--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was very shy. I didn't really hang…" description: "\"I was very shy. I didn't really hang around with hearing people very much. Mostly I had deaf friends.\" — Millicent Simmonds" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/581/millicent-simmonds-15597_deaf_i-was-very-shy-i-didn-t-really-hang-arou_1086176.jpg" --- # I was very shy. I didn't really hang around with hearing… ![“I was very shy. I didn't really hang around with hearing people very much. Mostly I had deaf friends.” quote by Millicent Simmonds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/581/millicent-simmonds-15597_deaf_i-was-very-shy-i-didn-t-really-hang-arou_1086176.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/581/millicent-simmonds-15597_deaf_i-was-very-shy-i-didn-t-really-hang-arou_1086176.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/581/millicent-simmonds-15597_deaf_i-was-very-shy-i-didn-t-really-hang-arou_1086176.jpg) > “I was very shy. I didn't really hang around with hearing people very much. Mostly I had deaf friends.” [Millicent Simmonds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/millicent-simmonds/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. She describes early social isolation due to hearing loss and reliance on deaf peers. **In simple terms:** She felt shy and isolated because of hearing loss. Key Takeaway Seek supportive communities early. Themes isolation identity disability Mood reflective hopeful Type personal inspirational When to use this quote - school - friendships - media representation Key Concepts social integration self‑acceptance Questions to Reflect On - How did deaf friends shape your confidence? - What barriers did you face in school? A Different Perspective Limited exposure can hinder confidence development. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Friends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friends/) [Friendship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) ## Related quotes > [“There was an unwritten rule that hearing people who knew sign should identify themselves whenever they were around Deaf people. Otherwise the Deaf people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-carter/there-was-an-unwritten-rule-that-hearing-people-who-knew-sign-should/) [Mary Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-carter/) > [I hope I inspire people who hear. Hearing people have the ability to remove barriers that prevent deaf people from achieving their dreams.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlee-matlin/i-hope-i-inspire-people-who-hear-hearing-people-have-the-ability-to/) [Marlee Matlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlee-matlin/) > [“Art thou deaf when friends are banned as foes?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/art-thou-deaf-when-friends-are-banned-as-foes/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) > [There are so many people, deaf or otherwise abled, who are so talented but overlooked or not given a chance to even get their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlee-matlin/there-are-so-many-people-deaf-or-otherwise-abled-who-are-so-talented/) [Marlee Matlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlee-matlin/) > [There are two worlds: the deaf world and the hearing world. There are some people in the deaf community that feel that hearing people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-berdy/there-are-two-worlds-the-deaf-world-and-the-hearing-world-there-are/) [Sean Berdy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-berdy/) > [...beer makes people deaf...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/beer-makes-people-deaf/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) > [I don't know that hearing people have ever felt that experience of truly being left out. They have easy communication, while deaf people can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/millicent-simmonds/i-don-t-know-that-hearing-people-have-ever-felt-that-experience-of/) [Millicent Simmonds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/millicent-simmonds/) > [“See, some people politely encourage their tone-deaf friends to sing. Some people even convince them to go on live television and audition for national…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-ockler/see-some-people-politely-encourage-their-tone-deaf-friends-to-sing/) [Sarah Ockler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-ockler/) > [They're really supportive, and I love my family to bits, but I did feel, growing up, that I would love to have a deaf…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-ayling-ellis/they-re-really-supportive-and-i-love-my-family-to-bits-but-i-did-feel/) [Rose Ayling-Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-ayling-ellis/) > [“is a great vexation to the spirits of good ministers to see people deaf to all the fair warnings given them, and running headlong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-henry/is-a-great-vexation-to-the-spirits-of-good-ministers-to-see-people/) [Matthew Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-henry/) > [People who are deaf or hard of hearing need all the support we can give them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-loach/people-who-are-deaf-or-hard-of-hearing-need-all-the-support-we-can/) [Ken Loach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-loach/) > [Love is blind but for some people it's deaf as well](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miquel-kort/love-is-blind-but-for-some-people-it-s-deaf-as-well/) Miquel Kort > [Not all deaf people are the same, every deaf person will have their own unique experience with music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-ayling-ellis/not-all-deaf-people-are-the-same-every-deaf-person-will-have-their/) [Rose Ayling-Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-ayling-ellis/) > [Hearing people yelling 'Black Lives Matter,' it hit me more than I realized, just because those are people