--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I thought I told you to stop doing that,\"…" description: "\"“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?\" \"..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d3e/jonathan-stroud-3021_gaze_i-thought-i-told-you-to-stop-doing-that_2786126.jpg" --- # I thought I told you to stop doing that," he snapped. A… ![“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…” quote by Jonathan Stroud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d3e/jonathan-stroud-3021_gaze_i-thought-i-told-you-to-stop-doing-that_2786126.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d3e/jonathan-stroud-3021_gaze_i-thought-i-told-you-to-stop-doing-that_2786126.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d3e/jonathan-stroud-3021_gaze_i-thought-i-told-you-to-stop-doing-that_2786126.jpg) > ““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...?”” [Jonathan Stroud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-stroud/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. 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. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Gaze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gaze/) [Morally Vicious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/morally-vicious-3345118/) [Punishment Mr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/punishment-mr-3345116/) [Satisfying Punishment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/satisfying-punishment-3345119/) [Scaring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scaring/) [Snorted Trespassers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/snorted-trespassers-3345117/) [Way of thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way-of-thinking/) ## Related quotes > [Thinking without scaring is make people good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aziz-nesin/thinking-without-scaring-is-make-people-good/) [Aziz Nesin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aziz-nesin/) > [Scaring someone's the hardest thing to do, and that's why most of these scary movies are not scary. They're sick, but not scary. 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Traumatize a generation, that's what it's all about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-moffat/there-s-something-really-cool-about-scaring-children-traumatize-a/) [Steven Moffat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-moffat/) > [“When you cannot reason with people, you have to try scaring them. If that doesn’t work, then you either run or you kill them.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-hearne/when-you-cannot-reason-with-people-you-have-to-try-scaring-them-if/) [Kevin Hearne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-hearne/) > [I enjoy scaring people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-horowitz/i-enjoy-scaring-people/) [Anthony Horowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-horowitz/) > [“Don't entertain fear; it does not entertain you either; it only scares you!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/don-t-entertain-fear-it-does-not-entertain-you-either-it-only-scares/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [“Holding her breath, she stepped out, heading for the better-illuminated section of the room. Hard hands closed about her upper arms. She started-very nearly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-laurens/holding-her-breath-she-stepped-out-heading-for-the-better-illuminated/) [Stephanie Laurens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-laurens/) > [I'd like to thank the Royal Marines for bringing me in like that and scaring the shit out of me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-craig/i-d-like-to-thank-the-royal-marines-for-bringing-me-in-like-that-and/) [Daniel Craig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-craig/) > [I enjoy scaring people too much to let it go!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-marshall/i-enjoy-scaring-people-too-much-to-let-it-go/) [Neil Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-marshall/) > [“The day I stop scaring you is the day you should leave me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orest-stelmach/the-day-i-stop-scaring-you-is-the-day-you-should-leave-me/) [Orest Stelmach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orest-stelmach/) > [I want to do things where the talent range is difficult and that scare me. I thrive on that; if it's not scaring me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-dobrev/i-want-to-do-things-where-the-talent-range-is-difficult-and-that/) [Nina Dobrev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nina-dobrev/) > [What if it turns out there really are witches and vampires and werewolves living right here alongside us? After all, what better disguise could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergei-lukyanenko/what-if-it-turns-out-there-really-are-witches-and-vampires-and/) [Sergei Lukyanenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergei-lukyanenko/) > [I like scaring myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melanie-martinez/i-like-scaring-myself/) [Melanie Martinez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melanie-martinez/) ## More by Jonathan Stroud > [“Let's have the baddish one first,' George said. 'I prefer my misery to come at me in stages, so I can acclimatize on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-stroud/let-s-have-the-baddish-one-first-george-said-i-prefer-my-misery-to/) [Jonathan Stroud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-stroud/) > [Ambition is all very well, my lad, but you must cloak it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-stroud/ambition-is-all-very-well-my-lad-but-you-must-cloak-it/) [Jonathan Stroud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-stroud/) > [“You think so?" The boy looked down at his cross-legged form. He was sitting straight-backed, legs folded neatly in the manner of an Egyptian…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-stroud/you-think-so-the-boy-looked-down-at-his-cross-legged-form-he-was/) [Jonathan Stroud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-stroud/) > [“This is what the Problem means,” he went on. “This is the effect it has. Lives lost, loved ones taken before their time. 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'No. Someone's buttocks are flattening my foot.' I shifted my position irritably.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-stroud/george-i-croaked-are-you-okay-no-someone-s-buttocks-are-flattening-my/) [Jonathan Stroud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-stroud/) > [We grow up being told about great figures in our society, and as you get older you have to question the stories you've been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-stroud/we-grow-up-being-told-about-great-figures-in-our-society-and-as-you/) [Jonathan Stroud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-stroud/) > [Jabor finally appeared at the top of the stairs, sparks of flame radiating from his body and igniting the fabric of the house around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-stroud/jabor-finally-appeared-at-the-top-of-the-stairs-sparks-of-flame/) [Jonathan Stroud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-stroud/) > [“But certainly the two best-known tales in the neighborhood - the key hauntings, if you will - concern the Red Room and the Screaming…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-stroud/but-certainly-the-two-best-known-tales-in-the-neighborhood-the-key/) [Jonathan Stroud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-stroud/) > [“Lockwood stepped aside, his boots crunching across the salt, to stand and study the paper beneath the light. 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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. 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