Gaze Quote by Jonathan Stroud
““I thought I told you to stop doing that," he snapped. A thin-lipped mouth opened; the jutting chin and nose knocked together indignantly. "Do what?" "Taking on such a hideous appearance. I've just had my breakfast." A section of brow lifted, allowing an eyeball to roll forward with a squelching sound.The face looked unapologetic."Sorry, mate," it said. "It's just my job." "Your job is to destroy anyone entering my study without authority. No more, no less." The door guard considered. "True. But I seek to preempt entry by scaring trespassers away. To my way of thinking, deterrence is more aesthetically satisfying than punishment." Mr. Mandrake snorted. "Trespassers apart, you'll likely frighten Ms. Piper here to death." The face shook from side to side, a process that caused the nose to wobble alarmingly. "Not so. When she comes alone, I moderate my features. I reserve the full horror for those I consider morally vicious." "But you just looked that way to me!" "The contradiction being...?””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Amulet of Samarkand by Jonathan Stroud, 2003
A magical guard rationalizes using fear over punishment, adjusting his horror based on perceived morality, revealing ethical flexibility in enforcement.
In simple terms: The guard prefers scaring people instead of hurting them, changing his approach depending on who they are.
Key Takeaway
Consider how fear is used as control.
Themes
ethics
power
control
morality
authority
Mood
tense
reflective
Type
dialogue
philosophical
When to use this quote
- security guard
- magical enforcement
- conflict resolution
- character interaction
Key Concepts
deterrence
aesthetic justification
selective intimidation
Questions to Reflect On
- Is fear a fair deterrent?
- How does selective horror affect trust?
A Different Perspective
The guard's method may backfire if victims perceive manipulation as unjust.