in my backyard that I've been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tayshia-adams/hearing-people-yelling-black-lives-matter-it-hit-me-more-than-i/) [Tayshia Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tayshia-adams/) > [Unfortunately, being physically equipped to hear has little to do with the actual predilection to listen. Sharing a common tongue does not ensure earnest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leah-hager-cohen/unfortunately-being-physically-equipped-to-hear-has-little-to-do-with/) [Leah Hager Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leah-hager-cohen/) ## More by Millicent Simmonds > [If you're disabled or different from what general society deems normal, it's fine. There will always be people who won't accept you, but there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/millicent-simmonds/if-you-re-disabled-or-different-from-what-general-society-deems/) [Millicent Simmonds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/millicent-simmonds/) > [We have a wonderful world. I feel very lucky to be in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/millicent-simmonds/we-have-a-wonderful-world-i-feel-very-lucky-to-be-in-it/) [Millicent Simmonds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/millicent-simmonds/) > [I love to read. My favorite book series is 'Cherubs'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/millicent-simmonds/i-love-to-read-my-favorite-book-series-is-cherubs/) [Millicent Simmonds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/millicent-simmonds/) > [I want to study philosophy. That fascinates me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/millicent-simmonds/i-want-to-study-philosophy-that-fascinates-me/) [Millicent Simmonds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/millicent-simmonds/) > [We do need more deaf people in Hollywood. But I don't think that deaf people always have to play a deaf role. I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/millicent-simmonds/we-do-need-more-deaf-people-in-hollywood-but-i-don-t-think-that-deaf/) [Millicent Simmonds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/millicent-simmonds/) > [A lot of people say the middle child is the most adventurous. That's me!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/millicent-simmonds/a-lot-of-people-say-the-middle-child-is-the-most-adventurous-that-s-me/) [Millicent Simmonds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/millicent-simmonds/) > [I wouldn't mind if I had to travel every single day. I love meeting new people and experiencing new things, making new connections with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/millicent-simmonds/i-wouldn-t-mind-if-i-had-to-travel-every-single-day-i-love-meeting/) [Millicent Simmonds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/millicent-simmonds/) > [What I want to do is encourage more of that, more deaf presence in TV, movies, acting, modeling - that's really what I want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/millicent-simmonds/what-i-want-to-do-is-encourage-more-of-that-more-deaf-presence-in-tv/) [Millicent Simmonds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/millicent-simmonds/) > [When I read the script for 'A Quiet Place', I immediately wanted to be a part of the film. It is such a unique…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/millicent-simmonds/when-i-read-the-script-for-a-quiet-place-i-immediately-wanted-to-be-a/) [Millicent Simmonds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/millicent-simmonds/) > [I don't use my voice a lot in public.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/millicent-simmonds/i-don-t-use-my-voice-a-lot-in-public/) [Millicent Simmonds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/millicent-simmonds/) > [I think signing gave 'A Quiet Place' a unique quality. I think sign language is represented as beautiful and helpful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/millicent-simmonds/i-think-signing-gave-a-quiet-place-a-unique-quality-i-think-sign/) [Millicent Simmonds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/millicent-simmonds/) > [One of my favorite movies is 'Paper Moon.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/millicent-simmonds/one-of-my-favorite-movies-is-paper-moon/) [Millicent Simmonds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/millicent-simmonds/) > [I'm happy being deaf. I'm happy with my life and my family.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/millicent-simmonds/i-m-happy-being-deaf-i-m-happy-with-my-life-and-my-family/) [Millicent Simmonds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/millicent-simmonds/) > [Todd Haynes was incredible, he treated me like an adult, communicated with me, was supportive, he treated me as any director would an actor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/millicent-simmonds/todd-haynes-was-incredible-he-treated-me-like-an-adult-communicated/) [Millicent Simmonds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/millicent-simmonds/) > [When I was younger I didn't want to hang around with anyone. But now I feel so comfortable. I convey my thoughts, my emotions,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/millicent-simmonds/when-i-was-younger-i-didn-t-want-to-hang-around-with-anyone-but-now-i/) [Millicent Simmonds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/millicent-simmonds/) [Explore all 42 Millicent Simmonds quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/millicent-simmonds/) ## More Deaf quotes > [In the hearing world, I'm constantly having to lip-read and trying to understand what's going on. Sign language is so beautiful. It gives you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-ayling-ellis/in-the-hearing-world-i-m-constantly-having-to-lip-read-and-trying-to/) [Rose Ayling-Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-ayling-ellis/) > [“A man who saw has turned blind, A hearer deaf, A leader now leads astray!