistake. And it’ll be Luke’s, too.” “Honey, all I want is that you be happy. If these plans make you happy, then I’m on board. Just as long as he hasn’t hurt you.” “He hasn’t. He’s been great to me. But I want more than he has to give. I want it all, Uncle Walt.” “Then
”
”
Robyn Carr (Temptation Ridge)
“
While it can confuse some top dogs, I am only interested in Salt Water Trick. However, like my Grandpop used to say, "History repeats itself." Here are a number of insane tactics. He's makin' a list and checkin' it twice. This isn't in striking condition. You'll discover Salt Water Trick soon enough on your own. Yes, most of it isn't junk and a few years ago, it occurred to me that a large majority of amateurs don't like Salt Water Trick. Rather honestly, here is my transparent solution to this conundrum. I bought Salt Water Trick at an attractive price although it is here to stay. You cannot underestimate the power of Salt Water Trick because it plays such a critical role. In most instances, that is the best way to get into Salt Water Trick. Bums who're lazy wind up running in trouble. I firmly placed my faith in Salt Water Trick.
”
”
Achieve Your Dream Body: 7 Proven Weight Loss Tips for 2024
“
Marks … I’m afraid I’m not going to be able to find your spectacles in this wreckage.”
“I have another pair at home,” she ventured.
“Thank God.” Leo sat up with a quiet grunt of discomfort. “Now, if we stand on the highest pile of debris, it’s only a short distance to the surface. I’m going to hoist you up, get you out of here, and then you’re going to ride back to Ramsay House. Cam trained the horse, so you won’t need to guide him. He’ll find his way back home with no trouble.”
“What are you going to do?” she asked, bewildered.
He sounded rather sheepish. “I’m afraid I’m going to have to wait here until you send someone for me.”
“Why?”
“I have a—” He paused, searching for a word. “Splinter.”
She felt indignant. “You’re going to make me ride back alone and unescorted and virtually blind, to send someone to rescue you? All because you have a splinter?”
“A large one,” he volunteered.
“Where is it? Your finger? Your hand? Maybe I can help to … Oh, God. ” This last as he took her hand and brought it to his shoulder. His shirt was wet with blood, and a thick shard of timber protruded from his shoulder. “That’s not a splinter,” she said in horror. “You’ve been impaled. What can I do? Shall I pull it out?”
“No, it might be lodged against an artery. And I wouldn’t care to bleed out down here.”
She crawled closer to him, bringing her face close to his to examine him anxiously...
“Don’t worry,” he murmured. “It looks worse than it is.”
But Catherine didn’t agree. If anything, it was worse than it looked... Stripping off her riding coat, she tried to lay it over his chest.
“What are you doing?” he asked.
“Trying to keep you warm.”
Leo plucked the garment off his chest and made a scoffing sound. “Don’t be ridiculous. First, the injury isn’t that bad. Second, this tiny thing is not capable of keeping any part of me warm. Now, about my plan—”
“It is obviously a significant injury,” she said, “and I do not agree to your plan. I have a better one.”
“Of course you do,” he replied sardonically. “Marks, for once would you do as I ask?”
“No, I’m not going to leave you here. I’m going to pile up enough debris for both of us to climb out.”
“You can’t even see, damn it. And you can’t move these timbers and stones. You’re too small.”
“There is no need to make derogatory remarks about my stature,” she said, lurching upward and squinting at her surroundings. Identifying the highest pile of debris, she made her way to it and hunted for nearby rocks.
“I’m not being derogatory.” He sounded exasperated. “Your stature is absolutely perfect for my favorite activity. But you’re not built for hauling rocks. Blast it, Marks, you’re going to hurt yourself—”
“Stay there,” Catherine said sharply, hearing him push some heavy object aside. “You’ll worsen your injury, and then it will be even more difficult to get you out. Let me do the work.” Finding a heap of ashlar blocks, she picked one up and lugged it up the pile, trying not to trip over her own skirts.
“You’re not strong enough,” Leo said, sounding aggravated and out of breath.
“What I lack in physical strength,” she replied, going for another block, “I make up for in determination.”
“How inspiring. Could we set aside the heroic fortitude for one bloody moment and dredge up some common sense?”
“I’m not going to argue with you, my lord. I need to save my breath for”—she paused to heft another block—“stacking rocks.”
