---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: He cleared his throat. “You know this…"
description: "\"“He cleared his throat. “You know this means that what we did what we almost did in Paris...” “Going to the Eiffel Tower?” He tucked a lock of hair beh..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a19/cassandra-clare-9_clace_he-cleared-his-throat-you-know-this-mean_2204048.jpg"
---

#  He cleared his throat. “You know this means that what we…

![“He cleared his throat. “You know this means that what we did what we almost did in Paris...” “Going to the Eiffel Tower?” He tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. “You never let me off the hook for a single minute, do you? Never mind. It’s one of the things I love about you. Anyway, that other…” quote by Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a19/cassandra-clare-9_clace_he-cleared-his-throat-you-know-this-mean_2204048.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a19/cassandra-clare-9_clace_he-cleared-his-throat-you-know-this-mean_2204048.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a19/cassandra-clare-9_clace_he-cleared-his-throat-you-know-this-mean_2204048.jpg)

> ““He cleared his throat. “You know this means that what we did what we almost did in Paris...” “Going to the Eiffel Tower?” He tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. “You never let me off the hook for a single minute, do you? Never mind. It’s one of the things I love about you. Anyway, that other thing we almost did in Paris, that’s probably off the table for a while. Unless you want that whole baby-I’m-on-fire-when-we kiss thing to become freakishly literal.” “No kissing?” “Well, kissing, probably. But as for the rest of it…” She brushed her cheek lightly against his. “It’s okay with me if it’s okay with you.” “Of course it’s not okay with me. I’m a teenage boy. As far as I’m concerned, this is the worst thing that’s happened since I found out why Magnus was banned from Peru.””

[Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

A teenage couple navigates intimacy, teasing, and the tension between desire and restraint.

**In simple terms:** They flirt, set boundaries, and acknowledge their feelings.

Key Takeaway

Communicate openly about limits and desires.

Themes

romance teenage boundaries intimacy

Mood

playful tentative

Type

dialogue romantic

When to use this quote

- first kiss
- relationship negotiation
- setting personal limits

Key Concepts

flirting consent emotional honesty

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you balance teasing with respect for boundaries?
- What signals indicate readiness for deeper intimacy?

A Different Perspective

May overlook deeper emotional needs behind playful banter.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Clace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clace/) [Clary fray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clary-fray/) [Jace lightwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jace-lightwood/) [Kissing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kissing/) [Tmi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tmi/)

## Related quotes

> [“No kissing?" "Well, kissing, probably. But as for the rest of it..." She brushed her cheek lightly against his. "It's okay with me if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/no-kissing-well-kissing-probably-but-as-for-the-rest-of-it-she/)

[Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/)

> [“You don't have to. I have enough faith in you," she said, "for the both of us.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/you-don-t-have-to-i-have-enough-faith-in-you-she-said-for-the-both-of/)

[Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/)

> [Anyway that other thing we almost did in Paris-that's probably off the table for a while.Unless you want that whole baby-I'm-on-fire-when-we kiss thing to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/anyway-that-other-thing-we-almost-did-in-paris-that-s-probably-off/)

[Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/)

> [As far as I’m concerned, this is the worst thing that’s happened since I found out why Magnus was banned from Peru.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/as-far-as-i-m-concerned-this-is-the-worst-thing-that-s-happened-since/)

[Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/)

> [His kiss is the first thing I taste when I wake up. His embrace is the last thing I feel before I sleep.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jade/his-kiss-is-the-first-thing-i-taste-when-i-wake-up-his-embrace-is-the/)

[Jade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jade/)

> [“Every time I think I'm missing a piece of me, you give it back.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/every-time-i-think-i-m-missing-a-piece-of-me-you-give-it-back/)

[Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/)

> [“It was the girl with red hair and her friend. Jace stood up straight. The girl had taken her hair out of its ponytail…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/it-was-the-girl-with-red-hair-and-her-friend-jace-stood-up-straight/)

[Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/)

> [“Clary’s eyes widened. She wondered if she was about to be broken up with. If so, she would have a thing or two to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/clary-s-eyes-widened-she-wondered-if-she-was-about-to-be-broken-up/)

[Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/)

> [“And then Jace’s boredom exploded into a million pieces as the girl with the red hair stepped out from behind a pillar. "Stop!” she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/and-then-jace-s-boredom-exploded-into-a-million-pieces-as-the-girl/)

[Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/)

> [“Jace, you don’t have to—” “I was trying to go…somewhere,” Jace said. “But I kept getting pulled back here. I couldn’t stop walking, couldn’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/jace-you-don-t-have-to-i-was-trying-to-go-somewhere-jace-said-but-i/)

[Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/)

> [“Jace sighed. "Shall we join our annoying, voyeuristic friends?" "Unfortunately, that's the only kind of friends we have.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/jace-sighed-shall-we-join-our-annoying-voyeuristic-friends/)

[Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/)

> [“Just like every other demon. Jace felt a flicker of something — boredom? — as he reached for a seraph blade. All demons were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/just-like-every-other-demon-jace-felt-a-flicker-of-something-boredom/)

[Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/)

> [“Kiss me,” she pleaded, and he did, hot languorous slow kisses that sped up as his heartbeat did, as the movement of their bodies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/kiss-me-she-pleaded-and-he-did-hot-languorous-slow-kisses-that-sped/)

[Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/)

> [“What’s this?” Alec said, looking baffled. “It’s a girl,” Jace said. He moved closer to the redhead, who stood with her feet braced apart,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/what-s-this-alec-said-looking-baffled-it-s-a-girl-jace-said-he-moved/)

[Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/)

> [“You're pining," said Jace. Alec shrugged. "Look who's talking. 'oh I love her. Oh, she's my sister. Oh why, why, why—”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/you-re-pining-said-jace-alec-shrugged-look-who-s-talking-oh-i-love/)

[Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/)

## More by Cassandra Clare

> [Against his own will, almost, Will felt himself understanding; he would have done anything, he thought, told any lie, taken any risk, to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/against-his-own-will-almost-will-felt-himself-understanding-he-would/)

[Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/)

> [“So Jace is my actual family," Kit said. "But I can't go live with him, because him and his hot girlfriend are going off…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/so-jace-is-my-actual-family-kit-said-but-i-can-t-go-live-with-him/)

[Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/)

> [Clarissa," he said, "here with the vampire, I see. When things have settled a bit, we really must discuss you choice in pets..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/clarissa-he-said-here-with-the-vampire-i-see-when-things-have-settled/)

[Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/)

> [Must I go bound while you go free Must I love a manwho doesn't love me Must I be born with so little art…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/must-i-go-bound-while-you-go-free-must-i-love-a-manwho-doesn-t-love/)

[Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/)

> [If you're texting Magnus to say 'I think u r kewl,' I'm going to kill you." "Who's Magnus?" Max inquired. "He's a warlock," said…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/if-you-re-texting-magnus-to-say-i-think-u-r-kewl-i-m-going-to-kill/)

[Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/)

> [“they all have always loved you Will Herondale, for you cannot hide what is good about yourself, however har you try.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/they-all-have-always-loved-you-will-herondale-for-you-cannot-hide/)

[Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/)

> [“We work through this together, remember? No shutting me out. No epic sulks.” “I was figuring I could sulk for Idris in the next…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/we-work-through-this-together-remember-no-shutting-me-out-no-epic/)

[Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/)

> [“Lex malla, lex nulla,” said Julian with a regretful wave of his hand. It was the Blackthorn family motto: A bad law is no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/lex-malla-lex-nulla-said-julian-with-a-regretful-wave-of-his-hand-it/)

[Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/)

> [Maybe that was why she couldn't cry, she realized, staring dry-eyed at the ceiling. Because what was the point in crying when there was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/maybe-that-was-why-she-couldn-t-cry-she-realized-staring-dry-eyed-at/)

[Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/)

> [I'm memorable, its true." -Magnus, pg.229-](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/i-m-memorable-its-true-magnus-pg-229/)

[Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/)

> [“There is more to living than not dying.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/there-is-more-to-living-than-not-dying/)

[Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/)

> [Unless there was a reason for me to stay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/unless-there-was-a-reason-for-me-to-stay/)

[Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/)

