--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I stood there, shocked. I'd never hugged…" description: "\"“I stood there, shocked. I'd never hugged a perfect stranger before, but maybe this was how people in California did things.”\" — Penelope King" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/917/penelope-king-59812_hugged_i-stood-there-shocked-i-d-never-hugged-a_3097112.jpg" --- # I stood there, shocked. I'd never hugged a perfect… ![“I stood there, shocked. I'd never hugged a perfect stranger before, but maybe this was how people in California did things.” quote by Penelope King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/917/penelope-king-59812_hugged_i-stood-there-shocked-i-d-never-hugged-a_3097112.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/917/penelope-king-59812_hugged_i-stood-there-shocked-i-d-never-hugged-a_3097112.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/917/penelope-king-59812_hugged_i-stood-there-shocked-i-d-never-hugged-a_3097112.jpg) > ““I stood there, shocked. I'd never hugged a perfect stranger before, but maybe this was how people in California did things.”” [Penelope King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-king/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The narrator is surprised by an unexpected, intimate gesture, highlighting cultural differences in expressing affection **In simple terms:** Surprised by hugging a stranger, noting California customs Key Takeaway Embrace openness, but stay aware of personal boundaries Themes culture shock unexpected intimacy social norms Mood curious reflective Type observational narrative When to use this quote - travel - meeting new people - first encounters - social events Key Concepts personal space regional customs emotional expression Questions to Reflect On - How do you decide when to trust a stranger? - What cues signal appropriate intimacy? A Different Perspective Not all strangers are safe; cultural norms vary widely ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Hugged](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hugged/) [Hugged Perfect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hugged-perfect-5351720/) [Perfect Stranger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perfect-stranger-1356177/) [Shocked Hugged](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shocked-hugged-5351718/) [Stood Shocked](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stood-shocked-5351719/) ## Related quotes > [We are all prone to the myth of the perfect stranger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-livingston/we-are-all-prone-to-the-myth-of-the-perfect-stranger/) [Gordon Livingston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-livingston/) > [I hate it when you see the most perfect stranger and you know you'll never see them again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramandeep-singh/i-hate-it-when-you-see-the-most-perfect-stranger-and-you-know-you-ll/) [Ramandeep Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramandeep-singh/) > [“Well, there it was. If a perfect stranger could plainly see after only five minutes of watching us together that it was always going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-crownover/well-there-it-was-if-a-perfect-stranger-could-plainly-see-after-only/) [Jay Crownover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-crownover/) > [Men always talk about the most important things to perfect strangers. In the perfect stranger we perceive man himself; the image of a God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/men-always-talk-about-the-most-important-things-to-perfect-strangers-2/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) > [Why should I tolerate a perfect stranger at the bedside of my mind?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-nabokov/why-should-i-tolerate-a-perfect-stranger-at-the-bedside-of-my-mind/) [Vladimir Nabokov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-nabokov/) > [“I held her close for only a short time, but after she was gone, I'd see her smile on the face of a perfect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-andreas/i-held-her-close-for-only-a-short-time-but-after-she-was-gone-i-d-see/) [Brian Andreas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-andreas/) > [“Sometimes a beautiful woman just needs a hard, slow fuck against a wall with a perfect stranger. I understand.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivia-cunning/sometimes-a-beautiful-woman-just-needs-a-hard-slow-fuck-against-a/) [Olivia Cunning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivia-cunning/) > [Tomorrow, smile at a perfect stranger and mean it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-o-callaghan/tomorrow-smile-at-a-perfect-stranger-and-mean-it/) [John O'Callaghan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-o-callaghan/) > [“I was in the midst of an ocean of my fellow-men, and yet a perfect stranger to every one.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-was-in-the-midst-of-an-ocean-of-my-fellow-men-and-yet-a-perfect/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [I think about the day I met the perfect stranger, I think about us. And I think about the day I got wrapped around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kem/i-think-about-the-day-i-met-the-perfect-stranger-i-think-about-us-and/) [Kem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kem/) > [It's all right for a perfect stranger to kiss your hand as long as he's perfect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-west/it-s-all-right-for-a-perfect-stranger-to-kiss-your-hand-as-long-as-he/) [Mae West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-west/) > [You're someone who would make a perfect stranger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-re-someone-who-would-make-a-perfect-stranger/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I walked into her arms and we hugged like hugging was breathing and we'd been holding our breath for a long, long time.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/april-genevieve-tucholke/i-walked-into-her-arms-and-we-hugged-like-hugging-was-breathing-and/) [April Genevieve Tucholke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/april-genevieve-tucholke/) > [Hugging trees has a calming effect on me. I'm talking about enormous trees that will be there when we are all dead and gone.