--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When he talked his eyes went away from…" description: "\"When he talked his eyes went away from mine and then he forced himself to look straight at me and he began to explain and I knew that he felt very stra..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d1/jean-rhys-2447_eye_when-he-talked-his-eyes-went-away-from-m_713241.jpg" --- # When he talked his eyes went away from mine and then he… ![“When he talked his eyes went away from mine and then he forced himself to look straight at me and he began to explain and I knew that he felt very strange with me and that he hated me, and it was funny sitting there and talking like that, knowing he hated me.” quote by Jean Rhys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d1/jean-rhys-2447_eye_when-he-talked-his-eyes-went-away-from-m_713241.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d1/jean-rhys-2447_eye_when-he-talked-his-eyes-went-away-from-m_713241.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d1/jean-rhys-2447_eye_when-he-talked-his-eyes-went-away-from-m_713241.jpg) > “When he talked his eyes went away from mine and then he forced himself to look straight at me and he began to explain and I knew that he felt very strange with me and that he hated me, and it was funny sitting there and talking like that, knowing he hated me.” [Jean Rhys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-rhys/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A tense encounter reveals mutual discomfort and hidden animosity, yet the narrator finds dark humor in the interaction. **In simple terms:** A strange, hostile meeting feels oddly funny. Key Takeaway Notice how tension can mask deeper emotions. Themes tension humor relationships Mood uneasy darkly humorous Type literary observational When to use this quote - first dates - family reunions - conflict resolution - social gatherings Key Concepts psychology social dynamics irony Questions to Reflect On - How does humor help cope with hostility? - What does this reveal about power in conversation? A Different Perspective The narrator’s perception may be biased, overlooking possible empathy. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Eye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eye/) [Felt Strange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/felt-strange/) [Hated](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hated/) [Hated Funny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hated-funny-5621382/) [His eyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/his-eyes/) [Knowing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowing/) [Knowing Hated](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowing-hated-4412524/) [Looks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/looks/) [Sitting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sitting/) [Strange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strange/) [Strange Hated](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strange-hated-5621381/) [Talking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talking/) ## Related quotes > [“We hated not knowing something. We hated not knowing who was going to walk Spanish down the hall. 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A whole thing. You and I and Nighteyes. I felt a strange sort of peace. As if all the parts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-hobb/we-were-one-thing-a-whole-thing-you-and-i-and-nighteyes-i-felt-a/) [Robin Hobb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-hobb/) ## More by Jean Rhys > [Of course she had some pathetic illusions about herself or she would not be able to go on living.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-rhys/of-course-she-had-some-pathetic-illusions-about-herself-or-she-would/) [Jean Rhys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-rhys/) > [As soon as I turned the key I saw it hanging, the color of fire and sunset. the colour of flamboyant flowers. ‘If you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-rhys/as-soon-as-i-turned-the-key-i-saw-it-hanging-the-color-of-fire-and/) [Jean Rhys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-rhys/) > [Human beings are struggling, and so they are egoists. But it's wrong to say that they are wholy cruel - it's a deformed view.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-rhys/human-beings-are-struggling-and-so-they-are-egoists-but-it-s-wrong-to/) [Jean Rhys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-rhys/) > [“THe room was large and low-ceilinged, the striped wallpaper faded to inoffensiveness. A huge dark wardrobe faced a huge dark bed. The rest of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-rhys/the-room-was-large-and-low-ceilinged-the-striped-wallpaper-faded-to/) [Jean Rhys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-rhys/) > [There is no doubt that running away on a fresh, blue morning can be exhilarating.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-rhys/there-is-no-doubt-that-running-away-on-a-fresh-blue-morning-can-be/) [Jean Rhys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-rhys/) > [Blot out the moon, Pull down the stars. Love in the dark, for we're for the dark So soon, so soon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-rhys/blot-out-the-moon-pull-down-the-stars-love-in-the-dark-for-we-re-for/) [Jean Rhys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-rhys/) > [“But in the daytime it was all right. And when you'd had a drink you knew it was the best way to live in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-rhys/but-in-the-daytime-it-was-all-right-and-when-you-d-had-a-drink-you/) [Jean Rhys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-rhys/) > [She’ll have no lover, for I don’t want her and she’ll see no other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-rhys/she-ll-have-no-lover-for-i-don-t-want-her-and-she-ll-see-no-other/) [Jean