--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Will looked up angrily, shaking his head…" description: "\"Will looked up angrily, shaking his head in disbelief. Will you shut up? he said tautly. Horace shrugged in apology. 'I'm sorry' he said, I sneezed. A ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/243/john-flanagan-904_agony_will-looked-up-angrily-shaking-his-head_1265765.jpg" --- # Will looked up angrily, shaking his head in disbelief… ![“Will looked up angrily, shaking his head in disbelief. Will you shut up? he said tautly. Horace shrugged in apology. 'I'm sorry' he said, I sneezed. A person can't help it when they sneeze. Perhaps not. But you could try to make it sound a little less like an elephant trumpeting in agony; Will…” quote by John Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/243/john-flanagan-904_agony_will-looked-up-angrily-shaking-his-head_1265765.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/243/john-flanagan-904_agony_will-looked-up-angrily-shaking-his-head_1265765.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/243/john-flanagan-904_agony_will-looked-up-angrily-shaking-his-head_1265765.jpg) > “Will looked up angrily, shaking his head in disbelief. Will you shut up? he said tautly. Horace shrugged in apology. 'I'm sorry' he said, I sneezed. A person can't help it when they sneeze. Perhaps not. But you could try to make it sound a little less like an elephant trumpeting in agony; Will told him.” [John Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flanagan/) ## 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’s sneeze is humorously compared to a massive, painful sound, highlighting human frailty. **In simple terms:** Sneezing is an unavoidable, noisy event. Key Takeaway Accept bodily quirks with humor. Themes humor humanity embarrassment communication empathy Mood lighthearted empathetic Type comedic observational When to use this quote - friends - family - colleagues - public speakers Key Concepts social awkwardness body functions friendship dynamics Questions to Reflect On - How do you handle embarrassing moments? - When is humor appropriate? A Different Perspective Humor may not suit all audiences. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Agony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/agony/) [Apology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apology/) [Disbelief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disbelief/) [Elephants](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/elephants/) [Help Sneeze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/help-sneeze-4039347/) [Helping](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/helping/) [I m sorry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-m-sorry/) [Littles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/littles/) [Persons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/persons/) [Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said/) [Said Sneezed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said-sneezed-3263117/) [Shaking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shaking/) [Shut up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shut-up/) [Sneeze Try](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sneeze-try-4039345/) [Sneezed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sneezed/) [Sneezed Person](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sneezed-person-4039346/) [Sorry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sorry/) [Sound](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sound/) [Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying/) ## Related quotes > [“Horace felt an overwhelming need to sneeze. He tried to smother the sound, but only succeeded in making it louder. Will looked up angrily,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flanagan/horace-felt-an-overwhelming-need-to-sneeze-he-tried-to-smother-the-2/) [John Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flanagan/) > [“Horace felt an overwhelming need to sneeze. He tried to smother the sound, but only succeeded in making it louder. Will looked up angrily,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flanagan/horace-felt-an-overwhelming-need-to-sneeze-he-tried-to-smother-the/) [John Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flanagan/) > [It used to be said that when the U.S. sneezed, the world caught a cold. The opposite is equally true today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-summers/it-used-to-be-said-that-when-the-u-s-sneezed-the-world-caught-a-cold-2/) [Lawrence Summers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-summers/) > [They came out in a dim, damp basement - a generic sort of place, full of moulding boxes. 'You take me to the nicest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-caine/they-came-out-in-a-dim-damp-basement-a-generic-sort-of-place-full-of/) [Rachel Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-caine/) > [Relax? he repeated incredulously. You're going to fight an armored knight with nothing more than a bow and you tell me to relax? I'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flanagan/relax-he-repeated-incredulously-you-re-going-to-fight-an-armored/) [John Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flanagan/) > [Would you have done that in his place? Would you have left him and gone on?" "Of course I would!" Halt replied immediately. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flanagan/would-you-have-done-that-in-his-place-would-you-have-left-him-and/) [John Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flanagan/) > [Brazil is in a solid position. In the past, if the United States sneezed, we caught pneumonia. Today, if the United States sneezes, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luiz-inacio-lula-da-silva/brazil-is-in-a-solid-position-in-the-past-if-the-united-states/) [Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luiz-inacio-lula-da-silva/) > [My mother was good at reading books, making cinnamon biscuits, and coloring in a coloring book. Also she was a good eater of popcorn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haven-kimmel/my-mother-was-good-at-reading-books-making-cinnamon-biscuits-and/) [Haven Kimmel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haven-kimmel/) > [“Well, you can't know it without something having been sneezed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-a-milne/well-you-can-t-know-it-without-something-having-been-sneezed/) [A. A. Milne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-a-milne/) > [If I'd been in a school play, I'd probably have sneezed and messed everything up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/millie-bobby-brown/if-i-d-been-in-a-school-play-i-d-probably-have-sneezed-and-messed/) [Millie Bobby Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/millie-bobby-brown/) > [“I sneezed into the wind, and closed my eyes and imagined my face was barraged by cool ocean spray.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/i-sneezed-into-the-wind-and-closed-my-eyes-and-imagined-my-face-was/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [It used to be said that when the U.S. sneezed, the world caught a cold. The opposite is equally true today. Our prosperity is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-summers/it-used-to-be-said-that-when-the-u-s-sneezed-the-world-caught-a-cold/) [Lawrence Summers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-summers/) > [I once sneezed a beenie weenie through my nose. I also made a horse faint in Costa Rica.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-once-sneezed-a-beenie-weenie-through-my-nose-i-also-made-a-horse/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [My ex called and said she still loves me, I sneezed and said sorry AM ALERGIC TO BULLSHIT](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bishop/my-ex-called-and-said-she-still-loves-me-i-sneezed-and-said-sorry-am/) [Bishop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bishop/) > [(The baby sneezed. Wulf jumped as fire shot out of its nostrils and almost singed his leg.) Excuse me. I almost made Dark-Hunter barbecue,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/the-baby-sneezed-wulf-jumped-as-fire-shot-out-of-its-nostrils-and/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) ## More by John Flanagan > [What about you three, where are you going?" Even before Halt answered, Will knew what he was going to say. But that didn't make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flanagan/what-about-you-three-where-are-you-going-even-before-halt-answered/) [John Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flanagan/) > [“There's a tavern by the docks. He's there most evenings." "Then I'll talk to him tonight," Halt said. "You can try. But he's a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flanagan/there-s-a-tavern-by-the-docks-he-s-there-most-evenings-then-i-ll-talk/) [John Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flanagan/) > [The sun was trembling on the brink of the world, the shadows at their longest, and they still had several kilometers to go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flanagan/the-sun-was-trembling-on-the-brink-of-the-world-the-shadows-at-their/) [John Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flanagan/) > [We're going to see Ragnak," Halt told him. "He's going to have to promise to free every slave who fights for Hallasholm." Will shook…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flanagan/we-re-going-to-see-ragnak-halt-told-him-he-s-going-to-have-to-promise/) [John Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flanagan/) > [“We must wait," she said. "They are involved in important buisness." Her tone was serious, almost reverntial. The two of them stopped, some five…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flanagan/we-must-wait-she-said-they-are-involved-in-important-buisness-her/) [John Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flanagan/) > [So I'm an ace?' Will grinned. 'I'm flattered Halt, flattered. I had no idea you regarded me so highly.' Halt gave him a long-suffering…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flanagan/so-i-m-an-ace-will-grinned-i-m-flattered-halt-flattered-i-had-no-idea/) [John Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flanagan/) > [“Damn! I hate farewells!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flanagan/damn-i-hate-farewells/) [John Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flanagan/) > [“They sailed into Raguza and Hal said, as bold as brass, “We’ve come to challenge Zavac and we plan to kick his—”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flanagan/they-sailed-into-raguza-and-hal-said-as-bold-as-brass-we-ve-come-to/) [John Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flanagan/) > [Are there bears in these mountains?" he asked. His companion nodded. "Of course. But it's a bit early in the year for them to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flanagan/are-there-bears-in-these-mountains-he-asked-his-companion-nodded-of/) [John Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flanagan/) > [Well I'm not dancing," Will said through gritted teeth. "I don't know how." Oh yes you are," Alyss told him. "Let's hope you're a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flanagan/well-i-m-not-dancing-will-said-through-gritted-teeth-i-don-t-know-how/) [John Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flanagan/) > [The battle, if you could call it that, lasted no more than a few seconds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flanagan/the-battle-if-you-could-call-it-that-lasted-no-more-than-a-few-seconds/) [John Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flanagan/) > [Well, we can ride together for a while longer. The highway south is farther along this way. I'll be glad of some cheerful company."