--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Tessa exploded \"I am not asking you to…" description: "\"“Tessa exploded \"I am not asking you to maul me in the Whispering Gallery! By the Angel, Will, would you stop being so polite?!\" He looked at her in am..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/97c/cassandra-clare-9_american-women_tessa-exploded-i-am-not-asking-you-to-ma_1661008.jpg" --- # Tessa exploded "I am not asking you to maul me in the… ![“Tessa exploded "I am not asking you to maul me in the Whispering Gallery! By the Angel, Will, would you stop being so polite?!" He looked at her in amazement. "But wouldn't you rather-" "I would not rather. I don't want you to be polite! I want you to be Will! I don't want you to indicate points…” quote by Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/97c/cassandra-clare-9_american-women_tessa-exploded-i-am-not-asking-you-to-ma_1661008.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/97c/cassandra-clare-9_american-women_tessa-exploded-i-am-not-asking-you-to-ma_1661008.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/97c/cassandra-clare-9_american-women_tessa-exploded-i-am-not-asking-you-to-ma_1661008.jpg) > ““Tessa exploded "I am not asking you to maul me in the Whispering Gallery! By the Angel, Will, would you stop being so polite?!" He looked at her in amazement. "But wouldn't you rather-" "I would not rather. I don't want you to be polite! I want you to be Will! I don't want you to indicate points of architectural interest to me as if you were a Baedecker guide! I want you to say dreadfully mad, funny things, and make up songs and be-" The Will I fell in love with, she almost said. "And be Will," she finished instead. "Or I shall strike you with my umbrella." "I am trying to court you," Will said in exasperation. "Court you properly. That's what all this has been about. You know that, don't you?" "Mr. Rochester never courted Jane Eyre," Tessa pointed out. "No, he dressed up as a woman and terrified the poor girl out of her wits. Is that what you want?" "You would make a very ugly woman." "I would not. I would be stunning." Tessa laughed. "There," she said. "There is Will. Isn't that better? Don't you think so?" "I don't know," Will said, eyeing her. I'm afraid to answer that. I've heard that when I speak, it makes American women wish to strike me with umbrellas." Tessa laughed again, and then they were both laughing, their smothered giggles bouncing off the walls of the Whispering Gallery. After that, things were decidedly easier between them, and Will's smile when he helped her down from the carriage on their return home, was bright and real.”” [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 whimsical, theatrical dialogue where characters demand authentic, unfiltered expression over polite restraint, using humor and absurdity to deepen connection. **In simple terms:** Speak honestly, not just politely. Key Takeaway Embrace raw honesty in relationships. Themes authenticity communication humor Mood playful romantic Type literary conversational When to use this quote - romantic encounters - creative writing - role‑play - performance art Key Concepts literary dialogue character dynamics Questions to Reflect On - When is blunt honesty appropriate? - How do you balance politeness and authenticity? A Different Perspective May risk offending if honesty is too blunt. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [American women](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-women/) [Humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humor/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Mr rochester](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mr-rochester/) [Umbrellas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/umbrellas/) [William herondale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/william-herondale/) ## Related quotes > [“Jace Herondale plays the piano very well.” “And he knows it.” “That sounds like a Herondale.” Tessa laughed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/jace-herondale-plays-the-piano-very-well-and-he-knows-it-that-sounds/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“Few can claim a single angel who guards them. But you can.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/few-can-claim-a-single-angel-who-guards-them-but-you-can/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“Mr. Rochester never courted Jane Eyre," Tessa pointed out. "No, he dressed up as a woman and terrified the poor girl out of her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/mr-rochester-never-courted-jane-eyre-tessa-pointed-out-no-he-dressed-2/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“Will-" "I love you so much, so incredibly much," he went on, "and when you're this close to me, I forget who you are.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/will-i-love-you-so-much-so-incredibly-much-he-went-on-and-when-you-re/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [Mr. Rochester never courted Jane Eyre, Tessa pointed out. No, he dressed up as a woman and terrified the poor girl out of her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/mr-rochester-never-courted-jane-eyre-tessa-pointed-out-no-he-dressed/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [The rain increases and umbrellas sprout like mushrooms amongst the graves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-morgenstern/the-rain-increases-and-umbrellas-sprout-like-mushrooms-amongst-the/) [Erin Morgenstern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-morgenstern/) > [“There are umbrellas for rain. Parkas for blizzards. Storm cellars for tornadoes. But there's no protection for this.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-franklin/there-are-umbrellas-for-rain-parkas-for-blizzards-storm-cellars-for/) [Emily Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-franklin/) > [I really like umbrellas. It's like, I have a roof! I carry it with me! Umbrellas always amuse me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/i-really-like-umbrellas-it-s-like-i-have-a-roof-i-carry-it-with-me/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [“Other, dryer customers came and went, having just stepped out of their conveyances or popped down the street from their houses in the town.