--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You sit or stand in the subway, and you…" description: "\"You sit or stand in the subway, and you look around - I do, because I don't have a phone so I'm not playing a game - and you see people.\" — Fran Lebowitz" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b7e/fran-lebowitz-690_games_you-sit-or-stand-in-the-subway-and-you-l_1943250.png" --- # You sit or stand in the subway, and you look around - I… ![“You sit or stand in the subway, and you look around - I do, because I don't have a phone so I'm not playing a game - and you see people.” quote by Fran Lebowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b7e/fran-lebowitz-690_games_you-sit-or-stand-in-the-subway-and-you-l_1943250.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b7e/fran-lebowitz-690_games_you-sit-or-stand-in-the-subway-and-you-l_1943250.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b7e/fran-lebowitz-690_games_you-sit-or-stand-in-the-subway-and-you-l_1943250.png) > “You sit or stand in the subway, and you look around - I do, because I don't have a phone so I'm not playing a game - and you see people.” [Fran Lebowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fran-lebowitz/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Observing everyday life in public spaces reveals the humanity of strangers and the emptiness of constant digital distraction. **In simple terms:** Seeing people in the subway highlights real life beyond screens. Key Takeaway Notice and appreciate the world around you. Themes observation urban life human connection Mood contemplative observational Type social commentary personal reflection When to use this quote - commuting - waiting in line - public transport - city life - social interaction Key Concepts social presence digital detox mindfulness Questions to Reflect On - How does observing strangers affect your sense of community? A Different Perspective May the lack of a phone limit your engagement with surroundings? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Games](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/games/) [Looks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/looks/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Phone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/phone/) [Phones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/phones/) [Sit Stand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sit-stand-575947/) [Stand Subway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stand-subway-3109773/) [Subway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/subway/) [Subway Look](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/subway-look-3109772/) ## Related quotes > [I will take the subway and look at certain women and think 'God, that woman's story will never be told. How come that lady…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-lyonne/i-will-take-the-subway-and-look-at-certain-women-and-think-god-that/) [Natasha Lyonne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-lyonne/) > [“This whole life is an art of knowing when to sit and when to stand up!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/this-whole-life-is-an-art-of-knowing-when-to-sit-and-when-to-stand-up/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [The way you sit or stand or move tell a lot about you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mazher/the-way-you-sit-or-stand-or-move-tell-a-lot-about-you/) [Mazher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mazher/) > [“There are three types of people in this world; Those who Sit, those who Stand, and those who Run. I've never doubted which I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-white/there-are-three-types-of-people-in-this-world-those-who-sit-those-who/) [Angela White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-white/) > [They don't draft you to sit there and stand on the sideline.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/torrey-smith/they-don-t-draft-you-to-sit-there-and-stand-on-the-sideline/) [Torrey Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/torrey-smith/) > [“There is one thing that you cannot force a child to do, and that is to look at you when you are talking to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-ziegler/there-is-one-thing-that-you-cannot-force-a-child-to-do-and-that-is-to/) [Jon Ziegler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-ziegler/) > [Furniture! 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Stand up and jump on the reality!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/don-t-sit-stand-up-and-jump-on-the-reality/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [It is better to sit down than to stand, it is better to lie down than to sit, but death is the best of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/indian-proverb/it-is-better-to-sit-down-than-to-stand-it-is-better-to-lie-down-than/) [Indian Proverb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/indian-proverb/) > [I, unfortunately, take the subway a lot. It's not my preference, but it is my lot in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fran-lebowitz/i-unfortunately-take-the-subway-a-lot-it-s-not-my-preference-but-it/) [Fran Lebowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fran-lebowitz/) > [Well, I spent six or seven years after high school trying to work myself up. Shipping clerk, salesman, business of one kind or another.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-miller/well-i-spent-six-or-seven-years-after-high-school-trying-to-work/) [Arthur Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-miller/) > [We have the alternative. "Do I want to be on the subway looking at these people, or do I want to be in my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-rushkoff/we-have-the-alternative-do-i-want-to-be-on-the-subway-looking-at/) [Douglas Rushkoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-rushkoff/) > [I am interested in levels of brain discourse. How articulate are the voices in your head? You know, there's a different voice for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-enright/i-am-interested-in-levels-of-brain-discourse-how-articulate-are-the/) [Anne Enright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-enright/) > [Millennials are always on their phones and it's running their lives, but you know who is also on their phones? Moms and Dads and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-conover/millennials-are-always-on-their-phones-and-it-s-running-their-lives/) [Adam Conover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-conover/) ## More by Fran Lebowitz > [Why not have your first baby at sixty, when your husband is already dead and your career is over? Then you can really devote…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fran-lebowitz/why-not-have-your-first-baby-at-sixty-when-your-husband-is-already/) [Fran Lebowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fran-lebowitz/) > [I've never had the experience of being edited and never will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fran-lebowitz/i-ve-never-had-the-experience-of-being-edited-and-never-will/) [Fran Lebowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fran-lebowitz/) > [I think humor is warmer, and wit is colder. 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Generally speaking, I look upon them as dangerous and tiring activities performed by people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fran-lebowitz/when-it-comes-to-sports-i-am-not-particularly-interested-generally/) [Fran Lebowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fran-lebowitz/) > [The first time I ever saw platform shoes in the '70s, I knew they'd been revived from the '40s, and I felt sickened. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fran-lebowitz/the-first-time-i-ever-saw-platform-shoes-in-the-70s-i-knew-they-d/) [Fran Lebowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fran-lebowitz/) > [Children ask better questions than adults. "May I have a cookie?" "Why is the sky blue?" and "What does a cow say?" are far…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fran-lebowitz/children-ask-better-questions-than-adults-may-i-have-a-cookie-why-is/) [Fran Lebowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fran-lebowitz/) > [ I do not think everyone is created equal. In fact, I know they're not. \[The Constitution\] means that everyone should have the same laws… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fran-lebowitz/i-do-not-think-everyone-is-created-equal-in-fact-i-know-they-re-not/) [Fran Lebowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fran-lebowitz/) > [When I fly, I'm never afraid the plane is going to crash. But there have often been times when I was afraid it wouldn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fran-lebowitz/when-i-fly-i-m-never-afraid-the-plane-is-going-to-crash-but-there/) [Fran Lebowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fran-lebowitz/) > [Smoking is, if not my life, then at least my hobby. I love to smoke. Smoking is fun. Smoking is cool. Smoking is, as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fran-lebowitz/smoking-is-if-not-my-life-then-at-least-my-hobby-i-love-to-smoke/) [Fran Lebowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fran-lebowitz/) [Explore all 408 Fran Lebowitz quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fran-lebowitz/) ## More Games quotes > [Scrabble - The game is available in Braille. That’s a nice fact. This makes me feel better about humanity for some reason. 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