--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: But he wanted to smile. He would have…" description: "\"“But he wanted to smile. He would have done, if he'd been able. Surely that had to be the most important thing. The jabbing at his leg stopped for a bi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/52a/julia-quinn-282_hot-water_but-he-wanted-to-smile-he-would-have-don_1122624.jpg" --- # But he wanted to smile. He would have done, if he'd been… ![“But he wanted to smile. He would have done, if he'd been able. Surely that had to be the most important thing. The jabbing at his leg stopped for a bit, then started up again. Then there was a lovely, short pause, and then- Damn, that hurt. But not enough to cry out. Although he might have moaned…” quote by Julia Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/52a/julia-quinn-282_hot-water_but-he-wanted-to-smile-he-would-have-don_1122624.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/52a/julia-quinn-282_hot-water_but-he-wanted-to-smile-he-would-have-don_1122624.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/52a/julia-quinn-282_hot-water_but-he-wanted-to-smile-he-would-have-don_1122624.jpg) > ““But he wanted to smile. He would have done, if he'd been able. Surely that had to be the most important thing. The jabbing at his leg stopped for a bit, then started up again. Then there was a lovely, short pause, and then- Damn, that hurt. But not enough to cry out. Although he might have moaned. He wasn't sure. They'd poured hot water on him. Lots of it. He wondered if they were trying to poach his leg. Boiled meat. How terribly British of them. He chuckled. He was funny. Who knew he was so funny? "Oh, my God!" he heard Honoria yell. "What did I do to him?" He laughed some more. Because she sounded ridiculous.Almost as if she were speaking through a foghorn.Oooorrrrhhhh myyy Grrrrrrrrrd. He wondered if she could hear it,too. Wait a moment..Honoria was asking what she'd done to him?Did that mean she was wielding the scissors now?He wasn't sure how he ought to feel about this. On the other hand...boiled meat! He laughed again,deciding he didn't care.God,he was funny.How was it possible no one had ever told him he was funny before?”” [Julia Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-quinn/) ## 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 endures painful abuse while clinging to humor, reflecting on identity and resilience in extreme distress. **In simple terms:** He finds humor despite suffering. Key Takeaway Seek laughter even in pain. Themes humor resilience identity abuse survival Mood conflicted darkly comedic reflective Type narrative character study dark humor When to use this quote - war trauma - personal crisis - social alienation - self‑discovery Key Concepts psychology coping mechanisms absurdity Questions to Reflect On - How does humor affect perception of suffering? - When does laughter become a defense? A Different Perspective Humor may mask deeper trauma and hinder healing. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet ## Related quotes > [“He laughed and it sounded startled and a bit rusty, as if he didn't do that very often.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-mccabe/he-laughed-and-it-sounded-startled-and-a-bit-rusty-as-if-he-didn-t-do/) [Amanda McCabe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-mccabe/) > [“Did you bite someone?' Jack enquired. 'I laughed at people, which is much worse. My laughter has sharper teeth than any dog. It tears…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isobelle-carmody/did-you-bite-someone-jack-enquired-i-laughed-at-people-which-is-much/) [Isobelle Carmody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isobelle-carmody/) > [She laughed at him then, because he sounded like a small boy, not like a very large grown-up Beast with a voice so deep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-mckinley/she-laughed-at-him-then-because-he-sounded-like-a-small-boy-not-like/) [Robin McKinley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-mckinley/) > [I have always been told that I was a funny, entertaining person and have always been told to give comedy a try.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabriel-iglesias/i-have-always-been-told-that-i-was-a-funny-entertaining-person-and/) [Gabriel Iglesias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabriel-iglesias/) > [RuPaul told me I was funny, so I can die happy now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicola-coughlan/rupaul-told-me-i-was-funny-so-i-can-die-happy-now/) [Nicola Coughlan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicola-coughlan/) > [I've found out why people laugh. They laugh because it hurts- because it's the only thing that'll make it stop hurting... I had been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/i-ve-found-out-why-people-laugh-they-laugh-because-it-hurts-because-2/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [I got a lot of support from my parents. That's the one thing I always appreciated. They didn't tell me I was being stupid;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-carrey/i-got-a-lot-of-support-from-my-parents-that-s-the-one-thing-i-always/) [Jim Carrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-carrey/) > [Someone told me I had funny facial expressions. I don't know whether I take that as a compliment or not, but.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucy-punch/someone-told-me-i-had-funny-facial-expressions-i-don-t-know-whether-i/) [Lucy Punch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucy-punch/) > [I've always been told I was funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-williams/i-ve-always-been-told-i-was-funny/) [Wendy Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-williams/) > [My parents always told me to be myself. I was always funny and silly as a kid. And I would always make them laugh.