Ellen Hopkins Quotes

Fear destroys intimacy. It distances us from each other; or makes us cling to each other, which is the death of freedom.... Only love can create intimacy, and freedom too, for when all hearts are one, nothing else has to be one--neither clothes nor age; neither sex nor sexual preference; race nor mind-set.

Sometimes I'm not as open to loving.

She didn't know how to love, to give herself to someone, to out herself in someone else's keeping and take him into hers. She didn't trust anyone with her heart - or the darker places of her soul.

Sometimes, in my adult life, I have memories of when I was young and really scared of being too close to people.

There are those who never stretch out the hand for fear it will be bitten. But those who never stretch out the hand will never feel it clasped in friendship.

You aren't afraid of throwing yourself in the path of danger, but you're terrified of letting anyone in.

They say there is a doorway from heart to heart, but what is the use of a door when there are no walls?

Suddenly this is all too hard. I am tired of putting up walls. I want someone with the strength - and the honesty - to break them down.

I started to build barriers between myself and others to protect myself.

I don't hide out. If you build a wall around yourself, it draws people to invade it. Fear is the enemy.

I'm a little bit afraid to give my heart away right now. It's very scary. I'm open to it, but I just want to make sure that I'm taking my time.

The less you open your heart to others, the more your heart suffers.

It takes years for me to trust; I know that about myself. A lot of it is because I am so private, and so reluctant to make myself vulnerable.

I try to open up my heart as much as I can and keep a real keen eye out that I don't get sentimental. I think we're all afraid to reveal our hearts. It's not at all in fashion.

I think we're scared of intimacy - all of us, a little bit.

I spent a lot of time protecting myself. I mean, I've met a lot of extraordinary people over the years - and I just wish I had been able to open myself up to them more.

I still find trusting people quite hard. I've got a couple of mates that I do let in, but that's it. It's something I've got to sort out - I cut people off.

Each person creates boundaries and walls around the self - this often keeps even happiness at bay.

I find it really hard to be close to anybody.

I'm the kind of person who doesn't let anyone in easily.

People choose to shut themselves off and build a load of defense mechanisms and not let anybody in because it's easier that way. You don't get hurt, and there's less risk involved if you build this hard shell.

Your distance from your partner is the distance from your heart. The things that make relationships difficult are some of the most precious aspects to us.

Please stop looking at me, she thought, afraid of his eyes and terrified of her own heart.

You built your walls too, she tells him. So I have my wall. She says it glittering in a beauty he cannot stand. She with her beautiful clothes with her pale face that laughs at everyone who smiles at her.

Perhaps he was afraid as I was that we'd be caught. Or perhaps he was breathing me in just as I was letting him come into my lungs, my eyes, my heart.