--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: He wasn't handsome. That was too calm a…" description: "\"He wasn't handsome. That was too calm a word. He was intensely masculine. He was sexual. He attracted.\" — Karen Marie Moning" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7b0/karen-marie-moning-189_calm_he-wasn-t-handsome-that-was-too-calm-a-w_1908275.png" --- # He wasn't handsome. That was too calm a word. He was… ![“He wasn't handsome. That was too calm a word. He was intensely masculine. He was sexual. He attracted.” quote by Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7b0/karen-marie-moning-189_calm_he-wasn-t-handsome-that-was-too-calm-a-w_1908275.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7b0/karen-marie-moning-189_calm_he-wasn-t-handsome-that-was-too-calm-a-w_1908275.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7b0/karen-marie-moning-189_calm_he-wasn-t-handsome-that-was-too-calm-a-w_1908275.png) > “He wasn't handsome. That was too calm a word. He was intensely masculine. He was sexual. He attracted.” [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Physical attraction can be intense and beyond simple descriptors, reflecting deep desire. **In simple terms:** Attraction is powerful and complex. Key Takeaway Recognize and respect intense desire. Themes desire attraction identity Mood sensual intense Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - romantic encounters - creative writing - self‑exploration Key Concepts psychology human sexuality Questions to Reflect On - What does “intensely masculine” mean to you? - How do you balance desire with respect? A Different Perspective Intense focus may overlook emotional compatibility. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Calm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/calm/) [Masculine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/masculine/) ## Related quotes > [“He studied me with his predator's gaze, assessing me from head to toe. I studied him back. He didn't just occupy space; he saturated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/he-studied-me-with-his-predator-s-gaze-assessing-me-from-head-to-toe/) [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) > [He wasn't just masculine and sexual, he was carnal in a set-your-teeth-on-edge kind of way; he was almost frightning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/he-wasn-t-just-masculine-and-sexual-he-was-carnal-in-a-set-your-teeth/) [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) > [I had horrible acne when I was a kid. I felt like a complete and utter ne'er do well and someone who didn't fit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-pine/i-had-horrible-acne-when-i-was-a-kid-i-felt-like-a-complete-and-utter/) [Chris Pine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-pine/) > [“God, if he wasn’t so handsome, strong, sometimes sweet, didn’t have a Harley, that beard, a tendency to play with my hair, didn’t look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-ashley/god-if-he-wasn-t-so-handsome-strong-sometimes-sweet-didn-t-have-a/) [Kristen Ashley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-ashley/) > [I wasn't handsome. I didn't have good clothes. I used to wonder why people would hire me when they could get college graduates and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-matthau/i-wasn-t-handsome-i-didn-t-have-good-clothes-i-used-to-wonder-why/) [Walter Matthau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-matthau/) > [“Funny, he wasn't handsome, not in a Mr. Perfect kind of way, at least. The guy had a nose that had clearly been busted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lover-awakened-j-r-ward/funny-he-wasn-t-handsome-not-in-a-mr-perfect-kind-of-way-at-least-the/) Lover Awakened J. R. Ward > [I wasn't a star and I wasn't a handsome person, so I thought I would become a burden for director Shin Won Ho.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seo-in-guk/i-wasn-t-a-star-and-i-wasn-t-a-handsome-person-so-i-thought-i-would/) [Seo In-guk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seo-in-guk/) > [I know I wasn't as handsome as some other guys, but I was OK with that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-seymour-hoffman/i-know-i-wasn-t-as-handsome-as-some-other-guys-but-i-was-ok-with-that/) [Philip Seymour Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-seymour-hoffman/) > [“Some of the younger fishermen, those who used buoys as floats for their lines and had motorboats, bought when the shark livers had brought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/some-of-the-younger-fishermen-those-who-used-buoys-as-floats-for/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Men have been adjudicating on what women are, and how they should behave, for millennia through the institutions of social control such as religion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheila-jeffreys/men-have-been-adjudicating-on-what-women-are-and-how-they-should/) [Sheila Jeffreys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheila-jeffreys/) > [To awaken chivalry we must return to femininity. We must stop doing the masculine things and become the gentle, tender, dependent women we were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-andelin/to-awaken-chivalry-we-must-return-to-femininity-we-must-stop-doing/) [Helen Andelin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-andelin/) > [Composing a piece of music is very feminine. It is sensitive, emotional, contemplative. By comparison, doing housework is positively masculine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-kolb/composing-a-piece-of-music-is-very-feminine-it-is-sensitive-emotional/) Barbara Kolb > [Boys say they don't