--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I've always been curious about the things…" description: "\"I've always been curious about the things that I'm afraid to look at, that make me embarrassed or bother me.\" — Wangechi Mutu" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/066/wangechi-mutu-11352_afraid_i-ve-always-been-curious-about-the-thing_63632.jpg" --- # I've always been curious about the things that I'm afraid… ![“I've always been curious about the things that I'm afraid to look at, that make me embarrassed or bother me.” quote by Wangechi Mutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/066/wangechi-mutu-11352_afraid_i-ve-always-been-curious-about-the-thing_63632.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/066/wangechi-mutu-11352_afraid_i-ve-always-been-curious-about-the-thing_63632.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/066/wangechi-mutu-11352_afraid_i-ve-always-been-curious-about-the-thing_63632.jpg) > “I've always been curious about the things that I'm afraid to look at, that make me embarrassed or bother me.” [Wangechi Mutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wangechi-mutu/) ## 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 admits a fascination with confronting personal discomfort, suggesting that curiosity can drive self‑examination despite fear or shame. **In simple terms:** Curiosity pushes us toward uncomfortable truths. Key Takeaway Facing fear reveals hidden aspects of self. Themes self‑awareness courage psychology growth vulnerability Mood reflective introspective cautiously hopeful Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - therapy sessions - creative brainstorming - personal journaling - conflict resolution - artistic exploration Key Concepts introspection fear embarrassment Practical Applications - self‑development workshops - mental‑health counseling Questions to Reflect On - What might I learn by confronting my discomfort? - How does curiosity transform fear into insight? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Afraid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afraid/) [Afraid Look](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afraid-look-857115/) [Always](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/always/) [Curious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/curious/) [Embarrassed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/embarrassed/) [Embarrassed Bother](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/embarrassed-bother-857116/) [Look](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/look/) [Things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/things/) [Things Afraid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/things-afraid/) ## Related quotes > [Fear is a ... it's a weird thing, when you think about it. People are only afraid of other things, they're never afraid of themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-wells/fear-is-a-it-s-a-weird-thing-when-you-think-about-it-people-are-only/) [Dan Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-wells/) > [The amount of things you ignore is equal to the amount of things you are afraid of.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-cervantes/the-amount-of-things-you-ignore-is-equal-to-the-amount-of-things-you/) [Andrew Cervantes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-cervantes/) > [“As long as something teaches you some things, do not be afraid of it!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/as-long-as-something-teaches-you-some-things-do-not-be-afraid-of-it/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [There's not much point in finding a magic ring that lets you into other worlds if you're afraid to look at them when you've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/digory-kirke/there-s-not-much-point-in-finding-a-magic-ring-that-lets-you-into/) [Digory Kirke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/digory-kirke/) > [I'm afraid to look in the mirror. I'm afraid I'm going to see an old lady with white hair, just like the old ladies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paddy-chayefsky/i-m-afraid-to-look-in-the-mirror-i-m-afraid-i-m-going-to-see-an-old/) [Paddy Chayefsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paddy-chayefsky/) > [“But that is not to say that there might not be someone in the world - I do not say I have seen him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susanna-clarke/but-that-is-not-to-say-that-there-might-not-be-someone-in-the-world-i/) [Susanna Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susanna-clarke/) > [When it hurts to look back, and you're afraid to look ahead, you can look beside you and your best friend will be there](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-it-hurts-to-look-back-and-you-re-afraid-to-look-ahead-you-can/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Don't be afraid to look silly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tara-strong/don-t-be-afraid-to-look-silly/) [Tara Strong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tara-strong/) > [I'm not afraid to look stupid and I'm not afraid to look like I'm trying too hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-harding/i-m-not-afraid-to-look-stupid-and-i-m-not-afraid-to-look-like-i-m/) [Aldous Harding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-harding/) > [Never be afraid to look into the shadows of the tormented mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tazz/never-be-afraid-to-look-into-the-shadows-of-the-tormented-mind/) [Tazz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tazz/) > [People who look down their noses at you do it because they are afraid if they look you straight in the eye they might…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-moores/people-who-look-down-their-noses-at-you-do-it-because-they-are-afraid/) [Sarah Moores](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-moores/) > [I'm not afraid to look like an idiot on TV.