--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I'm sometimes afraid I'll cross a line…" description: "\"I'm sometimes afraid I'll cross a line and it'll be difficult to come back, say, to dinner.\" — Jamaica Kincaid" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf5/jamaica-kincaid-1540_afraid_i-m-sometimes-afraid-i-ll-cross-a-line-a_2427327.png" --- # I'm sometimes afraid I'll cross a line and it'll be… ![“I'm sometimes afraid I'll cross a line and it'll be difficult to come back, say, to dinner.” quote by Jamaica Kincaid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf5/jamaica-kincaid-1540_afraid_i-m-sometimes-afraid-i-ll-cross-a-line-a_2427327.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf5/jamaica-kincaid-1540_afraid_i-m-sometimes-afraid-i-ll-cross-a-line-a_2427327.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf5/jamaica-kincaid-1540_afraid_i-m-sometimes-afraid-i-ll-cross-a-line-a_2427327.png) > “I'm sometimes afraid I'll cross a line and it'll be difficult to come back, say, to dinner.” [Jamaica Kincaid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamaica-kincaid/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Fear of crossing boundaries can make returning to normal life feel impossible. **In simple terms:** Crossing lines creates lasting tension. Key Takeaway Consider consequences before acting. Themes fear boundaries social norms Mood anxious reflective Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - career decisions - family disputes - cultural assimilation - legal issues Key Concepts personal ethics relationship dynamics Questions to Reflect On - What line are you hesitant to cross? - How can you repair after a breach? A Different Perspective Sometimes boundaries are necessary for growth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Afraid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afraid/) [Afraid Ll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afraid-ll/) [Cross Line](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cross-line-234723/) [Crosses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crosses/) [Difficult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/difficult/) [Dinner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dinner/) [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Lines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lines/) [Say Dinner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/say-dinner-234722/) [Sometimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sometimes/) ## Related quotes > [She wants me to take out Patton.” Barron’s brows draw together. “Take out? As in transform him?” “No,” I say. “As in take out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-black/she-wants-me-to-take-out-patton-barron-s-brows-draw-together-take-out/) [Holly Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-black/) > [We had this rule in our family growing up. You can't just call Mom and say, 'What's for dinner?' You need to ask her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelsey-plum/we-had-this-rule-in-our-family-growing-up-you-can-t-just-call-mom-and/) [Kelsey Plum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelsey-plum/) > [“When someone asks, Dogs or cats? I usually say, For what, dinner?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/when-someone-asks-dogs-or-cats-i-usually-say-for-what-dinner/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [I can't remember a time when I wasn't trying to figure out what to say at the dinner table.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-jamison/i-can-t-remember-a-time-when-i-wasn-t-trying-to-figure-out-what-to/) [Leslie Jamison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-jamison/) > [You can cross the line but you can also be forgiven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-hunt/you-can-cross-the-line-but-you-can-also-be-forgiven/) [Johnny Hunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-hunt/) > [“I have to help you, Ash. I can’t say no to what you’re asking, but I’m afraid I’ll hurt you in this process. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annabel-joseph/i-have-to-help-you-ash-i-can-t-say-no-to-what-you-re-asking-but-i-m/) [Annabel Joseph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annabel-joseph/) > [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/) > [“Whatever it is that you’re afraid of, I’ll stand between you and it my whole life,” he said.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-bay/whatever-it-is-that-you-re-afraid-of-i-ll-stand-between-you-and-it-my/) [Louise Bay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-bay/) > [Why can't I talk to you? Oh yeah… I'm too afraid I'll tell you I love you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beka-mackey/why-can-t-i-talk-to-you-oh-yeah-i-m-too-afraid-i-ll-tell-you-i-love/) [Beka Mackey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beka-mackey/) > [“My heart’s afraid it’ll have to suffer….”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/my-heart-s-afraid-it-ll-have-to-suffer/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [You're not afraid I'll kill you tonight?" "Like I couldn't take you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/you-re-not-afraid-i-ll-kill-you-tonight-like-i-couldn-t-take-you/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [Cross the line if you feel that your best friend is forgetting you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/cross-the-line-if-you-feel-that-your-best-friend-is-forgetting-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When you cross the line, it is such a wonderful feeling it's hard to describe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-holmes/when-you-cross-the-line-it-is-such-a-wonderful-feeling-it-s-hard-to/) [Kelly Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-holmes/) > [“I knew we'd cross the line, so I quietly erased it while you weren't looking.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-wolchin/i-knew-we-d-cross-the-line-so-i-quietly-erased-it-while-you-weren-t/) [Rachel Wolchin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-wolchin/) > [I don't think you cross the line - I think you move the line.