--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Her time has come,\" answered Miss Lizzie…" description: "\"“Her time has come,\" answered Miss Lizzie. \"That's why I didn't marry Harvey - long ago when he asked me. I was afraid of 'that'. So afraid.\" \"I don't ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f00/betty-smith-1012_afraid_her-time-has-come-answered-miss-lizzie-t_3089403.png" --- # Her time has come," answered Miss Lizzie. "That's why I… ![“Her time has come," answered Miss Lizzie. "That's why I didn't marry Harvey - long ago when he asked me. I was afraid of 'that'. So afraid." "I don't know," Miss Lizzie said. "Sometimes I think it's better to suffer bitter unhappiness and to fight and to scream out, and even to suffer that…” quote by Betty Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f00/betty-smith-1012_afraid_her-time-has-come-answered-miss-lizzie-t_3089403.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f00/betty-smith-1012_afraid_her-time-has-come-answered-miss-lizzie-t_3089403.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f00/betty-smith-1012_afraid_her-time-has-come-answered-miss-lizzie-t_3089403.png) > ““Her time has come," answered Miss Lizzie. "That's why I didn't marry Harvey - long ago when he asked me. I was afraid of 'that'. So afraid." "I don't know," Miss Lizzie said. "Sometimes I think it's better to suffer bitter unhappiness and to fight and to scream out, and even to suffer that terrible pain, than just to be safe." She waited until the next scream died away. "At least she knows she's living.”” [Betty Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-smith/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A character reflects on choosing painful authenticity over safe complacency, valuing living fully despite fear. **In simple terms:** Choosing pain over safety can mean truly living. Key Takeaway Embrace discomfort to feel alive. Themes courage authenticity existence Mood reflective introspective Type philosophical literary When to use this quote - personal growth - mental health - creative expression - relationship dynamics Key Concepts Existentialism psychology risk Questions to Reflect On - What fears keep you from fully living? - How can discomfort foster growth? A Different Perspective Safety can lead to stagnation and missed experiences. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Afraid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afraid/) [Asked Afraid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asked-afraid-690649/) [Childbirth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/childbirth/) [Didn Marry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/didn-marry-701708/) [Lizzie Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lizzie-said-687346/) [Long ago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long-ago/) [Motherhood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motherhood/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Waited Scream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/waited-scream-2198279/) ## Related quotes > [“I don’t know,” Miss Lizzie said. “Sometimes I think it’s better to suffer bitter unhappiness and to fight and to scream out, and even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-smith/i-don-t-know-miss-lizzie-said-sometimes-i-think-it-s-better-to-suffer/) [Betty Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-smith/) > [“The spare Tynmore spinsters lay in their hard virginal bed. They groped for each other’s hands. “Did you hear it, Sister?” asked Miss Maggie.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-smith/the-spare-tynmore-spinsters-lay-in-their-hard-virginal-bed-they/) [Betty Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-smith/) > [“Bliss?” I called. “Yeah?” “Check the drawers of the nightstand! She was playing with it in the middle of the night, and I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cora-carmack/bliss-i-called-yeah-check-the-drawers-of-the-nightstand-she-was/) [Cora Carmack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cora-carmack/) > [“Lizzie said that if you imagined you were standing on the moon, looking down on the earth, you wouldn't be able to see the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-creech/lizzie-said-that-if-you-imagined-you-were-standing-on-the-moon/) [Sharon Creech](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-creech/) > [“What's the matter, MacLean? Are you afraid?" His brows snapped down, his eyes glinting dangerously. " What did you say?" She lifted her chin.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-hawkins/what-s-the-matter-maclean-are-you-afraid-his-brows-snapped-down-his/) [Karen Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-hawkins/) > [“You asked me whether I was afraid, but to be afraid or sad doesn't mean one is making a mistake. it just means one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muriel-maufroy/you-asked-me-whether-i-was-afraid-but-to-be-afraid-or-sad-doesn-t/) [Muriel Maufroy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muriel-maufroy/) > [“You had once asked me if I was afraid of death. I said I was afraid of not living. I don’t want to eke…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeanette-winterson/you-had-once-asked-me-if-i-was-afraid-of-death-i-said-i-was-afraid-of/) [Jeanette Winterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeanette-winterson/) > [Someone asked me if I was afraid to write my memoirs. I told him: 'We have to stop drawing up accounts of fear! We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/someone-asked-me-if-i-was-afraid-to-write-my-memoirs-i-told-him-we/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) > [“-Do you have any scary I can borrow? Orafoura asked. -I’m afraid not, I replied.