You see things. You keep quiet about them. And you understand.

Patrick, in Stephen Chbosky, The Perks of Being a Wallflower (1999)

Genuine

Yes. In a letter of October 1991 (the party at Bob’s), Patrick to Charlie, about p. 39, said by Patrick. These are the character’s words, not a statement in Chbosky’s own voice.

Checked against Stephen Chbosky, The Perks of Being a Wallflower (London: Simon & Schuster, 2012). First published New York: Pocket Books (MTV Books), February 1999, about p. 39 (Simon & Schuster, London, 2012; the line is a few paragraphs before ‘He’s a wallflower’ on p. 40; its own page was not read), in the text of a page scan, not the image.

Work
The Perks of Being a Wallflower, 1999
Where
Letter of October 1991 (the party at Bob’s), Patrick to Charlie, about p. 39
Source
Stephen Chbosky, The Perks of Being a Wallflower (London: Simon & Schuster, 2012). First published New York: Pocket Books (MTV Books), February 1999, about p. 39 (Simon & Schuster, London, 2012; the line is a few paragraphs before ‘He’s a wallflower’ on p. 40; its own page was not read)
Checked
In the text of a page scan, not the image

Researched by AI. Entry updated 25 October 2026. Editorial review: pending. How we check

About this quote

Where it comes from

First published in the novel (Pocket Books / MTV Books, February 1999); the 2012 London edition has the three sentences word for word. Wikiquote gives the line with ‘You’re a wallflower.’ added; that sentence was not found after these words in the OCR (the book has ‘“He’s a wallflower.”’ later, said to Bob). Searched: the Internet Archive’s full text for ‘You see things. You keep quiet about them. And you understand.’

The scene

At Bob’s party Charlie is nervous among the older students. Patrick sits down next to him and says this, as an explanation of the shy boy who watches the party and says little. Soon after, Patrick introduces him to Bob with the word that gives the book its title, ‘wallflower’.

What it means

A quiet person who watches without joining in is not empty: he sees, keeps his own counsel, and understands. It is Patrick’s kind reading of Charlie’s silence.

Often misread

Often given as a definition of ‘being a wallflower’ or with ‘You’re a wallflower.’ added. In the book the three sentences are Patrick’s words to Charlie, and the word ‘wallflower’ comes in the next paragraphs, in a line to Bob. It is Patrick’s line, a friend’s generous reading, not Chbosky’s own description.

Also shared as

  • Two passages run togetherYou see things. You keep quiet about them. And you understand. You’re a wallflower. The form listed on Wikiquote: the last sentence is added to Patrick’s three; in the book ‘wallflower’ comes in a later line to Bob. Where it was seen

Topics

Compassion

Related quotes

Sources

Cite it

Stephen Chbosky, The Perks of Being a Wallflower (1999), Letter of October 1991 (the party at Bob’s), Patrick to Charlie, about p. 39. Spoken by Patrick. Checked at Quotogeny, https://quotogeny.com/q/you-see-things-you-keep-quiet-about-them/ (25 October 2026).

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Checked by people

People who checked this entry against its source, under their own names. Their checks do not change the verdict: an editor reviews every entry.

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