--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: He shook his head, just looking at me…" description: "\"“He shook his head, just looking at me. \"What?\" I asked. \"Nothing,\" he said. \"Why are you looking at me like that?\" Augustus half smiled. \"Because you'..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cbf/john-green-12_augustus-waters_he-shook-his-head-just-looking-at-me-wha_1847775.jpg" --- # He shook his head, just looking at me. "What?" I asked… ![“He shook his head, just looking at me. "What?" I asked. "Nothing," he said. "Why are you looking at me like that?" Augustus half smiled. "Because you're beautiful. I enjoy looking at beautiful people, and I decided a while ago not to deny myself the simpler pleasures of existence.” quote by John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cbf/john-green-12_augustus-waters_he-shook-his-head-just-looking-at-me-wha_1847775.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cbf/john-green-12_augustus-waters_he-shook-his-head-just-looking-at-me-wha_1847775.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cbf/john-green-12_augustus-waters_he-shook-his-head-just-looking-at-me-wha_1847775.jpg) > ““He shook his head, just looking at me. "What?" I asked. "Nothing," he said. "Why are you looking at me like that?" Augustus half smiled. "Because you're beautiful. I enjoy looking at beautiful people, and I decided a while ago not to deny myself the simpler pleasures of existence.”” [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He expresses admiration for beauty, choosing to embrace simple pleasures rather than deny them. **In simple terms:** He enjoys beauty and simple pleasures. Key Takeaway Embrace simple joys. Themes beauty pleasure acceptance Mood warm contemplative Type literary conversational When to use this quote - personal interactions - self‑care - social gatherings - public speaking Key Concepts aesthetic appreciation mindfulness Questions to Reflect On - What simple pleasures do you deny yourself? - How does appreciating beauty affect your mood? A Different Perspective May overlook deeper values beyond surface beauty. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Augustus waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/augustus-waters/) [Beautiful people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beautiful-people/) [Hazel grace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hazel-grace/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) ## Related quotes > [“Why are you looking at me like that?" Augustus half smiled. "Because you're beautiful. I enjoy looking at beautiful people, and I decided a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/why-are-you-looking-at-me-like-that-augustus-half-smiled-because-you/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [“Augustus half smiled. "Because you're beautiful, I enjoy looking at beaufitul people, and I decided a while ago not to deny myself the simpler…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/augustus-half-smiled-because-you-re-beautiful-i-enjoy-looking-at/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [“What?" I asked. "Nothing," he said. "Why are you looking at me like that?" Augustus half smiled. "Because you're beautiful. I enjoy looking at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/what-i-asked-nothing-he-said-why-are-you-looking-at-me-like-that/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [I liked Augustus Waters. I really, really really liked him. I liked the way his story ended with someone else. I liked his voice.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/i-liked-augustus-waters-i-really-really-really-liked-him-i-liked-the-3/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [He flipped himself onto his side and kissed me. "You're so hot," I said, my hand still on his leg. "I'm starting to think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/he-flipped-himself-onto-his-side-and-kissed-me-you-re-so-hot-i-said/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [Tell me my copy is missing the last twenty pages or something. Hazel Grace, tell me I have not reached the end of this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/tell-me-my-copy-is-missing-the-last-twenty-pages-or-something-hazel/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [“Abraham Maslow, I present to you Augustus Waters, whose existential curiosity dwarfed that of his well-fed, well-loved, healthy brethren.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/abraham-maslow-i-present-to-you-augustus-waters-whose-existential/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [Thank you for explaining that my eye cancer isn't going to make me deaf. I feel so fortunate that an intellectual giant like yourself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/thank-you-for-explaining-that-my-eye-cancer-isn-t-going-to-make-me/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [“Sure, anyone can name fourteen dead people. But we're disorganized mourners, so a lot of people end up remembering Shakespeare, and no one ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/sure-anyone-can-name-fourteen-dead-people-but-we-re-disorganized/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [“I enjoy looking at beautiful people, and I decided a while ago not to deny myself the simpler pleasures of existence.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/i-enjoy-looking-at-beautiful-people-and-i-decided-a-while-ago-not-to/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [Oh, I wouldn't mind, Hazel Grace. It would be a privilege to have my heart broken by you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/oh-i-wouldn-t-mind-hazel-grace-it-would-be-a-privilege-to-have-my/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [I want more numbers than I’m likely to get, and God, I want more numbers for Augustus Waters than he got. But, Gus, my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/i-want-more-numbers-than-i-m-likely-to-get-and-god-i-want-more/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [I'll fight it. I'll fight it for you. Don't you worry about me, Hazel Grace. I'm okay. I'll find a way to hang around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/i-ll-fight-it-i-ll-fight-it-for-you-don-t-you-worry-about-me-hazel/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [I'm on a roller coaster that only goes up," he said. "And it is my privilege and my responsibility to ride all the way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/i-m-on-a-roller-coaster-that-only-goes-up-he-said-and-it-is-my/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [Augustus, perhaps you’d like to share your fears with the group.” “My fears?” “Yes.” “I fear oblivion,” he said without a moment’s pause. “I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/augustus-perhaps-you-d-like-to-share-your-fears-with-the-group-my/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) ## More by John Green > [Issac:"I dislike living in a world without Augustus Waters." Computer: "I don't understand-" Issac: "Me neither. Pause](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/issac-i-dislike-living-in-a-world-without-augustus-waters-computer-i/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [“I just want to stay away from people and read books and think”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/i-just-want-to-stay-away-from-people-and-read-books-and-think/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [She smiled with all the delight of a kid on Christmas morning and said, "Y'all smoke to enjoy it. I smoke to die." -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/she-smiled-with-all-the-delight-of-a-kid-on-christmas-morning-and/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [A Margo for each of us--and each more mirror than window.