--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Will gave a short, disbelieving laugh…" description: "\"“Will gave a short, disbelieving laugh. \"It's true,\" he said. \"I am no hero.\" \"No,\" Tessa said. \"You are a person, just like me.\" His eyes searched her..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/851/cassandra-clare-9_gaze_will-gave-a-short-disbelieving-laugh-it_2934608.jpg" --- # Will gave a short, disbelieving laugh. "It's true," he… ![“Will gave a short, disbelieving laugh. "It's true," he said. "I am no hero." "No," Tessa said. "You are a person, just like me." His eyes searched her face, mystified; she held his hand tighter, lacing her fingers with his. "Don't you see, Will? You're a person like me. You are like me. You say…” quote by Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/851/cassandra-clare-9_gaze_will-gave-a-short-disbelieving-laugh-it_2934608.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/851/cassandra-clare-9_gaze_will-gave-a-short-disbelieving-laugh-it_2934608.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/851/cassandra-clare-9_gaze_will-gave-a-short-disbelieving-laugh-it_2934608.jpg) > ““Will gave a short, disbelieving laugh. "It's true," he said. "I am no hero." "No," Tessa said. "You are a person, just like me." His eyes searched her face, mystified; she held his hand tighter, lacing her fingers with his. "Don't you see, Will? You're a person like me. You are like me. You say the things I think but never say out loud. You read the books I read. You love the poetry I love. You make me laugh with your ridiculous songs and the way you see the truth of everything. I feel like you can look inside me and see all the places I am odd or unusual and fit your heart around them. For you are odd and unusual in the same way." With the hand that was not holding his, she touched his cheek, lightly. "We are the same." Will's eyes fluttered closed; she felt his lashes against her fingertips. When he spoke again, his voice was ragged but controlled. "Don't say those things, Tessa. Don't say them." "Why not?" "You said I am a good man," he said. "But I am not that good a man. And I am—I am catastrophically in love with you.”” [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 character confesses deep, imperfect love, emphasizing shared oddities and mutual understanding despite self‑doubt. **In simple terms:** Two people recognize their shared quirks and love each other despite flaws. Key Takeaway Embrace love that sees and accepts your flaws. Themes love identity vulnerability acceptance Mood tender hopeful intimate Type romantic dialogue confessional When to use this quote - confession of love - supporting a partner - overcoming insecurity - expressing affection Key Concepts self‑acceptance shared experience intimacy Questions to Reflect On - How do you accept someone’s flaws while maintaining boundaries? - What makes shared oddities a foundation for love? A Different Perspective The confession may be idealized, not reflecting real‑world complexities of relationships. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Good man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-man/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Love poetry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love-poetry/) [Poetry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poetry/) [Poetry Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poetry-love-2/) ## Related quotes > [In the dance, one finds the cinema, the comic strips, the Olympic hundred meters and swimming, and what's more, poetry, love and tenderness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-bejart/in-the-dance-one-finds-the-cinema-the-comic-strips-the-olympic/) Maurice Bejart > [Speaking of people I had to exclude: Hank Williams. which is to say, songs are part of lyric poetry in my book, my thinking.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-orr/speaking-of-people-i-had-to-exclude-hank-williams-which-is-to-say/) [Gregory Orr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-orr/) > [What are the sources of poetry? Love and death and the paradox of love and death. All poetry from the beginning is about Eros…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erica-jong/what-are-the-sources-of-poetry-love-and-death-and-the-paradox-of-love/) [Erica Jong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-jong/) > [“I bought you love poetry! 