---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Why do you want to talk to me?” I ask…"
description: "\"“Why do you want to talk to me?” I ask, stalling for time. It’s a reasonable question. Any woman in this situation would be wary, not just one who has ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b67/anna-zaires-15993_question_why-do-you-want-to-talk-to-me-i-ask-stal_23706.jpg"
---

#  Why do you want to talk to me?” I ask, stalling for time…

![“Why do you want to talk to me?” I ask, stalling for time. It’s a reasonable question. Any woman in this situation would be wary, not just one who has something to hide. “What do you want?” “You.” quote by Anna Zaires](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b67/anna-zaires-15993_question_why-do-you-want-to-talk-to-me-i-ask-stal_23706.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b67/anna-zaires-15993_question_why-do-you-want-to-talk-to-me-i-ask-stal_23706.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b67/anna-zaires-15993_question_why-do-you-want-to-talk-to-me-i-ask-stal_23706.jpg)

> ““Why do you want to talk to me?” I ask, stalling for time. It’s a reasonable question. Any woman in this situation would be wary, not just one who has something to hide. “What do you want?” “You.””

[Anna Zaires](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-zaires/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The speaker uses a defensive question to buy time, revealing anxiety about being judged and the desire for genuine connection.

**In simple terms:** Defensive curiosity and vulnerability

Key Takeaway

Self‑protection masks longing

Themes

trust vulnerability power dynamics gender expectations communication

Mood

cautious hopeful tense

Type

dialogue confessional dramatic

When to use this quote

- first dates
- interviews
- conflict resolution
- networking

Key Concepts

self‑esteem intentionality social perception

Practical Applications

- coaching on authentic dialogue
- scripted negotiation

Questions to Reflect On

- What does the question reveal about the speaker’s insecurities?
- How might honesty change the interaction?

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/)

## Related quotes

> [We think that we know a man or a woman, when so much of what we know is actually that man's or that woman's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-wolfe/we-think-that-we-know-a-man-or-a-woman-when-so-much-of-what-we-know/)

[Gene Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-wolfe/)

> [There is a vulnerability that any woman has in a situation where you're surrounded by men in an enclosed space. You learn through time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katee-sackhoff/there-is-a-vulnerability-that-any-woman-has-in-a-situation-where-you/)

[Katee Sackhoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katee-sackhoff/)

> [A miscarriage is a natural and common event. All told, probably more women have lost a child from this world than haven't. Most don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-kingsolver/a-miscarriage-is-a-natural-and-common-event-all-told-probably-more/)

[Barbara Kingsolver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-kingsolver/)

> [Ask me a question. Don't say talk about it, ask me a question. I'm not going to talk about it if it isn't a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-tortorella/ask-me-a-question-don-t-say-talk-about-it-ask-me-a-question-i-m-not/)

[John Tortorella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-tortorella/)

> [Even if sheep could talk, they'd never ask questions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-vachss/even-if-sheep-could-talk-they-d-never-ask-questions/)

[Andrew Vachss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-vachss/)

> ['I need to talk to you' and 'I have to ask you something' are two phrases that make me nervous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-need-to-talk-to-you-and-i-have-to-ask-you-something-are-two-phrases/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Some people meet me sometimes and they sit down and talk to me for a while and ask me my name and say, 'Oh,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-little/some-people-meet-me-sometimes-and-they-sit-down-and-talk-to-me-for-a/)

[Leonard Little](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-little/)

> [The most terrifying question a woman can ask a man is: Notice anything different?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-most-terrifying-question-a-woman-can-ask-a-man-is-notice-anything/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [When the woman took the earbud, he didn't ask another question. She was a woman on a mission as she placed the tiny device…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ally-carter/when-the-woman-took-the-earbud-he-didn-t-ask-another-question-she-was/)

[Ally Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ally-carter/)

> [“As Anne watched her, she could not help thinking of the age-old question every woman asks herself at some time or other: do I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-st-aubyn/as-anne-watched-her-she-could-not-help-thinking-of-the-age-old/)

[Edward St. Aubyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-st-aubyn/)

> [The question of woman's work in its economic aspect is really one not so much now of woman's rights as of woman's mights. Pretty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-heber-newton/the-question-of-woman-s-work-in-its-economic-aspect-is-really-one-not/)

R. Heber Newton

> [If her functioning as a female is not enough to define woman, if we decline also to explain her through "the eternal feminine," and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-de-beauvoir/if-her-functioning-as-a-female-is-not-enough-to-define-woman-if-we/)

[Simone de Beauvoir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-de-beauvoir/)