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-baker/other-dryer-customers-came-and-went-having-just-stepped-out-of-their/) [Jo Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-baker/) > [“Naphta loathed the bourgeois state and its love of security. He found occasion to express this loathing one autumn afternoon when, as they were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-mann/naphta-loathed-the-bourgeois-state-and-its-love-of-security-he-found/) [Thomas Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-mann/) > [When I opened my first shop, city gents were still carrying tightly furled umbrellas and wearing bowler hats. It was into this world that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-quant/when-i-opened-my-first-shop-city-gents-were-still-carrying-tightly/) [Mary Quant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-quant/) > [A businessman needs three umbrellas - one to leave at the office, one to leave at home, and one to leave on the train](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-dickson/a-businessman-needs-three-umbrellas-one-to-leave-at-the-office-one-to/) [Paul Dickson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-dickson/) > [Rain is something the democrats use to sell umbrellas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-palin/rain-is-something-the-democrats-use-to-sell-umbrellas/) [Sarah Palin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-palin/) > [All of our ideas come from the natural world: trees equal umbrellas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wallace-stevens/all-of-our-ideas-come-from-the-natural-world-trees-equal-umbrellas/) [Wallace Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wallace-stevens/) > [All men are equal — all men, that is to say, who possess umbrellas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-m-forster/all-men-are-equal-all-men-that-is-to-say-who-possess-umbrellas/) [E. M. Forster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-m-forster/) ## 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 American women quotes > [The work-family divide is the biggest issue for American women. But in some ways it's amazing how adjusted society has become to it. 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So I think that what she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-fees/she-was-bold-and-yet-she-was-reserved-she-was-sensual-and-girlish-but/) Paul Fees > [African American women in particular have incredible buying power. Statistically, we go to the movies more than anyone. We have made Tyler Perrys career.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynn-nottage/african-american-women-in-particular-have-incredible-buying-power/) [Lynn Nottage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynn-nottage/) > [Ben Marcus has created an innovative and unflinching portrait of the turmoil of the human condition, providing the reader a most rare gift: something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/myla-goldberg/ben-marcus-has-created-an-innovative-and-unflinching-portrait-of-the/) [Myla Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/myla-goldberg/) > [“Americans consume more cow’s milk and its products per person than most populations in the world. So Americans should have wonderfully strong bones, right?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-colin-campbell/americans-consume-more-cow-s-milk-and-its-products-per-person-than/) [T. Colin Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-colin-campbell/) > [It's important for women to understand that it's bad enough that we don't make dollar-for-dollar what men do, but when you distill that down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-turner/it-s-important-for-women-to-understand-that-it-s-bad-enough-that-we/) [Nina Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nina-turner/) > [I want you to say dreadfully mad, funny things and make up songs and be--' The Will I fell in love with, she almost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/i-want-you-to-say-dreadfully-mad-funny-things-and-make-up-songs-and/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [The hearts of Afro-American women are too warm and too large for race hatred. 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We have elected an African-American president. We have the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-stockett/i-have-never-been-more-proud-of-the-united-states-than-i-am-this-year/) [Kathryn Stockett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-stockett/) [Browse all 221 American women quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-women/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Tessa exploded \"I am not asking you to maul me in the Whispering Gallery! By the Angel, Will, would you stop being so polite?!\" He looked at her in amazement. \"But wouldn't you rather-\" \"I would not rather. I don't want you to be polite! I want you to be Will! I don't want you to indicate points of architectural interest to me as if you were a Baedecker guide! I want you to say dreadfully mad, funny things, and make up songs and be-\" The Will I fell in love with, she almost said. \"And be Will,\" she finished instead. \"Or I shall strike you with my umbrella.\" \"I am trying to court you,\" Will said in exasperation. \"Court you properly. That's what all this has been about. You know that, don't you?\" \"Mr. Rochester never courted Jane Eyre,\" Tessa pointed out. \"No, he dressed up as a woman and terrified the poor girl out of her wits. Is that what you want?\" \"You would make a very ugly woman.\" \"I would not. I would be stunning.\" Tessa laughed. \"There,\" she said. \"There is Will. Isn't that better? Don't you think so?\" \"I don't know,\" Will said, eyeing her. I'm afraid to answer that. I've heard that when I speak, it makes American women wish to strike me with umbrellas.\" Tessa laughed again, and then they were both laughing, their smothered giggles bouncing off the walls of the Whispering Gallery. 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By the Angel, Will, would you stop…” — 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": "“Tessa exploded \"I am not asking...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/tessa-exploded-i-am-not-asking-you-to-maul-me-in-the-whispering/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/tessa-exploded-i-am-not-asking-you-to-maul-me-in-the-whispering/#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 } } ] } ```