--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Weren't you scared?\" I ask. \"Yes. But it…" description: "\"“Weren't you scared?\" I ask. \"Yes. But it was a good scared.\" \"There's a good kind?\" \"Oh, yes.\" Her voice drops so low I have to strain to hear. \"Orlin..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/702/rae-carson-2613_elisa_weren-t-you-scared-i-ask-yes-but-it-was_1601590.jpg" --- # Weren't you scared?" I ask. "Yes. But it was a good… ![“Weren't you scared?" I ask. "Yes. But it was a good scared." "There's a good kind?" "Oh, yes." Her voice drops so low I have to strain to hear. "Orlin made me scared all the time. Scared I would starve. Scared I would get too cold. Scared he would hurt me again or get so mad he'd throw me to one…” quote by Rae Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/702/rae-carson-2613_elisa_weren-t-you-scared-i-ask-yes-but-it-was_1601590.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/702/rae-carson-2613_elisa_weren-t-you-scared-i-ask-yes-but-it-was_1601590.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/702/rae-carson-2613_elisa_weren-t-you-scared-i-ask-yes-but-it-was_1601590.jpg) > ““Weren't you scared?" I ask. "Yes. But it was a good scared." "There's a good kind?" "Oh, yes." Her voice drops so low I have to strain to hear. "Orlin made me scared all the time. Scared I would starve. Scared I would get too cold. Scared he would hurt me again or get so mad he'd throw me to one of the men. That was nasty bad scared." She pauses, scuffing her boots against the floor. "But you never hit me, even though I'm your slave... You always feed me. You call me my true name. Now when I'm scared, it's not because of meanness. And today, I chose my own scared. It's always a good scared, when you get to pick it your own self.”” [Rae Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rae-carson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Choosing fear that is self‑determined transforms it into empowerment, showing that agency redefines emotional experience. **In simple terms:** Choosing your own fear makes it empowering. Key Takeaway Own your fear to empower yourself. Themes fear agency empowerment choice identity Mood introspective hopeful Type fictional inspirational When to use this quote - personal growth - conflict resolution - creative expression Key Concepts psychology storytelling personal growth Questions to Reflect On - What does “good scared” feel like? - How does agency change emotional impact? A Different Perspective Choosing fear may still involve danger. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Elisa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/elisa/) ## Related quotes > [“You must not lose faith, child. No matter what. Do not doubt God or his choosing of you. He knows infinitely more than we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rae-carson/you-must-not-lose-faith-child-no-matter-what-do-not-doubt-god-or-his/) [Rae Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rae-carson/) > [“Walking away from my desert companions feels like cutting off a limb. How does one say good-bye to an arm? One doesn't, I suppose.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rae-carson/walking-away-from-my-desert-companions-feels-like-cutting-off-a-limb/) [Rae Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rae-carson/) > [“Thank you for lending me the use of your maid. I tragically lost my lady-in-waiting on our journey and found Cosme's presence such a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rae-carson/thank-you-for-lending-me-the-use-of-your-maid-i-tragically-lost-my/) [Rae Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rae-carson/) > [“Fury is like a monster inside me, the one thing in my life I've been unable to master. I sent up a quick prayer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rae-carson/fury-is-like-a-monster-inside-me-the-one-thing-in-my-life-i-ve-been/) [Rae Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rae-carson/) > [“Given a choice between my life and yours, I will choose mine. Every time. Without hesitation.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rae-carson/given-a-choice-between-my-life-and-yours-i-will-choose-mine-every/) [Rae Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rae-carson/) > [“Until recently, I believed all horses were alike. They’ve been giant, four-footed animals with ugly dispositions and alarmingly large teeth for so long that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rae-carson/until-recently-i-believed-all-horses-were-alike-they-ve-been-giant/) [Rae Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rae-carson/) > [“I saw the way she looked at you. You are life and breath for her." He's wrong about that. Elisa loves fiercely, it's true.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rae-carson/i-saw-the-way-she-looked-at-you-you-are-life-and-breath-for-her-he-s/) [Rae Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rae-carson/) > [“You made me cut and dye my hair.” Surely he understands that we face greater problems? “I thought it would greatly improve your looks,”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rae-carson/you-made-me-cut-and-dye-my-hair-surely-he-understands-that-we-face/) [Rae Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rae-carson/) > [“But none of it will be real. None of them will want me. My throne, yes. Prestige. A conquest. But not me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rae-carson/but-none-of-it-will-be-real-none-of-them-will-want-me-my-throne-yes/) [Rae Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rae-carson/) > [“Murder is no less a crime when the victim is common born.