--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Question,\" says Christina, leaning…" description: "\"“Question,\" says Christina, leaning forward. \"The leaders who were watching your fear landscape...they were laughing at something.\" \"Oh?\" I bite my lip..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8a6/veronica-roth-66_fear_question-says-christina-leaning-forward_2424046.png" --- # Question," says Christina, leaning forward. "The leaders… ![“Question," says Christina, leaning forward. "The leaders who were watching your fear landscape...they were laughing at something." "Oh?" I bite my lip hard. "I'm glad my terror amuses them." "Any idea which obstacle it was?" she asks. "No." "You're lying ," she says. "You always bite the inside of…” quote by Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8a6/veronica-roth-66_fear_question-says-christina-leaning-forward_2424046.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8a6/veronica-roth-66_fear_question-says-christina-leaning-forward_2424046.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8a6/veronica-roth-66_fear_question-says-christina-leaning-forward_2424046.png) > ““Question," says Christina, leaning forward. "The leaders who were watching your fear landscape...they were laughing at something." "Oh?" I bite my lip hard. "I'm glad my terror amuses them." "Any idea which obstacle it was?" she asks. "No." "You're lying ," she says. "You always bite the inside of your cheek when you lie. It's your tell." I stop biting the inside of my cheek. "Will's is pinching his lips together, if it makes you feel better," she adds. Will covers his mouth immediately. "Okay,fine.I was afraid of...intimacy," I say. "Intimacy," repeats Chrstina. "Like...sex?" I tense up.And force myself to nod.Even if it was just Christina, and no one else was around,I would still want to strangle her right now. I go over a few ways to inflict maximum injury with minimum force in my head. I try to throw flames from my eyes. Will laughs. "What was that like?" she says. "I mean,did someone just...try to do it with you? Who was it?" "Oh,you know. Faceless...unidentifiable male," I say. "How were your moths?" "You promised you would never tell!" cries Christina,smacking my arm. "Moths," repeats Will. "You're afraid of moths?" "Not just a cloud of moths," she says, "like...a swarm of them. Everywhere. All those wings and legs and..." She shudders and shakes her head. "Terrifying," Will says with mock seriousness. "That's my girl. Tough as cotton balls." "Oh,shut up.”” [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) ## 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 reveals deep fear of intimacy, projecting it onto others and imagining violent fantasies as a coping mechanism. **In simple terms:** Fear of closeness leads to violent thoughts. Key Takeaway Recognize and address intimacy fear. Themes intimacy fear violence coping psychology Mood anxious conflicted defensive Type psychological conversational narrative When to use this quote - therapy sessions - relationship counseling - self‑reflection - mindfulness practice Key Concepts trauma projection defense mechanisms Questions to Reflect On - What triggers your intimacy fear? - How can you safely explore closeness? A Different Perspective Violent fantasies can reinforce avoidance rather than heal. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Afraid Intimacy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afraid-intimacy-2077725/) [Afraid Moths](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afraid-moths-1979782/) [Bite My Lip](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bite-my-lip/) [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [Moths Says](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moths-says-1979781/) [Right now](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right-now/) [Says Christina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/says-christina-598540/) [Sex Tense](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sex-tense-6144439/) ## Related quotes > [“Moths," repeats Will. "You're afraid of moths?" "Not just a cloud of moths," she says, "like...a swarm of them. Everywhere. All those wings and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/moths-repeats-will-you-re-afraid-of-moths-not-just-a-cloud-of-moths/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [“You go through one of the instructors' landscapes. My brother told me." "Ooh,which instructor?" says Christina, suddenly perking up. "You know, it really isn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/you-go-through-one-of-the-instructors-landscapes-my-brother-told-me/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [“Moths? You're afraid of MOTHS?" Will asked incredulously. "Yeah, so what? They're all papery and their wings are all gross! They're just..Uckkk!" Christina defended…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/moths-you-re-afraid-of-moths-will-asked-incredulously-yeah-so-what/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [What is it with you today?” says Christina on the way to breakfast. Her eyes are still swollen from sleep and her tangled hair…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/what-is-it-with-you-today-says-christina-on-the-way-to-breakfast-her/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [“I am your instructor", he says."My name is Four". Christina asks, "Four? Like the number?" "Yes", Four says. "Is there a problem?" "No." "Good.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/i-am-your-instructor-he-says-my-name-is-four-christina-asks-four-like/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [What did you do, memorize a map of the city for fun?” says Christina. “Yes,” says Will, looking puzzled. “Didn’t you?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/what-did-you-do-memorize-a-map-of-the-city-for-fun-says-christina-yes/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [“You okay?" he says, touching my cheek. His hand cradles the side of my head, his long fingers slipping through my hair. He smiles…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/you-okay-he-says-touching-my-cheek-his-hand-cradles-the-side-of-my/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [“but somehow, his seeing her afraid was an intimacy she could not bear.