# Quotes about shyness - Quotes: 15 - Authors: 10 - Broader topic: [Quotes about fear](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/fear.md) - Topic page: https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/shyness - JSON version (same data): https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/shyness.json ## Quotes > But I was still shy and half paralyzed when in the presence of a crowd, and my first day at the new school made me the laughingstock of the classroom. I was sent to the blackboard to write my name and address; I knew my name and address, knew how to write it, knew how to spell it; but standing at the blackboard with the eyes of the many girls and boys looking at my back made me freeze inside and I was unable to write a single letter. [Richard Wright](https://www.leafyquotes.com/richard-wright.md) · [Black Boy](https://www.leafyquotes.com/richard-wright/black-boy.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/richard-wright/black-boy/but-i-was.md) Topics: [shyness](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/shyness.md) > I sat and cursed myself. Why did I always appear so dumb when I was called upon to perform something in a crowd? I knew how to write as well as any pupil in the classroom, and no doubt I could read better than any of them, and I could talk fluently and expressively when I was sure of myself. Then why did strange faces make me freeze? I sat with my ears and neck burning, hearing the pupils whisper about me, hating myself, hating them; I sat still as stone and a storm of emotion surged through me [Richard Wright](https://www.leafyquotes.com/richard-wright.md) · [Black Boy](https://www.leafyquotes.com/richard-wright/black-boy.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/richard-wright/black-boy/i-sat-and.md) Topics: [shyness](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/shyness.md) > I sat listening to pupils recite, knowing and understanding what was being said and done, but utterly incapable of opening my mouth when called upon. The students around me seemed so sure of themselves that I despaired of ever being able to conduct myself as they did. [Richard Wright](https://www.leafyquotes.com/richard-wright.md) · [Black Boy](https://www.leafyquotes.com/richard-wright/black-boy.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/richard-wright/black-boy/i-sat-listening.md) Topics: [shyness](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/shyness.md) > People who are outwardly distant or shy are often better targets than extroverts. They are dying to be drawn out, and still waters run deep. [Robert Greene](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robert-greene.md) · [The Art of Seduction](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robert-greene/the-art-of-seduction.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robert-greene/the-art-of-seduction/people-who-are.md) Topics: [shyness](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/shyness.md), [seduction](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/seduction.md) > Eleanor Roosevelt, Rosa Parks, Gandhi — all these peopled described themselves as quiet and soft-spoken and even shy. And they all took the spotlight, even though every bone in their bodies was telling them not to. [Susan Cain](https://www.leafyquotes.com/susan-cain.md) · [Quiet](https://www.leafyquotes.com/susan-cain/quiet.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/susan-cain/quiet/eleanor-roosevelt-rosa.md) Topics: [courage](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/courage.md), [shyness](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/shyness.md) > Shyness is the fear of negative judgment, while introversion is simply the preference for less stimulation. Shyness is inherently uncomfortable; introversion is not. The traits do overlap, though psychologists debate to what degree. [Susan Cain](https://www.leafyquotes.com/susan-cain.md) · [Quiet](https://www.leafyquotes.com/susan-cain/quiet.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/susan-cain/quiet/shyness-is-the.md) Topics: [shyness](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/shyness.md) > He had been born without the ability to blend and socialize as some are born without hands. [Neal Stephenson](https://www.leafyquotes.com/neal-stephenson.md) · [The Diamond Age](https://www.leafyquotes.com/neal-stephenson/the-diamond-age.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/neal-stephenson/the-diamond-age/he-had-been.md) Topics: [shyness](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/shyness.md) > I verily believe that a man’s way with women is in inverse ratio to his prowess among men. The weakling and the saphead have often great ability to charm the fair sex, while the fighting man who can face a thousand real dangers unafraid, sits hiding in the shadows like some frightened child. [Edgar Rice Burroughs](https://www.leafyquotes.com/edgar-rice-burroughs.md) · [A Princess of Mars](https://www.leafyquotes.com/edgar-rice-burroughs/a-princess-of-mars.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/edgar-rice-burroughs/a-princess-of-mars/i-verily-believe.md) Topics: [women](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/women.md), [courage](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/courage.md), [shyness](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/shyness.md) > Unused to the situations in which I find myself, and embarrassed by the slightest difficulties, I seldom, till too late, discover how I ought to act. [Frances Burney](https://www.leafyquotes.com/frances-burney.md) · [Evelina](https://www.leafyquotes.com/frances-burney/evelina.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/frances-burney/evelina/unused-to-the.md) Topics: [experience](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/experience.md), [shyness](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/shyness.md) > Shyness is when you turn your head away from something you want. Shame is when you turn your head away from something you do not want. [Jonathan Safran Foer](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jonathan-safran-foer.md) · [Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jonathan-safran-foer/extremely-loud-and-incredibly-close.md) · p. 179 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jonathan-safran-foer/extremely-loud-and-incredibly-close/shyness-is-when.md) Topics: [shame](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/shame.md), [shyness](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/shyness.md) > … my unhealthy timidity might be a great obstacle to me in my life. [Gabriel Garcia Marquez](https://www.leafyquotes.com/gabriel-garcia-marquez.md) · [Living to Tell the Tale](https://www.leafyquotes.com/gabriel-garcia-marquez/living-to-tell-the-tale.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/gabriel-garcia-marquez/living-to-tell-the-tale/my-unhealthy-timidity.md) Topics: [shyness](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/shyness.md) > I want to resume the life of a shy person. [Garrison Keillor](https://www.leafyquotes.com/garrison-keillor.md) · [A Prairie Home Companion](https://www.leafyquotes.com/garrison-keillor/a-prairie-home-companion.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/garrison-keillor/a-prairie-home-companion/i-want-to-resume.md) Topics: [shyness](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/shyness.md) > He was not handsome, and his manners required intimacy to make them pleasing. He was too diffident to do justice to himself; but when his natural shyness was overcome, his behaviour gave every indication of an open, affectionate heart. [Jane Austen](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jane-austen.md) · [Sense and Sensibility](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jane-austen/sense-and-sensibility.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jane-austen/sense-and-sensibility/he-was-not-handsome.md) Topics: [character](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/character.md), [shyness](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/shyness.md) > I never wish to offend, but I am so foolishly shy, that I often seem negligent, when I am only kept back by my natural awkwardness. [Jane Austen](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jane-austen.md) · [Sense and Sensibility](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jane-austen/sense-and-sensibility.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jane-austen/sense-and-sensibility/i-never-wish.md) Topics: [shyness](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/shyness.md) > Shyness is only the effect of a sense of inferiority in some way or other. If I could persuade myself that my manners were perfectly easy and graceful, I should not be shy. [Jane Austen](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jane-austen.md) · [Sense and Sensibility](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jane-austen/sense-and-sensibility.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jane-austen/sense-and-sensibility/shyness-is-only.md) Topics: [self-esteem](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/self-esteem.md), [shyness](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/shyness.md)