--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I'm by myself, I'm not threatening…" description: "\"When I'm by myself, I'm not threatening at all. I get many more invitations than I would if I were traveling with anyone else, especially with a man. B..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6bc/rita-gelman-36792_benches_when-i-m-by-myself-i-m-not-threatening-a_2517669.png" --- # When I'm by myself, I'm not threatening at all. I get many… ![“When I'm by myself, I'm not threatening at all. I get many more invitations than I would if I were traveling with anyone else, especially with a man. But I'm rarely alone. I sit on a park bench and I'm not alone because I pick a park bench where somebody interesting is sitting.” quote by Rita Gelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6bc/rita-gelman-36792_benches_when-i-m-by-myself-i-m-not-threatening-a_2517669.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6bc/rita-gelman-36792_benches_when-i-m-by-myself-i-m-not-threatening-a_2517669.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6bc/rita-gelman-36792_benches_when-i-m-by-myself-i-m-not-threatening-a_2517669.png) > “When I'm by myself, I'm not threatening at all. I get many more invitations than I would if I were traveling with anyone else, especially with a man. But I'm rarely alone. I sit on a park bench and I'm not alone because I pick a park bench where somebody interesting is sitting.” [Rita Gelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-gelman/) ## 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 finds solitude less intimidating when surrounded by interesting strangers, gaining social opportunities without a companion, especially a man. **In simple terms:** Being alone feels safer when interesting people are nearby. Key Takeaway Seek engaging environments when alone. Themes solitude social dynamics confidence Mood reflective observational Type personal essay reflection When to use this quote - park visits - traveling solo - networking events - public spaces Key Concepts personal growth social perception independence Questions to Reflect On - How does environment affect your comfort alone? - What qualities make a stranger interesting? A Different Perspective May still feel lonely if connections are superficial. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Benches](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/benches/) [Invitations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/invitations/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Not alone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/not-alone/) [Park benches](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/park-benches/) ## Related quotes > [I have a beautiful desk. I rarely sit behind it. That's not where my job is. My job is in the community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-wheeler/i-have-a-beautiful-desk-i-rarely-sit-behind-it-that-s-not-where-my/) [Ted Wheeler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-wheeler/) > [One main problem with raising awareness of LGBT abuse is the denial. The term "domestic violence" is perceived as something akin to alcoholism, ("I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-kardashian/one-main-problem-with-raising-awareness-of-lgbt-abuse-is-the-denial/) [Kim Kardashian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-kardashian/) > [They sat on a park bench, held hands, and told each other their stories hour after hour. They were not lonely anymore. They had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/they-sat-on-a-park-bench-held-hands-and-told-each-other-their-stories/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [Ordinary folk prefer familiar tastes - they'd sooner eat the same things all the time - but a gourmet would sample a fried park…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-moers/ordinary-folk-prefer-familiar-tastes-they-d-sooner-eat-the-same/) [Walter Moers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-moers/) > [Secure web servers are the equivalent of heavy armoured cars. The problem is, they are being used to transfer rolls of coins and cheques…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-spafford/secure-web-servers-are-the-equivalent-of-heavy-armoured-cars-the/) [Gene Spafford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-spafford/) > [There are “bus bench” workouts and “park bench” workouts. A bus bench and a park bench look exactly the same, but your expectations sitting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-john/there-are-bus-bench-workouts-and-park-bench-workouts-a-bus-bench-and/) [Dan John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-john/) > [ Cryptography \[without system integrity\] is like investing in an armored car to carry money between a customer living in a cardboard box and a… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-spafford/cryptography-without-system-integrity-is-like-investing-in-an-armored/) [Gene Spafford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-spafford/) > [On a park bench on 12th street, my whole crew's famous, you try bust your gat and keep it rel but you nameless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prodigy/on-a-park-bench-on-12th-street-my-whole-crew-s-famous-you-try-bust/) [Prodigy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prodigy/) > [“For awhile, I was left with nothing on the physical plane. I had no relationships, no job, no home, no socially defined identity. