---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: How do you feel?' Scared,' she said…"
description: "\"“How do you feel?' Scared,' she said. 'Really scared.' But you don't look it.' I feel I'm shivering inside.”\" — Ian McEwan"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/25d/ian-mcewan-494_scared_how-do-you-feel-scared-she-said-really-s_1751746.png"
---

#  How do you feel?' Scared,' she said. 'Really scared.' But…

![“How do you feel?' Scared,' she said. 'Really scared.' But you don't look it.' I feel I'm shivering inside.” quote by Ian McEwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/25d/ian-mcewan-494_scared_how-do-you-feel-scared-she-said-really-s_1751746.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/25d/ian-mcewan-494_scared_how-do-you-feel-scared-she-said-really-s_1751746.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/25d/ian-mcewan-494_scared_how-do-you-feel-scared-she-said-really-s_1751746.png)

> ““How do you feel?' Scared,' she said. 'Really scared.' But you don't look it.' I feel I'm shivering inside.””

[Ian McEwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mcewan/)

## 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 expresses hidden terror that others cannot see, revealing inner anxiety despite outward calm.

**In simple terms:** Hidden fear despite calm exterior.

Key Takeaway

Acknowledge internal emotions.

Themes

psychology fear appearance inner life

Mood

anxious introspective

Type

literary psychological

When to use this quote

- personal relationships
- therapy sessions
- stressful work environments

Key Concepts

emotional concealment vulnerability

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you recognize your own hidden anxiety?
- What signals can you give to others about your inner state?

A Different Perspective

Inner fear may be misread by others, leading to isolation.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Feel Scared](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feel-scared/) [Feel Shivering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feel-shivering-677750/) [Scared](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scared/) [Scared Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scared-said-800541/) [Shivering Inside](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shivering-inside-1611814/)

## Related quotes

> [“I close my eyes, a useless flutter. I open them, and I see you half a world away. I hear fever parting your lips.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monique-truong/i-close-my-eyes-a-useless-flutter-i-open-them-and-i-see-you-half-a/)

[Monique Truong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monique-truong/)

> [“It was the soul of the machine, the ethological epicentre, the planetary ground zero of their commercial energy. I could almost feel it, shivering…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iain-m-banks/it-was-the-soul-of-the-machine-the-ethological-epicentre-the/)

[Iain M. Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iain-m-banks/)

> [He was just hungry, Papa. He's going to die. He's going to die anyway. He's so scared, Papa. The man squatted and looked at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cormac-mccarthy/he-was-just-hungry-papa-he-s-going-to-die-he-s-going-to-die-anyway-he/)

[Cormac McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cormac-mccarthy/)

> [“He used to tell me that there's not time in this life to be scared. He said to breathe your fear right in and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zana-fraillon/he-used-to-tell-me-that-there-s-not-time-in-this-life-to-be-scared-he/)

[Zana Fraillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zana-fraillon/)

> [I'm scared of him," said Piggy, "and that's why I know him. If you're scared of someone you hate him but you can't stop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-golding/i-m-scared-of-him-said-piggy-and-that-s-why-i-know-him-if-you-re/)

[William Golding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-golding/)

> [“He knows you?” said Mae, her frown deepening. “But you didn’t call out to him, child. Why not?” “I was too scared to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-babbitt/he-knows-you-said-mae-her-frown-deepening-but-you-didn-t-call-out-to/)

[Natalie Babbitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-babbitt/)

> [If I do feel scared I deliberately challenge myself not to feel scared.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-truss/if-i-do-feel-scared-i-deliberately-challenge-myself-not-to-feel-scared/)

[Liz Truss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-truss/)

> [Do you sometimes look up from the computer and look around the room and know you are alone, I mean really know it, then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tao-lin/do-you-sometimes-look-up-from-the-computer-and-look-around-the-room/)

[Tao Lin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tao-lin/)

> [In social situations I still feel scared. My best friend and husband give me the freedom to be myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susannah-constantine/in-social-situations-i-still-feel-scared-my-best-friend-and-husband/)

[Susannah Constantine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susannah-constantine/)

> [I always feel scared and insecure on a film set. I don't know any other way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-cruz/i-always-feel-scared-and-insecure-on-a-film-set-i-don-t-know-any/)

[Penelope Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-cruz/)

> [“My, I was scared!" Said Billy with a deep breath. Scared?" Questioned Elnora. Yes, sir-ee! Aunt Margaret scared me. May i ask you a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-stratton-porter/my-i-was-scared-said-billy-with-a-deep-breath-scared-questioned/)

[Gene Stratton-Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-stratton-porter/)

