--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What was that you called me?’ ‘Oh, Peter…" description: "\"“What was that you called me?’ ‘Oh, Peter – how absurd! I wasn’t thinking.’ ‘What did you call me?’ ‘My lord!’ ‘The last two words in the language I ev..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/176/dorothy-l-sayers-738_called_what-was-that-you-called-me-oh-peter-how_2831360.jpg" --- # What was that you called me?’ ‘Oh, Peter – how absurd! I… ![“What was that you called me?’ ‘Oh, Peter – how absurd! I wasn’t thinking.’ ‘What did you call me?’ ‘My lord!’ ‘The last two words in the language I ever expected to get a kick out of. One never values a thing till one’s earned it, does one? Listen, heart’s lady – before I’ve done I mean to be king…” quote by Dorothy L. Sayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/176/dorothy-l-sayers-738_called_what-was-that-you-called-me-oh-peter-how_2831360.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/176/dorothy-l-sayers-738_called_what-was-that-you-called-me-oh-peter-how_2831360.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/176/dorothy-l-sayers-738_called_what-was-that-you-called-me-oh-peter-how_2831360.jpg) > ““What was that you called me?’ ‘Oh, Peter – how absurd! I wasn’t thinking.’ ‘What did you call me?’ ‘My lord!’ ‘The last two words in the language I ever expected to get a kick out of. One never values a thing till one’s earned it, does one? Listen, heart’s lady – before I’ve done I mean to be king and emperor.”” [Dorothy L. Sayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-l-sayers/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Respect and titles lose meaning without earned merit; true authority comes from deeds, not words. **In simple terms:** Earned respect matters more than titles. Key Takeaway Earn respect through actions. Themes honor authority humility Mood thoughtful ironic Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - leadership - personal relationships - career advancement Key Concepts social hierarchy self‑perception identity Questions to Reflect On - What does it mean to truly earn a title? - When have you seen a title fail without merit? A Different Perspective Titles can be hollow without substance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Lord](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lord/) [Words](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/words/) ## Related quotes > [“Why did the Lord Master take one look at you and leave? What are you, Barrons?” “The one who will never let you die,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/why-did-the-lord-master-take-one-look-at-you-and-leave-what-are-you/) [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) > [“Lord, give me the words I need—Your words—to offer comfort to those in despair. —Rick Hamlin”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guideposts/lord-give-me-the-words-i-need-your-words-to-offer-comfort-to-those-in/) Guideposts > [Many an ancient lord's last words have been, 'You can't kill me because I've got magic aaargh.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/many-an-ancient-lord-s-last-words-have-been-you-can-t-kill-me-because/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“Our Heavenly Father did not launch us on our eternal voyage without providing the means whereby we could receive from Him guidance to ensure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-s-monson/our-heavenly-father-did-not-launch-us-on-our-eternal-voyage-without/) [Thomas S. 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By contrast, he remained quite alarmingly unwithered long after she left.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-brooke/good-night-my-lord-the-words-were-pronounced-in-her-most-withering/) [Christina Brooke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-brooke/) > [Is not what goes into a man defiles him, is what comes out of him that defiles him, according to the word of God.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glen-rambharack/is-not-what-goes-into-a-man-defiles-him-is-what-comes-out-of-him-that/) [Glen Rambharack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glen-rambharack/) > [I grew up learning carnatic music but I also enjoyed english music so I always thought I could marry the two words and we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vidya-vox/i-grew-up-learning-carnatic-music-but-i-also-enjoyed-english-music-so/) [Vidya Vox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vidya-vox/) > [All we talk about is 'Islamic terrorism.' If the two words are associated for long enough it's obviously going to have an effect on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samantha-power/all-we-talk-about-is-islamic-terrorism-if-the-two-words-are/) [Samantha Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samantha-power/) > [Two words: Up. Yours.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dani-d/two-words-up-yours/) Dani D > [“Life’ and ‘Fair’ were two words that just didn’t belong in a sentence together – unless the word ‘Not’ was in there, too.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikki-sex/life-and-fair-were-two-words-that-just-didn-t-belong-in-a-sentence/) [Nikki Sex](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikki-sex/) > [“Willa. Ellen. A world in two words.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juliann-garey/willa-ellen-a-world-in-two-words/) [Juliann Garey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juliann-garey/) > [“I only have two words to say More or Less”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timbur/i-only-have-two-words-to-say-more-or-less/) TimBur > [Darling, replied Valentine, has not the count just told us that all human wisdom was contained in these two words,- "Wait and hope"?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandre-dumas/darling-replied-valentine-has-not-the-count-just-told-us-that-all/) [Alexandre Dumas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandre-dumas/) > [“Eat anything before you started drinking?" Xander asked. "Fuck off." "I can tell that vodka is helping you make great decisions." Javier glared. "Fuck…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shayla-black/eat-anything-before-you-started-drinking-xander-asked-fuck-off-i-can/) [Shayla Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shayla-black/) ## More by Dorothy L. Sayers > [“The really essential factors of success in any undertaking are money and opportunity, and as a rule, the man who can make the first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-l-sayers/the-really-essential-factors-of-success-in-any-undertaking-are-money/) [Dorothy L. Sayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-l-sayers/) > [The trouble is. . .that everybody sneers at restrictions and demands freedom, till something annoying happens; then they demand angrily what has become of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-l-sayers/the-trouble-is-that-everybody-sneers-at-restrictions-and-demands/) [Dorothy L. Sayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-l-sayers/) > [“ Peter! Were you looking for a horse-shoe?" "No; I was expecting the horse, but the shoe is a piece of pure, gorgeous luck."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-l-sayers/peter-were-you-looking-for-a-horse-shoe-no-i-was-expecting-the-horse/) [Dorothy L. Sayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-l-sayers/) > [ “See that the mind is honest, first; the rest may follow or not as God wills. \[That\] the fundamental treason to the mind ...… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-l-sayers/see-that-the-mind-is-honest-first-the-rest-may-follow-or-not-as-god/) [Dorothy L. Sayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-l-sayers/) > [But it is the mark of all movements, however well-intentioned, that their pioneers tend, by much lashing of themselves into excitement, to lose sight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-l-sayers/but-it-is-the-mark-of-all-movements-however-well-intentioned-that/) [Dorothy L. Sayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-l-sayers/) > [We may argue eloquently that 'Honesty is the best Policy' - unfortunately, the moment honesty is adopted for the sake of policy it mysteriously…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-l-sayers/we-may-argue-eloquently-that-honesty-is-the-best-policy-unfortunately/) [Dorothy L. Sayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-l-sayers/) > [One must not only die daily, but every day we must be born again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-l-sayers/one-must-not-only-die-daily-but-every-day-we-must-be-born-again/) [Dorothy L. Sayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-l-sayers/) > [“By teaching them all to read, we have left them at the mercy of the printed word. By the invention of the film and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-l-sayers/by-teaching-them-all-to-read-we-have-left-them-at-the-mercy-of-the/) [Dorothy L. Sayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-l-sayers/) > [ Perhaps \[the critics are right and\] the drama is played out now and Jesus is safely dead and buried. Perhaps. It is ironical and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-l-sayers/perhaps-the-critics-are-right-and-the-drama-is-played-out-now-and/) [Dorothy L. Sayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-l-sayers/) > [... at no point have I yet found artistic truth and theological truth at variance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-l-sayers/at-no-point-have-i-yet-found-artistic-truth-and-theological-truth-at/) [Dorothy L. Sayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-l-sayers/) > [I have never yet heard any middle-aged man or woman who worked with his or her brains express any regret for the passing of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-l-sayers/i-have-never-yet-heard-any-middle-aged-man-or-woman-who-worked-with/) [Dorothy L. Sayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-l-sayers/) > [“That was the second time within five minutes that he had warned her off his private ground. His mood had changed since the early…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-l-sayers/that-was-the-second-time-within-five-minutes-that-he-had-warned-her/) [Dorothy L. Sayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-l-sayers/) > [“To obey orders in this family has been my privilege for the last twenty years--a privilege which has been an unqualified pleasure, except perhaps…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-l-sayers/to-obey-orders-in-this-family-has-been-my-privilege-for-the-last/) [Dorothy L. Sayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-l-sayers/) > [Those who make some other person their job... are dangerous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-l-sayers/those-who-make-some-other-person-their-job-are-dangerous/) [Dorothy L. Sayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-l-sayers/) > [“Yes, and look at the corpses. Place always reminds me of that old thing in Punch, you know—‘Waiter, take away Lord Whatsisname, he’s been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-l-sayers/yes-and-look-at-the-corpses-place-always-reminds-me-of-that-old-thing/) [Dorothy L. Sayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-l-sayers/) [Explore all 386 Dorothy L. Sayers quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-l-sayers/) ## More Called quotes > [We are not all leaders. We are called leaders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-stanley/we-are-not-all-leaders-we-are-called-leaders/) [Andy Stanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-stanley/) > [Nothing will kill what you've been called to do more than comparing yourself to someone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-moore/nothing-will-kill-what-you-ve-been-called-to-do-more-than-comparing/) [Beth Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-moore/) > [I also found being called Sir rather silly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-pinter/i-also-found-being-called-sir-rather-silly/) [Harold Pinter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-pinter/) > [I don't bite you know ... unless it's called for,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-hepburn/i-don-t-bite-you-know-unless-it-s-called-for/) [Audrey Hepburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-hepburn/) > [It is called LIFE](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mua/it-is-called-life/) Mua > [“You gave me a key and called it home.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-sakavic/you-gave-me-a-key-and-called-it-home/) [Nora Sakavic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-sakavic/) > [“Once, on a walk by a river- Eskdale in low reddish sunlight, with a dusting of snow- his daughter quoted to him an opening…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mcewan/once-on-a-walk-by-a-river-eskdale-in-low-reddish-sunlight-with-a/) [Ian McEwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mcewan/) > [I'll bet you anything you like that half an hour after they have met, they will be calling each other sister. Women only do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/i-ll-bet-you-anything-you-like-that-half-an-hour-after-they-have-met/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [More is required than a common last name to truly be called a family.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wes-fesler/more-is-required-than-a-common-last-name-to-truly-be-called-a-family/) [Wes Fesler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wes-fesler/) > [My wife." "By what name is she called, Kincaid?" "Mine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-garwood/my-wife-by-what-name-is-she-called-kincaid-mine/) [Julie Garwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-garwood/) > [Don't call my phone and ask me who I am...you called ME!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/don-t-call-my-phone-and-ask-me-who-i-am-you-called-me/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I would have to go back to being a dog. I've called myself a dog for many years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hank-williams-iii/i-would-have-to-go-back-to-being-a-dog-i-ve-called-myself-a-dog-for/) [Hank Williams III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hank-williams-iii/) > [I get called 'controversial' all the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-moore/i-get-called-controversial-all-the-time/) [Michael Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-moore/) > [“Hey, A-D-D,” she called out to Claire, “come over and try these on.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberly-derting/hey-a-d-d-she-called-out-to-claire-come-over-and-try-these-on/) [Kimberly Derting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimberly-derting/) > [I am but honoured to be called as yours and to be seen as yours](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josephine/i-am-but-honoured-to-be-called-as-yours-and-to-be-seen-as-yours/) [Josephine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josephine/) Browse all 556 Called quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“What was that you called me?’ ‘Oh, Peter – how absurd! 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