'I love you as certain dark things are loved, secretly, between the shadow and the soul.'" I blink at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-perkins/i-bought-you-love-poetry-i-love-you-as-certain-dark-things-are-loved/) [Stephanie Perkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-perkins/) > [I am in the middle of it: chaos and poetry; poetry and love and again, complete chaos. Pain, disorder, occasional clarity; and at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-akhmatova/i-am-in-the-middle-of-it-chaos-and-poetry-poetry-and-love-and-again/) [Anna Akhmatova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-akhmatova/) > [..the real world's all we've got. Believers in the supernatural claim to have special wisdom about the world. But real wisdom means knowing truth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stossel/the-real-world-s-all-we-ve-got-believers-in-the-supernatural-claim-to/) [John Stossel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stossel/) > [“Love is the bridge that leads from the I sense to the We , and there is a paradox about personal love. Love of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carson-mccullers/love-is-the-bridge-that-leads-from-the-i-sense-to-the-we-and-there-is/) [Carson McCullers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carson-mccullers/) > [“Love is poetry, poetry is love”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/love-is-poetry-poetry-is-love/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [What you have to realize when you write poetry, or if you love poetry, is that poetry is just naturally the greatest god damn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-dickey/what-you-have-to-realize-when-you-write-poetry-or-if-you-love-poetry/) [James Dickey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-dickey/) > [“You haven't broken his heart yet, have you?" "No," Tessa said. Just torn my own in two. "I haven't broken his heart at all.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/you-haven-t-broken-his-heart-yet-have-you-no-tessa-said-just-torn-my/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [I have come to understand something about novels," Tessa said. "And what is that?" "They are not true.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/i-have-come-to-understand-something-about-novels-tessa-said-and-what/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [Goodness," Tessa said to the back of his head. "If you keep seeing Six-Fingered Nigel like this, he'll expect you to declare your intentions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/goodness-tessa-said-to-the-back-of-his-head-if-you-keep-seeing-six/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“If Jem dies, I cannot be with Tessa," said Will. "Because it will be as if I were waiting for him to die, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/if-jem-dies-i-cannot-be-with-tessa-said-will-because-it-will-be-as-if/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [I need to know you believe me when I say I love you. That is all." "I believe everything you say," Tessa said with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/i-need-to-know-you-believe-me-when-i-say-i-love-you-that-is-all-i/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“But—but...” Will sputtered. “Oh, leave it,” said Jem, kicking Will, not without affection, lightly on the ankle. “She annexed my plan!” “Will,” Tessa said…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/but-but-will-sputtered-oh-leave-it-said-jem-kicking-will-not-without/) [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 Gaze quotes > [I need a bath." He chuckled. "You smell of smoke, as do I." The duke turned, leaning heavily on his cane. "Jameson, open the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-hawkins/i-need-a-bath-he-chuckled-you-smell-of-smoke-as-do-i-the-duke-turned/) [Karen Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-hawkins/) > [“Taylor said a prayer for the man, and apologized out loud. Knowing there was nothing left to do, she turned to leave. As she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-t-ellison/taylor-said-a-prayer-for-the-man-and-apologized-out-loud-knowing/) [J.T. Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-t-ellison/) > [“If it makes you feel any better, he’s been all sad doll lately too.” “What are you talking about, Chels?” Chelsea stopped walking and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberly-derting/if-it-makes-you-feel-any-better-he-s-been-all-sad-doll-lately-too/) [Kimberly Derting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimberly-derting/) > [“Rodrigo tried to draw a deep breath, but his chest was too filled with anguish, rage and guilt. He kissed his ash-coated fingers. “I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-valdez/rodrigo-tried-to-draw-a-deep-breath-but-his-chest-was-too-filled-with/) [Lisa Valdez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-valdez/) > [“still feel the same way? Could he have changed this much on the inside too? Struggling for the right words, I opened my mouth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meredith-wild/still-feel-the-same-way-could-he-have-changed-this-much-on-the-inside/) [Meredith Wild](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meredith-wild/) > [“Being held by him, kissed and mastered, taken under and swept away, enthralled her in a way she—an independent woman if nothing else in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-sumner/being-held-by-him-kissed-and-mastered-taken-under-and-swept-away/) [Tracy Sumner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-sumner/) > [“Don’t you remember how hot we were together, Lane? God.” He takes a quick breath through clenched teeth and runs his hand down my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-a-valentine/don-t-you-remember-how-hot-we-were-together-lane-god-he-takes-a-quick/) [Michelle