--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's great to be able to drive around and…" description: "\"It's great to be able to drive around and spy on people, which I do when I'm writing. People tell me the most personal things about their lives for no ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/47b/john-waters-751_able_it-s-great-to-be-able-to-drive-around-an_1160633.jpg" --- # It's great to be able to drive around and spy on people… ![“It's great to be able to drive around and spy on people, which I do when I'm writing. People tell me the most personal things about their lives for no reason - on airplanes, everywhere I go. People just blurt out secrets. I'm not sure why. I think that they see in my films that nothing will make…” quote by John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/47b/john-waters-751_able_it-s-great-to-be-able-to-drive-around-an_1160633.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/47b/john-waters-751_able_it-s-great-to-be-able-to-drive-around-an_1160633.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/47b/john-waters-751_able_it-s-great-to-be-able-to-drive-around-an_1160633.jpg) > “It's great to be able to drive around and spy on people, which I do when I'm writing. People tell me the most personal things about their lives for no reason - on airplanes, everywhere I go. People just blurt out secrets. I'm not sure why. I think that they see in my films that nothing will make me uptight. I'm not going to judge them.” [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker observes that people readily share personal details when they perceive a non‑judgmental, observational presence, especially in travel contexts. **In simple terms:** People share secrets when they feel safe and unjudged. Key Takeaway Create a safe, non‑judgmental space to encourage openness. Themes trust observation humanity Mood curious observational introspective Type anecdotal reflective insightful When to use this quote - travel writing - documentary filmmaking - interviewing - journaling Key Concepts psychology social dynamics storytelling Questions to Reflect On - What makes you feel safe enough to share? - How does your presence affect their openness? A Different Perspective People may with share if they sense hidden motives or judgment. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [Secret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/secret/) [Secrets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/secrets/) [Spy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spy/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [People had tell me the most personal things. People I'd never met before would say thing like "Oh, that was the summer I had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-o-farrell/people-had-tell-me-the-most-personal-things-people-i-d-never-met/) [Maggie O'Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-o-farrell/) > [I've met so many people who have come up to tell me their personal stories, and a lot of them express the same feelings…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lizzie-velasquez/i-ve-met-so-many-people-who-have-come-up-to-tell-me-their-personal/) [Lizzie Velasquez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lizzie-velasquez/) > [For anyone to come forward and speak about their own struggles with mental health and tell their own personal story - that takes courage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jen-psaki/for-anyone-to-come-forward-and-speak-about-their-own-struggles-with/) [Jen Psaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jen-psaki/) > [God loves everyone and he wants people to be reminded of that and because I've been given a platform to tell them that, that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-roumie/god-loves-everyone-and-he-wants-people-to-be-reminded-of-that-and/) [Jonathan Roumie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-roumie/) > [I got into filmmaking in order to tell very personal stories, and in this day and age, the opportunity seems all the more precious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ira-sachs/i-got-into-filmmaking-in-order-to-tell-very-personal-stories-and-in/) [Ira Sachs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ira-sachs/) > [Why would anyone ever tell anything personal to a journalist?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liam-neeson/why-would-anyone-ever-tell-anything-personal-to-a-journalist/) [Liam Neeson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liam-neeson/) > [I like to tell personal stories, not point people out and be like, 'You're dumb.' Instead, I put everything on me and we can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate-bargatze/i-like-to-tell-personal-stories-not-point-people-out-and-be-like-you/) [Nate Bargatze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate-bargatze/) > [“There really isn't a good way to tell a relative stranger that you think dead people are trying to tell you something. It's personal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eileen-cook/there-really-isn-t-a-good-way-to-tell-a-relative-stranger-that-you/) [Eileen Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eileen-cook/) > [Don't tell me it's not personal it's just business . That which affects me personally , is personal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-lanteigne/don-t-tell-me-it-s-not-personal-it-s-just-business-that-which-affects/) [Gerald Lanteigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-lanteigne/) > [Sometimes people are very kind of uptight and they're not really sure how to behave, but after time they open up sometimes. I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wilson/sometimes-people-are-very-kind-of-uptight-and-they-re-not-really-sure/) [John Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wilson/) > [“I'm not uptight. I'm conscientious. There's a difference.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lenore-appelhans/i-m-not-uptight-i-m-conscientious-there-s-a-difference/) [Lenore Appelhans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lenore-appelhans/) > [...when you let go of your expectations, when you accept life as it is, you're free.To hold on is to be serious and uptight.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-carlson/when-you-let-go-of-your-expectations-when-you-accept-life-as-it-is/) [Richard Carlson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-carlson/) > [The work that I do doesn't make me feel uptight, It energises me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-robinson/the-work-that-i-do-doesn-t-make-me-feel-uptight-it-energises-me/) [Tony Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-robinson/) > [ I know that some of the folks in the press are uptight about this \[moving the press corps out of the West Wing \],… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reince-priebus/i-know-that-some-of-the-folks-in-the-press-are-uptight-about-this/) [Reince Priebus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reince-priebus/) > [I think dressing up or down should be a creative experience. Exciting. Fun. For me the key to personal style lies in accessories. