--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I'm very shy and awkward; I can't have a…" description: "\"I'm very shy and awkward; I can't have a normal conversation, and then people think I'm being a bit rude, but really I'm not.\" — Eliot Sumner" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/62b/eliot-sumner-16684_communication_i-m-very-shy-and-awkward-i-can-t-have-a_1733987.jpg" --- # I'm very shy and awkward; I can't have a normal… ![“I'm very shy and awkward; I can't have a normal conversation, and then people think I'm being a bit rude, but really I'm not.” quote by Eliot Sumner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/62b/eliot-sumner-16684_communication_i-m-very-shy-and-awkward-i-can-t-have-a_1733987.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/62b/eliot-sumner-16684_communication_i-m-very-shy-and-awkward-i-can-t-have-a_1733987.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/62b/eliot-sumner-16684_communication_i-m-very-shy-and-awkward-i-can-t-have-a_1733987.jpg) > “I'm very shy and awkward; I can't have a normal conversation, and then people think I'm being a bit rude, but really I'm not.” [Eliot Sumner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliot-sumner/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Social anxiety hinders natural conversation, leading to misinterpretation of intent. **In simple terms:** Shyness blocks conversation, causing others to misread. Key Takeaway Practice low‑stakes social skills gradually. Themes social anxiety communication misunderstanding Mood anxious hopeful Type personal development motivational When to use this quote - networking events - therapy sessions - daily interactions Key Concepts psychology self‑esteem interpersonal dynamics Questions to Reflect On - What small step can ease a conversation? - How can others respond supportively? A Different Perspective Progress may be slow and setbacks common. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Communication](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communication/) [Conversation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conversation/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Rude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rude/) ## Related quotes > [You can't read when you're traveling with other people; it always feels a bit rude.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/courtney-barnett/you-can-t-read-when-you-re-traveling-with-other-people-it-always/) [Courtney Barnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/courtney-barnett/) > [But from my very first gig I've always been pretty filthy, but that's why we have an age restriction. And I make sure that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-millican/but-from-my-very-first-gig-i-ve-always-been-pretty-filthy-but-that-s/) [Sarah Millican](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-millican/) > [Because I was a shy and awkward child, I used humour to deflect attention. It was a controlling mechanism. Because I could use it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-tate/because-i-was-a-shy-and-awkward-child-i-used-humour-to-deflect/) [Catherine Tate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-tate/) > [I could be myself. I'm very shy and awkward. I think the best thing is to embrace it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-hayes/i-could-be-myself-i-m-very-shy-and-awkward-i-think-the-best-thing-is/) [Hunter Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-hayes/) > [I tend to be sort of quiet and shy and awkward in social situations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-kushner/i-tend-to-be-sort-of-quiet-and-shy-and-awkward-in-social-situations/) [Tony Kushner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-kushner/) > [At school I was always taller than the rest of my class, and because I was an only child, I was comfortable with adults…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavia-e-butler/at-school-i-was-always-taller-than-the-rest-of-my-class-and-because-i/) [Octavia E. Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavia-e-butler/) > [Even painfully shy and awkward people are not painfully shy or awkward when they are alone. The way to access this natural, comfortable alone-self…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augusten-burroughs/even-painfully-shy-and-awkward-people-are-not-painfully-shy-or/) [Augusten Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augusten-burroughs/) > [“Cassius shook his head and sighed "I want to have just one conversation with you that doesn't required GPS to navigate. I'm not asking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-evans/cassius-shook-his-head-and-sighed-i-want-to-have-just-one/) [Gabrielle Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-evans/) > [“And this totally normal conversation unspools from there, covering the basics: family, siblings, school, favorite composers, favorite movies, favorite wood (for carving puppets), the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laini-taylor/and-this-totally-normal-conversation-unspools-from-there-covering-the/) [Laini Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laini-taylor/) > [“I wasn't as good at semi-normal conversation as I was at ones that were written down, or adrenalized in a surreal moment.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/i-wasn-t-as-good-at-semi-normal-conversation-as-i-was-at-ones-that/) [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) > [If you're trying to make someone happy, you gotta try and make them happy. If you're trying to have a normal conversation, you've got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonah-hill/if-you-re-trying-to-make-someone-happy-you-gotta-try-and-make-them-2/) [Jonah Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonah-hill/) > [I'm very shy and awkward. I think the best thing is to embrace it. It's about accepting who you are and what you want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-hayes/i-m-very-shy-and-awkward-i-think-the-best-thing-is-to-embrace-it-it-s/) [Hunter Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-hayes/) > [Truthfully, I'm incredibly shy, and I'm very awkward around boys.