---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Urban people, of course, are terribly…"
description: "\"Urban people, of course, are terribly scared nowadays. They may yearn for society, but it is risky to go around talking to strangers, for a lot of reas..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c2f/russell-baker-2930_accustomed_urban-people-of-course-are-terribly-scar_3105583.png"
---

#  Urban people, of course, are terribly scared nowadays…

![“Urban people, of course, are terribly scared nowadays. They may yearn for society, but it is risky to go around talking to strangers, for a lot of reasons, one being that people are so accustomed not to have many human contacts that they are afraid they may find out they really prefer life that way.” quote by Russell Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c2f/russell-baker-2930_accustomed_urban-people-of-course-are-terribly-scar_3105583.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c2f/russell-baker-2930_accustomed_urban-people-of-course-are-terribly-scar_3105583.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c2f/russell-baker-2930_accustomed_urban-people-of-course-are-terribly-scar_3105583.png)

> “Urban people, of course, are terribly scared nowadays. They may yearn for society, but it is risky to go around talking to strangers, for a lot of reasons, one being that people are so accustomed not to have many human contacts that they are afraid they may find out they really prefer life that way.”

[Russell Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-baker/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Modern urban dwellers fear social interaction, preferring isolation despite longing for community.

**In simple terms:** City people avoid strangers, even though they want connection.

Key Takeaway

Balance solitude with safe social engagement.

Themes

urban life social anxiety community isolation modernity

Mood

anxious reflective

Type

observational critical

When to use this quote

- neighborhood events
- online forums
- community volunteering
- public spaces
- mental health workshops

Key Concepts

psychology social dynamics urban sociology

Questions to Reflect On

- How can cities design spaces that encourage gentle social contact?
- What personal steps can reduce fear of strangers?

A Different Perspective

Fear may be rooted in past negative experiences, not just modern habits.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [Stranger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stranger/) [Talking to strangers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talking-to-strangers/)

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