--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: How funny we are, I thought, the way we…" description: "\"“How funny we are, I thought, the way we dance about each other, each afraid of being hurt by the other.”\" — Judith Merkle Riley" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d10/judith-merkle-riley-43630_afraid_how-funny-we-are-i-thought-the-way-we-da_2519427.jpg" --- # How funny we are, I thought, the way we dance about each… ![“How funny we are, I thought, the way we dance about each other, each afraid of being hurt by the other.” quote by Judith Merkle Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d10/judith-merkle-riley-43630_afraid_how-funny-we-are-i-thought-the-way-we-da_2519427.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d10/judith-merkle-riley-43630_afraid_how-funny-we-are-i-thought-the-way-we-da_2519427.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d10/judith-merkle-riley-43630_afraid_how-funny-we-are-i-thought-the-way-we-da_2519427.jpg) > ““How funny we are, I thought, the way we dance about each other, each afraid of being hurt by the other.”” [Judith Merkle Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-merkle-riley/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People dance around each other out of fear of being hurt, highlighting relational anxiety **In simple terms:** Fear of hurt leads to cautious interaction Key Takeaway Recognize and address relational fears Themes relationships fear vulnerability Mood reflective thoughtful Type philosophical literary When to use this quote - dating - friendships - workplace dynamics Key Concepts psychology communication emotional intelligence Questions to Reflect On - What fear holds you back from intimacy? - How can you create safe spaces for honest connection? A Different Perspective Not all fear is irrational; context matters ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Afraid of being hurt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afraid-of-being-hurt/) [Funny thought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/funny-thought/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) ## Related quotes > [You're so afraid of being hurt that you attack first. 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He was afraid of opening up in case it was turned around and used against him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-taylor/he-was-very-afraid-of-being-hurt-he-was-afraid-of-opening-up-in-case/) [Elizabeth Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-taylor/) > [“I have to let go” really means “I am really afraid of being hurt again”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vijayraj-kamat/i-have-to-let-go-really-means-i-am-really-afraid-of-being-hurt-again/) Vijayraj Kamat > [And besides, when you love somebody, you mustn't listen to what they say. They say things to hurt you because they're afraid of being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tennessee-williams/and-besides-when-you-love-somebody-you-mustn-t-listen-to-what-they/) [Tennessee Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tennessee-williams/) > [Take responsibility and make a relationship the best it can be. We're all afraid of being hurt. Get rid of that fear. Be in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moran-atias/take-responsibility-and-make-a-relationship-the-best-it-can-be-we-re/) [Moran Atias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moran-atias/) > [I want to know the truth, but I'm afraid of being hurt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-want-to-know-the-truth-but-i-m-afraid-of-being-hurt/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [As you identify less and less with the “me”, you will be more at ease with everybody and with everything. Do you know why?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-de-mello/as-you-identify-less-and-less-with-the-me-you-will-be-more-at-ease/) [Anthony de Mello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-de-mello/) > [Should I tell him I'm not afraid of being hurt? I'm afraid of not being in control.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-elkeles/should-i-tell-him-i-m-not-afraid-of-being-hurt-i-m-afraid-of-not/) [Simone Elkeles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-elkeles/) > [If you are so afraid of being hurt in love, you will forever be lonely. For how will u give love if you have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonam-arora-luthra/if-you-are-so-afraid-of-being-hurt-in-love-you-will-forever-be-lonely/) [Sonam Arora Luthra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonam-arora-luthra/) > [I DARE you to be honest when someone asks you how you feel about them. I DOUBLE DOG DARE you to NOT hide your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-dare-you-to-be-honest-when-someone-asks-you-how-you-feel-about-them/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“We're so afraid of being hurt that we become the abuser first.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alaric-hutchinson/we-re-so-afraid-of-being-hurt-that-we-become-the-abuser-first/) [Alaric Hutchinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alaric-hutchinson/) > [Don't be afraid of being hurt or judged by anyone, take a risk and be honest about who you really are. Be honest to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kemmy-nola/don-t-be-afraid-of-being-hurt-or-judged-by-anyone-take-a-risk-and-be/) [Kemmy Nola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kemmy-nola/) > [; afraid of being hurt , being hated, no love was taken, starting a new day with friends you love , & all those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelsey-cunningham/afraid-of-being-hurt-being-hated-no-love-was-taken-starting-a-new-day/) Kelsey Cunningham ## More by Judith Merkle Riley > [“Why the Romans, Father?" I asked him one afternoon. "Because, my child, they teach us how to bear suffering in a world of injustice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-merkle-riley/why-the-romans-father-i-asked-him-one-afternoon-because-my-child-they/) [Judith Merkle Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-merkle-riley/) > [A cat improves the garden wall in sunshine, and the hearth in foul weather.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-merkle-riley/a-cat-improves-the-garden-wall-in-sunshine-and-the-hearth-in-foul/) [Judith Merkle Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-merkle-riley/) > [“Now, if God were a woman, things would be entirely different, it seemed to me. Certainly She wouldn’t make a girl get married when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-merkle-riley/now-if-god-were-a-woman-things-would-be-entirely-different-it-seemed/) [Judith Merkle Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-merkle-riley/) > [“He didn't want to puff her up. Puffed-up women are one of the original sources of trouble in the world. If anyone knew that,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-merkle-riley/he-didn-t-want-to-puff-her-up-puffed-up-women-are-one-of-the-original/) [Judith Merkle Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-merkle-riley/) > [“I could feel something cold stalking my heart. It was fear. They all begin this way, I thought, with pledges of love.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-merkle-riley/i-could-feel-something-cold-stalking-my-heart-it-was-fear-they-all/) [Judith Merkle Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-merkle-riley/) > [“Poverty is the curse of ancient but numerous lineages.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-merkle-riley/poverty-is-the-curse-of-ancient-but-numerous-lineages/) [Judith Merkle Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-merkle-riley/) > [“Margaret looked up at him from where she sat by the window. "Oh, Brother Gregory, what's wrong with your hand" "I'm just scratching it;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-merkle-riley/margaret-looked-up-at-him-from-where-she-sat-by-the-window-oh-brother/) [Judith Merkle Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-merkle-riley/) [Explore all 8 Judith Merkle Riley quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-merkle-riley/) ## 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 > [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 ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“How funny we are, I thought, the way we dance about each other, each afraid of being hurt by the other.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Judith Merkle Riley" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-merkle-riley/how-funny-we-are-i-thought-the-way-we-dance-about-each-other-each/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Afraid" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-merkle-riley/how-funny-we-are-i-thought-the-way-we-dance-about-each-other-each/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d10/judith-merkle-riley-43630_afraid_how-funny-we-are-i-thought-the-way-we-da_2519427.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d10/judith-merkle-riley-43630_afraid_how-funny-we-are-i-thought-the-way-we-da_2519427.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d10/judith-merkle-riley-43630_afraid_how-funny-we-are-i-thought-the-way-we-da_2519427.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“How funny we are, I thought, the way we dance about each other, each afraid of being hurt by the other.” — Judith Merkle Riley", "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": "Judith Merkle Riley", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-merkle-riley/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“How funny we are, I thought,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-merkle-riley/how-funny-we-are-i-thought-the-way-we-dance-about-each-other-each/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-merkle-riley/how-funny-we-are-i-thought-the-way-we-dance-about-each-other-each/#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 } } ] } ```