Olivia

“the damage done to us during our childhood cannot be undone, since we cannot change anything in our past. we can repair ourselves and gain our lost integrity by choosing to look more honestly at the knowledge that is stored inside our bodies and bringing that knowledge closer to our awareness.”
― Alice Miller

“The victimization of children is nowhere forbidden; what is forbidden is to write about it.”
― Alice Miller, Thou Shalt Not Be Aware: Society's Betrayal of the Child

“Genuine feelings are never the product of conscious effort. They are quite simply there, and they are there for a very good reason, even if that reason is not always apparent.”
― Alice Miller, The Body Never Lies: The Lingering Effects of Hurtful Parenting

“The automatic, natural contact with his own emotions and needs gives an individual strength and self-esteem. He may experience his feelings—sadness, despair, or the need for help—without fear of making the mother insecure. He can allow himself to be afraid when he is threatened, angry when his wishes are not fulfilled. He knows not only what he does not want but also what he wants and is able to express his wants, irrespective of whether he will be loved or hated for it.”
― Alice Miller, The Drama of the Gifted Child: The Search for the True Self