--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: People are usually afraid to say what's…" description: "\"People are usually afraid to say what's on their mind.\" — Donald Fagen" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f45/donald-fagen-23315_afraid_people-are-usually-afraid-to-say-what-s_2784603.jpg" --- # People are usually afraid to say what's on their mind. ![“People are usually afraid to say what's on their mind.” quote by Donald Fagen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f45/donald-fagen-23315_afraid_people-are-usually-afraid-to-say-what-s_2784603.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f45/donald-fagen-23315_afraid_people-are-usually-afraid-to-say-what-s_2784603.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f45/donald-fagen-23315_afraid_people-are-usually-afraid-to-say-what-s_2784603.jpg) > “People are usually afraid to say what's on their mind.” [Donald Fagen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-fagen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People often suppress honest thoughts out of fear of conflict or judgment. **In simple terms:** Fear stops honest speech. Key Takeaway Encourage open, respectful dialogue. Themes communication psychology social dynamics Mood reflective thoughtful Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - team meetings - friend groups - online forums - public speaking Key Concepts fear of rejection self‑censorship interpersonal honesty Questions to Reflect On - When is honesty harmful? - How to speak truth without alienating? A Different Perspective Not all truth is constructive; timing matters. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Afraid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afraid/) [Afraid Say](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afraid-say/) [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [People Usually](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-usually/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Say Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/say-mind/) [Usually Afraid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/usually-afraid-981414/) ## Related quotes > [I'm the type of girl who is not afraid to say what's on her mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miranda-h/i-m-the-type-of-girl-who-is-not-afraid-to-say-what-s-on-her-mind/) [Miranda H](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miranda-h/) > [“People who are afraid of death are usually afraid of life. Anon.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-gellatly/people-who-are-afraid-of-death-are-usually-afraid-of-life-anon/) [Douglas Gellatly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-gellatly/) > [When you act like a teacher, it's usually because you're afraid to be the student.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/byron-katie/when-you-act-like-a-teacher-it-s-usually-because-you-re-afraid-to-be/) [Byron Katie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/byron-katie/) > [“Every day, people engaged in the clever defiance of their own intuition become, in mid-thought, victims of violence and accidents. So when we wonder…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gavin-de-becker/every-day-people-engaged-in-the-clever-defiance-of-their-own/) [Gavin de Becker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gavin-de-becker/) > [“A romantic is usually afraid in case reality doesn't come up to expectations.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-greene/a-romantic-is-usually-afraid-in-case-reality-doesn-t-come-up-to/) [Graham Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-greene/) > [I should tell you how I really feel, but I'm afraid of what you might say no...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-should-tell-you-how-i-really-feel-but-i-m-afraid-of-what-you-might/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I believe very much that the most damning thing you can say about Muslims is that you're afraid to say anything because they'll hurt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/i-believe-very-much-that-the-most-damning-thing-you-can-say-about/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [But in the end our government usually - not unfailingly - is responsive to the people; and usually - not always - will try…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-h-hamilton/but-in-the-end-our-government-usually-not-unfailingly-is-responsive/) [Lee H. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-h-hamilton/) > [“People usually told him the same joke two or three times.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walker-percy/people-usually-told-him-the-same-joke-two-or-three-times/) [Walker Percy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walker-percy/) > [People usually are the happiest at home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/people-usually-are-the-happiest-at-home/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“People usually fall in love. But some people were born in love. Already. And always.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-joybell-c/people-usually-fall-in-love-but-some-people-were-born-in-love-already/) [C. JoyBell C](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-joybell-c/) > [The scariest people are usually the sweetest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-roth/the-scariest-people-are-usually-the-sweetest/) [Eli Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-roth/) > [Campaigns are these moments of suspended animation where people usually learn how to be friends afterward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-garcetti/campaigns-are-these-moments-of-suspended-animation-where-people/) [Eric Garcetti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-garcetti/) > [People usually call me for experimental songs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/javed-ali/people-usually-call-me-for-experimental-songs/) [Javed Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/javed-ali/) > [“Expectation and fact are two different things that people usually cannot differentiate.