---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: How rude. Many who have gazed upon me…"
description: "\"How rude. Many who have gazed upon me have compared the experience to gazing at the radiance of the sun.\" Jem still had his eyes closed. \"If they mean ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f2b/cassandra-clare-9_clockwork_how-rude-many-who-have-gazed-upon-me-hav_1754568.jpg"
---

#  How rude. Many who have gazed upon me have compared the…

![“How rude. Many who have gazed upon me have compared the experience to gazing at the radiance of the sun.&quot; Jem still had his eyes closed. &quot;If they mean it gives you a headache, they aren't wrong.” quote by Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f2b/cassandra-clare-9_clockwork_how-rude-many-who-have-gazed-upon-me-hav_1754568.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f2b/cassandra-clare-9_clockwork_how-rude-many-who-have-gazed-upon-me-hav_1754568.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f2b/cassandra-clare-9_clockwork_how-rude-many-who-have-gazed-upon-me-hav_1754568.jpg)

> “How rude. Many who have gazed upon me have compared the experience to gazing at the radiance of the sun." Jem still had his eyes closed. "If they mean it gives you a headache, they aren't wrong.”

[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.

The speaker compares being observed to looking at the sun, implying intense, overwhelming scrutiny that can cause pain.

**In simple terms:** Being watched feels like staring at the sun, painful and blinding.

Key Takeaway

Accept that intense attention can be harmful.

Themes

scrutiny overwhelm visibility

Mood

intense reflective

Type

metaphorical observational

When to use this quote

- public speaking
- media attention
- celebrity life
- personal boundaries

Key Concepts

perception intensity pain

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you protect yourself from overwhelming attention?
- What boundaries help when feeling exposed?

A Different Perspective

The metaphor may exaggerate normal attention, making it seem more harmful than it is.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Clockwork](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clockwork/) [Clockwork angel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clockwork-angel/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Jem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jem/) [Radiance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/radiance/) [Rude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rude/) [Sun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sun/)

## Related quotes

> [“Many who have gazed upon me have compared the experience to gazing at the radiance of the sun.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/many-who-have-gazed-upon-me-have-compared-the-experience-to-gazing-at/)

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

> [One must always be careful of books,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/one-must-always-be-careful-of-books/)

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

> [Will: "Nice place to live, isn't it? Let's hope they left something behind other than filth. Forwarding addresses, a few severed limbs, a prostitute…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/will-nice-place-to-live-isn-t-it-let-s-hope-they-left-something/)

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

> [Will bounded up onto one of the ladders and yanked a book off the shelf. "I'll find you something else to read. Catch." He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/will-bounded-up-onto-one-of-the-ladders-and-yanked-a-book-off-the/)

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

> [She had fallen asleep with her head on his arm, the clockwork angel, still around her throat, resting against his shoulder just to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/she-had-fallen-asleep-with-her-head-on-his-arm-the-clockwork-angel/)

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

> [Tessa had lain down beside him and slid her arm beneath his head, and put her head on his chest,listening to the ever-weakening beat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/tessa-had-lain-down-beside-him-and-slid-her-arm-beneath-his-head-and/)

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

> [Sometimes, when I have to do something I don't want to do, I pretend I'm a character from a book. It's easier to know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/sometimes-when-i-have-to-do-something-i-don-t-want-to-do-i-pretend-i/)

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

> [It's all right to love someone who doesn't love you back, as long as they're worth you loving them. As long as they deserve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/it-s-all-right-to-love-someone-who-doesn-t-love-you-back-as-long-as/)

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

> [Whatever you are physically,' he said, 'Male or female, strong or weak, ill or healthy -- all those things matter less than what your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/whatever-you-are-physically-he-said-male-or-female-strong-or-weak-ill/)

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

> [Your angel cannot protect you against that which neither god nor the devil had made](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/your-angel-cannot-protect-you-against-that-which-neither-god-nor-the/)

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

> [Must you go? I was rather hoping you'd stay and be a ministering angel, but if you must go, you must." "I'll stay," Will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/must-you-go-i-was-rather-hoping-you-d-stay-and-be-a-ministering-angel/)

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

> [“Jem gave her a wistful look. “Must you go? I was rather hoping that you’d stay and be a ministering angel, but if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/jem-gave-her-a-wistful-look-must-you-go-i-was-rather-hoping-that-you/)

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

> [“He was all silver and ashes, not like Will's strong colors of blue and black and gold.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/he-was-all-silver-and-ashes-not-like-will-s-strong-colors-of-blue-and/)

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

> [It is the mundanes who look at me and see something they do not understand—a boy who is not quite white and not quite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/it-is-the-mundanes-who-look-at-me-and-see-something-they-do-not/)