Somewhere amid the ordeal, Leo decided hazily that he would never underestimate Catherine Marks again. Ounce for ounce, she was the most insanely obstinate person he had ever known, dragging rocks and debris while half blind and hampered by long skirts, diligently crossing back and forth across his vision like an industrious mole. She had decided to build a mound upon which they could climb out, and nothing would stop her.
”
”
Lisa Kleypas (Married by Morning (The Hathaways, #4))
“
I shove him away and push my way back into Kat’s room, closing the door behind me quietly so I don’t disturb Alex, freezing when I catch the vision of Kat feeding Alex before me. Kat flushes, trying to use the hospital sheet to cover Alex suckling her breast but I move toward her and place my hand over hers, halting her movements. “Don’t. You have never looked more beautiful to me than you do right now.
”
”
Candice M. Wright (The Crown of Fools (Underestimated, #5))
“
You can’t save me, V. All you’re going to do is drown alongside me if we start this. Because if I’m in, then I’m in, and I’m never going to let go. I can’t lose you again.” My chest heaves as I try to breathe around everything he’s telling me. “You can’t lose me if you don’t have me, Lincoln. But if you’re in this, then I’ll happily drown alongside you. Just don’t underestimate my ability to keep my head above water.
”
”
Lily Wildhart (Lost Royal (The Knights of Echoes Cove, #2))
“
I have darkness running in my veins. I am my father’s daughter, don’t ever underestimate me because I’m a woman. Being a woman doesn’t mean I’m not strong. And trust me when I say that nothing you did will leave a scar. Your name and family will long be forgotten while mine will rule over the East and hunt down every biker affiliated to Tartarus.
”
”
Cora Reilly (By Sin I Rise: Part One (Sins of the Fathers, #1))
“
Sometimes we can believe for ourselves. Other times it helps to have others believe for us. Our faith can waver. Our “faith meter” can look like a Minnesota thermometer in January. Then someone comes along who has the faith to believe for us, and the warming breeze begins to thaw our hearts. If you don’t have the faith to see your way through your current crises, hang around people who do. Some of these people can be found in books—read the biography of a saint such as Hudson Taylor or countless others who have walked the road before us. Others of you are in a place where you can come alongside and believe for someone else who is faltering in faith right now. Don’t be shy in expressing your God-confidence when theirs is wearing thin. Don’t be obnoxious about it, but buoy them up with your belief that God is in this trial and He is good. This is a significant ministry. Don’t underestimate it. The gift cards sit in my drawer, but when I see them they are a statement to me: Someone believes that a better day is coming. Maybe I can keep believing for another day as well.
”
”
John Stumbo (An Honest Look at a Mysterious Journey)
“
Don't underestimate me. I know more than I say, think more than I speak. And notice more than you realize.
”
”
April Dawn Roach
“
Don't know why people keep underestimating me... I'm a total badass.
”
”
Larry Correia (Monster Hunter Nemesis (Monster Hunter International, #5))
“
He grunted. “There are things you won’t ever be able to cover up. We left our mark inside of you. You’ll fear the dark until the day you die.”
I wished he wasn’t right. Maybe last night had been the exception but I worried it would take me a while to be comfortable in the dark again, to not flinch when someone knocked and not look over my shoulder. But eventually I’d overcome this.
I stepped closer to him, smiling darkly. “I have darkness running in my veins. I am my father’s daughter, don’t ever underestimate me because I’m a woman. Being a woman doesn’t mean I’m not strong. And trust me when I say that nothing you did will leave a scar. Your name and family will long be forgotten while mine will rule over the East and hunt down every biker affiliated to Tartarus.
”
”
Cora Reilly (By Sin I Rise: Part One (Sins of the Fathers, #1))
“
An idea has more potential than any theory, plan or quantity of knowledge. You should never underestimate your dreams and the ideas that form around them. But more importantly, you shouldn't waste any time making them a reality. Others may not agree with your ideas, they may not trust your ideas, and they may even think that it is foolish to follow your dreams, but they don't have to trust something they can't see. Each person is gifted with the dreams that match the soul attracting them and according to the nature of the spiritual path in which one is found, therefore any dream you have is within your reach, and may never be within the reach of the beliefs of others, not even when you fulfill them. When people don't trust your capacities to achieve something, they will also rationalize reasons and excuses after you demonstrate your intent and potential. If you are poor, they may say you can't be rich, and once you are rich, they will try to dissuade you from what you do, with insinuations, insults, and threats. The most common question a rich person is asked, is if he is paying taxes. It is foolish to try to explain anything to those people. I've seen it my entire life, because I have succeeded in many areas where everyone told me I would never succeed. Once you win, they downgrade your achievements with ridiculous theories, or they will simply call you lucky. You can't win in an argument with a fool, because fools are very creative in their own art of denying the being of others. They see the world as they see themselves, as just objects, empty vessels, reflections of the illusions on the outside world.