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rae-carson/murder-is-no-less-a-crime-when-the-victim-is-common-born/) [Rae Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rae-carson/) > [“One of the greatest frustrations about being the only chosen one in four generations is that there is no one to tell me what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rae-carson/one-of-the-greatest-frustrations-about-being-the-only-chosen-one-in/) [Rae Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rae-carson/) > [Men are scared of a Good Woman, Because that means he has to come correct ..No half steppin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-s-voice/men-are-scared-of-a-good-woman-because-that-means-he-has-to-come/) Lisa's Voice > [“I don't get scared very often," he said finally. "I was scared the first morning I woke up and you weren't here. I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-mcguire/i-don-t-get-scared-very-often-he-said-finally-i-was-scared-the-first/) [Jamie McGuire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-mcguire/) > [What would happen to the Weather Channel's ratings if all the sudden people weren't scared anymore?"](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-inhofe/what-would-happen-to-the-weather-channel-s-ratings-if-all-the-sudden/) [James Inhofe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-inhofe/) > [You weren't there when I have nobody, so why should I scared of losing you..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mielya-saladdin/you-weren-t-there-when-i-have-nobody-so-why-should-i-scared-of-losing/) [Mielya Saladdin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mielya-saladdin/) ## More by Rae Carson > [“Like all good teachers, he loves the moment of revelation, when the light of knowledge passes to his pupil.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rae-carson/like-all-good-teachers-he-loves-the-moment-of-revelation-when-the/) [Rae Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rae-carson/) > [“That man’s so low he has to reach up to rub the belly of a snake.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rae-carson/that-man-s-so-low-he-has-to-reach-up-to-rub-the-belly-of-a-snake/) [Rae Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rae-carson/) > [“Becky will be so disappointed in us.” “Becky lives to be disappointed in people. If we get out of her way, she’ll expand her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rae-carson/becky-will-be-so-disappointed-in-us-becky-lives-to-be-disappointed-in/) [Rae Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rae-carson/) > [“Cosmé is in constant attendance. Though no one will take Aneaxi’s place, Cosmé is the most efficient maid I’ve ever had. I tell her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rae-carson/cosm-is-in-constant-attendance-though-no-one-will-take-aneaxi-s-place/) [Rae Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rae-carson/) > [“It’s the highest art form, deceiving without lying. A word is the only thing in the world made more powerful by absence than existence.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rae-carson/it-s-the-highest-art-form-deceiving-without-lying-a-word-is-the-only/) [Rae Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rae-carson/) > [“You look beautiful," Alodia says. I startle at the compliment. Then I smile. "I’m beautiful to the one person who matters." She nods. "Hector’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rae-carson/you-look-beautiful-alodia-says-i-startle-at-the-compliment-then-i/) [Rae Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rae-carson/) > [“Hope. Such a dangerous thing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rae-carson/hope-such-a-dangerous-thing/) [Rae Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rae-carson/) > [“I could heal you-" "No," he says, sharply enough that it startles me. "Everyone is dead. Gavin, Jedro, Melita... All gone. My life, my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rae-carson/i-could-heal-you-no-he-says-sharply-enough-that-it-startles-me/) [Rae Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rae-carson/) > [“What can you tell me about this ship?” “She’s one hundred fifteen feet in length, with a beam of twenty-eight, and a depth of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rae-carson/what-can-you-tell-me-about-this-ship-she-s-one-hundred-fifteen-feet/) [Rae Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rae-carson/) > [“. . . it's probably been a year or more since I've had beef." - Jacián”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rae-carson/it-s-probably-been-a-year-or-more-since-i-ve-had-beef-jaci-n/) [Rae Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rae-carson/) > [“I cover his hand with my own: "The Champion must not waver," he says in my ear. "Yea, though SHE pass through the shadow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rae-carson/i-cover-his-hand-with-my-own-the-champion-must-not-waver-he-says-in/) [Rae Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rae-carson/) > [“It's nice to consider that God may not count imperfection as an obstacle to working out his will in the world.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rae-carson/it-s-nice-to-consider-that-god-may-not-count-imperfection-as-an/) [Rae Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rae-carson/) > [“The less you say, the more your words will matter.