--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: On the subway today, a man came up to me…" description: "\"On the subway today, a man came up to me to start a conversation. He made small talk, a lonely man talking about the weather and other things. I tried ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a4f/john-doe-51727_banality_on-the-subway-today-a-man-came-up-to-me_197575.jpg" --- # On the subway today, a man came up to me to start a… ![“On the subway today, a man came up to me to start a conversation. He made small talk, a lonely man talking about the weather and other things. I tried to be pleasant and accommodating, but my head began to hurt from his banality. I almost didn't notice it had happened, but I suddenly threw up all…” quote by John Doe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a4f/john-doe-51727_banality_on-the-subway-today-a-man-came-up-to-me_197575.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a4f/john-doe-51727_banality_on-the-subway-today-a-man-came-up-to-me_197575.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a4f/john-doe-51727_banality_on-the-subway-today-a-man-came-up-to-me_197575.jpg) > “On the subway today, a man came up to me to start a conversation. He made small talk, a lonely man talking about the weather and other things. I tried to be pleasant and accommodating, but my head began to hurt from his banality. I almost didn't notice it had happened, but I suddenly threw up all over him. He was not pleased, and I couldn't stop laughing.” [John Doe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-doe/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. An encounter with a banal stranger leads to an uncontrollable, inappropriate reaction, highlighting social discomfort. **In simple terms:** A boring conversation caused a loss of control and embarrassment. Key Takeaway Manage reactions in awkward social situations. Themes social anxiety humor boundaries Mood embarrassed irritated Type anecdotal humorous When to use this quote - public transport - casual encounters - stressful interactions Key Concepts impulse control emotional regulation social etiquette Questions to Reflect On - How do you usually handle boring or irritating conversations? - What strategies could prevent such loss of control? A Different Perspective The extreme reaction may be exaggerated, not a realistic coping strategy. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Banality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/banality/) [Communication](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communication/) [Conversation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conversation/) [Happened](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happened/) [Hurt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hurt/) [Laughing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laughing/) [Lonely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lonely/) [Lonely man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lonely-man/) [Made](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/made/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Pleasant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pleasant/) [Small talk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/small-talk/) [Subway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/subway/) [Talking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talking/) [Today](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/today/) [Weather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weather/) ## Related quotes > [“Risking a glance at the dignified young man beside her- what was his name?- Mr. Arthurson, Arterton?- Pandora decided to try her hand at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-kleypas/risking-a-glance-at-the-dignified-young-man-beside-her-what-was-his/) [Lisa Kleypas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-kleypas/) > [“I remember a man, a very lonely man, coming up to me at the end of a reading and looking into my face and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-howe/i-remember-a-man-a-very-lonely-man-coming-up-to-me-at-the-end-of-a/) [Marie Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-howe/) > [In solitude the lonely man is eaten up by himself, among crowds by the many.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/in-solitude-the-lonely-man-is-eaten-up-by-himself-among-crowds-by-the/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [ \[The Fuhrer\] is one of those lonely men of the ages on whom history is not tested, but who themselves are the makers of… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benito-mussolini/the-fuhrer-is-one-of-those-lonely-men-of-the-ages-on-whom-history-is/) [Benito Mussolini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benito-mussolini/) > [Lonely men seek companionship. Lonely women sit at home and wait. They never meet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/lonely-men-seek-companionship-lonely-women-sit-at-home-and-wait-they/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [“So if you're trying to play games with me, I should let you know up front that it's not going to work. "What?" I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tehereh-mafi-unravel-me/so-if-you-re-trying-to-play-games-with-me-i-should-let-you-know-up/) [Tehereh Mafi Unravel Me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tehereh-mafi-unravel-me/) > [For centuries great, brave, lonely men have been telling you what to do. Time and again you have corrupted, diminished and demolished their teachings;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-reich/for-centuries-great-brave-lonely-men-have-been-telling-you-what-to-do/) [Wilhelm Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilhelm-reich/) > [“The old outcast gape the darkness and said: “The lonely man is a fire without fireplace…”.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandar-tomov/the-old-outcast-gape-the-darkness-and-said-the-lonely-man-is-a-fire/) [Alexandar Tomov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandar-tomov/) > [I fear you may become a lonely man, even in the company of others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-moore/i-fear-you-may-become-a-lonely-man-even-in-the-company-of-others/) [Christopher Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-moore/) > [“In everything that can be called art there is a quality of redemption. It may be pure tragedy, if it is high tragedy, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-chandler/in-everything-that-can-be-called-art-there-is-a-quality-of-redemption/) [Raymond Chandler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-chandler/) > [“I could be held back just by being needed. Please try not to need me. That's the worst bait of all to a lonely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/i-could-be-held-back-just-by-being-needed-please-try-not-to-need-me/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [There is two different Donald Trumps. There is the Donald Trump of the '90s... Now you've got this other one. The post-dementia Donald Trump…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sinbad/there-is-two-different-donald-trumps-there-is-the-donald-trump-of-the/) [Sinbad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sinbad/) > [Lord Beaverbrook was fundamentally a lonely man, with a low sense of his own self-worth, who was incapable of forming a stable, loving relationship…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cannadine/lord-beaverbrook-was-fundamentally-a-lonely-man-with-a-low-sense-of/) [David Cannadine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cannadine/) > [When you get to the level that I'm at, often you are a very lonely man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-dybala/when-you-get-to-the-level-that-i-m-at-often-you-are-a-very-lonely-man/) [Paulo Dybala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-dybala/) > [If I only dated actresses, Id be a very lonely man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-jackson/if-i-only-dated-actresses-id-be-a-very-lonely-man/) [Joshua Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-jackson/) ## More by John Doe > [“Innocent? Is that supposed to be funny? An obese man... a disgusting man who could barely stand up; a man who if you saw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-doe/innocent-is-that-supposed-to-be-funny-an-obese-man-a-disgusting-man/) [John Doe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-doe/) > [A good song is a good song, and good musicians can play all different styles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-doe/a-good-song-is-a-good-song-and-good-musicians-can-play-all-different/) [John Doe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-doe/) > [Blackwater was smuggling weapons into Iraq.