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iris-apfel/i-think-dressing-up-or-down-should-be-a-creative-experience-exciting/) [Iris Apfel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iris-apfel/) ## More by John Waters > [There was a cultural war going on, the '60s was going on. All the film critics were square.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/there-was-a-cultural-war-going-on-the-60s-was-going-on-all-the-film/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > [I'm here today because of LSD. LSD gave me the confidence to be who I am today. Completely.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/i-m-here-today-because-of-lsd-lsd-gave-me-the-confidence-to-be-who-i/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > [When I was young, there were bars called the 'Hungry Hole,' and in those same neighbourhoods are now gay people pushing baby carriages.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/when-i-was-young-there-were-bars-called-the-hungry-hole-and-in-those/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > [True success is figuring out your life and career so you never have to be around jerks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/true-success-is-figuring-out-your-life-and-career-so-you-never-have/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > [Around '62 in Baltimore, all the girls had those big hairdos. And then suddenly, a few of the really hip ones started doing their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/around-62-in-baltimore-all-the-girls-had-those-big-hairdos-and-then/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > [“John!?” I ask in shock. This woman recognizes me? It can’t be! “How do you know my name?” I wonder out loud. Suddenly she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/john-i-ask-in-shock-this-woman-recognizes-me-it-can-t-be-how-do-you/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > ['Serial Mom' tested really well when we finally got with the right audience. But they would go to some shopping mall in a deep,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/serial-mom-tested-really-well-when-we-finally-got-with-the-right/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > [One Christmas, Dennis Dermody, the movie critic of 'Paper,' gave me 'Rock Hudson: A Gathering of Friends,' the master invitation list from Rock Hudson's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/one-christmas-dennis-dermody-the-movie-critic-of-paper-gave-me-rock/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > [Many hundred-million-dollar Hollywood comedies aren't any good. They're trying to shock you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/many-hundred-million-dollar-hollywood-comedies-aren-t-any-good-they/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > [The Easter Bunny is a major reason for heroin addiction in America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/the-easter-bunny-is-a-major-reason-for-heroin-addiction-in-america/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > [To use bad taste, you have to know the rules of good taste. I've always thanked my mother for that. She taught how to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/to-use-bad-taste-you-have-to-know-the-rules-of-good-taste-i-ve-always/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > [I'm an old person because I still buy DVDs. I have every one of my albums and 45s - I even have a couple…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/i-m-an-old-person-because-i-still-buy-dvds-i-have-every-one-of-my/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > [I do like Christmas. I do understand that there are people who hate it, and there are other religions that resent it. So, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/i-do-like-christmas-i-do-understand-that-there-are-people-who-hate-it/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > [I love to read about anger. A "feel bad" book always makes me feel good. And no other novel in the history of literature…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/i-love-to-read-about-anger-a-feel-bad-book-always-makes-me-feel-good/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > [ Maybe I'll just write books. I'd like to make another movie, but I don't want to go back and \[do\] what they want you… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/maybe-i-ll-just-write-books-i-d-like-to-make-another-movie-but-i-don/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) [Explore all 381 John Waters quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) ## More Able quotes > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) > [I have observed this in my experience of slavery, - that whenever my condition was improved, instead of its increasing my contentment, it only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-have-observed-this-in-my-experience-of-slavery-that-whenever-my/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [In the '80s, the way radio was programmed, if you didn't have a hit record you weren't going to be able to make any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huey-lewis/in-the-80s-the-way-radio-was-programmed-if-you-didn-t-have-a-hit/) [Huey Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huey-lewis/) > [I think I've had the longest career of strength, focus, and still being able to sell records. I think I'm that guy. I'm still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-think-i-ve-had-the-longest-career-of-strength-focus-and-still-being/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) > [I have that need in me, I want everyone to love me, but I'm embarrassed by that need, so I wanted to cover it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-jeselnik/i-have-that-need-in-me-i-want-everyone-to-love-me-but-i-m-embarrassed/) [Anthony Jeselnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-jeselnik/) > [Thinking about the things that happened, I don't know any other ball player would could have done what he (Jackie Robinson) did. To be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pee-wee-reese/thinking-about-the-things-that-happened-i-don-t-know-any-other-ball/) [Pee Wee Reese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pee-wee-reese/) > [I wanted to remember in order to be able to return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/i-wanted-to-remember-in-order-to-be-able-to-return/) [Anais Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/) > [Government schools, with your tax money, now discourage the teaching of multiplication tables by rote memorization but teach reading by the 'look-and-say' method which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-perry/government-schools-with-your-tax-money-now-discourage-the-teaching-of/) Greg Perry > [I don't know if I would qualify as mainstream. I think I have managed to function pretty successfully on the fringes of the music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-metheny/i-don-t-know-if-i-would-qualify-as-mainstream-i-think-i-have-managed/) [Pat Metheny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-metheny/) > [What we're supposed to do as actors is be able to portray real human beings and emotions. 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