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lionel-suggs/expectation-and-fact-are-two-different-things-that-people-usually/) [Lionel Suggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lionel-suggs/) ## More by Donald Fagen > [I had trouble distinguishing art from life. I don't now, and I feel much better!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-fagen/i-had-trouble-distinguishing-art-from-life-i-don-t-now-and-i-feel/) [Donald Fagen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-fagen/) > [Melodies can be good depending on the context. You can have a simple melody, and if the harmony behind it is interesting, it can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-fagen/melodies-can-be-good-depending-on-the-context-you-can-have-a-simple/) [Donald Fagen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-fagen/) > [My style is a little quirky. I can't play as fast as most professional jazz players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-fagen/my-style-is-a-little-quirky-i-can-t-play-as-fast-as-most-professional/) [Donald Fagen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-fagen/) > [Now why the hell would I want to increase the volume of my ejaculation ? They can already hear me in the apartment next door.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-fagen/now-why-the-hell-would-i-want-to-increase-the-volume-of-my/) [Donald Fagen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-fagen/) > [Randy Newman seemed like an even worse singer than me. I liked Ray Charles, Levi Stubbs, Jack Jones, Joe Tex, Wilson Pickett.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-fagen/randy-newman-seemed-like-an-even-worse-singer-than-me-i-liked-ray/) [Donald Fagen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-fagen/) > [Popularity has everything to do with business and nothing to do with music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-fagen/popularity-has-everything-to-do-with-business-and-nothing-to-do-with/) [Donald Fagen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-fagen/) > [As jazz fans, it was amusing for us to play jazz harmonies on these big, ugly electric guitars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-fagen/as-jazz-fans-it-was-amusing-for-us-to-play-jazz-harmonies-on-these/) [Donald Fagen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-fagen/) > [It's great to know that our old stuff still sounds good to our fans, just as it's wonderful to think that we've turned a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-fagen/it-s-great-to-know-that-our-old-stuff-still-sounds-good-to-our-fans/) [Donald Fagen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-fagen/) > [What do you do with what you're given, and how do you transform it into something worthwhile?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-fagen/what-do-you-do-with-what-you-re-given-and-how-do-you-transform-it/) [Donald Fagen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-fagen/) > [We don't think of ourselves as being perfectionists, really. To us it's more about desperately trying to have it sound more or less OK.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-fagen/we-don-t-think-of-ourselves-as-being-perfectionists-really-to-us-it-s/) [Donald Fagen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-fagen/) > [What a beautiful world this will be What a glorious time to be free](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-fagen/what-a-beautiful-world-this-will-be-what-a-glorious-time-to-be-free/) [Donald Fagen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-fagen/) > [“I started going to jazz clubs in New York when I was twelve or thirteen, first with my older cousins Mike and Jack, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-fagen/i-started-going-to-jazz-clubs-in-new-york-when-i-was-twelve-or/) [Donald Fagen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-fagen/) > [Anthemic rock music is inherently fascist - anything intended to move huge masses of people is politically offensive to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-fagen/anthemic-rock-music-is-inherently-fascist-anything-intended-to-move/) [Donald Fagen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-fagen/) > [I don't think you can escape the environment we live in now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-fagen/i-don-t-think-you-can-escape-the-environment-we-live-in-now/) [Donald Fagen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-fagen/) > [I tried to grow up. Honest. Didn’t quite happen. I guess I’m someone for whom youth still seems more real than the present, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-fagen/i-tried-to-grow-up-honest-didn-t-quite-happen-i-guess-i-m-someone-for/) [Donald Fagen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-fagen/) [Explore all 26 Donald Fagen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-fagen/) ## 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": "People are usually afraid to say what's on their mind.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Donald Fagen" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-fagen/people-are-usually-afraid-to-say-what-s-on-their-mind/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Afraid" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-fagen/people-are-usually-afraid-to-say-what-s-on-their-mind/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f45/donald-fagen-23315_afraid_people-are-usually-afraid-to-say-what-s_2784603.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f45/donald-fagen-23315_afraid_people-are-usually-afraid-to-say-what-s_2784603.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f45/donald-fagen-23315_afraid_people-are-usually-afraid-to-say-what-s_2784603.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“People are usually afraid to say what's on their mind.” — Donald Fagen", "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": "Donald Fagen", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-fagen/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "People are usually afraid to say...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-fagen/people-are-usually-afraid-to-say-what-s-on-their-mind/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-fagen/people-are-usually-afraid-to-say-what-s-on-their-mind/#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 } } ] } ```