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-bourdain/i-m-not-afraid-to-look-like-an-idiot-on-tv/) [Anthony Bourdain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-bourdain/) > [I'm afraid that if you look at a thing long enough, it loses all of its meaning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-warhol/i-m-afraid-that-if-you-look-at-a-thing-long-enough-it-loses-all-of/) [Andy Warhol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-warhol/) > [“Maybe a specialist is only a coward, afraid to look out of his little cage. And think what any specialist misses—the whole world over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/maybe-a-specialist-is-only-a-coward-afraid-to-look-out-of-his-little/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [I was afraid to look in the mirror afraid the image of myself in the wedding dress would send me over the edge into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-twilight-saga-breaking-dawn/i-was-afraid-to-look-in-the-mirror-afraid-the-image-of-myself-in-the/) [The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-twilight-saga-breaking-dawn/) ## More by Wangechi Mutu > [We became Homo sapiens not that long ago, from the scientific perspective, and we've retained a lot of our beast nature. We've done all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wangechi-mutu/we-became-homo-sapiens-not-that-long-ago-from-the-scientific/) [Wangechi Mutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wangechi-mutu/) > [We have to redefine what we mean when we say, 'Who are your people?' 'Where are you from?'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wangechi-mutu/we-have-to-redefine-what-we-mean-when-we-say-who-are-your-people/) [Wangechi Mutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wangechi-mutu/) > [I keep things moving along with a seriously loving, caring, and brilliant man, a fierce group of friends - and really strong coffee.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wangechi-mutu/i-keep-things-moving-along-with-a-seriously-loving-caring-and/) [Wangechi Mutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wangechi-mutu/) > [I feel that art is beyond language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wangechi-mutu/i-feel-that-art-is-beyond-language/) [Wangechi Mutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wangechi-mutu/) > [A lot of my work reflects the incredible influence that America has had on contemporary African culture. Some of it's insidious, some of it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wangechi-mutu/a-lot-of-my-work-reflects-the-incredible-influence-that-america-has/) [Wangechi Mutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wangechi-mutu/) > [I feel like I've spent a lot of time imagining home and thinking about a dream-like place, as opposed to a real place, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wangechi-mutu/i-feel-like-i-ve-spent-a-lot-of-time-imagining-home-and-thinking/) [Wangechi Mutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wangechi-mutu/) > [Football has that wonderful gift of being accessible. You don't need much gear, a coach, or a lifeguard. You just need your imagination, strong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wangechi-mutu/football-has-that-wonderful-gift-of-being-accessible-you-don-t-need/) [Wangechi Mutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wangechi-mutu/) > [Equal rights for women and queer folks!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wangechi-mutu/equal-rights-for-women-and-queer-folks/) [Wangechi Mutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wangechi-mutu/) > [What is Africa, anyway? Even I don't know what Africa is, entirely. But I know that it's not some of these simplified sound bites…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wangechi-mutu/what-is-africa-anyway-even-i-don-t-know-what-africa-is-entirely-but-i/) [Wangechi Mutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wangechi-mutu/) > [I'm big into multifunctional clothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wangechi-mutu/i-m-big-into-multifunctional-clothing/) [Wangechi Mutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wangechi-mutu/) > [If something hurtful enters your body, you create something beautiful to protect yourself from it. That's my philosophy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wangechi-mutu/if-something-hurtful-enters-your-body-you-create-something-beautiful/) [Wangechi Mutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wangechi-mutu/) > [Always acknowledge your position in the food chain... They eat because you grow the food.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wangechi-mutu/always-acknowledge-your-position-in-the-food-chain-they-eat-because/) [Wangechi Mutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wangechi-mutu/) > [I have this amateur side attraction to, and interest in, the sciences and biology and physics and evolution. Paleontology is of interest to me.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wangechi-mutu/i-have-this-amateur-side-attraction-to-and-interest-in-the-sciences/) [Wangechi Mutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wangechi-mutu/) > [I'm very much a person that believes that there's something that was introduced into Kenya and Africa as we know it that has made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wangechi-mutu/i-m-very-much-a-person-that-believes-that-there-s-something-that-was/) [Wangechi Mutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wangechi-mutu/) > ['Misguided Little Unforgivable Hierarchies' is a piece that I did around the time that I was very frustrated and angry with the fact that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wangechi-mutu/misguided-little-unforgivable-hierarchies-is-a-piece-that-i-did/) [Wangechi Mutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wangechi-mutu/) [Explore all 60 Wangechi Mutu quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wangechi-mutu/) ## More Afraid quotes > [It took me 20 years to buy an electric typewriter, because I was afraid it would be too sensitive. I like to bang the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/it-took-me-20-years-to-buy-an-electric-typewriter-because-i-was/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [“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/) > [I used to be afraid of my temper, but it turns out I don't really have one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-bell/i-used-to-be-afraid-of-my-temper-but-it-turns-out-i-don-t-really-have/) [Zoe Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-bell/) > [I get afraid of the dark if I'm in a great deal of dark, and I have to move around inside of that fear...