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

> [“Do you think Charlotte will let me handle the investigation?" "Do you think you can be trusted in Downworld? The gaming hells, the dens…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/do-you-think-charlotte-will-let-me-handle-the-investigation-do-you/)

[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 Clockwork quotes

> [Will closed his eyes. He could not hear Jem go, not anymore; he did not want to know the moment when he left and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/will-closed-his-eyes-he-could-not-hear-jem-go-not-anymore-he-did-not/)

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

> [One must always be careful of books,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/one-must-always-be-careful-of-books/)

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

> [“I am not going to live, and I can choose to be as much for her as I can be, to burn as brightly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/i-am-not-going-to-live-and-i-can-choose-to-be-as-much-for-her-as-i/)

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

> [“Conversationally, I am like a clockwork toy. I have to be set going.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-g-wodehouse/conversationally-i-am-like-a-clockwork-toy-i-have-to-be-set-going/)

[P.G. Wodehouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-g-wodehouse/)

> [Great literature has always been written in a like spirit, and is, indeed, the Forgiveness of Sin, and when we find it becoming the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-butler-yeats/great-literature-has-always-been-written-in-a-like-spirit-and-is/)

[William Butler Yeats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-butler-yeats/)

> [... A CLOCKWORK ORANGE- and I said: 'That's a fair gloopy title. Who ever heard of a clockwork orange?' Then I read a malenky…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-burgess/a-clockwork-orange-and-i-said-that-s-a-fair-gloopy-title-who-ever/)

[Anthony Burgess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-burgess/)

> [There is more to living than not dying," he said. "Look at the way you live Will. You burn as bright as a star.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/there-is-more-to-living-than-not-dying-he-said-look-at-the-way-you/)

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

> [I think there is something very consoling in feeling lost in space but also feeling grounded, and seeing that all of this is part…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wolfgang-tillmans/i-think-there-is-something-very-consoling-in-feeling-lost-in-space/)

[Wolfgang Tillmans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wolfgang-tillmans/)

> [Miss Cecily," she gasped, and then her eyes went to Will. She clapped a hand over her mouth, turned, and bolted back into the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/miss-cecily-she-gasped-and-then-her-eyes-went-to-will-she-clapped-a/)

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

> [The 21st chapter gives the novel the quality of genuine fiction, an art founded on the principle that human beings change. ----- "A Clockwork…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-burgess/the-21st-chapter-gives-the-novel-the-quality-of-genuine-fiction-an/)

[Anthony Burgess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-burgess/)

> [In January we start saving money, getting out of credit card debt, funding our retirement accounts, and we're doing wonderful. Then, every single year…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suze-orman/in-january-we-start-saving-money-getting-out-of-credit-card-debt/)

[Suze Orman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suze-orman/)

> [He banged on the side of the carriage. "Thomas! We must away at once to the nearest brothel. I seek scandal and low companionship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/he-banged-on-the-side-of-the-carriage-thomas-we-must-away-at-once-to/)

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

> [Dear me," said Will, and he took another bite of his apple. "Is it because I'm better-looking than you?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/dear-me-said-will-and-he-took-another-bite-of-his-apple-is-it-because/)

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

> [Breaking new factual ground is not what Zeitgeist is about, however. Rather, the video is a powerful and fast-acting dose of agitprop, hawking its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-kinney/breaking-new-factual-ground-is-not-what-zeitgeist-is-about-however/)

Jay Kinney

> [Yeah, Kubrick's a big influence. In something like 'A Clockwork Orange,' he is trying to use the practical light - I mean, at least…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-van-sant/yeah-kubrick-s-a-big-influence-in-something-like-a-clockwork-orange/)

[Gus Van Sant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-van-sant/)

[Browse all 125 Clockwork quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clockwork/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "How rude. Many who have gazed upon me have compared the experience to gazing at the radiance of the sun.\" Jem still had his eyes closed. \"If they mean it gives you a headache, they aren't wrong.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Cassandra Clare"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/how-rude-many-who-have-gazed-upon-me-have-compared-the-experience-to/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Clockwork"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/how-rude-many-who-have-gazed-upon-me-have-compared-the-experience-to/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f2b/cassandra-clare-9_clockwork_how-rude-many-who-have-gazed-upon-me-hav_1754568.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f2b/cassandra-clare-9_clockwork_how-rude-many-who-have-gazed-upon-me-hav_1754568.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f2b/cassandra-clare-9_clockwork_how-rude-many-who-have-gazed-upon-me-hav_1754568.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“How rude. Many who have gazed upon me have compared the experience to gazing at the radiance of the sun.\"…” — Cassandra Clare",
                "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": "Cassandra Clare",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "How rude. Many who have gazed...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/how-rude-many-who-have-gazed-upon-me-have-compared-the-experience-to/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/how-rude-many-who-have-gazed-upon-me-have-compared-the-experience-to/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
