In a world made for social and outgoing people, it can feel as if shyness is a curse. Many shy people wish they were different.
There is a certain beauty that comes from being different, even if that means being a little on the shy side. So if you’re someone who struggles with feelings of shyness, just remember that you are not alone. You are still loveable for who you are.
Enjoy the following 69 best quotes about shyness.
Sections
- Best quotes about being shy
- Shy crush quotes
- Shy guy quotes
- Shy girl quotes
- Overcoming shyness quotes
- Shy love quotes
Best quotes about being shy
A lot of shy people feel like they are alone in their struggles with shyness in a world that is full of extroverts, but in reality, 40-60% of the population is said to struggle with feelings of shyness.[1] Enjoy these quotes about shyness to make you feel less alone, or just to give you a laugh when you recognize yourself in a funny quote.
1. “My feelings are too loud for words and too shy for the world.” —Dejan Stojanovic
 
2. “I’m shy. Most people don’t take the time to get to know me. They don’t take the time to explore the real me. So I’d like to thank everyone who has. Everyone who didn’t miss out.” —Wiz Khalifa
 
3. “I used to be shy. You made me sing.” ―Hafiz
4. “People are just people. They shouldn’t make you nervous.” ―Unknown
 
5. “As a shy introvert, my goal isn’t to become a confident extrovert. Speaking only when I have something to say but with precision, confidence and weight.” ―Unknown
 
6. “If you meet me in person, you gotta be patient enough to get through my shy/awkward phase before I become cool.” ―Unknown
7. “Don’t watch yourself with other people’s eyes. You are not them; you are you!” —Unknown
 
8. “If you think shy, you act shy.” ―Arfa Karim
 
9. “I have more conversations in my head than I do in real life.” ―Unknown
10. “It’s tricky being shy. You blame yourself for it, and other people blame you too.”―Jaclyn Moriarty, The Slightly Alarming Tale of the Whispering Wars, 2018
 
11. “The shy aren’t awkward around everyone; they are tongue-tied around those who seem most unlike them.” —The School of Life, How to Overcome Shyness, 2017
 
12. “I wondered how many people there were in the world who suffered and continued to suffer because they could not break out from their own web of shyness and reserve and in their blindness and folly built up a great distorted wall in front of them that hid the truth.” —Daphne Du Marier, Rebecca, 1938
13. “The shy person doesn’t intend to be unpleasant or unfriendly, they simply experience all otherness as an insurmountable barrier to making their own goodwill and personality apparent.” —The School of Life, How to Overcome Shyness, 2017
 
14. “Don’t shy away when the world is at your feet.” —Komal Kapoor
 
15. “Deep rivers run quiet.” ―Haruki Murakami, Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World
16. “Not shy. I just don’t like you.” ―Unknown
 
17. “Self-consciousness comes from focusing your attention inwards, on to yourself, so that you become painfully aware of what is happening to you. At its worst, self-consciousness dominates your attention and makes it difficult to think of anything else but your inner experience – and this can become totally paralyzing.” ―Gillian Butler, Overcoming Social Anxiety and Shyness, 1999
 
18. “Shy… but curious.” —Butterfly Rising
19. “The shy and introverted have this in common—they both fancy they are the center of attention.” —Robert Breault
 
20. “Quiet people always know more than they seem.” —Criss Jami, Healology
 
21. “I’m shy. Until you get to know me.” ―Unknown
You might also want to check out this list of quotes on being awkward.
Shy crush quotes
If you’re single, it might feel like being quiet and shy is the thing that is keeping you from finding love. But there is truly something so cute and sweet about having a shy crush. Hopefully, these quotes will help you to feel more confident in your shy ways.
1. “Too shy to say, but I hope you stay.” —Billie Eilish
 
2. “The world is made up of too many girls wondering if they are pretty, and too many boys too shy to tell them.” —Unknown
 
3. “Eye contact is the kiss of shy people.” —Unknown
4. “She likes him, he likes her… they’re both too shy to do anything about it.” ―Unknown
 
5. “I love people who make me forget that I’m shy.” —Unknown
 
6. “It’s like I want you to look at me, but I turn my head when you do.” —Unknown
7. “I really want to talk to you… but I’m too shy.” ―Unknown
 
8. “I had so many chances that I blew because I’m too damn shy.” ―Unknown
 
9. “Skinny love: when two people love each other, but are too shy to admit it, yet they show it anyway.” —Unknown
10. “I can’t take my eyes off you. Unless, of course, you notice me. Then I’ll quickly look away and act like it never happened.” —Unknown
 
11. “If I have a crush on you, I’ll be shy as hell. I swear I won’t even look at you.” —Unknown
 
12. “I’m not open to many people. I’m usually quiet and I don’t really like attention. So if I like you enough to show you the real me, you must be very special.” ―Unknown
Shy guy quotes
The world is full of a lot of shy people, and if you happen to be a shy guy, that’s okay. You’re perfect exactly as you are.
1. “He’s like a timid bird; one wrong move and he’ll fly away.” —Krystalle Bianca
 
2. “I’m not shy. I just don’t like to talk when I have nothing meaningful to say.” ―Unknown
 