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emil-ferris/i-get-afraid-of-the-dark-if-i-m-in-a-great-deal-of-dark-and-i-have-to/) [Emil Ferris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emil-ferris/) > [I am not afraid of praise, for I have practiced it on myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/i-am-not-afraid-of-praise-for-i-have-practiced-it-on-myself/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [I'm a pretty fearless person. I'm afraid of, like, creepy men in white vans and sidewalks with no streetlights. But I'm not afraid to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josie-totah/i-m-a-pretty-fearless-person-i-m-afraid-of-like-creepy-men-in-white/) [Josie Totah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josie-totah/) > [I will support my party when they are right on an issue, but am not afraid to stand up to party bosses who are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darlene-senger/i-will-support-my-party-when-they-are-right-on-an-issue-but-am-not/) [Darlene Senger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darlene-senger/) > [Why am I so afraid to loose you,when you're not even mine?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/why-am-i-so-afraid-to-loose-you-when-you-re-not-even-mine/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I want to tell you, but I cant, becuase I'm afraid if I do you'll never treat me same the again](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cristina-orante/i-want-to-tell-you-but-i-cant-becuase-i-m-afraid-if-i-do-you-ll-never/) [Cristina Orante](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cristina-orante/) > [Mistakes I've made in the past make me afraid to try new things in the future. I want to be perfect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-altucher/mistakes-i-ve-made-in-the-past-make-me-afraid-to-try-new-things-in/) [James Altucher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-altucher/) > [“Humans are naturally scared and confused beings. They not only fear the unknown, as they live fearing themselves... ☥”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-marques/humans-are-naturally-scared-and-confused-beings-they-not-only-fear/) [Luis Marques](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-marques/) > [If you are too afraid of failure, you cant possibly do what needs to be done to succeed in living a fulfilling life. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melchor-lim/if-you-are-too-afraid-of-failure-you-cant-possibly-do-what-needs-to/) [Melchor Lim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melchor-lim/) > [We cannot be afraid of the dark that they live in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/burnie-burns/we-cannot-be-afraid-of-the-dark-that-they-live-in/) [Burnie Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/burnie-burns/) > [“I think the reason we're cruel sometimes is that we're afraid we're going to like something.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-berg/i-think-the-reason-we-re-cruel-sometimes-is-that-we-re-afraid-we-re/) [Elizabeth Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-berg/) > [I'm still with that feeling that I am afraid of doing the wrong thing, because somebody is going to punish me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eartha-kitt/i-m-still-with-that-feeling-that-i-am-afraid-of-doing-the-wrong-thing/) [Eartha Kitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eartha-kitt/) [Browse all 5,519 Afraid quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afraid/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I've always been curious about the things that I'm afraid to look at, that make me embarrassed or bother me.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Wangechi Mutu" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wangechi-mutu/i-ve-always-been-curious-about-the-things-that-i-m-afraid-to-look-at/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Afraid" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wangechi-mutu/i-ve-always-been-curious-about-the-things-that-i-m-afraid-to-look-at/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/066/wangechi-mutu-11352_afraid_i-ve-always-been-curious-about-the-thing_63632.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/066/wangechi-mutu-11352_afraid_i-ve-always-been-curious-about-the-thing_63632.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/066/wangechi-mutu-11352_afraid_i-ve-always-been-curious-about-the-thing_63632.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I've always been curious about the things that I'm afraid to look at, that make me embarrassed or bother me.” — Wangechi Mutu", "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": "Wangechi Mutu", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wangechi-mutu/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I've always been curious about the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wangechi-mutu/i-ve-always-been-curious-about-the-things-that-i-m-afraid-to-look-at/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wangechi-mutu/i-ve-always-been-curious-about-the-things-that-i-m-afraid-to-look-at/#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 } } ] } ```