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-adams/hugging-trees-has-a-calming-effect-on-me-i-m-talking-about-enormous/) [Gerry Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-adams/) > [“How can you love me if you don’t even know me?” He lifted my arms around his neck and placed his hands on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denyse-cohen/how-can-you-love-me-if-you-don-t-even-know-me-he-lifted-my-arms/) [Denyse Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denyse-cohen/) ## More by Penelope King > [“The enemy of my enemy is my friend . - Vincent”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-king/the-enemy-of-my-enemy-is-my-friend-vincent/) [Penelope King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-king/) > [“For there to be light, there must be darkness. For there to be joy, there must be sorrow. For there to be beauty, there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-king/for-there-to-be-light-there-must-be-darkness-for-there-to-be-joy/) [Penelope King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-king/) > [“No, he wasn't like them at all. And even though my experience with the opposite sex was pitifully non-existent, this was someone I wanted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-king/no-he-wasn-t-like-them-at-all-and-even-though-my-experience-with-the/) [Penelope King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-king/) > [“Of course, I'm only joking," he says, studying me. "The reason they're staring is because I am extraordinarily good looking.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-king/of-course-i-m-only-joking-he-says-studying-me-the-reason-they-re/) [Penelope King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-king/) [Explore all 5 Penelope King quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-king/) ## More Hugged quotes > [“How can you love me if you don’t even know me?” He lifted my arms around his neck and placed his hands on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denyse-cohen/how-can-you-love-me-if-you-don-t-even-know-me-he-lifted-my-arms/) [Denyse Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denyse-cohen/) > [Hugging trees has a calming effect on me. I'm talking about enormous trees that will be there when we are all dead and gone.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-adams/hugging-trees-has-a-calming-effect-on-me-i-m-talking-about-enormous/) [Gerry Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-adams/) > [“I walked into her arms and we hugged like hugging was breathing and we'd been holding our breath for a long, long time.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/april-genevieve-tucholke/i-walked-into-her-arms-and-we-hugged-like-hugging-was-breathing-and/) [April Genevieve Tucholke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/april-genevieve-tucholke/) > [“I had embraced you... long before i hugged you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sanober-khan/i-had-embraced-you-long-before-i-hugged-you/) [Sanober Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sanober-khan/) > [My mom smiled at me. Her smile kind of hugged me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/my-mom-smiled-at-me-her-smile-kind-of-hugged-me/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Nick cleared his throat. “Do not … and I mean do … not … take this the wrong way, okay?” He wrapped his arms…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/nick-cleared-his-throat-do-not-and-i-mean-do-not-take-this-the-wrong/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [He likes me. I like him. He is suicidal, he cuts. I am too. He likes me for me, and I like him for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/he-likes-me-i-like-him-he-is-suicidal-he-cuts-i-am-too-he-likes-me/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Poseidon held out his arms and gave me a hug. I realized, a little embarrassed, that I'd never actually hugged my dad before. He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/poseidon-held-out-his-arms-and-gave-me-a-hug-i-realized-a-little/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [“Oh, Rob, ye're alive!" Elspeth put both arms around his neck and hugged him close. "I was afeard ye were gone, but ye're alive!"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/connie-mason/oh-rob-ye-re-alive-elspeth-put-both-arms-around-his-neck-and-hugged/) [Connie Mason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/connie-mason/) > [Good morning, Ms. Daniels. I’m calling to inform you that Julie has left our premises.” Not again. Curran’s arms closed around me and he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilona-andrews/good-morning-ms-daniels-i-m-calling-to-inform-you-that-julie-has-left/) [Ilona Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilona-andrews/) > [I hope he loves you like I did, Hugged you tight like I did, Wanted you as much as I did, Makes you smile…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pheng-xiong/i-hope-he-loves-you-like-i-did-hugged-you-tight-like-i-did-wanted-you/) [Pheng Xiong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pheng-xiong/) > [“Sorry for her loss. And he had hugged her. Like he knew what she was holding inside, this secret grief that had hardened where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-howey/sorry-for-her-loss-and-he-had-hugged-her-like-he-knew-what-she-was/) [Hugh Howey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-howey/) > [“Max!' Nudge cried, rushing over to hug me. Her thin arms gripped me tight, and I hugged her back, scratching her wings where they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/max-nudge-cried-rushing-over-to-hug-me-her-thin-arms-gripped-me-tight/) [James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/) > [I just hugged the man who murdered my son.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-johnson/i-just-hugged-the-man-who-murdered-my-son/) [Mary Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-johnson/) > [“That same day, Rocky had opened his eyes for the first time and looked around him, and Cecilia had cried and hugged him. He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-falkner/that-same-day-rocky-had-opened-his-eyes-for-the-first-time-and-looked/) [Brian Falkner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-falkner/) [Browse all 223 Hugged quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hugged/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I stood there, shocked. 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