3. “Suddenly, he saw himself as others in the crowd must surely see him; a silent, solitary figure, standing apart from the rest. He looked out at the hordes of singing, laughing people and felt more alone than he’d ever felt in his life. Was this how it was going to be then? Was this who he was? A man apart from his fellows, making the journey through life alone?” ―Mary Lawson, The Other Side of the Bridge, 2006
4. “I hope you like social awkwardness, because that’s all I’m bringing to the party.” ―Dan Pearce, Single Dad Laughing
 
5. “My shyness has made me miss out on so much. It makes me overthink everything. I need to figure out how to stop worrying about every little thing.” —Unknown
 
6. “You are shy because you think you are ugly or something. No, you are not! Stop it!” —Unknown
7. “Shyness is a symptom of and a punishment for thinking too little of and too much about yourself.” ―Mokokoma Mokhonoana
 
8. “Nothing is as irritating to a shy man as a confident girl.” ―Mokokoma Mokhonoana
Shy girl quotes
There is a beauty that exists in your shy nature. Regardless of how long you’ve spent wishing that you were the outgoing extrovert that the world wants you to be, the truth is you’re perfect just as you are.
1. “There was a whole magnificent soul burning brightly behind her ‘shy’.” —Atticus
 
2. “A woman’s best jewelry is her shyness.” —Unknown
 
3. “My feelings are too loud for words and too shy for the world.” —Unknown
4. “She’s communicative and reserved at the same time, secretive almost; altogether a very beautiful mixture.” ―Theodor Fontane
 
5. “I hate it when people ask me, ‘Why are you so quiet?’ Because I am. That’s how I function. I don’t ask others ‘Why are you so noisy? Why do you talk so much?’ That’s rude.” —Unknown
 
6. “I think way too much and speak way too little.” ―Lidia Longorio, Hey Humanity
7. “The moment of crisis had come, and I must face it. My old fears, my diffidence, my shyness, my hopeless sense of inferiority, must be conquered now and thrust aside. If I failed now, I should fail forever.” ―Daphne du Maurier, Rebecca, 1938
 
8. “There are many Beths in the world, shy and quiet, sitting in corners till needed, and living for others so cheerfully that no one sees the sacrifices.” —Louisa May Alcott, Little Women
 
9. “I was a shy girl, but when I read, I was adventurous.” —Roxane Gay
10. “I have reason to be shy. I’ve been hurt plenty.” —Ethel Waters
Overcoming shyness quotes
Being shy might feel like it’s a part of your DNA, but you always hold the power to change any part of yourself if you choose to do so. If you need help to make changes in how you relate to others, check out our articles on how to stop being shy and how to stop being shy online. Enjoy these inspirational quotes about overcoming shyness.
1. “The way you overcome shyness is to become so wrapped up in something that you forget to be afraid.” —Unknown
 
2. “There’s a part of you, there’s a part of me, there’s a part of everyone that is social, that is confident, that is an extrovert.” —Project Life Mastery, How to Overcome Shyness and Social Anxiety, 2016
 
3. “The shyness isn’t who you are, it’s just a state of being.” —Project Life Mastery, How to Overcome Shyness and Social Anxiety, 2016
4. “I’m shy at first. But I do the stupidest random things when I get comfortable with someone.” —Unknown
 
5. “You define yourself as someone who is shy, you’re going to remain that way. Because that’s who you are, that’s your identity.” —Project Life Mastery, How to Overcome Shyness and Social Anxiety, 2016
 
6. “The answers will be given to those who are bold enough to ask.” ―Amit Kalantri, Wealth of Words
7. “I’m so shy; I’ve always struggled to make friends. I pretend that I hate people. But deep down I’m just lonely and bitter that I’ve never felt accepted.” ―Unknown
 
8. “Don’t try to be what you’re not. If you’re nervous, be nervous. If you’re shy, be shy.” —Adriana Lima
 
9. “I’ve gotten better at not making people feel uncomfortable with my shyness.” —Clea DuVall
10. “You’re always saying people don’t like you, but people can’t like something that’s not there.” ―Cath Crowley, A Little Wanting Song
These quotes about social anxiety disorder might also give you new insights.
Shy love quotes
Shy love is one of the cutest kinds of love. Inspire yourself to find shy love, or share them with someone you love on Instagram.
1. “Love makes the shy brave, and the brave shy.” —C.C. Aurel
 
2. “I loved you long before I had the guts to tell you.” —William Chapman
 
3. “I will only have you if you’re sweeter than my solitude.” ―Warshan Shire
4. “Shyness makes strangers of people who could have been more than friends.” ―Amit Kalantri, Wealth of Words
 
5. “Your shyness and laughter, jokes and teasing, intelligence and kindness kind of made me fall for you.” ―Unknown
 
6. “We get shy about saying things like I love you. Life is so short. It’s crazy that we hesitate to express our true thoughts to each other.” —Yoko Ono
7. “Don’t be shy to love once again. Because everyone is immature when it comes to love.” ―Mwanandeke Kindembo
 
8. “But the more we all stuck together, the more outside layers fell off, revealing that we all have insecurities, fears, and dreams. And that’s perfectly normal. That’s how God made us.” ―llyson Kennedy, Speak Your Mind