In martial arts, if you beat taller and stronger opponents, they don't say you are a better fighter. They will select one of your movements or techniques as the cause, and then dissociate you from the movement or technique, and say that you win because you cheat in the fighting rules. In music, if you succeed against the best in the world, people won't say you are better than them, but dissociate you from your music and say that you got awarded because you are different in a strange way, or because you competed in a special moment. If you succeed as a writer, people won't say you are a good writer, but instead dissociate you from your books, and say that you invent things and have a big imagination, which is a covert way of calling you a "good liar", thus insulting you under the pretense of giving compliments, or they will say that you stole the knowledge from others, in order to morally place themselves above you and your work, and they may even say that you have a special trick, like taking knowledge from the air, from some imaginary records in the ether, or from demonic spirits. People say different things when dissociating you from your potential, work and achievements, all of which are simply various forms of disrespecting someone. They deny you of your potential to be yourself. And among the various forms of disrespect, making one feel guilty for being himself is probably the worse, reason why you'll find the most disgusting people of them all inside religious organizations. "God won't like it", "You have a problem with your ego", and "The devil is tempting you", are among the most common and imbecile things you will ever hear as an artist, as a person who loves to read and acquire knowledge, and above anything, as a true spiritual being thriving in self-development and a natural curiosity for life. For all these reasons, the requirements and the real theories for success will never be found in any popular book. Nobody wants to know that you only win when you stop burning yourself to make others warm. And when you understand this, people will dissociate you from your focus and discipline, and call you selfish, and they will call the person who guided you in this path of real success evil. They will then do their best to destroy the reputation of both of your to deny their own fault , ignorance and lies.
”
”
Dan Desmarques
“
An idea has more potential than any theory, plan or quantity of knowledge. You should never underestimate your dreams and the ideas that form around them. But more importantly, you shouldn't waste any time making them a reality. Others may not agree with your ideas, they may not trust your ideas, and they may even think that it is foolish to follow your dreams, but they don't have to trust something they can't see. Each person is gifted with the dreams that match the soul attracting them and according to the nature of the spiritual path in which one is found, therefore any dream you have is within your reach, and may never be within the reach or the beliefs of others, not even when you fulfill them.
When people don't trust your capacities to achieve something, they will also rationalize reasons and excuses after you demonstrate your intent and potential. If you are poor, they may say you can't be rich, and once you are rich, they will try to dissuade you from what you do, with insinuations, insults, and threats. The most common question a rich person is asked, is if he is paying taxes. It is foolish to try to explain anything to those people. I've seen it my entire life, because I have succeeded in many areas where everyone told me I would never succeed. Once you win, they downgrade your achievements with ridiculous theories, or they will simply call you lucky. You can't win in an argument with a fool, because fools are very creative in their own art of denying the being of others. They see the world as they see themselves, as just objects, empty vessels, reflections of the illusions of the outside world.
In martial arts, if you beat taller and stronger opponents, they don't say you are a better fighter. They will select one of your movements or techniques as the cause, and then dissociate you from the movement or technique, and say that you won because you cheat in the fighting rules. In music, if you succeed against the best in the world, people won't say you are better than them, but dissociate you from your music and say that you got awarded because you are different in a strange way, or because you competed in a special moment. If you succeed as a writer, people won't say you are a good writer, but instead dissociate you from your books, and say that you invent things and have a big imagination, which is a covert way of calling you a "good liar", thus insulting you under the pretense of giving compliments, or they will say that you stole the knowledge from others, in order to morally place themselves above you and your work, and they may even say that you have a special trick, like taking knowledge from the air, from some imaginary records in the ether, or from demonic spirits.