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brit-bennett/but-somehow-his-seeing-her-afraid-was-an-intimacy-she-could-not-bear/) [Brit Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brit-bennett/) > [We're lonely, but we're afraid of intimacy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherry-turkle/we-re-lonely-but-we-re-afraid-of-intimacy/) [Sherry Turkle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherry-turkle/) > [Terrified of being alone, yet afraid of intimacy, we experience widespread feelings of emptiness, of disconnection, of the unreality of self. And here the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherry-turkle/terrified-of-being-alone-yet-afraid-of-intimacy-we-experience/) [Sherry Turkle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherry-turkle/) > [We're lonely, but we're afraid of intimacy. And so from social networks to sociable robots, we're designing technologies that will give us the illusion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-re-lonely-but-we-re-afraid-of-intimacy-and-so-from-social-networks/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I hate solitude, but I'm afraid of intimacy. The substance of my life is a private conversation with myself which to turn into a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iris-murdoch/i-hate-solitude-but-i-m-afraid-of-intimacy-the-substance-of-my-life/) [Iris Murdoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iris-murdoch/) > [I hate solitude but I am afraid of intimacy. The substance of my life is a private conversation with myself and to turn it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iris-murdoch/i-hate-solitude-but-i-am-afraid-of-intimacy-the-substance-of-my-life/) [Iris Murdoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iris-murdoch/) > [“I want you, Anastasia,” he murmurs. “I love and I hate, and I love arguing with you. It’s very new. I need to know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-l-james/i-want-you-anastasia-he-murmurs-i-love-and-i-hate-and-i-love-arguing/) [E.L. James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-l-james/) > [“Why not? It's true. My best hope is to not disgrace myself and..." He hesitates. And what?" I say. I don't know how to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/why-not-it-s-true-my-best-hope-is-to-not-disgrace-myself-and-he/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) ## More by Veronica Roth > [How strange that something so simple could have been instrumental in my decision to ruin one of my most relationships and friendships, and damage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/how-strange-that-something-so-simple-could-have-been-instrumental-in/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [“I was beginning to feel that I had finally found a place to stay, a place that was not so unstable or corrupt or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/i-was-beginning-to-feel-that-i-had-finally-found-a-place-to-stay-a/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [“He acts so tough that he’s probably afraid of marshmallows and really bright sunrises or something. Overcompensating.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/he-acts-so-tough-that-he-s-probably-afraid-of-marshmallows-and-really/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [And is it selfish of me to crave victory, or is it brave?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/and-is-it-selfish-of-me-to-crave-victory-or-is-it-brave/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [You always look like someone's sucked the life right out of you when something fascinates you. -Tris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/you-always-look-like-someone-s-sucked-the-life-right-out-of-you-when/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [“We can be mended. We mend each other.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/we-can-be-mended-we-mend-each-other/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [Don’t worry about me handling the pain," I say. "I’ve had a lot of practice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/don-t-worry-about-me-handling-the-pain-i-say-i-ve-had-a-lot-of/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [Soon I will honor my parents by dying as they died. and if all they believed about death was true, soon I will join…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/soon-i-will-honor-my-parents-by-dying-as-they-died-and-if-all-they/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [“Mas lembre-se, já agora, que por vezes as pessoas que oprimimos tornam-se mais poderosas do que nós gostaríamos.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/mas-lembre-se-j-agora-que-por-vezes-as-pessoas-que-oprimimos-tornam/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [“am aware of how little space there is between us—six inches at most. That space feels charged with electricity. I feel like it should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/am-aware-of-how-little-space-there-is-between-us-six-inches-at-most/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [“Oh, good,” I say, a sour taste in my mouth. “Heroism is what I was focused on. Not, you know, trying not to die.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/oh-good-i-say-a-sour-taste-in-my-mouth-heroism-is-what-i-was-focused/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [“Caleb frowns at him. "How old are you, anyway?" "Eighteen." "And you don't think you're too old to be with my little sister?" Tobias…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/caleb-frowns-at-him-how-old-are-you-anyway-eighteen-and-you-don-t/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [What do you think they're going to do to us when they find us guilty?" she says after a few minutes of silence have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/what-do-you-think-they-re-going-to-do-to-us-when-they-find-us-guilty/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [“La paz está restringida, eso es libertad”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/la-paz-est-restringida-eso-es-libertad/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [In some parts of the ancient world, the hawk symbolized the sun. Back when I got this, I figured if I always had the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/in-some-parts-of-the-ancient-world-the-hawk-symbolized-the-sun-back/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) [Explore all 1,589 Veronica Roth quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) ## More Fear quotes > [This may sound strange, but although I feel like I know everything about my characters, the brand of shampoo they use, how many cavities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-honeyman/this-may-sound-strange-but-although-i-feel-like-i-know-everything/) [Gail Honeyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-honeyman/) > [“That horrible stinging sensation returned, the muscles behind my eyes straining as the first tear began to fall. “I’m scared, too. For eighteen months…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devon-ashley/that-horrible-stinging-sensation-returned-the-muscles-behind-my-eyes/) [Devon Ashley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devon-ashley/) > [“...Often that which most we fear births the resolve that spurs us on to altitudes we could not have achieved, had we continued walking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-t-anderson/often-that-which-most-we-fear-births-the-resolve-that-spurs-us-on-to/) [M.T. Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-t-anderson/) > [What an incredible drug fear is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-lamott/what-an-incredible-drug-fear-is/) [Anne Lamott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-lamott/) > [“Anything that you find yourself worrying about regularly may find you suddenly wanting unrealistic changes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nagisa-tatsumi/anything-that-you-find-yourself-worrying-about-regularly-may-find-you/) [Nagisa Tatsumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nagisa-tatsumi/) > [“We all know how the thing we secretly fear is not a secret at all but the open and eternal thing that predicts its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-delillo/we-all-know-how-the-thing-we-secretly-fear-is-not-a-secret-at-all-but/) [Don DeLillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-delillo/) > [When you're scared - and I mean really scared, not just hearing a noise in the night, or standing toe to toe with someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-gordon-smith/when-you-re-scared-and-i-mean-really-scared-not-just-hearing-a-noise/) [Alexander Gordon Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-gordon-smith/) > [“I had nowhere to go and did not wish to be seen by anyone for fear they would recognize my sadness and so for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-dewitt/i-had-nowhere-to-go-and-did-not-wish-to-be-seen-by-anyone-for-fear/) [Patrick deWitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-dewitt/) > [It's easier to change a law than an age-old mentality. 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But they mix in the middle.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-french/fear-and-desire-for-pleasure-aggressiveness-comes-out-of-fear/) [Marilyn French](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-french/) > [“Carrie Fisher. “Stay afraid, but do it anyway.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-union/carrie-fisher-stay-afraid-but-do-it-anyway/) [Gabrielle Union](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-union/) > [“Yes, the issue was courage. It always had been, even as a kid. Things scared him. He couldn't help it. Noise scared him, dark…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-o-brien/yes-the-issue-was-courage-it-always-had-been-even-as-a-kid-things/) [Tim O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-o-brien/) > [Don't be afraid of hard work. Nothing worthwhile comes easily. Don't let others discourage you or tell you that you can't do it. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-b-elion/don-t-be-afraid-of-hard-work-nothing-worthwhile-comes-easily-don-t/) [Gertrude B. Elion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-b-elion/) > [Let me tell you that atheism has never painted a masterpiece. Atheism has never dispelled fear. Atheism has never healed a disease; faith in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hagee/let-me-tell-you-that-atheism-has-never-painted-a-masterpiece-atheism/) [John Hagee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hagee/) [Browse all 35,569 Fear quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Question,\" says Christina, leaning forward. \"The leaders who were watching your fear landscape...they were laughing at something.\" \"Oh?\" I bite my lip hard. \"I'm glad my terror amuses them.\" \"Any idea which obstacle it was?\" she asks. \"No.\" \"You're lying ,\" she says. \"You always bite the inside of your cheek when you lie. It's your tell.\" I stop biting the inside of my cheek. \"Will's is pinching his lips together, if it makes you feel better,\" she adds. Will covers his mouth immediately. \"Okay,fine.I was afraid of...intimacy,\" I say. \"Intimacy,\" repeats Chrstina. \"Like...sex?\" I tense up.And force myself to nod.Even if it was just Christina, and no one else was around,I would still want to strangle her right now. I go over a few ways to inflict maximum injury with minimum force in my head. I try to throw flames from my eyes. Will laughs. \"What was that like?\" she says. \"I mean,did someone just...try to do it with you? Who was it?\" \"Oh,you know. Faceless...unidentifiable male,\" I say. \"How were your moths?\" \"You promised you would never tell!\" cries Christina,smacking my arm. \"Moths,\" repeats Will. \"You're afraid of moths?\" \"Not just a cloud of moths,\" she says, \"like...a swarm of them. Everywhere. All those wings and legs and...\" She shudders and shakes her head. \"Terrifying,\" Will says with mock seriousness. \"That's my girl. Tough as cotton balls.\" \"Oh,shut up.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Veronica Roth" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/question-says-christina-leaning-forward-the-leaders-who-were-watching/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Fear" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/question-says-christina-leaning-forward-the-leaders-who-were-watching/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8a6/veronica-roth-66_fear_question-says-christina-leaning-forward_2424046.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8a6/veronica-roth-66_fear_question-says-christina-leaning-forward_2424046.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8a6/veronica-roth-66_fear_question-says-christina-leaning-forward_2424046.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Question,\" says Christina, leaning forward. \"The leaders who were watching your fear landscape...they were…” — Veronica Roth", "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": "Veronica Roth", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Question,\" says Christina, leaning forward. \"The...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/question-says-christina-leaning-forward-the-leaders-who-were-watching/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/question-says-christina-leaning-forward-the-leaders-who-were-watching/#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 } } ] } ```