> [We're comfortable with women in certain roles but not comfortable with women expressing anger or fully accepting their power. The most daring question a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/libba-bray/we-re-comfortable-with-women-in-certain-roles-but-not-comfortable/)

[Libba Bray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/libba-bray/)

> [Man is a question; woman is an answer. The mistake women make today is to offer themselves as answers before being questioned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-bergam-n/man-is-a-question-woman-is-an-answer-the-mistake-women-make-today-is/)

[Jose Bergamin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-bergam-n/)

> [ One \[television\] program was an interminable exploration of the question: can a woman with a low I.Q. be happily married to a man with… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/one-television-program-was-an-interminable-exploration-of-the/)

[Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/)

## More by Anna Zaires

> [“It’s like the fates are conspiring to keep me in Moscow. It’s not enough that Russia has winters brutal enough to decimate its enemies’…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-zaires/it-s-like-the-fates-are-conspiring-to-keep-me-in-moscow-it-s-not/)

[Anna Zaires](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-zaires/)

> [“As soon as I lie down next to him, he pulls me against him, curving his body around me from the back and covering…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-zaires/as-soon-as-i-lie-down-next-to-him-he-pulls-me-against-him-curving-his/)

[Anna Zaires](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-zaires/)

> [“I know that he feels it too, this pull, this visceral connection between us. He may have all the power, but in this moment,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-zaires/i-know-that-he-feels-it-too-this-pull-this-visceral-connection/)

[Anna Zaires](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-zaires/)

> [“If Yulia Tzakova ever crosses my path again, she will pay. She will pay for everything.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-zaires/if-yulia-tzakova-ever-crosses-my-path-again-she-will-pay-she-will-pay/)

[Anna Zaires](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-zaires/)

> [ “Korum couldn't understand \[Connor's\] placidity. If Mia had blushed at the touch of another man, that man's lifespan would've been numbered in minutes.” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-zaires/korum-couldn-t-understand-connor-s-placidity-if-mia-had-blushed-at/)

[Anna Zaires](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-zaires/)

> [“I wanted to be so deep inside I’d never come out, to take her so hard I’d leave my imprint on her flesh.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-zaires/i-wanted-to-be-so-deep-inside-i-d-never-come-out-to-take-her-so-hard/)

[Anna Zaires](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-zaires/)

> [“He's not going to flip out again, is he?" Jessie sounded scared. "What? No, of course not," Mia said automatically. "Uh-huh," Jessie said doubtfully.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-zaires/he-s-not-going-to-flip-out-again-is-he-jessie-sounded-scared-what-no/)

[Anna Zaires](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-zaires/)

> [“With this man, I’m not in control, and that knowledge scares me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-zaires/with-this-man-i-m-not-in-control-and-that-knowledge-scares-me/)

[Anna Zaires](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-zaires/)

> [“Beside me Esguerra is silent, his hands gripping the edge of his seat as the ground rushes toward us, the small objects below looming…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-zaires/beside-me-esguerra-is-silent-his-hands-gripping-the-edge-of-his-seat/)

[Anna Zaires](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-zaires/)

> [“It’s not the sweet, tender kind of love I always dreamed of, but it’s love. Dark, twisted, and obsessive, it’s both a compulsion and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-zaires/it-s-not-the-sweet-tender-kind-of-love-i-always-dreamed-of-but-it-s/)

[Anna Zaires](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-zaires/)

> [“I love you," he said softly, his hand stroking her back. "And I'll do anything for you. You know that, right?" Mia smiled, her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-zaires/i-love-you-he-said-softly-his-hand-stroking-her-back-and-i-ll-do/)

[Anna Zaires](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-zaires/)

> [“Whoever said hell is hot was wrong. Hell is cold. Russian-winter cold.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-zaires/whoever-said-hell-is-hot-was-wrong-hell-is-cold-russian-winter-cold/)

[Anna Zaires](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-zaires/)

> [“Mine. She’s mine. The words are a primal drumbeat in my mind. I’ve never felt so possessive about a woman, have never wanted to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-zaires/mine-she-s-mine-the-words-are-a-primal-drumbeat-in-my-mind-i-ve-never/)

[Anna Zaires](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-zaires/)

> [“You don’t know?” he whispered harshly. “You truly don’t know that you mean everything to me?” Hardly daring to believe her ears, Mia pushed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-zaires/you-don-t-know-he-whispered-harshly-you-truly-don-t-know-that-you/)

[Anna Zaires](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-zaires/)

> [“He was staring at her mouth with what looked like raw hunger, his eyes turning more golden by the second. “Do that again,” he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-zaires/he-was-staring-at-her-mouth-with-what-looked-like-raw-hunger-his-eyes/)