People say different things when dissociating you from your potential, work and achievements, all of which are simply various forms of disrespecting someone. They deny you of your potential to be yourself. And among the various forms of disrespect, making one feel guilty for being himself is probably the worse, reason why you'll find the most disgusting people of them all inside religious organizations. "God won't like it", "You have a problem with your ego", and "The devil is tempting you", are among the most common and imbecile things you will ever hear as an artist, as a person who loves to read and acquire knowledge, and above anything, as a true spiritual being thriving in self-development and a natural curiosity for life.
For all these reasons, the requirements and the real theories for success will never be found in any popular book. Nobody wants to know that you only win when you stop burning yourself to make others warm. And when you understand this, people will dissociate you from your focus and discipline, and call you selfish, and they will call the person who guided you in this path of real success evil. They will then do their best to destroy the reputation of both of you to deny their own fault , ignorance and lies.
”
”
Dan Desmarques
“
Don’t underestimate your power.
”
”
Britney Spears (The Woman in Me)
“
Instead of underestimating the perspicacity of the sensory impaired, why don't you bite me.
”
”
Andrew Hussie (Homestuck)
“
Don’t call me that, please,” I say, allowing myself a rare moment of
honesty. “I don’t like it.”
I’m not looking at Will, but I can still feel his gaze. And then I can feel
his fingers lightly clasp my elbow as if he were afraid I was about to drift off, and he needed to keep me there beside him. “Annie. I’m sorry.” His
voice is low and genuine. “I didn’t mean it in a negative way.”
I force a smile and look up at him. “I know. No one ever does when
they call me by those names. And I’ve heard them all: Saint Annie, Angel
Annie, Goody-goody Annie. It’s never meant in a bad way, but that doesn’t
mean I don’t feel a negative connotation when they say it.” I shrug slightly
like it’s no big deal, even though…I guess it is kind of a big deal to me. “It
feels like they’re saying I don’t have as much substance as everyone else.
That because I’m sweet, I don’t have as much to offer. I constantly feel
underestimated, and I’m so tired of it.
”
”
Sarah Adams
“
I dragged you out of that basement for myself.” He flashes me a warning look. “But also for my family. Don’t underestimate what I’ll do for them, Brooke. I’ve given up the one person I care about to make them happy.
”
”
J. Rose (Desecrated Saints (Blackwood Institute, #3))
“
Adam shifts quickly, slamming the butt of his gun into Warner’s head. Warner’s gun misfires and Adam catches his arm and twists his wrist until his grip on the weapon wavers. I grab the gun from Warner’s limp hand and slam the butt of it into his face. I’m stunned by my own reflexes. I’ve never held a gun before but I guess there’s a first time for everything. I point it at Warner’s eyes. “Don’t underestimate me.
”
”
Tahereh Mafi (Shatter Me (Shatter Me, #1))
“
There is chaos; there is pollution. There is noise; there is suspicion. There is corruption; there is tussle. Even though I don’t understand this city, I don’t underestimate it. This is my city, and it has always invigorated me.
”
”
Bhuwan Thapaliya (Our Nepal, Our Pride)
“
Don’t underestimate what you don’t know, and once you do, tear it to pieces or tip your fuckin’ hat.
”
”
Meagan Brandy (Break Me (Brayshaw, #5))
“
All said and done, in our headstrong struggle for inclusion, we mustn't also underestimate everything we have achieved so far as a species. As a matter of fact, we've come a long way since our tribal days of division and discrimination. Let me show you how. World's most beloved poet, Mevlana Rumi, was a muslim - world's icon of civil rights, MLK, was a black person - world's greatest inspiration of science, Albert Einstein, was a German Jew - and most recently, as of 2023, PM of UK and VP of US, both are of Indian origin.
So don't tell me, we've achieved nothing - don't tell me, there is no hope for integration! Integration is happening all over the world, despite the ancient impediments of intolerance and hate. Therefore, the question is not whether integration is possible - real question is, are you a part of that integration, or aren't you! Our home is planet earth - and here on earth, we all cry the same pain, smile the same joy, and live the same love.
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Abhijit Naskar (Tum Dunya Tek Millet: Greatest Country on Earth is Earth)
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When we focus on trying to fix the problem, it is easy to underestimate the power of simply being there. Most people don’t want to be told what to do. But they do want someone to keep showing up to check in and show they care.
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Julie Smith (Why Has Nobody Told Me This Before?)