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-simmons/my-parents-always-told-me-to-be-myself-i-was-always-funny-and-silly/) [Richard Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-simmons/) > [The look Anthony shot at his sister was so comically malevolent Simon nearly laughed. He managed to restrain himself, but mostly just because he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-quinn/the-look-anthony-shot-at-his-sister-was-so-comically-malevolent-simon/) [Julia Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-quinn/) > [“If you cannot recognize the problem, there is no way that I could explain it to you." He laughed, damn the man. "My goodness,"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-quinn/if-you-cannot-recognize-the-problem-there-is-no-way-that-i-could/) [Julia Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-quinn/) > [“The hot water pools are steaming, Fagan and Monsanto and the others are all sitting peacefully up to their necks, they're all naked, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/the-hot-water-pools-are-steaming-fagan-and-monsanto-and-the-others/) [Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/) > [“See? Injustice. Here we are, risking our lives to rescue Kai and this whole planet, and Adri and Pearl get to go to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marissa-meyer/see-injustice-here-we-are-risking-our-lives-to-rescue-kai-and-this/) [Marissa Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marissa-meyer/) > [We were so poor as kids. I didn't even see a bathtub, running water, hot water, commode - we didn't have any of that.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-robertson/we-were-so-poor-as-kids-i-didn-t-even-see-a-bathtub-running-water-hot/) [Phil Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-robertson/) ## More by Julia Quinn > [“what a sad pair we are," she said. "Surely we can manage a conversation on a topic other than our respective terrible evenings.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-quinn/what-a-sad-pair-we-are-she-said-surely-we-can-manage-a-conversation/) [Julia Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-quinn/) > [It was the one dream he'd never permitted himself to consider.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-quinn/it-was-the-one-dream-he-d-never-permitted-himself-to-consider/) [Julia Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-quinn/) > [But Hyacinth Bridgerton, who at ten should have known the least about kisses of anyone, just blinked thoughtfully, and said, " I think it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-quinn/but-hyacinth-bridgerton-who-at-ten-should-have-known-the-least-about/) [Julia Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-quinn/) > [Daphne," he said with controlled gentleness, "what is wrong?" She sat down opposite him and placed a hand on his cheek. "I'm so insensitive,"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-quinn/daphne-he-said-with-controlled-gentleness-what-is-wrong-she-sat-down/) [Julia Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-quinn/) > [You are always looking at people like this.” And then she made a face, one he couldn’t possibly begin to describe. “If I ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-quinn/you-are-always-looking-at-people-like-this-and-then-she-made-a-face/) [Julia Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-quinn/) > [“Charlotte had tried to read his work. It seemed only polite, after all, given that they were neighbors. But after a while, she'd simply…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-quinn/charlotte-had-tried-to-read-his-work-it-seemed-only-polite-after-all/) [Julia Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-quinn/) > [“Yes?" "When you said you weren't angry..." "Yes?" "Were you?" "I was rather annoyed," he admitted. "But not angry?" She sounded as if she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-quinn/yes-when-you-said-you-weren-t-angry-yes-were-you-i-was-rather-annoyed/) [Julia Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-quinn/) > [Daniel held himself very still, waiting for the wave of jealousy that never came. He was furious with the man who’d taken advantage of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-quinn/daniel-held-himself-very-still-waiting-for-the-wave-of-jealousy-that/) [Julia Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-quinn/) > [“ "What do you say, Miss Lyndon? Shall we have a go at it?" " 'Shall we have a go at it?' " Ellie…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-quinn/what-do-you-say-miss-lyndon-shall-we-have-a-go-at-it-shall-we-have-a/) [Julia Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-quinn/) > [“Just curious,she mouthed. "What? I didn't catch that." Jjuussttccuurriioouuss.She drew it out this time, hoping he'd be able to read her lips. "If you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-quinn/just-curious-she-mouthed-what-i-didn-t-catch-that/) [Julia Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-quinn/) > [“It was nearly impossible to keep anything a secret, especially from her sisters, the youngest of whom—Hyacinth—could probably have won the war against Napoleon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-quinn/it-was-nearly-impossible-to-keep-anything-a-secret-especially-from/) [Julia Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-quinn/) > [“Something important is always about to happen... And if not, you'd do well to act as if it were. You'll enjoy life better that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-quinn/something-important-is-always-about-to-happen-and-if-not-you-d-do/) [Julia Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-quinn/) > [“Sophie picked her way through the forest, stepping over tree roots, and pushing aside low-lying branches, letting them snap back behind her with reckless…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-quinn/sophie-picked-her-way-through-the-forest-stepping-over-tree-roots-and/) [Julia Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-quinn/) > [People will think you're courting me.' 'Nonsense, everyone knows I don't court respectable women.