[Anna Zaires](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-zaires/)

[Explore all 41 Anna Zaires quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-zaires/)

## More Question quotes

> [If you ask an introvert a question, wait until she thinks about it. Introverts think before speaking, not through speaking. If you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-helgoe/if-you-ask-an-introvert-a-question-wait-until-she-thinks-about-it/)

[Laurie Helgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-helgoe/)

> [Sometimes a question can hurt more than an answer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/sometimes-a-question-can-hurt-more-than-an-answer/)

[Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/)

> [What you are is a question only you can answer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lois-mcmaster-bujold/what-you-are-is-a-question-only-you-can-answer/)

[Lois McMaster Bujold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-mcmaster-bujold/)

> [Everything affects hip-hop. The question is, how does it affect the money that corporations are going to invest to put out different kinds of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-i-am/everything-affects-hip-hop-the-question-is-how-does-it-affect-the/)

[will.i.am](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-i-am/)

> [“What does he look like? The question was soft- tentative. I knew who he meant. I interlaced my fingers through Rhysand's and squeezed tightly.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/what-does-he-look-like-the-question-was-soft-tentative-i-knew-who-he/)

[Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/)

> [“And if you can’t say yes, answer anyway. Because I’d rather live with the answer than die with the question.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-ellis/and-if-you-can-t-say-yes-answer-anyway-because-i-d-rather-live-with/)

Jon Ellis

> [I visited the archeological site at the northern tip of Newfoundland. There is no question about it. It has been definitely determined that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-freedman/i-visited-the-archeological-site-at-the-northern-tip-of-newfoundland/)

[Russell Freedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-freedman/)

> [Nobody ever wins by the cavalry coming to rescue you. It isn't a question of you're happy if you get married, or you get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maeve-binchy/nobody-ever-wins-by-the-cavalry-coming-to-rescue-you-it-isn-t-a/)

[Maeve Binchy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maeve-binchy/)

> [Lie to me once, &amp; I'll question everything you say after that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/lie-to-me-once-i-ll-question-everything-you-say-after-that/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Every morning when I pick up the newspaper and read about an earthquake in Japan or problems in European financial institutions, the first question…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-schapiro/every-morning-when-i-pick-up-the-newspaper-and-read-about-an/)

[Mary Schapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-schapiro/)

> [“The question for the man of sense is: Do we or do we not want to go to hell? And his answer is: No,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/the-question-for-the-man-of-sense-is-do-we-or-do-we-not-want-to-go-to/)

[Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/)

> [Sober alkies are often asked: "When did you hit rock bottom?" but a more informed question might be: "How many times did you hit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/sober-alkies-are-often-asked-when-did-you-hit-rock-bottom-but-a-more/)

[Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/)

> [I feel like everyone puts a lot of question on me, what I'm going to do offensively, but I'd like to affect the game…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trea-turner/i-feel-like-everyone-puts-a-lot-of-question-on-me-what-i-m-going-to/)

[Trea Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trea-turner/)

> [ The question is whether \[suicide\] is the way out, or the way in. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-question-is-whether-suicide-is-the-way-out-or-the-way-in/)

[Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/)

> [It turns out that this part of the brain is one of the first areas that's attacked by Alzheimer's disease. So we can now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-o-keefe/it-turns-out-that-this-part-of-the-brain-is-one-of-the-first-areas/)

[John O'Keefe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-o-keefe/)

Browse all 3,177 Question quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“Why do you want to talk to me?” I ask, stalling for time. It’s a reasonable question. Any woman in this situation would be wary, not just one who has something to hide. “What do you want?” “You.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Anna Zaires"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-zaires/why-do-you-want-to-talk-to-me-i-ask-stalling-for-time-it-s-a/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Question"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-zaires/why-do-you-want-to-talk-to-me-i-ask-stalling-for-time-it-s-a/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b67/anna-zaires-15993_question_why-do-you-want-to-talk-to-me-i-ask-stal_23706.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b67/anna-zaires-15993_question_why-do-you-want-to-talk-to-me-i-ask-stal_23706.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b67/anna-zaires-15993_question_why-do-you-want-to-talk-to-me-i-ask-stal_23706.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Why do you want to talk to me?” I ask, stalling for time. It’s a reasonable question. Any woman in this…” — Anna Zaires",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Anna Zaires",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-zaires/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“Why do you want to talk...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-zaires/why-do-you-want-to-talk-to-me-i-ask-stalling-for-time-it-s-a/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-zaires/why-do-you-want-to-talk-to-me-i-ask-stalling-for-time-it-s-a/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