> [“God, I'm scared,' he said, quietly. She almost said, 'Oh, stop. I hate scared people.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-strout/god-i-m-scared-he-said-quietly-she-almost-said-oh-stop-i-hate-scared/)

[Elizabeth Strout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-strout/)

> [“What is it?" I said. He turned away. "Kevin?" "I'm scared," he said. Sure enough, his shoulders quivered. "What?" I said. "Why?" Now he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/what-is-it-i-said-he-turned-away-kevin-i-m-scared-he-said-sure-enough/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“I know you're scared," she said, smoothing an ice cube over her blistering fingers, "but you gotta grab hold of yourself. Every time you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-hoffman/i-know-you-re-scared-she-said-smoothing-an-ice-cube-over-her/)

[Beth Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-hoffman/)

> [“I don't get scared very often," he said finally. "I was scared the first morning I woke up and you weren't here. I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-mcguire/i-don-t-get-scared-very-often-he-said-finally-i-was-scared-the-first/)

[Jamie McGuire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-mcguire/)

## More by Ian McEwan

> [“As you will see, we do not believe that artists have an obligation to strike up attitudes to the war. Indeed, they are wise…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mcewan/as-you-will-see-we-do-not-believe-that-artists-have-an-obligation-to/)

[Ian McEwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mcewan/)

> [You could say that all novels are spy novels and all novelists are spy masters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mcewan/you-could-say-that-all-novels-are-spy-novels-and-all-novelists-are/)

[Ian Mcewan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mcewan/)

> [I've never had a moment's doubt. I love you. I believe in you completely. You are my dearest one. My reason for life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mcewan/i-ve-never-had-a-moment-s-doubt-i-love-you-i-believe-in-you/)

[Ian Mcewan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mcewan/)

> [“It is shaming sometimes, how the body will not, or cannot, lie about emotions.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mcewan/it-is-shaming-sometimes-how-the-body-will-not-or-cannot-lie-about/)

[Ian McEwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mcewan/)

> [“While my friends struggled and calculated, I reached a solution by a set of floating steps that were partly visual, partly just a feeling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mcewan/while-my-friends-struggled-and-calculated-i-reached-a-solution-by-a/)

[Ian McEwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mcewan/)

> [“Once, on a walk by a river- Eskdale in low reddish sunlight, with a dusting of snow- his daughter quoted to him an opening…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mcewan/once-on-a-walk-by-a-river-eskdale-in-low-reddish-sunlight-with-a/)

[Ian McEwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mcewan/)

> [“Perhaps it's one of those cases of a microcosm giving you the whole world. Like a spode dinner plate. Or a single cell. Or,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mcewan/perhaps-it-s-one-of-those-cases-of-a-microcosm-giving-you-the-whole/)

[Ian McEwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mcewan/)

> [Who you get, and how it works out- there's so much luck involved, as well as the million branching consequences of your conscious choice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mcewan/who-you-get-and-how-it-works-out-there-s-so-much-luck-involved-as/)

[Ian Mcewan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mcewan/)

> [“On Chesil Beach he could have called out to Florence, he could have gone after her. He did not know, or would not have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mcewan/on-chesil-beach-he-could-have-called-out-to-florence-he-could-have/)

[Ian McEwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mcewan/)

> [It was always the view of my parents...that hot weather encouraged loose morals among young people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mcewan/it-was-always-the-view-of-my-parents-that-hot-weather-encouraged/)

[Ian Mcewan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mcewan/)

> [I apologize for being obvious, but every time I watch the curtain come down on even a halfway decent production of a Shakespeare play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mcewan/i-apologize-for-being-obvious-but-every-time-i-watch-the-curtain-come/)

[Ian Mcewan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mcewan/)

> [I would rather be physically disabled obviously than mentally. I would rather be paraplegic than nuts. And it is a terrifying prospect and actually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mcewan/i-would-rather-be-physically-disabled-obviously-than-mentally-i-would/)

[Ian Mcewan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mcewan/)

> [“Words, as I'm beginning to appreciate, can make things true.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mcewan/words-as-i-m-beginning-to-appreciate-can-make-things-true/)

[Ian McEwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mcewan/)

> [I couldn't think about novels at all. It seemed the only writing that was appropriate to that horrendous event was journalism, reportage. And, in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mcewan/i-couldn-t-think-about-novels-at-all-it-seemed-the-only-writing-that/)

[Ian Mcewan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mcewan/)

> [I did not kill my father, but I sometimes felt I had helped him on his way. And but for the fact that it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mcewan/i-did-not-kill-my-father-but-i-sometimes-felt-i-had-helped-him-on-his/)

[Ian Mcewan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mcewan/)

