--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We're lonely, but we're afraid of…" description: "\"We're lonely, but we're afraid of intimacy. And so from social networks to sociable robots, we're designing technologies that will give us the illusion..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e1/anonymous-1_companionship_we-re-lonely-but-we-re-afraid-of-intimac_2085754.jpg" --- # We're lonely, but we're afraid of intimacy. And so from… ![“We're lonely, but we're afraid of intimacy. And so from social networks to sociable robots, we're designing technologies that will give us the illusion of companionship without the demands of friendship.” quote by Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e1/anonymous-1_companionship_we-re-lonely-but-we-re-afraid-of-intimac_2085754.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e1/anonymous-1_companionship_we-re-lonely-but-we-re-afraid-of-intimac_2085754.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e1/anonymous-1_companionship_we-re-lonely-but-we-re-afraid-of-intimac_2085754.jpg) > “We're lonely, but we're afraid of intimacy. And so from social networks to sociable robots, we're designing technologies that will give us the illusion of companionship without the demands of friendship.” [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People fear deep connection, so they turn to shallow digital interactions that mimic companionship without real responsibility. **In simple terms:** Fear of intimacy leads to superficial tech companionship. Key Takeaway Seek authentic relationships rather than simulated ones. Themes loneliness technology intimacy Mood cautious thoughtful Type critical observational When to use this quote - online dating - social media - AI companions - remote work - elder care Key Concepts social psychology digital media human needs Questions to Reflect On - What does true companionship mean to you? - How can we balance tech use with genuine connection? A Different Perspective Tech can’t replace the depth of real human bonds. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Companionship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/companionship/) [Demand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/demand/) [Design](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/design/) [Friendship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Illusion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/illusion/) [Intimacy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intimacy/) [Lonely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lonely/) [Robotics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/robotics/) [Robots](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/robots/) [Romance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/romance/) [Social](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/social/) [Social network](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/social-network/) [Technology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/technology/) ## Related quotes > [I hate solitude, but I'm afraid of intimacy. The substance of my life is a private conversation with myself which to turn into a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iris-murdoch/i-hate-solitude-but-i-m-afraid-of-intimacy-the-substance-of-my-life/) [Iris Murdoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iris-murdoch/) > [I hate solitude but I am afraid of intimacy. The substance of my life is a private conversation with myself and to turn it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iris-murdoch/i-hate-solitude-but-i-am-afraid-of-intimacy-the-substance-of-my-life/) [Iris Murdoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iris-murdoch/) > [Terrified of being alone, yet afraid of intimacy, we experience widespread feelings of emptiness, of disconnection, of the unreality of self. And here the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherry-turkle/terrified-of-being-alone-yet-afraid-of-intimacy-we-experience/) [Sherry Turkle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherry-turkle/) > [We're lonely, but we're afraid of intimacy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherry-turkle/we-re-lonely-but-we-re-afraid-of-intimacy/) [Sherry Turkle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherry-turkle/) > [“Question," says Christina, leaning forward. "The leaders who were watching your fear landscape...they were laughing at something." "Oh?" I bite my lip hard. "I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/question-says-christina-leaning-forward-the-leaders-who-were-watching/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [“but somehow, his seeing her afraid was an intimacy she could not bear.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brit-bennett/but-somehow-his-seeing-her-afraid-was-an-intimacy-she-could-not-bear/) [Brit Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brit-bennett/) > [Your social networks may matter more than your genetic networks. But if your friends have healthy habits you are more likely to as well.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/your-social-networks-may-matter-more-than-your-genetic-networks-but/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Remember all of the 'me too' social networks built just to have a social feature Facebook and MySpace didn't have? I built one for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/remember-all-of-the-me-too-social-networks-built-just-to-have-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When I was kid, my social network was called 'outside.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-i-was-kid-my-social-network-was-called-outside/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I think teenagers nowadays are depending too much of their life on Social Network sites. Facebook, Twitter. What would your life be without them?