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-doe/blackwater-was-smuggling-weapons-into-iraq/) [John Doe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-doe/) > [I think The Eagles single-handedly destroyed country music - well, now, country music has been killed by rap crossovers, so it's hard to say.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-doe/i-think-the-eagles-single-handedly-destroyed-country-music-well-now/) [John Doe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-doe/) > [It's harder to gain relevance or traction. But I'm of the opinion that if something's really good - not pretty good, but really, really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-doe/it-s-harder-to-gain-relevance-or-traction-but-i-m-of-the-opinion-that/) [John Doe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-doe/) > [I think we all feel incredibly fortunate and grateful that we're still around. We're one of the last punk-rock bands standing. And, to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-doe/i-think-we-all-feel-incredibly-fortunate-and-grateful-that-we-re/) [John Doe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-doe/) [Explore all 7 John Doe quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-doe/) ## More Banality quotes > [“Our world will not die as a result of the bomb, as the papers say, it will die of laughter, of banality, of making a joke…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-ruiz-zafon/our-world-will-not-die-as-a-result-of-the-bomb-as-the-papers-say-it/) [Carlos Ruiz Zafon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-ruiz-zafon/) > [Spirituality can be severed from both vicious sectarianism and thoughtless banalities. Spirituality, I have come to see, is nothing less than the thoughtful love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-c-solomon/spirituality-can-be-severed-from-both-vicious-sectarianism-and/) [Robert C. Solomon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-c-solomon/) > [Honest criticism and sensitive appreciation are directed not upon the poet but upon the poetry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-s-eliot/honest-criticism-and-sensitive-appreciation-are-directed-not-upon-the/) [T. S. Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-s-eliot/) > [My life is short. I can't listen to banality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/v-s-naipaul/my-life-is-short-i-can-t-listen-to-banality/) [V. S. Naipaul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/v-s-naipaul/) > [“A plain circular bullet is widely disdained for its banality.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolina-de-bartolo/a-plain-circular-bullet-is-widely-disdained-for-its-banality/) [Carolina de Bartolo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolina-de-bartolo/) > [The great work of art is the complete banality, and the fault with most banalities is that they are not banal enough. Banality here…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asger-jorn/the-great-work-of-art-is-the-complete-banality-and-the-fault-with/) [Asger Jorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asger-jorn/) > [Understanding a people's culture exposes their normalness without reducing their particularity...It renders them accessible: setting them in the frame of their own banalities, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clifford-geertz/understanding-a-people-s-culture-exposes-their-normalness-without/) [Clifford Geertz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clifford-geertz/) > [I was filled with angst in college, that I struggled with the question of my future, the meaning of my life - spoiled sheltered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-kostova/i-was-filled-with-angst-in-college-that-i-struggled-with-the-question/) [Elizabeth Kostova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-kostova/) > [Language is in decline. Not only has eloquence departed but simple, direct speech as well, though pomposity and banality have not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-newman/language-is-in-decline-not-only-has-eloquence-departed-but-simple/) [Edwin Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-newman/) > [I really like the idea of banality and repetition being used to generate the image, which are simple and unobstructed and not captivated by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-aitken/i-really-like-the-idea-of-banality-and-repetition-being-used-to/) [Doug Aitken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-aitken/) > [“There seemed no particular object in avoiding banality from the start, as the evening showed every sign of developing into a banal one.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-powell/there-seemed-no-particular-object-in-avoiding-banality-from-the-start/) [Anthony Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-powell/) > [Fight fire with fire. If you must have bores, always put them together or at the same table ... bores have an effervescent chemical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elsa-maxwell/fight-fire-with-fire-if-you-must-have-bores-always-put-them-together/) [Elsa Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elsa-maxwell/) > [What concerns me most is the horrible degradation our notions of truth, civility, and decency have undergone. Also the way that language has been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/what-concerns-me-most-is-the-horrible-degradation-our-notions-of/) [George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/) > [Once you start rewriting, you're not able to stop. With each draft the fundamental banality and worthlessness of the material becomes more evident even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-n-malzberg/once-you-start-rewriting-you-re-not-able-to-stop-with-each-draft-the/) [Barry N. Malzberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-n-malzberg/) > [There arose a belief in style - and in banality. Banality encompassed politics, too, because it was a common belief that politics were not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-sirk/there-arose-a-belief-in-style-and-in-banality-banality-encompassed/) [Douglas Sirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-sirk/) [Browse all 124 Banality quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/banality/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "On the subway today, a man came up to me to start a conversation. He made small talk, a lonely man talking about the weather and other things. I tried to be pleasant and accommodating, but my head began to hurt from his banality. I almost didn't notice it had happened, but I suddenly threw up all over him. 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