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rae-carson/the-less-you-say-the-more-your-words-will-matter/) [Rae Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rae-carson/) > [“From the mouths of the innocents flows truth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rae-carson/from-the-mouths-of-the-innocents-flows-truth/) [Rae Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rae-carson/) > [“Murder is no less a crime when the victim is common born.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rae-carson/murder-is-no-less-a-crime-when-the-victim-is-common-born/) [Rae Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rae-carson/) [Explore all 157 Rae Carson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rae-carson/) ## More Elisa quotes > [“Murder is no less a crime when the victim is common born.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rae-carson/murder-is-no-less-a-crime-when-the-victim-is-common-born/) [Rae Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rae-carson/) > [“But none of it will be real. None of them will want me. My throne, yes. Prestige. A conquest. But not me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rae-carson/but-none-of-it-will-be-real-none-of-them-will-want-me-my-throne-yes/) [Rae Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rae-carson/) > [“I saw the way she looked at you. You are life and breath for her." He's wrong about that. Elisa loves fiercely, it's true.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rae-carson/i-saw-the-way-she-looked-at-you-you-are-life-and-breath-for-her-he-s/) [Rae Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rae-carson/) > [“Given a choice between my life and yours, I will choose mine. Every time. Without hesitation.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rae-carson/given-a-choice-between-my-life-and-yours-i-will-choose-mine-every/) [Rae Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rae-carson/) > [“Thank you for lending me the use of your maid. I tragically lost my lady-in-waiting on our journey and found Cosme's presence such a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rae-carson/thank-you-for-lending-me-the-use-of-your-maid-i-tragically-lost-my/) [Rae Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rae-carson/) > [“—No lo hagas, Elisa. Cometerás un gran error. Si te marchas, junto a él no serás nadie. —Y nadie quiero ser... —aquella fue mi…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/no-lo-hagas-elisa-cometer-s-un-gran-error-si-te-marchas-junto-a-l-no/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“My name. It’s … my name. Miriam bat Elisa. From Tower. From Magdala.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stant-litore/my-name-it-s-my-name-miriam-bat-elisa-from-tower-from-magdala/) [Stant Litore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stant-litore/) > [“Walking away from my desert companions feels like cutting off a limb. How does one say good-bye to an arm? One doesn't, I suppose.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rae-carson/walking-away-from-my-desert-companions-feels-like-cutting-off-a-limb/) [Rae Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rae-carson/) > [“One of the greatest frustrations about being the only chosen one in four generations is that there is no one to tell me what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rae-carson/one-of-the-greatest-frustrations-about-being-the-only-chosen-one-in/) [Rae Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rae-carson/) > [“Fury is like a monster inside me, the one thing in my life I've been unable to master. I sent up a quick prayer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rae-carson/fury-is-like-a-monster-inside-me-the-one-thing-in-my-life-i-ve-been/) [Rae Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rae-carson/) > [“Until recently, I believed all horses were alike. They’ve been giant, four-footed animals with ugly dispositions and alarmingly large teeth for so long that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rae-carson/until-recently-i-believed-all-horses-were-alike-they-ve-been-giant/) [Rae Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rae-carson/) > [“You made me cut and dye my hair.” Surely he understands that we face greater problems? “I thought it would greatly improve your looks,”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rae-carson/you-made-me-cut-and-dye-my-hair-surely-he-understands-that-we-face/) [Rae Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rae-carson/) > [“You must not lose faith, child. No matter what. Do not doubt God or his choosing of you. He knows infinitely more than we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rae-carson/you-must-not-lose-faith-child-no-matter-what-do-not-doubt-god-or-his/) [Rae Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rae-carson/) [Browse all 14 Elisa quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/elisa/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Weren't you scared?\" I ask. \"Yes. But it was a good scared.\" \"There's a good kind?\" \"Oh, yes.\" Her voice drops so low I have to strain to hear. \"Orlin made me scared all the time. Scared I would starve. Scared I would get too cold. Scared he would hurt me again or get so mad he'd throw me to one of the men. That was nasty bad scared.\" She pauses, scuffing her boots against the floor. \"But you never hit me, even though I'm your slave... You always feed me. You call me my true name. Now when I'm scared, it's not because of meanness. And today, I chose my own scared. 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