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/do-you-have-any-scary-i-can-borrow-orafoura-asked-i-m-afraid-not-i/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [“The steward just asked me if I was not afraid to travel alone, and I said, "Why, it is life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-hahn/the-steward-just-asked-me-if-i-was-not-afraid-to-travel-alone-and-i/) [Emily Hahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-hahn/) > [ Stupid. Stupid. Foaly, we are both imbeciles. I don't expect lateral thinking from the LEP, but from you..." ... "What is it?" \[Holly\] asked,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eoin-colfer/stupid-stupid-foaly-we-are-both-imbeciles-i-don-t-expect-lateral/) [Eoin Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eoin-colfer/) > [“You coming in here?” I asked. “Afraid I’ll gnaw on your stepmother?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devon-monk/you-coming-in-here-i-asked-afraid-i-ll-gnaw-on-your-stepmother/) [Devon Monk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devon-monk/) > [When one begins, as I did, to analyze men after a fairly long experience of analyzing women, one receives a most surprising impression of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-horney/when-one-begins-as-i-did-to-analyze-men-after-a-fairly-long/) [Karen Horney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-horney/) > [“Blessed your mum, who carried you in a womb for nine months.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/blessed-your-mum-who-carried-you-in-a-womb-for-nine-months/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [“The silence stretched out between us as I stared at him, the tears blurring my vision as I waited for him to save me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-michaels/the-silence-stretched-out-between-us-as-i-stared-at-him-the-tears/) [Kathryn Michaels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-michaels/) ## More by Betty Smith > [“Yes, when I get big and have my own home, no plush chairs and lace curtains for me. And no rubber plants. I'll have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-smith/yes-when-i-get-big-and-have-my-own-home-no-plush-chairs-and-lace/) [Betty Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-smith/) > [“Several times that day, the name or thought of Papa had come up. And each time, Francie had felt a flash of tenderness instead…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-smith/several-times-that-day-the-name-or-thought-of-papa-had-come-up-and/) [Betty Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-smith/) > [As long as one can suffer, one is living…live and suffer until life is gone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-smith/as-long-as-one-can-suffer-one-is-living-live-and-suffer-until-life-is/) [Betty Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-smith/) > [“Sissy told them they were way behind the times; that midwives were things of the past. Besides, she informed them proudly, she had no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-smith/sissy-told-them-they-were-way-behind-the-times-that-midwives-were/) [Betty Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-smith/) > [“Why, Mrs McGarrity's all right. Mr McGarrity's all right, too. Only I guess they aren't all right to each other.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-smith/why-mrs-mcgarrity-s-all-right-mr-mcgarrity-s-all-right-too-only-i/) [Betty Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-smith/) > [“I drink because I don't stand a chance and I know it. I couldn't drive a truck and I couldn't get on the cops…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-smith/i-drink-because-i-don-t-stand-a-chance-and-i-know-it-i-couldn-t-drive/) [Betty Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-smith/) > [“Pipe dreams, he thought to himself, even while he was telling her about his dream winnings. But oh, how wonderful, he thought, if everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-smith/pipe-dreams-he-thought-to-himself-even-while-he-was-telling-her-about/) [Betty Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-smith/) > [“Who wants to die? Everything struggles to live. Look at that tree growing up there out of that grating. It gets no sun, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-smith/who-wants-to-die-everything-struggles-to-live-look-at-that-tree/) [Betty Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-smith/) > [It takes a lot of doing to die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-smith/it-takes-a-lot-of-doing-to-die/) [Betty Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-smith/) > [“She sat in the sunshine watching the life on the street and guarding within herself, her own mystery of life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-smith/she-sat-in-the-sunshine-watching-the-life-on-the-street-and-guarding/) [Betty Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-smith/) > [...the reading, the observing, the living from day to day. It was something that had been born into her and her only - the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-smith/the-reading-the-observing-the-living-from-day-to-day-it-was-something/) [Betty Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-smith/) > [People always think that happiness is a faraway thing … something complicated and hard to get. Yet, what little things can make it up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-smith/people-always-think-that-happiness-is-a-faraway-thing-something/) [Betty Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-smith/) > [“Hildy O’Dair is old for her age,” she thought. “It’s like powder was sprinkled on her yellow hair. But she’s not much older than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-smith/hildy-o-dair-is-old-for-her-age-she-thought-it-s-like-powder-was/) [Betty Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-smith/) > [“One day they’re babies in buggies and the next day they’re in here taking picks. Kids grow up quick in this neighborhood.