Plenty of patrons had asked me strange things, but this…
““Plenty of patrons had asked me strange things, but this was the first who asked me where my car was parked. It was almost comical to look at the man, because he actually thought I was going to tell him. I struggled to come up with a reply, but the best I could muster was, "That's personal." What I meant to say was, "Sir, the fact that I work in a public library doesn't make me stupid, it just makes me poor. There's no way I'm going to tell you—a psychotic person who could very well have a knife in his pocket—where I have parked my car.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
A librarian asserts personal boundaries, refusing to share private information with a potentially dangerous stranger.
In simple terms: Set boundaries with strangers.
Key Takeaway
Protect privacy and safety.
Themes
privacy
boundaries
personal
Mood
defensive
assertive
Type
advice
humorous
When to use this quote
- library work
- public spaces
- personal safety
Key Concepts
ethics
social interaction
Questions to Reflect On
- When is it appropriate to share personal info?
- How to de‑escalate tense encounters?
A Different Perspective
Boundaries can be misinterpreted as hostility.