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-think-teenagers-nowadays-are-depending-too-much-of-their-life-on/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Facebook is the only social network where by relationship can be ruined easily](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/facebook-is-the-only-social-network-where-by-relationship-can-be/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Now people meet on Skype, get together on Facebook, Cheat on MSN and break-up by text. Soon,we'll get married by bluetooth and make children…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/now-people-meet-on-skype-get-together-on-facebook-cheat-on-msn-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The original dream of Facebook Platform was to enable developers to build experiences that were social at their core, like Facebook Photos, without having…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-original-dream-of-facebook-platform-was-to-enable-developers-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Social networks including Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest took a step closer to offering ecommerce on their own platforms this week, as the battle to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/social-networks-including-facebook-twitter-and-pinterest-took-a-step/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Someone new you meet at work, through your social network, or even through a family connection may feel awkward or like he or she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/someone-new-you-meet-at-work-through-your-social-network-or-even/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Anonymous > [And a tear rolled down her cheek, as she said goodbye; because she's walking away, and she's never looking back](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/and-a-tear-rolled-down-her-cheek-as-she-said-goodbye-because-she-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You'll seldom experience regret for anything that you've done. It is what you haven't done that will torment you. The message, therefore, is clear.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-ll-seldom-experience-regret-for-anything-that-you-ve-done-it-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Scrabble - The game is available in Braille. That’s a nice fact. This makes me feel better about humanity for some reason. I can’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/scrabble-the-game-is-available-in-braille-that-s-a-nice-fact-this/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Everyone needs someone to love, and I choose you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/everyone-needs-someone-to-love-and-i-choose-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“THIS tale of my sore-troubled life I write,    To thank the God of nature, who conveyed    My soul to me, and with such care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/this-tale-of-my-sore-troubled-life-i-write-to-thank-the-god-of-nature/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Put on my J's and dance the whole night away Im naughty by nature like Im hip-hop hooray With my hands in the sky,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/put-on-my-j-s-and-dance-the-whole-night-away-im-naughty-by-nature/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Me.. I have been through a lot, but I still manage to have a smile on my face. Im not worried about the past…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/me-i-have-been-through-a-lot-but-i-still-manage-to-have-a-smile-on-my/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Distance is a test of love. many will fail for those who can't withstand it, but for those who can, theres only one answer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/distance-is-a-test-of-love-many-will-fail-for-those-who-can-t/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Im sorry I ever tried...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/im-sorry-i-ever-tried/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Being betrayed by the one you love is the worst feeling in the world...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-betrayed-by-the-one-you-love-is-the-worst-feeling-in-the-world/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Let children support their parents or be imprisoned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/let-children-support-their-parents-or-be-imprisoned/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The only person I've ever purposely caused pain here is myself...By simply sharing, caring too much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-only-person-i-ve-ever-purposely-caused-pain-here-is-myself-by/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Start a business, not a startup”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/start-a-business-not-a-startup/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The truth is, of course, that the curtness of the Ten Commandments is an evidence, not of the gloom and narrowness of a religion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-truth-is-of-course-that-the-curtness-of-the-ten-commandments-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Explore all 162,899 Anonymous quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More Companionship quotes > [“Maybe some people were destined to be alone. 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A true…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-ludy/a-true-leader-must-have-enough-backbone-to-stand-alone-even-when-the/) [Leslie Ludy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-ludy/) > [We all smile and we all cry but it takes someone very special to make us smile when we already have tears in our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chee-vai-tang/we-all-smile-and-we-all-cry-but-it-takes-someone-very-special-to-make/) [Chee Vai Tang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chee-vai-tang/) > [“Here's what I think. We all want someone to build a fort with. We want somebody to swap crayons with and play hide-and-seek with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/here-s-what-i-think-we-all-want-someone-to-build-a-fort-with-we-want/) [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) > [Are you implying that shreds of my reputation remain intact?" Will demanded with mock horror. "Clearly I have been doing something wrong. Or not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/are-you-implying-that-shreds-of-my-reputation-remain-intact-will/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [The Voice of Heaven is a still small voice. The voice of peace in the home is a quiet voice. There is need for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-b-hinckley/the-voice-of-heaven-is-a-still-small-voice-the-voice-of-peace-in-the/) [Gordon B. 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