What does Holden mean when he says, 'Don't even tell anybody anything. If you do, you start missing everybody' ?

• A. Don't get close to anyone; people will leave or disappoint you.
• B. Sharing feelings strengthens relationships.
• C. Keep feelings to yourself to avoid hurting others.
• D. Always tell the truth to everyone.

Answer: (A)

Holden is expressing a fear of emotional closeness. He’s been hurt before—Allie’s death, and his distrust of people he calls “phony”—and he protects himself by keeping others at a distance. When you share something personal, you form a connection, and connections mean you can miss people when they’re gone or let you down. So the line is a defense: if you don’t get close, you don’t have to face that pain. That’s why the best interpretation is that you shouldn’t get close to anyone because people will leave or disappoint you. It’s not about avoiding hurt by keeping feelings to yourself to spare others, or about always telling the truth, or about sharing feelings to strengthen relationships; it’s about the impulse to withdraw in order to dodge emotional pain.