--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: And leave me alone when I tell ya to. I…" description: "\"“And leave me alone when I tell ya to. I will have things to do that are private. I cannot always have you trailing around with me like a strand of goo..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd3/ruth-downie-22186_tilla_and-leave-me-alone-when-i-tell-ya-to-i-w_1764952.jpg" --- # And leave me alone when I tell ya to. I will have things… ![“And leave me alone when I tell ya to. I will have things to do that are private. I cannot always have you trailing around with me like a strand of goose grass.” quote by Ruth Downie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd3/ruth-downie-22186_tilla_and-leave-me-alone-when-i-tell-ya-to-i-w_1764952.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd3/ruth-downie-22186_tilla_and-leave-me-alone-when-i-tell-ya-to-i-w_1764952.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd3/ruth-downie-22186_tilla_and-leave-me-alone-when-i-tell-ya-to-i-w_1764952.jpg) > ““And leave me alone when I tell ya to. I will have things to do that are private. I cannot always have you trailing around with me like a strand of goose grass.”” [Ruth Downie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-downie/) ## 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 demands personal space and autonomy, rejecting constant surveillance or interference. **In simple terms:** Ask for privacy and independence. Key Takeaway Respect boundaries. Themes privacy autonomy boundaries Mood defensive assertive Type personal emotional When to use this quote - relationships - workplace - family gatherings - social media - travel Key Concepts personal space social dynamics Questions to Reflect On - When do you need space? - How do you ask for privacy without offending? A Different Perspective Constant monitoring can hinder trust and intimacy. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet ## Related quotes > [“There's no good in moping girl, there's work to be done... Have you forgotten, nobody likes a person who feels sorry for herself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-downie/there-s-no-good-in-moping-girl-there-s-work-to-be-done-have-you/) [Ruth Downie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-downie/) > [“But, when she was alone, someone rapped on the door and she found herself on her feet, knife in hand, before she had time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-downie/but-when-she-was-alone-someone-rapped-on-the-door-and-she-found/) [Ruth Downie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-downie/) > [I think it's important to keep things private, and there are certain boundaries I feel very particular about drawing. It may seem fastidious, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodhi-may/i-think-it-s-important-to-keep-things-private-and-there-are-certain/) [Jodhi May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodhi-may/) > [If you want things to be private then keep them off a public website](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-want-things-to-be-private-then-keep-them-off-a-public-website/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Some things are private. I mean, we're grown-ups now. You don't share everything.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-kinsella/some-things-are-private-i-mean-we-re-grown-ups-now-you-don-t-share/) [Sophie Kinsella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-kinsella/) > [I don't mind letting people in a little bit, but I have learned from the past not to talk too much about my relationships…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leona-lewis/i-don-t-mind-letting-people-in-a-little-bit-but-i-have-learned-from/) [Leona Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leona-lewis/) > [When things are tough, One must leave to tell the story.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simphiwe-scientist-dumi/when-things-are-tough-one-must-leave-to-tell-the-story/) [Simphiwe Scientist Dumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simphiwe-scientist-dumi/) > [You have to right to leave someone, but at least tell them why casue what's mor painful than being abandoned is knowing your not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamika-leeigh/you-have-to-right-to-leave-someone-but-at-least-tell-them-why-casue/) [Tamika-leeigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamika-leeigh/) > [I can tell by the sound of your voice that you do not want me. I can by the way you act around me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-can-tell-by-the-sound-of-your-voice-that-you-do-not-want-me-i-can/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Love, the only way I’d ever leave you…you’d have to tell me to leave. Cause otherwise, I’d count myself lucky to be at your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-eden/love-the-only-way-i-d-ever-leave-you-you-d-have-to-tell-me-to-leave/) [Cynthia Eden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-eden/) > [If you leave someone at least tell them WHY. Because what's more painful than being abandoned is knowing you are not worth an explanation!!