Fitness Quote by Sara Gran
““Instead I walked towards the man, meeting him halfway. “Just miss a train?” I heard myself ask. He shrugged. I could not believe I was engaging this man in conversation. He was disgusting up close, with mottled, pitted skin and a shaggy grown out haircut. “I hate that,” I said. “Especially at night. Especially at night when you’re waiting for a train and there’s someone there. And you never know. I mean, in the city you just never know who you’re dealing with. They might have a knife, or a gun, or whatever. They might, I don’t know, be the kind of person who hates men who hang out in train stations, waiting for women. She might be the kind of person who takes men like that and rips them limb from fucking limb with her bare hands.” The man left the station without a word, and the train took me home safe and sound.””
About This Quote
Source Short story: Unknown, 2023
A narrator confronts fear and prejudice by engaging a disheveled stranger, revealing inner anxieties about safety and gendered violence.
In simple terms: Facing fear by talking to a stranger.
Key Takeaway
Talk to confront fear, not avoid.
Themes
fear
prejudice
urban life
gender violence
human connection
Mood
uneasy
reflective
Type
narrative
personal
When to use this quote
- nighttime train
- urban commuting
- encounter with homeless
- self‑reflection
- personal safety
Key Concepts
social anxiety
danger perception
empathy
Questions to Reflect On
- What assumptions did you hold about the stranger?
- How does confronting fear change your perception?
A Different Perspective
The encounter may reinforce stereotypes rather than challenge them.
