---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Here he shook hands with me; not in the…"
description: "\"“Here he shook hands with me; not in the common way, but standing at a good distance from me, and lifting my hand up and down like a pump handle, that ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/554/charles-dickens-34_afraid_here-he-shook-hands-with-me-not-in-the-c_3146034.jpg"
---

#  Here he shook hands with me; not in the common way, but…

![“Here he shook hands with me; not in the common way, but standing at a good distance from me, and lifting my hand up and down like a pump handle, that he was a little afraid of.” quote by Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/554/charles-dickens-34_afraid_here-he-shook-hands-with-me-not-in-the-c_3146034.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/554/charles-dickens-34_afraid_here-he-shook-hands-with-me-not-in-the-c_3146034.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/554/charles-dickens-34_afraid_here-he-shook-hands-with-me-not-in-the-c_3146034.jpg)

> ““Here he shook hands with me; not in the common way, but standing at a good distance from me, and lifting my hand up and down like a pump handle, that he was a little afraid of.””

[Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/)

## About This Quote

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

He greeted me cautiously, keeping distance and using a repetitive motion, indicating nervousness.

**In simple terms:** He was shy and uneasy.

Key Takeaway

Notice subtle body language.

Themes

social anxiety awkwardness communication

Mood

observational empathetic

Type

literary character study

When to use this quote

- meeting new people
- interviews
- social events

Key Concepts

nonverbal cues personal interaction

Questions to Reflect On

- What does his gesture reveal about his confidence?
- How do you respond to similar nervous behavior?

A Different Perspective

May misinterpret nervous gestures as hostility.

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