“My lighter, more superficial side will always steal a march on the deeper side and therefore always win. You can’t imagine how often I’ve tried to push away this Anne, which is only half of what is known as Anne – to beat her down, hide her.”
- June 12, 1929 – February/March 1945
- German-Dutch
- Diarist, Holocaust Victim, Symbol of the Human Cost of War and Persecution
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Quote
“My lighter, more superficial side will always steal a march on the deeper side and therefore always win. You can’t imagine how often I’ve tried to push away this Anne, which is only half of what is known as Anne – to beat her down, hide her.”
Explanation
Anne Frank’s words reveal a profound inner conflict between her outward personality and her inner self. She acknowledges that her “lighter, more superficial side” tends to dominate—the side that others see and perhaps expect of her—while her deeper, more introspective nature struggles to be expressed. The phrase “steal a march” suggests that this surface-level Anne is quicker to emerge, more socially acceptable, and thus more often victorious in public life.
This internal division speaks to a universal experience of identity, particularly during adolescence. Anne’s desire to suppress her superficial self and reveal her truer, more thoughtful self reflects her longing for authenticity and understanding. Yet she also describes her efforts to do so as a kind of internal battle, highlighting how hard it is to be fully seen for who we really are—especially in a world that rewards charm over depth, and certainty over vulnerability.
In modern terms, this struggle resonates with many who navigate social roles and personal truth, particularly in spaces like social media where the “lighter side” is often spotlighted. Anne’s honesty reminds us of the importance of creating environments—whether in friendships, families, or society—where people can safely express their fuller, more complex selves. Her words are both a confession and a call for deeper connection: to look past the surface and truly see the person beneath.
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