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-quinn/people-will-think-you-re-courting-me-nonsense-everyone-knows-i-don-t/) [Julia Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-quinn/) > [“If you cannot recognize the problem, there is no way that I could explain it to you." He laughed, damn the man. "My goodness,"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-quinn/if-you-cannot-recognize-the-problem-there-is-no-way-that-i-could/) [Julia Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-quinn/) [Explore all 726 Julia Quinn quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-quinn/) ## More Hot water quotes > [We were so poor as kids. I didn't even see a bathtub, running water, hot water, commode - we didn't have any of that.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-robertson/we-were-so-poor-as-kids-i-didn-t-even-see-a-bathtub-running-water-hot/) [Phil Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-robertson/) > [“See? Injustice. Here we are, risking our lives to rescue Kai and this whole planet, and Adri and Pearl get to go to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marissa-meyer/see-injustice-here-we-are-risking-our-lives-to-rescue-kai-and-this/) [Marissa Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marissa-meyer/) > [“The hot water pools are steaming, Fagan and Monsanto and the others are all sitting peacefully up to their necks, they're all naked, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/the-hot-water-pools-are-steaming-fagan-and-monsanto-and-the-others/) [Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/) > [Political correctness is a major defect of the western ethos. Some Western countries have even passed blasphemy laws that would put you in legal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ali-sina/political-correctness-is-a-major-defect-of-the-western-ethos-some/) [Ali Sina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ali-sina/) > [Nobody ever says, 'Hey daddy, thanks for knockin' out this rent.' 'Hey daddy, I sure love this hot water.' 'Hey daddy, it's easy to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-rock/nobody-ever-says-hey-daddy-thanks-for-knockin-out-this-rent-hey-daddy/) [Chris Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-rock/) > [“Epsom Salt - Don't underestimate the powerful healing effects of regular Epsom salt.  Soaking in hot water infused with Epsom salts (magnesium sulfate) boosts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gina-the-veggie-goddess-matthews/epsom-salt-don-t-underestimate-the-powerful-healing-effects-of/) Gina 'The Veggie Goddess' Matthews > [“God, I’ve just figured out what’s missing – you ditched the hallowed Albermarle Teddy Bear!’ I nodded.   ‘Banished to a dark cupboard for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tabitha-mcgowan/god-i-ve-just-figured-out-what-s-missing-you-ditched-the-hallowed/) [Tabitha McGowan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tabitha-mcgowan/) > [“Matcha This jade-colored powder, pulverized from newly plucked tea buds, is whisked (with a special bamboo tool) into hot water to make ceremonial tea.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-andoh/matcha-this-jade-colored-powder-pulverized-from-newly-plucked-tea/) Elizabeth Andoh > [“Herbs to use for a good sleep bath and no rash. My grandma on my father’s side was a biologist and botanist. She gave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-shayk/herbs-to-use-for-a-good-sleep-bath-and-no-rash-my-grandma-on-my/) Julia Shayk > [“Pain. It’s there for a reason. Whether your’e shredding your legs on a raspberry bush, scalding your hand in hot water, or taking an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-pasricha/pain-it-s-there-for-a-reason-whether-your-e-shredding-your-legs-on-a/) [Neil Pasricha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-pasricha/) > [a women is like a tea bag.it's only when she is in hot water that you realize how strong she is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sandburg/a-women-is-like-a-tea-bag-it-s-only-when-she-is-in-hot-water-that-you/) [Carl Sandburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sandburg/) > [“This sour cream will result in a thicker and slightly richer product than the first recipe. Ingredients 1 cup heavy cream at room temperature…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-helweg/this-sour-cream-will-result-in-a-thicker-and-slightly-richer-product/) Rick Helweg > [“In a pocket of his knapsack he'd found a last half packet of cocoa and he fixed it for the boy and then poured…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cormac-mccarthy/in-a-pocket-of-his-knapsack-he-d-found-a-last-half-packet-of-cocoa/) [Cormac McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cormac-mccarthy/) > [A woman is like a tea bag. She only knows her strength when put in hot water.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-reagan/a-woman-is-like-a-tea-bag-she-only-knows-her-strength-when-put-in-hot/) [Nancy Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-reagan/) > [I have a deep-down belief that there are folks in the world who are good through and through, and others who came in mean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-e-turner/i-have-a-deep-down-belief-that-there-are-folks-in-the-world-who-are/) [Nancy E. Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-e-turner/) Browse all 256 Hot water quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“But he wanted to smile. He would have done, if he'd been able. Surely that had to be the most important thing. The jabbing at his leg stopped for a bit, then started up again. Then there was a lovely, short pause, and then- Damn, that hurt. But not enough to cry out. Although he might have moaned. He wasn't sure. They'd poured hot water on him. Lots of it. He wondered if they were trying to poach his leg. Boiled meat. How terribly British of them. He chuckled. He was funny. Who knew he was so funny? \"Oh, my God!\" he heard Honoria yell. \"What did I do to him?\" He laughed some more. Because she sounded ridiculous.Almost as if she were speaking through a foghorn.Oooorrrrhhhh myyy Grrrrrrrrrd. He wondered if she could hear it,too. 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