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/a-margo-for-each-of-us-and-each-more-mirror-than-window/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [“No one ever says good-bye unless they want to see you again.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/no-one-ever-says-good-bye-unless-they-want-to-see-you-again/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [Neither novels or their readers benefit from any attempts to divine whether any facts hide inside a story. Such efforts attack the very idea…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/neither-novels-or-their-readers-benefit-from-any-attempts-to-divine/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [“Traffic's not too bad on Sheridan, and I'm cornering the car like it's the Indy 500, and we're listening to my favorite NMH song,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/traffic-s-not-too-bad-on-sheridan-and-i-m-cornering-the-car-like-it-s/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [“Praise God for good nurses.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/praise-god-for-good-nurses/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [So I was ugly. I was never fat, really, and I never wore headgear or had zits or anything. But I was ugly. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/so-i-was-ugly-i-was-never-fat-really-and-i-never-wore-headgear-or-had/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [Nothing has ever looked like that ever in all of human history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/nothing-has-ever-looked-like-that-ever-in-all-of-human-history/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [“said to him quietly, as if I couldn’t hear or something. Dad was about to respond but I interrupted.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/said-to-him-quietly-as-if-i-couldn-t-hear-or-something-dad-was-about/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [I believe humans have souls, and I believe in the conservation of souls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/i-believe-humans-have-souls-and-i-believe-in-the-conservation-of-souls/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [“He was hot. A nonhotboy stares at you relentlessly and it is, at best, awkward and, at worst, a form of assault. But a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/he-was-hot-a-nonhotboy-stares-at-you-relentlessly-and-it-is-at-best/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [I think if you keep the box closed long enough you do kill the cat, actually.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/i-think-if-you-keep-the-box-closed-long-enough-you-do-kill-the-cat/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [Imagining the future is a kind of nostalgia. (...) You spend your whole life stuck in the labyrinth, thinking about how you'll escape it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/imagining-the-future-is-a-kind-of-nostalgia-you-spend-your-whole-life/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) [Explore all 3,614 John Green quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) ## More Augustus quotes > [Issac:"I dislike living in a world without Augustus Waters." Computer: "I don't understand-" Issac: "Me neither. Pause](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/issac-i-dislike-living-in-a-world-without-augustus-waters-computer-i/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [That pipe, just so happens to lead to the room where I make the most delicious flavored chocolate covered fudge." Then he will be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-depp/that-pipe-just-so-happens-to-lead-to-the-room-where-i-make-the-most/) [Johnny Depp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-depp/) > [Christianity has carried civilization along with it, whithersoever it has gone; and, as if to show that the latter does not depend on physical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augustus-william-hare/christianity-has-carried-civilization-along-with-it-whithersoever-it/) [Augustus William Hare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augustus-william-hare/) > [“When you fear nothing, you have nothing to fear”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-f-chandler/when-you-fear-nothing-you-have-nothing-to-fear/) S.F. Chandler > [I am in the midst of a soliloquy! I wrote this out and memorized it and if you interrupt me I will completely screw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/i-am-in-the-midst-of-a-soliloquy-i-wrote-this-out-and-memorized-it/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [Ma'am," Augustus said, nodding toward her, "Your daughter's car has just been deservingly egged by a blind man. Please close the door and go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/ma-am-augustus-said-nodding-toward-her-your-daughter-s-car-has-just/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [A man who wouldn't cheat for a poke don't want one bad enough. --Augustus "Gus" McCrae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-mcmurtry/a-man-who-wouldn-t-cheat-for-a-poke-don-t-want-one-bad-enough/) [Larry McMurtry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-mcmurtry/) > [“As quick as boiled asparagus!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-graves/as-quick-as-boiled-asparagus/) [Robert Graves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-graves/) > [WHEN AUGUSTUS CAME OUT on the porch the blue pigs were eating a rattlesnake—not a very big one. It had probably just been crawling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-mcmurtry/when-augustus-came-out-on-the-porch-the-blue-pigs-were-eating-a/) [Larry McMurtry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-mcmurtry/) > [“Six times during my life has this tomb of my soul led me to the brink of that eternal darkness into which all men…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-williams/six-times-during-my-life-has-this-tomb-of-my-soul-led-me-to-the-brink/) [John Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-williams/) > [According to the conventions of the genre, Augustus Waters kept his sense of humor till the end, did not for a moment waiver in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/according-to-the-conventions-of-the-genre-augustus-waters-kept-his/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [“His excitement was adorable. I couldn't resist. I leaned over and kissed him on the cheek. -Hazel Grace Lancaster, The Fault In Our Stars”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/his-excitement-was-adorable-i-couldn-t-resist-i-leaned-over-and/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [“Out of nowhere, Augustus asked, "do you believe in an after life?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/out-of-nowhere-augustus-asked-do-you-believe-in-an-after-life/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [ He \[Caesar Augustus\] found a city built of brick; he left it built of marble. \[Lat., Urbem lateritiam accepit, mamoream relinquit.\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suetonius/he-caesar-augustus-found-a-city-built-of-brick-he-left-it-built-of/) [Suetonius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suetonius/) > [“Augustus was amazing, but he’d overdone everything at the picnic, right down to the sandwiches that were metaphorically resonant but tasted terrible and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/augustus-was-amazing-but-he-d-overdone-everything-at-the-picnic-right/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) Browse all 137 Augustus quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“He shook his head, just looking at me. \"What?\" I asked. \"Nothing,\" he said. \"Why are you looking at me like that?\" Augustus half smiled. \"Because you're beautiful. 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