> [Love didn't make you weak, it made you stronger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/love-didn-t-make-you-weak-it-made-you-stronger/)

[Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/)

> [“I wasn’t just worried about him; I was worried about you, too. There’s something so . . . reassuring about you. And Jace is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/i-wasn-t-just-worried-about-him-i-was-worried-about-you-too-there-s/)

[Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/)

> [I firmly believe that you can't get a good movie without risking a bad movie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/i-firmly-believe-that-you-can-t-get-a-good-movie-without-risking-a/)

[Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/)

[Explore all 4,049 Cassandra Clare quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/)

## More Clace quotes

> [“You're pining," said Jace. Alec shrugged. "Look who's talking. 'oh I love her. Oh, she's my sister. Oh why, why, why—”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/you-re-pining-said-jace-alec-shrugged-look-who-s-talking-oh-i-love/)

[Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/)

> [“What’s this?” Alec said, looking baffled. “It’s a girl,” Jace said. He moved closer to the redhead, who stood with her feet braced apart,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/what-s-this-alec-said-looking-baffled-it-s-a-girl-jace-said-he-moved/)

[Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/)

> [“Kiss me,” she pleaded, and he did, hot languorous slow kisses that sped up as his heartbeat did, as the movement of their bodies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/kiss-me-she-pleaded-and-he-did-hot-languorous-slow-kisses-that-sped/)

[Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/)

> [“Just like every other demon. Jace felt a flicker of something — boredom? — as he reached for a seraph blade. All demons were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/just-like-every-other-demon-jace-felt-a-flicker-of-something-boredom/)

[Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/)

> [“Jace sighed. "Shall we join our annoying, voyeuristic friends?" "Unfortunately, that's the only kind of friends we have.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/jace-sighed-shall-we-join-our-annoying-voyeuristic-friends/)

[Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/)

> [“Jace, you don’t have to—” “I was trying to go…somewhere,” Jace said. “But I kept getting pulled back here. I couldn’t stop walking, couldn’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/jace-you-don-t-have-to-i-was-trying-to-go-somewhere-jace-said-but-i/)

[Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/)

> [“And then Jace’s boredom exploded into a million pieces as the girl with the red hair stepped out from behind a pillar. "Stop!” she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/and-then-jace-s-boredom-exploded-into-a-million-pieces-as-the-girl/)

[Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/)

> [“Clary’s eyes widened. She wondered if she was about to be broken up with. If so, she would have a thing or two to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/clary-s-eyes-widened-she-wondered-if-she-was-about-to-be-broken-up/)

[Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/)

> [“It was the girl with red hair and her friend. Jace stood up straight. The girl had taken her hair out of its ponytail…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/it-was-the-girl-with-red-hair-and-her-friend-jace-stood-up-straight/)

[Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/)

> [“Every time I think I'm missing a piece of me, you give it back.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/every-time-i-think-i-m-missing-a-piece-of-me-you-give-it-back/)

[Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/)

> [“You don't have to. I have enough faith in you," she said, "for the both of us.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/you-don-t-have-to-i-have-enough-faith-in-you-she-said-for-the-both-of/)

[Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/)

> [“And tell them what?" Jace said witheringly. "That invisible people are bothering you? Trust me, little girl, the police aren't going to arrest someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/and-tell-them-what-jace-said-witheringly-that-invisible-people-are/)

[Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/)

> [“The corner of his mouth quirked up suddenly. “What?” Clary demanded. “Is something funny?” “ ‘Flying death turtle’?” he said. “Only you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/the-corner-of-his-mouth-quirked-up-suddenly-what-clary-demanded-is/)

[Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/)

> [“Knock her out,” Alec muttered, under his breath. “Just . . . clonk her on the head with something." “Just go,” Jace said to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/knock-her-out-alec-muttered-under-his-breath-just-clonk-her-on-the/)

[Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/)

> [“Clary held her hands up. 'I do get it. I know you don’t like me, Isabelle. Because I’m a mundane to you.' 'You think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/clary-held-her-hands-up-i-do-get-it-i-know-you-don-t-like-me-isabelle/)

[Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/)

[Browse all 19 Clace quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clace/)

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