…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-leave-someone-at-least-tell-them-why-because-what-s-more/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If you leave someone at least tell them why, because whats more painful than being abandoned; is knowing youre not worth an explanation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/if-you-leave-someone-at-least-tell-them-why-because-whats-more/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [You have every right to leave someone. But at least tell them why...because what hurts more than being left is knowing you're not worth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-have-every-right-to-leave-someone-but-at-least-tell-them-why/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I want to beg him not to leave. Tell him that I’m still here. But I lie frozen. All I can do is watch…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-ee/i-want-to-beg-him-not-to-leave-tell-him-that-i-m-still-here-but-i-lie/) [Susan Ee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-ee/) > [“I don’t stay anywhere. I visit. I observe. I leave. I don’t ever stay.” I’m not sure what I’m supposed to do with this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamara-ireland-stone/i-don-t-stay-anywhere-i-visit-i-observe-i-leave-i-don-t-ever-stay-i-m/) [Tamara Ireland Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamara-ireland-stone/) ## More by Ruth Downie > [“There were many things a man might think he should be told when a woman agreed to marry him. She had choose not to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-downie/there-were-many-things-a-man-might-think-he-should-be-told-when-a/) [Ruth Downie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-downie/) > [“I seem to remember sitting on a golden bench, and she started chattering about the sunset, or something. She seemed quite happy so I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-downie/i-seem-to-remember-sitting-on-a-golden-bench-and-she-started/) [Ruth Downie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-downie/) > [“But, when she was alone, someone rapped on the door and she found herself on her feet, knife in hand, before she had time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-downie/but-when-she-was-alone-someone-rapped-on-the-door-and-she-found/) [Ruth Downie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-downie/) > [“...a little knowledge would unlock the gates to vast and unsuspected gates of ignorance.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-downie/a-little-knowledge-would-unlock-the-gates-to-vast-and-unsuspected/) [Ruth Downie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-downie/) > [“Sparrows and pigeons and a blackbird were celebrating the morning in the courtyard.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-downie/sparrows-and-pigeons-and-a-blackbird-were-celebrating-the-morning-in/) [Ruth Downie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-downie/) > [“But she’s only a woman!” The watch captain shook his head again. “So was Helen of Troy, sir. Look what she started.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-downie/but-she-s-only-a-woman-the-watch-captain-shook-his-head-again-so-was/) [Ruth Downie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-downie/) > [“The Empress Sabina had long ago formed her own theory about the nonsense in travel books. No traveler, having gone to the expense and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-downie/the-empress-sabina-had-long-ago-formed-her-own-theory-about-the/) [Ruth Downie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-downie/) > [“But what if--- Most of what if never happens.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-downie/but-what-if-most-of-what-if-never-happens/) [Ruth Downie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-downie/) > [“wriggled to avoid the lump that always seemed directly under”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-downie/wriggled-to-avoid-the-lump-that-always-seemed-directly-under/) [Ruth Downie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-downie/) > [“That was one of the bad things about being able to read: people could nag you from a great distance.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-downie/that-was-one-of-the-bad-things-about-being-able-to-read-people-could/) [Ruth Downie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-downie/) > [“But how can an ordinary girl not know this? Had Varana's mother not bothered to teach her anything at all or just shouted complaints…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-downie/but-how-can-an-ordinary-girl-not-know-this-had-varana-s-mother-not/) [Ruth Downie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-downie/) > [“He tried the diversion of reciting all the bones in the body, working down the left side, down to the toes and then back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-downie/he-tried-the-diversion-of-reciting-all-the-bones-in-the-body-working/) [Ruth Downie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-downie/) > [“Quid nomen tibi est? She was not about to offer her name up to a stranger. It was almost the only thing she possessed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-downie/quid-nomen-tibi-est-she-was-not-about-to-offer-her-name-up-to-a/) [Ruth Downie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-downie/) > [“One of the many difficult things about women was that they tended to pick the most unsuitable times to tell you something they considered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-downie/one-of-the-many-difficult-things-about-women-was-that-they-tended-to/) [Ruth Downie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-downie/) > [“They had run out of words… Then he and the Lamp were gone… Ruse swallowed hard and then began counting bones again in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-downie/they-had-run-out-of-words-then-he-and-the-lamp-were-gone-ruse/) [Ruth Downie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-downie/) [Explore all 28 Ruth Downie quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-downie/) ## More Leave quotes > [You've got to tell your money what to do or it will leave.