This article explores how shame affects individuals over time, from childhood to late adulthood. A series of semi-structured interviews was conducted with 35 aging hidden Jewish children (21 women, 14 men; mean age of 74.9 years, range: 65-82 years), living in France 65 years after the Holocaust. For most of them, shame repeatedly acts as an “alarm signal.” For many, the transformation has been possible: creation, recognition by the social group. We also discuss the fact that shame can lead to psychic exhaustion as well as handing down to the next generation. This outcome can prove fatal.