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-ross/i-don-t-think-you-cross-the-line-i-think-you-move-the-line/) [Jeff Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-ross/) ## More by Jamaica Kincaid > [I'm always telling my students go to law school or become a doctor, do something, and then write. First of all you should have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamaica-kincaid/i-m-always-telling-my-students-go-to-law-school-or-become-a-doctor-do/) [Jamaica Kincaid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamaica-kincaid/) > [The slave trade was globalism. Why people insist that globalism, after its hideous history, is a good thing, I do not know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamaica-kincaid/the-slave-trade-was-globalism-why-people-insist-that-globalism-after/) [Jamaica Kincaid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamaica-kincaid/) > [I have no credentials. I have no money. I literally come from a poor place. I was a servant. I dropped out of college.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamaica-kincaid/i-have-no-credentials-i-have-no-money-i-literally-come-from-a-poor/) [Jamaica Kincaid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamaica-kincaid/) > [In my writing I'm trying to explore the violations people commit upon each other. And the important thing isn't whether I'm angry. The more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamaica-kincaid/in-my-writing-i-m-trying-to-explore-the-violations-people-commit-upon/) [Jamaica Kincaid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamaica-kincaid/) > ["Race." I really can't understand it as anything other than something people say. The people who have said that you and I are both…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamaica-kincaid/race-i-really-can-t-understand-it-as-anything-other-than-something/) [Jamaica Kincaid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamaica-kincaid/) > [Race as a subject only comes about because of what I look like. If I say something truthfully, people say "Oh, she's so angry."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamaica-kincaid/race-as-a-subject-only-comes-about-because-of-what-i-look-like-if-i/) [Jamaica Kincaid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamaica-kincaid/) > [in the place I am from ... a grave is topped off with a huge mound of loose earth - carelessly, as if piled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamaica-kincaid/in-the-place-i-am-from-a-grave-is-topped-off-with-a-huge-mound-of/) [Jamaica Kincaid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamaica-kincaid/) > [I like melancholy. I like to pretend that I'm alone in the world and I'm just sort of abandoned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamaica-kincaid/i-like-melancholy-i-like-to-pretend-that-i-m-alone-in-the-world-and-i/) [Jamaica Kincaid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamaica-kincaid/) > [I come from the small island of Antigua and I always wanted to write; I just didn't know that it was possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamaica-kincaid/i-come-from-the-small-island-of-antigua-and-i-always-wanted-to-write/) [Jamaica Kincaid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamaica-kincaid/) > [“Have you ever wondered to yourself why it is that all people like me seem to have learned from you is how to imprison…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamaica-kincaid/have-you-ever-wondered-to-yourself-why-it-is-that-all-people-like-me/) [Jamaica Kincaid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamaica-kincaid/) > [Love and hatred don't take turns; they exist side by side at the same time. And one's duty, one's obligation every day, is to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamaica-kincaid/love-and-hatred-don-t-take-turns-they-exist-side-by-side-at-the-same/) [Jamaica Kincaid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamaica-kincaid/) > [“Do you see the queer thing about people like me? Sometimes we hold your retribution.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamaica-kincaid/do-you-see-the-queer-thing-about-people-like-me-sometimes-we-hold/) [Jamaica Kincaid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamaica-kincaid/) > [I didn't really understand racism because I grew up in an all-black society, so I didn't see how it was possible not to like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamaica-kincaid/i-didn-t-really-understand-racism-because-i-grew-up-in-an-all-black/) [Jamaica Kincaid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamaica-kincaid/) > [A great piece of literature encompasses all that is and all that will be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamaica-kincaid/a-great-piece-of-literature-encompasses-all-that-is-and-all-that-will/) [Jamaica Kincaid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamaica-kincaid/) > [The people who invented race, who grouped us together as "black," were inventing and categorizing their ability to do something vicious and wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamaica-kincaid/the-people-who-invented-race-who-grouped-us-together-as-black-were/) [Jamaica Kincaid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamaica-kincaid/) [Explore all 228 Jamaica Kincaid quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamaica-kincaid/) ## 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": "I'm sometimes afraid I'll cross a line and it'll be difficult to come back, say, to dinner.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jamaica Kincaid" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamaica-kincaid/i-m-sometimes-afraid-i-ll-cross-a-line-and-it-ll-be-difficult-to-come/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Afraid" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamaica-kincaid/i-m-sometimes-afraid-i-ll-cross-a-line-and-it-ll-be-difficult-to-come/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf5/jamaica-kincaid-1540_afraid_i-m-sometimes-afraid-i-ll-cross-a-line-a_2427327.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf5/jamaica-kincaid-1540_afraid_i-m-sometimes-afraid-i-ll-cross-a-line-a_2427327.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf5/jamaica-kincaid-1540_afraid_i-m-sometimes-afraid-i-ll-cross-a-line-a_2427327.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I'm sometimes afraid I'll cross a line and it'll be difficult to come back, say, to dinner.” — Jamaica Kincaid", "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": "Jamaica Kincaid", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamaica-kincaid/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I'm sometimes afraid I'll cross a...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamaica-kincaid/i-m-sometimes-afraid-i-ll-cross-a-line-and-it-ll-be-difficult-to-come/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamaica-kincaid/i-m-sometimes-afraid-i-ll-cross-a-line-and-it-ll-be-difficult-to-come/#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 } } ] } ```