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/for-awhile-i-was-left-with-nothing-on-the-physical-plane-i-had-no/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [Spotted Park Bench I am a park bench. Ordinary words cannot express my thoughts on birds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-patrick-lewis/spotted-park-bench-i-am-a-park-bench-ordinary-words-cannot-express-my/) [J. Patrick Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-patrick-lewis/) > [Using encryption on the Internet is the equivalent of arranging an armored car to deliver credit card information from someone living in a cardboard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-spafford/using-encryption-on-the-internet-is-the-equivalent-of-arranging-an/) [Gene Spafford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-spafford/) > [Each of us needs to withdraw from the cares which will not withdraw from us. We need hours of aimless wandering or spates of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/each-of-us-needs-to-withdraw-from-the-cares-which-will-not-withdraw/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [Budapest in late May is a city of lilacs. The sweet, languid, rather sleepy smell of lilacs wafts everywhere. And it is a city…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-carol-oates/budapest-in-late-may-is-a-city-of-lilacs-the-sweet-languid-rather/) [Joyce Carol Oates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-carol-oates/) > [There are stories in everything. I've got some of my best yarns from park benches, lampposts, and newspaper stands.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/o-henry/there-are-stories-in-everything-i-ve-got-some-of-my-best-yarns-from/) [O. Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/o-henry/) > [I've got some of my best yarns from park benches, lamp posts and newspaper stands.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/o-henry/i-ve-got-some-of-my-best-yarns-from-park-benches-lamp-posts-and/) [O. Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/o-henry/) ## More by Rita Gelman > [I came back once or twice a year to visit my family, and then I would take off again. In the beginning, I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-gelman/i-came-back-once-or-twice-a-year-to-visit-my-family-and-then-i-would/) [Rita Gelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-gelman/) > [I don't want to be responsible anymore. I don't want to have plans. I just want to float through the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-gelman/i-don-t-want-to-be-responsible-anymore-i-don-t-want-to-have-plans-i/) [Rita Gelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-gelman/) > [Even here, in the U.S., I walk my daughter's dog and I look for interesting people sitting at a picnic table and I walk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-gelman/even-here-in-the-u-s-i-walk-my-daughter-s-dog-and-i-look-for/) [Rita Gelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-gelman/) > [Stay away from Europe, stay away from Japan, Australia. If you go to the Western world, you're gonna pay more money. You can spend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-gelman/stay-away-from-europe-stay-away-from-japan-australia-if-you-go-to-the/) [Rita Gelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-gelman/) > [There are times when the state department says not to travel to a place, but I'll look it up and find out for myself.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-gelman/there-are-times-when-the-state-department-says-not-to-travel-to-a/) [Rita Gelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-gelman/) > [Eat where the people eat, not the hotels and touristy restaurants. If a local teacher makes $50 a month and they're living decently, see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-gelman/eat-where-the-people-eat-not-the-hotels-and-touristy-restaurants-if-a/) [Rita Gelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-gelman/) > [If you don't talk to strangers, your life is so limited. 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Without serendipity, there are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-gelman/risk-taking-trust-and-serendipity-are-key-ingredients-of-joy-without/) [Rita Gelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-gelman/) [Explore all 12 Rita Gelman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-gelman/) ## More Benches quotes > [No judge can stop us from praying for our country and I pray that on May 6, millions of Americans will join me in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-graham/no-judge-can-stop-us-from-praying-for-our-country-and-i-pray-that-on/) [Franklin Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-graham/) > [I don't think I've ever bench-pressed anything in my life. Until about two years ago I swam a mile almost every day. 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For a few minutes I was alone, sitting on a bench between two long hedges…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-howe/i-was-in-a-garden-at-the-rodin-museum-for-a-few-minutes-i-was-alone/) [Irving Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-howe/) > [Israel has incredible entrepreneurial spirit and a deep bench of technology talent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roelof-botha/israel-has-incredible-entrepreneurial-spirit-and-a-deep-bench-of/) [Roelof Botha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roelof-botha/) > [At 200 pounds, with a 17-inch neck, a resting pulse of 78, a bench press of 200 pounds, I was very much indeed a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dirk-benedict/at-200-pounds-with-a-17-inch-neck-a-resting-pulse-of-78-a-bench-press/) [Dirk Benedict](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dirk-benedict/) > [When lifting weights, nothing feels better than achieving a high point on the bench press with no help from your spotter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-cheeke/when-lifting-weights-nothing-feels-better-than-achieving-a-high-point/) [Robert Cheeke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-cheeke/) > [It's so worth-while being a judge, because, if I make good, I can help prove that a woman's place is as much on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/florence-ellinwood-allen/it-s-so-worth-while-being-a-judge-because-if-i-make-good-i-can-help/) [Florence Ellinwood Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/florence-ellinwood-allen/) [Browse all 305 Benches quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/benches/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When I'm by myself, I'm not threatening at all. 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