A. Valentine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-a-valentine/) > [“She knew how to play him so very well. He slipped his hand around hers. "Friends," he repeated roughly. Her smile was bright enough…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-smith/she-knew-how-to-play-him-so-very-well-he-slipped-his-hand-around-hers/) [Kathryn Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-smith/) > [“Damn.” Phineas turned the Big Boy off, then noticed he’d left the box on the bed. Damn, had Zoltan seen it? He stuffed the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerrelyn-sparks/damn-phineas-turned-the-big-boy-off-then-noticed-he-d-left-the-box-on/) [Kerrelyn Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerrelyn-sparks/) > [“Now you," Grandma barks at him. "Yes, you, the invisible truck driver," she added, giving me a wicked grin. "Go stand next to Rose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-freitas/now-you-grandma-barks-at-him-yes-you-the-invisible-truck-driver-she/) [Donna Freitas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-freitas/) > [His fingertips slid down from my face, lightly stroking the line of my neck, down toward my shoulder. Everywhere he touched, a trail of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/his-fingertips-slid-down-from-my-face-lightly-stroking-the-line-of-my/) [Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/) > [“from THE DEVIL YOU KNOW : She wanted him too. He could see it in the rapid rise of her breasts. He could smell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emery-lee/from-the-devil-you-know-she-wanted-him-too-he-could-see-it-in-the/) [Emery Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emery-lee/) > [“You know when I said I didn't need you?" I asked. He lifted one brow. "I was so wrong.I can't find words to express…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-jensen/you-know-when-i-said-i-didn-t-need-you-i-asked-he-lifted-one-brow-i/) [Melissa Jensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-jensen/) > [“I didn’t say it just to get you to jump. I’m in love with you, Zane,” he admitted in a calm, clear voice. “I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-urban/i-didn-t-say-it-just-to-get-you-to-jump-i-m-in-love-with-you-zane-he/) [Madeleine Urban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-urban/) > [“This explains so much," she said, clucking her tongue in mother-hen fashion. "You're compensating for this withered appendage." Withered appendage? What the devil was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tessa-dare/this-explains-so-much-she-said-clucking-her-tongue-in-mother-hen/) [Tessa Dare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tessa-dare/) Browse all 15,087 Gaze quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Will gave a short, disbelieving laugh. \"It's true,\" he said. \"I am no hero.\" \"No,\" Tessa said. \"You are a person, just like me.\" His eyes searched her face, mystified; she held his hand tighter, lacing her fingers with his. \"Don't you see, Will? You're a person like me. You are like me. You say the things I think but never say out loud. You read the books I read. You love the poetry I love. You make me laugh with your ridiculous songs and the way you see the truth of everything. I feel like you can look inside me and see all the places I am odd or unusual and fit your heart around them. For you are odd and unusual in the same way.\" With the hand that was not holding his, she touched his cheek, lightly. \"We are the same.\" Will's eyes fluttered closed; she felt his lashes against her fingertips. When he spoke again, his voice was ragged but controlled. \"Don't say those things, Tessa. Don't say them.\" \"Why not?\" \"You said I am a good man,\" he said. \"But I am not that good a man. And I am—I am catastrophically in love with you.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Cassandra Clare" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/will-gave-a-short-disbelieving-laugh-it-s-true-he-said-i-am-no-hero/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Gaze" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/will-gave-a-short-disbelieving-laugh-it-s-true-he-said-i-am-no-hero/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/851/cassandra-clare-9_gaze_will-gave-a-short-disbelieving-laugh-it_2934608.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/851/cassandra-clare-9_gaze_will-gave-a-short-disbelieving-laugh-it_2934608.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/851/cassandra-clare-9_gaze_will-gave-a-short-disbelieving-laugh-it_2934608.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Will gave a short, disbelieving laugh. \"It's true,\" he said. \"I am no hero.\" \"No,\" Tessa said. \"You are a…” — 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": "“Will gave a short, disbelieving laugh....", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/will-gave-a-short-disbelieving-laugh-it-s-true-he-said-i-am-no-hero/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/will-gave-a-short-disbelieving-laugh-it-s-true-he-said-i-am-no-hero/#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 } } ] } ```