Rhys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-rhys/) > [Everything tender and melancholy - as life is sometimes, just for one moment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-rhys/everything-tender-and-melancholy-as-life-is-sometimes-just-for-one/) [Jean Rhys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-rhys/) > [“have spunks and do battle for yourself”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-rhys/have-spunks-and-do-battle-for-yourself/) [Jean Rhys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-rhys/) > [“You are walking along a road peacefully. You trip. You fall into blackness. That's the past - or perhaps the future. And you know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-rhys/you-are-walking-along-a-road-peacefully-you-trip-you-fall-into/) [Jean Rhys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-rhys/) > [“She spent the foggy day in endless, aimless walking, for it seemed to her that if she moved quickly enough she would escape the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-rhys/she-spent-the-foggy-day-in-endless-aimless-walking-for-it-seemed-to/) [Jean Rhys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-rhys/) > [But they never last, the golden days. And it can be sad, the sun in the afternoon, can't it? Yes, it can be sad,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-rhys/but-they-never-last-the-golden-days-and-it-can-be-sad-the-sun-in-the/) [Jean Rhys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-rhys/) > [She could give herself up to the written word as naturally as a good dancer to music or a fine swimmer to water. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-rhys/she-could-give-herself-up-to-the-written-word-as-naturally-as-a-good/) [Jean Rhys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-rhys/) > [“There is no control over memory.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-rhys/there-is-no-control-over-memory/) [Jean Rhys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-rhys/) [Explore all 165 Jean Rhys quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-rhys/) ## More Eye 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/) > [If you take your eye off the ball or lose focus for even a minute you can lose a game against any team.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felipe-anderson/if-you-take-your-eye-off-the-ball-or-lose-focus-for-even-a-minute-you/) [Felipe Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felipe-anderson/) > [“He blinked. His eyes fell as he processed her response. Then he lifted his chin and attempted a grin that was almost painfully dejected.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marissa-meyer/he-blinked-his-eyes-fell-as-he-processed-her-response-then-he-lifted/) [Marissa Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marissa-meyer/) > [How could anybody confuse truth with beauty, I thought as I looked at him. Truth came with sunken eyes, bony or scarred, decayed. 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And thus the eyes of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betsy-lerner/but-editors-are-still-the-world-s-readers-and-thus-the-eyes-of-the/) [Betsy Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betsy-lerner/) > [Quotations can be valuable, like raisins in the rice pudding, for adding iron as well as eye appeal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peg-bracken/quotations-can-be-valuable-like-raisins-in-the-rice-pudding-for/) [Peg Bracken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peg-bracken/) > [Clearly, when we baptize, our eyes should gaze beyond the baptismal font to the holy temple. The great garner into which the sheaves should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/clearly-when-we-baptize-our-eyes-should-gaze-beyond-the-baptismal/) [Neal A. 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They were made of kindness, and silver.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/liesel-observed-the-strangeness-of-her-foster-father-s-eyes-they-were/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) [Browse all 16,237 Eye quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eye/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When he talked his eyes went away from mine and then he forced himself to look straight at me and he began to explain and I knew that he felt very strange with me and that he hated me, and it was funny sitting there and talking like that, knowing he hated me.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jean Rhys" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-rhys/when-he-talked-his-eyes-went-away-from-mine-and-then-he-forced/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Eye" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-rhys/when-he-talked-his-eyes-went-away-from-mine-and-then-he-forced/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d1/jean-rhys-2447_eye_when-he-talked-his-eyes-went-away-from-m_713241.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d1/jean-rhys-2447_eye_when-he-talked-his-eyes-went-away-from-m_713241.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d1/jean-rhys-2447_eye_when-he-talked-his-eyes-went-away-from-m_713241.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When he talked his eyes went away from mine and then he forced himself to look straight at me and he began…” — Jean Rhys", "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": "Jean Rhys", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-rhys/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "When he talked his eyes went...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-rhys/when-he-talked-his-eyes-went-away-from-mine-and-then-he-forced/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-rhys/when-he-talked-his-eyes-went-away-from-mine-and-then-he-forced/#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 } } ] } ```