[Explore all 496 Ian McEwan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mcewan/)

## More Scared quotes

> [“That horrible stinging sensation returned, the muscles behind my eyes straining as the first tear began to fall. “I’m scared, too. For eighteen months…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devon-ashley/that-horrible-stinging-sensation-returned-the-muscles-behind-my-eyes/)

[Devon Ashley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devon-ashley/)

> [When you're scared - and I mean really scared, not just hearing a noise in the night, or standing toe to toe with someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-gordon-smith/when-you-re-scared-and-i-mean-really-scared-not-just-hearing-a-noise/)

[Alexander Gordon Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-gordon-smith/)

> [The beginning of genius is being scared shitless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-ferdinand-celine/the-beginning-of-genius-is-being-scared-shitless/)

[Louis-Ferdinand Celine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-ferdinand-celine/)

> [“She felt something for me too, deep down I knew it, but she was just scared of getting hurt again. I could wait thought;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsty-moseley/she-felt-something-for-me-too-deep-down-i-knew-it-but-she-was-just/)

[Kirsty Moseley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirsty-moseley/)

> [She still felt shell-shocked by all of it, numb. Beneath the numbness, though, was a raw and terrible anger that was unlike anything she'd…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-hannah/she-still-felt-shell-shocked-by-all-of-it-numb-beneath-the-numbness/)

[Kristin Hannah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-hannah/)

> [When I became Miss World, I couldn't believe I had won it. I used to sleep with my crown because I was scared someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/priyanka-chopra/when-i-became-miss-world-i-couldn-t-believe-i-had-won-it-i-used-to/)

[Priyanka Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/priyanka-chopra/)

> [What I love about watching classic horror films is that they take you on a ride and they obviously make you scared because you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-holmes/what-i-love-about-watching-classic-horror-films-is-that-they-take-you/)

[Katie Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-holmes/)

> [If you scared to take chances, you'll never have the answers...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/if-you-scared-to-take-chances-you-ll-never-have-the-answers/)

[Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/)

> [The ghost story movie that scared me the most was The Changeling with George C. Scott. I think that's sometimes overlooked, but it's a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/the-ghost-story-movie-that-scared-me-the-most-was-the-changeling-with/)

[Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/)

> [The #MeToo campaign is monumental. It is giving a voice to so many too scared to speak out before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-smart/the-metoo-campaign-is-monumental-it-is-giving-a-voice-to-so-many-too/)

[Elizabeth Smart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-smart/)

> [I had always been scared of the unknown, and I think it had a lot to do with a lack of self-confidence (and wearing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-levy/i-had-always-been-scared-of-the-unknown-and-i-think-it-had-a-lot-to/)

[Dan Levy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-levy/)

> [According to Shakyamuni Buddha, it's normal for human beings to be anxious, because it's normal for human beings not to understand themselves. When you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reb-anderson/according-to-shakyamuni-buddha-it-s-normal-for-human-beings-to-be/)

[Reb Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reb-anderson/)

> [“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/)

> [Hercules used noise! Brass bells! He scared them away with the most horrible sound he could-" said Percy "Percy... Chiron's collection!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/hercules-used-noise-brass-bells-he-scared-them-away-with-the-most/)

[Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/)

> [“To all the secret writers, late-night painters, would-be singers, lapsed and scared artists of every stripe, dig out your paintbrush, or your flute, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shauna-niequist/to-all-the-secret-writers-late-night-painters-would-be-singers-lapsed/)

[Shauna Niequist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shauna-niequist/)

[Browse all 4,224 Scared quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scared/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“How do you feel?' Scared,' she said. 'Really scared.' But you don't look it.' I feel I'm shivering inside.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Ian McEwan"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mcewan/how-do-you-feel-scared-she-said-really-scared-but-you-don-t-look-it-i/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Scared"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mcewan/how-do-you-feel-scared-she-said-really-scared-but-you-don-t-look-it-i/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/25d/ian-mcewan-494_scared_how-do-you-feel-scared-she-said-really-s_1751746.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/25d/ian-mcewan-494_scared_how-do-you-feel-scared-she-said-really-s_1751746.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/25d/ian-mcewan-494_scared_how-do-you-feel-scared-she-said-really-s_1751746.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“How do you feel?' Scared,' she said. 'Really scared.' But you don't look it.' I feel I'm shivering inside.” — Ian McEwan",
                "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": "Ian McEwan",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mcewan/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“How do you feel?' Scared,' she...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mcewan/how-do-you-feel-scared-she-said-really-scared-but-you-don-t-look-it-i/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mcewan/how-do-you-feel-scared-she-said-really-scared-but-you-don-t-look-it-i/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