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miriam-lichtheim/a-man-who-saw-has-turned-blind-a-hearer-deaf-a-leader-now-leads-astray/) [Miriam Lichtheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miriam-lichtheim/) > [If you are the master be sometimes blind, if you are the servant be sometimes deaf.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-buckminster-fuller/if-you-are-the-master-be-sometimes-blind-if-you-are-the-servant-be/) [R. Buckminster Fuller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-buckminster-fuller/) > [“The rich eat life, the poor eat death; so what is the problem they ask?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-liccione/the-rich-eat-life-the-poor-eat-death-so-what-is-the-problem-they-ask/) [Anthony Liccione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-liccione/) > [My girlfriend and I went to a dinner party the other night and we ended up playing charades. There was another couple there that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-galifianakis/my-girlfriend-and-i-went-to-a-dinner-party-the-other-night-and-we/) [Zach Galifianakis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-galifianakis/) > [In other restaurants you'll see employees signing to each other, since we also hire many deaf men and women.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-karcher/in-other-restaurants-you-ll-see-employees-signing-to-each-other-since/) [Carl Karcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-karcher/) > [Must whales and dolphins be subjected to deafening noise that will cause more than 3.5 million instances of temporary and/or permanent hearing loss? For…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierce-brosnan/must-whales-and-dolphins-be-subjected-to-deafening-noise-that-will/) [Pierce Brosnan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierce-brosnan/) > [I will love you till a mute women tells his deaf friend about a blind women that saw a girl with no legs walking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-will-love-you-till-a-mute-women-tells-his-deaf-friend-about-a-blind/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“And the blind man said to the deaf man, "Do you see what I hear?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-gerard-trotman/and-the-blind-man-said-to-the-deaf-man-do-you-see-what-i-hear/) [Wayne Gerard Trotman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-gerard-trotman/) > [So the blind will lead the blind, and the deaf shout warnings to one another until their voices are lost.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-mailer/so-the-blind-will-lead-the-blind-and-the-deaf-shout-warnings-to-one/) [Norman Mailer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-mailer/) > [Despite my mentors advice that I would never go to heaven fishing with a weighted nymph and a float, I took it up. (As…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-bishop/despite-my-mentors-advice-that-i-would-never-go-to-heaven-fishing/) [Tony Bishop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-bishop/) > [Most profoundly deaf people have speech that is very difficult to understand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-masur/most-profoundly-deaf-people-have-speech-that-is-very-difficult-to/) [Richard Masur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-masur/) > [But people who think they can project themselves into deafness are mistaken because you can't. And I'm not talking about imagining what a deaf…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-masur/but-people-who-think-they-can-project-themselves-into-deafness-are/) [Richard Masur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-masur/) > [There's none as deaf as those who won't listen. I get letters. If they are moronic, they go in the wastepaper basket, but if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-bates/there-s-none-as-deaf-as-those-who-won-t-listen-i-get-letters-if-they/) [Ken Bates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-bates/) > [Even though I am nearly deaf, I seem to be gifted with a kind of inner hearing which enables me to detect sounds and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-edison/even-though-i-am-nearly-deaf-i-seem-to-be-gifted-with-a-kind-of-inner/) [Thomas A. Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-edison/) Browse all 854 Deaf quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I was very shy. I didn't really hang around with hearing people very much. Mostly I had deaf friends.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Millicent Simmonds" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/millicent-simmonds/i-was-very-shy-i-didn-t-really-hang-around-with-hearing-people-very/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Deaf" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/millicent-simmonds/i-was-very-shy-i-didn-t-really-hang-around-with-hearing-people-very/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/581/millicent-simmonds-15597_deaf_i-was-very-shy-i-didn-t-really-hang-arou_1086176.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/581/millicent-simmonds-15597_deaf_i-was-very-shy-i-didn-t-really-hang-arou_1086176.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/581/millicent-simmonds-15597_deaf_i-was-very-shy-i-didn-t-really-hang-arou_1086176.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I was very shy. I didn't really hang around with hearing people very much. Mostly I had deaf friends.” — Millicent Simmonds", "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": "Millicent Simmonds", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/millicent-simmonds/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I was very shy. I didn't...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/millicent-simmonds/i-was-very-shy-i-didn-t-really-hang-around-with-hearing-people-very/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/millicent-simmonds/i-was-very-shy-i-didn-t-really-hang-around-with-hearing-people-very/#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 } } ] } ```