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flanagan/well-we-can-ride-together-for-a-while-longer-the-highway-south-is/) [John Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flanagan/) > [“Does it matter?" Halt asked. Horace shrugged. "Not really, I suppose. I just wondered why you'd gone to the kitchen and why you took…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flanagan/does-it-matter-halt-asked-horace-shrugged-not-really-i-suppose-i-just/) [John Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flanagan/) > [Maybe we should have gone with him," he said, a few minutes after his friend was lost to sight. "Three of us would make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flanagan/maybe-we-should-have-gone-with-him-he-said-a-few-minutes-after-his/) [John Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flanagan/) > [Best way then is to be waiting for them to bring Halt and the others out of that prison,” he said, almost to himself.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flanagan/best-way-then-is-to-be-waiting-for-them-to-bring-halt-and-the-others/) [John Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flanagan/) [Explore all 327 John Flanagan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flanagan/) ## More Agony quotes > [Many Republicans have always reminded me of professional WWF wrestlers. They come into the ring all pumped up and acting like they're invincible and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-feig/many-republicans-have-always-reminded-me-of-professional-wwf/) [Paul Feig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-feig/) > [“aaron would not come out aaron entered into agony.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-goldman/aaron-would-not-come-out-aaron-entered-into-agony/) [William Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-goldman/) > [ “\[W\]e must learn to accommodate ourselves to the discovery that some of those cunningly-fashioned instruments called human souls have only a very limited range… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-eliot/w-e-must-learn-to-accommodate-ourselves-to-the-discovery-that-some-of/) [George Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-eliot/) > [As we look upon that agony and those tearful prayers, let us not only look with thankfulness; but let that kneeling Saviour teach us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-maclaren/as-we-look-upon-that-agony-and-those-tearful-prayers-let-us-not-only/) [Alexander MacLaren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-maclaren/) > [Love masters agony; the soul that seemed Forsaken feels her present God again And in her Father's arms Contented dies away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-keble/love-masters-agony-the-soul-that-seemed-forsaken-feels-her-present/) [John Keble](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-keble/) > [I have seen war. I have seen war on land and sea. I have seen blood running from the wounded. I have seen men…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/i-have-seen-war-i-have-seen-war-on-land-and-sea-i-have-seen-blood/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [“Anger was a reliable defense, but one that allowed no chance of final victory. Anger was a medicine but never a cure, briefly numbing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-koontz/anger-was-a-reliable-defense-but-one-that-allowed-no-chance-of-final/) [Dean Koontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-koontz/) > [The cure is in the house, not brought by other hands from distant places, but by its own, in agony and blood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aeschylus/the-cure-is-in-the-house-not-brought-by-other-hands-from-distant/) [Aeschylus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aeschylus/) > [Sometimes, a lie is told in kindness. I don't believe it ever works kindly. The quick pain of truth can pass away, but the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/sometimes-a-lie-is-told-in-kindness-i-don-t-believe-it-ever-works/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [The young man shivered. He rolled the stock themes of fantasy over in his mind: cars and stockbrokers and commuters, housewives and police, agony…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/the-young-man-shivered-he-rolled-the-stock-themes-of-fantasy-over-in/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [Being ill like this combines shock - this time I will die - with a pain and agony that are unfamiliar, that wrench me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-brodkey/being-ill-like-this-combines-shock-this-time-i-will-die-with-a-pain/) [Harold Brodkey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-brodkey/) > [One often learns more from ten days of agony than ten years of contentment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/merle-shain/one-often-learns-more-from-ten-days-of-agony-than-ten-years-of/) [Merle Shain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/merle-shain/) > [There’s been a problem, a problem eating away at me from the inside out. I’ve become weak, I’ve shown human compassion, and it has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kane/there-s-been-a-problem-a-problem-eating-away-at-me-from-the-inside/) [Kane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kane/) > [Pay special attention to their agony so I might take some pleasure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euripides/pay-special-attention-to-their-agony-so-i-might-take-some-pleasure/) [Euripides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euripides/) > [Die, enemies of Ra!" Sekhemet yelled. "Perish in agony!" "She's almost as annoying as you," I told Horus. "Impossible," Horus said. "No one bests…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/die-enemies-of-ra-sekhemet-yelled-perish-in-agony-she-s-almost-as/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) [Browse all 813 Agony quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/agony/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Will looked up angrily, shaking his head in disbelief. Will you shut up? he said tautly. Horace shrugged in apology. 'I'm sorry' he said, I sneezed. A person can't help it when they sneeze. Perhaps not. 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