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-ramsey/you-ve-got-to-tell-your-money-what-to-do-or-it-will-leave/) [Dave Ramsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-ramsey/) > [“Congregating power to leave u… To control this love But I always go back to December!!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moaz-zulfiqar/congregating-power-to-leave-u-to-control-this-love-but-i-always-go/) Moaz Zulfiqar > [“You are the queen, he ought to be begging leave of you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin/you-are-the-queen-he-ought-to-be-begging-leave-of-you/) [George R.R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin/) > [Can't blame people for walking away. People get tired and can only take so much. Don't be surprised when they leave and don't come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/can-t-blame-people-for-walking-away-people-get-tired-and-can-only/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If you leave someone for another person, don't be surprised if that person leaves you for someone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-leave-someone-for-another-person-don-t-be-surprised-if-that/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [To have a future we have to live and leave the present.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akiane-kramarik/to-have-a-future-we-have-to-live-and-leave-the-present/) [Akiane Kramarik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akiane-kramarik/) > [My parents and my sister always leave me over New Year, so I'm always on my own in London.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amelia-dimoldenberg/my-parents-and-my-sister-always-leave-me-over-new-year-so-i-m-always/) [Amelia Dimoldenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amelia-dimoldenberg/) > [I would leave at once, but it would be cruel to abandon a lady in a foreign land with a maniac.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/i-would-leave-at-once-but-it-would-be-cruel-to-abandon-a-lady-in-a/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [The fact that you can even make a record and leave a document that you were here, that's nothing to sneeze at.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence-trent-d-arby/the-fact-that-you-can-even-make-a-record-and-leave-a-document-that/) [Terence Trent D'Arby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terence-trent-d-arby/) > [Take what you LOVE , Leave what you don't :)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/psychefaye/take-what-you-love-leave-what-you-don-t/) PsycheFaye > [There is no reason why one should believe you should leave out politicians in cricket or any sport for that matter. There are ways…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roosevelt-skerrit/there-is-no-reason-why-one-should-believe-you-should-leave-out/) Roosevelt Skerrit > [Take your cap and leave my sweater cause we have nothing left to weather.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-urban/take-your-cap-and-leave-my-sweater-cause-we-have-nothing-left-to/) [Keith Urban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-urban/) > [I try to leave my work at the door when I leave the set. It's almost like summer camp. You go in hard, then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-dano/i-try-to-leave-my-work-at-the-door-when-i-leave-the-set-it-s-almost/) [Paul Dano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-dano/) > [It is our job to make a difference and leave the world a better place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karol-g/it-is-our-job-to-make-a-difference-and-leave-the-world-a-better-place/) [Karol G](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karol-g/) > [In a portrait, you always leave part of yourself behind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-ellen-mark/in-a-portrait-you-always-leave-part-of-yourself-behind/) [Mary Ellen Mark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-ellen-mark/) Browse all 3,701 Leave quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“And leave me alone when I tell ya to. I will have things to do that are private. I cannot always have you trailing around with me like a strand of goose grass.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ruth Downie" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-downie/and-leave-me-alone-when-i-tell-ya-to-i-will-have-things-to-do-that/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Leave" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-downie/and-leave-me-alone-when-i-tell-ya-to-i-will-have-things-to-do-that/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd3/ruth-downie-22186_tilla_and-leave-me-alone-when-i-tell-ya-to-i-w_1764952.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd3/ruth-downie-22186_tilla_and-leave-me-alone-when-i-tell-ya-to-i-w_1764952.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd3/ruth-downie-22186_tilla_and-leave-me-alone-when-i-tell-ya-to-i-w_1764952.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“And leave me alone when I tell ya to. I will have things to do that are private. I cannot always have you…” — Ruth Downie", "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": "Ruth Downie", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-downie/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“And leave me alone when I...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-downie/and-leave-me-alone-when-i-tell-ya-to-i-will-have-things-to-do-that/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-downie/and-leave-me-alone-when-i-tell-ya-to-i-will-have-things-to-do-that/#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 } } ] } ```