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dove-cameron/truthfully-i-m-incredibly-shy-and-i-m-very-awkward-around-boys/) [Dove Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dove-cameron/) > [“Because I was a shy and awkward child, I used humour to deflect attention. It was a controlling mechanism. Because I could use it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-tate/because-i-was-a-shy-and-awkward-child-i-used-humour-to-deflect-2/) [Catherine Tate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-tate/) > [I was a painfully shy, awkward kid, with low self-esteem and almost no social skills. Online, I didn't have a problem talking to people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-cline/i-was-a-painfully-shy-awkward-kid-with-low-self-esteem-and-almost-no/) [Ernest Cline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-cline/) ## More by Eliot Sumner > [In 2009, I fractured my skull in a freak accident at an L.A. restaurant. I suffered a seizure and was rushed into hospital. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliot-sumner/in-2009-i-fractured-my-skull-in-a-freak-accident-at-an-l-a-restaurant/) [Eliot Sumner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliot-sumner/) > [I'm a bit of a geek when it comes to music. I like studio gear. I'm always looking it up on eBay and seeing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliot-sumner/i-m-a-bit-of-a-geek-when-it-comes-to-music-i-like-studio-gear-i-m/) [Eliot Sumner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliot-sumner/) > [I think I have a lot of energy, and most of it is quite aggressive energy. But in a positive way, I think. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliot-sumner/i-think-i-have-a-lot-of-energy-and-most-of-it-is-quite-aggressive/) [Eliot Sumner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliot-sumner/) > [I'm very much a creature of habit. I don't like to try to new things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliot-sumner/i-m-very-much-a-creature-of-habit-i-don-t-like-to-try-to-new-things/) [Eliot Sumner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliot-sumner/) > [I make my songs slightly abstract so that people can interpret them their own way. I think that's a lot more special, so you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliot-sumner/i-make-my-songs-slightly-abstract-so-that-people-can-interpret-them/) [Eliot Sumner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliot-sumner/) > [As a kid, I loved to dress up as Ian Dury and run around hitting people with drumsticks. Members of my family, neighbours, friends,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliot-sumner/as-a-kid-i-loved-to-dress-up-as-ian-dury-and-run-around-hitting/) [Eliot Sumner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliot-sumner/) > [I don't look into myself too much. I don't think I'm shy so much as a better listener than I am a speaker. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliot-sumner/i-don-t-look-into-myself-too-much-i-don-t-think-i-m-shy-so-much-as-a/) [Eliot Sumner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliot-sumner/) > [I think everyone's got an obstacle in their career that they have to challenge. I think, in a way, that pushes you to prove…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliot-sumner/i-think-everyone-s-got-an-obstacle-in-their-career-that-they-have-to/) [Eliot Sumner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliot-sumner/) > [My French is terrible, and my Spanish is even worse. I find Spanish really difficult. They speak so quickly, whereas in German, it's very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliot-sumner/my-french-is-terrible-and-my-spanish-is-even-worse-i-find-spanish/) [Eliot Sumner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliot-sumner/) > [It stresses me out writing songs,; I get really super nervous and speedy. I feel like I'm possessed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliot-sumner/it-stresses-me-out-writing-songs-i-get-really-super-nervous-and/) [Eliot Sumner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliot-sumner/) > [I started listening to a lot of Jimi Hendrix and Neil Young when I was 8 or 9 years old - I had siblings…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliot-sumner/i-started-listening-to-a-lot-of-jimi-hendrix-and-neil-young-when-i/) [Eliot Sumner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliot-sumner/) > [I like to write from a slightly sad or complicated place. But with a sense of hope and happiness at the same time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliot-sumner/i-like-to-write-from-a-slightly-sad-or-complicated-place-but-with-a/) [Eliot Sumner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliot-sumner/) > [I like to move around. It suits me. I grew up in Wiltshire on a farm, and that's the only place I call home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliot-sumner/i-like-to-move-around-it-suits-me-i-grew-up-in-wiltshire-on-a-farm/) [Eliot Sumner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliot-sumner/) > [It's always best to challenge yourself and go to a place out of your comfort zone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliot-sumner/it-s-always-best-to-challenge-yourself-and-go-to-a-place-out-of-your/) [Eliot Sumner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliot-sumner/) > [With social networks these days, everyone needs to know everything all the time. 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