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-smith/one-day-they-re-babies-in-buggies-and-the-next-day-they-re-in-here/) [Betty Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-smith/) > [“If she never had any lovers, she kicks herself around when the change comes, thinking of all the fun she could have had, didn’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-smith/if-she-never-had-any-lovers-she-kicks-herself-around-when-the-change/) [Betty Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-smith/) [Explore all 306 Betty Smith quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-smith/) ## More Afraid quotes > [It took me 20 years to buy an electric typewriter, because I was afraid it would be too sensitive. I like to bang the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/it-took-me-20-years-to-buy-an-electric-typewriter-because-i-was/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [“Carrie Fisher. “Stay afraid, but do it anyway.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-union/carrie-fisher-stay-afraid-but-do-it-anyway/) [Gabrielle Union](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-union/) > [I used to be afraid of my temper, but it turns out I don't really have one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-bell/i-used-to-be-afraid-of-my-temper-but-it-turns-out-i-don-t-really-have/) [Zoe Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-bell/) > [I get afraid of the dark if I'm in a great deal of dark, and I have to move around inside of that fear...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emil-ferris/i-get-afraid-of-the-dark-if-i-m-in-a-great-deal-of-dark-and-i-have-to/) [Emil Ferris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emil-ferris/) > [I am not afraid of praise, for I have practiced it on myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/i-am-not-afraid-of-praise-for-i-have-practiced-it-on-myself/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [I'm a pretty fearless person. I'm afraid of, like, creepy men in white vans and sidewalks with no streetlights. But I'm not afraid to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josie-totah/i-m-a-pretty-fearless-person-i-m-afraid-of-like-creepy-men-in-white/) [Josie Totah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josie-totah/) > [I will support my party when they are right on an issue, but am not afraid to stand up to party bosses who are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darlene-senger/i-will-support-my-party-when-they-are-right-on-an-issue-but-am-not/) [Darlene Senger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darlene-senger/) > [Why am I so afraid to loose you,when you're not even mine?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/why-am-i-so-afraid-to-loose-you-when-you-re-not-even-mine/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I want to tell you, but I cant, becuase I'm afraid if I do you'll never treat me same the again](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cristina-orante/i-want-to-tell-you-but-i-cant-becuase-i-m-afraid-if-i-do-you-ll-never/) [Cristina Orante](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cristina-orante/) > [Mistakes I've made in the past make me afraid to try new things in the future. I want to be perfect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-altucher/mistakes-i-ve-made-in-the-past-make-me-afraid-to-try-new-things-in/) [James Altucher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-altucher/) > [“Humans are naturally scared and confused beings. They not only fear the unknown, as they live fearing themselves... ☥”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-marques/humans-are-naturally-scared-and-confused-beings-they-not-only-fear/) [Luis Marques](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-marques/) > [If you are too afraid of failure, you cant possibly do what needs to be done to succeed in living a fulfilling life. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melchor-lim/if-you-are-too-afraid-of-failure-you-cant-possibly-do-what-needs-to/) [Melchor Lim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melchor-lim/) > [We cannot be afraid of the dark that they live in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/burnie-burns/we-cannot-be-afraid-of-the-dark-that-they-live-in/) [Burnie Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/burnie-burns/) > [“I think the reason we're cruel sometimes is that we're afraid we're going to like something.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-berg/i-think-the-reason-we-re-cruel-sometimes-is-that-we-re-afraid-we-re/) [Elizabeth Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-berg/) > [I'm still with that feeling that I am afraid of doing the wrong thing, because somebody is going to punish me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eartha-kitt/i-m-still-with-that-feeling-that-i-am-afraid-of-doing-the-wrong-thing/) [Eartha Kitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eartha-kitt/) [Browse all 5,519 Afraid quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afraid/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Her time has come,\" answered Miss Lizzie. \"That's why I didn't marry Harvey - long ago when he asked me. 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So afraid.\" \"I don't know,\" Miss Lizzie said. \"Sometimes I think it's better to suffer bitter unhappiness and to fight and to scream out, and even to suffer that terrible pain, than just to be safe.\" She waited until the next scream died away. \"At least she knows she's living.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Betty Smith" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-smith/her-time-has-come-answered-miss-lizzie-that-s-why-i-didn-t-marry/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Afraid" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-smith/her-time-has-come-answered-miss-lizzie-that-s-why-i-didn-t-marry/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f00/betty-smith-1012_afraid_her-time-has-come-answered-miss-lizzie-t_3089403.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f00/betty-smith-1012_afraid_her-time-has-come-answered-miss-lizzie-t_3089403.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f00/betty-smith-1012_afraid_her-time-has-come-answered-miss-lizzie-t_3089403.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Her time has come,\" answered Miss Lizzie. \"That's why I didn't marry Harvey - long ago when he asked me. 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