mind how you get your hair done. But then they leave you for someone with really great standard girl hair…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexa-chung/boys-say-they-don-t-mind-how-you-get-your-hair-done-but-then-they/) [Alexa Chung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexa-chung/) > [What makes a gay icon is someone who possesses both masculine and feminine qualities simultaneously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupaul/what-makes-a-gay-icon-is-someone-who-possesses-both-masculine-and/) [RuPaul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupaul/) > [When I was trying to come up with a stage name, I thought 'Lord' was super rad, but really masculine - ever since I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorde/when-i-was-trying-to-come-up-with-a-stage-name-i-thought-lord-was/) [Lorde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorde/) ## More by Karen Marie Moning > [“I can either be a victim—or a winner. Fuck victimhood. I don’t wear it well; it clashes with my wardrobe.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/i-can-either-be-a-victim-or-a-winner-fuck-victimhood-i-don-t-wear-it/) [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) > [Ancient eyes had stared at me, filled with ancient grief. And something more. Something so alien and unexpected that I'd almost burst into tears.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/ancient-eyes-had-stared-at-me-filled-with-ancient-grief-and-something/) [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) > [Some things are sacred. Until you act like they're not. Then you lose them](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/some-things-are-sacred-until-you-act-like-they-re-not-then-you-lose/) [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) > [Who would ever understand me?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/who-would-ever-understand-me/) [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) > [Sometimes, Ms. Lane," he said, "one must break with one's past to embrace one's future. It is never an easy thing to do. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/sometimes-ms-lane-he-said-one-must-break-with-one-s-past-to-embrace/) [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) > [“I think I’m under control, that I’ve stripped away all weaknesses. That committing to my mission has made me impervious. I’m wrong. The thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/i-think-i-m-under-control-that-i-ve-stripped-away-all-weaknesses-that/) [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) > [Desire makes life happen. Makes it matter. Makes everything worth it. Desire is life. Hunger to see the next sunrise or sunset, to touch…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/desire-makes-life-happen-makes-it-matter-makes-everything-worth-it/) [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) > [“Finally, someone had seen him. And what had he done? Let her get away. Undermined by his disgusting human anatomy. It had just been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/finally-someone-had-seen-him-and-what-had-he-done-let-her-get-away/) [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) > [“Our sex is fierce. We will both be bruised. "I want it to always be like this," I tell him. "Try holding onto that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/our-sex-is-fierce-we-will-both-be-bruised-i-want-it-to-always-be-like/) [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) > [Keep hoping to see the light in her eyes. Even knowing it'll mean she's saying good-bye.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/keep-hoping-to-see-the-light-in-her-eyes-even-knowing-it-ll-mean-she/) [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) > [Strength wasn‘t about being able to do everything alone. Strength was knowing when to ask for help and not being too proud to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/strength-wasn-t-about-being-able-to-do-everything-alone-strength-was/) [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) > [“He swapped the fistful of my shirt for one in my hair, and ground his mouth against mine.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/he-swapped-the-fistful-of-my-shirt-for-one-in-my-hair-and-ground-his/) [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) > [He’s so beautiful,” she said wistfully. “He’s like an angel.” “Yep,” I agreed flatly. “The one that fell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/he-s-so-beautiful-she-said-wistfully-he-s-like-an-angel-yep-i-agreed/) [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) > [And when he did that, my hands curled into fists because I thought about touching his face like maybe I could catch joy in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/and-when-he-did-that-my-hands-curled-into-fists-because-i-thought/) [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) > [“Flattered as I am that you count me among the beautiful people, Barrons, allow me to point out that I’m still alive. I encountered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/flattered-as-i-am-that-you-count-me-among-the-beautiful-people/) [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) [Explore all 940 Karen Marie Moning quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) ## More Calm quotes > [Grandma, please. It’s okay. Dad’s doing a great job. I give him kudos for at least being calm and rational, and not losing his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/grandma-please-it-s-okay-dad-s-doing-a-great-job-i-give-him-kudos-for/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [You practice mindfulness, on the one hand, to be calm and peaceful. On the other hand, as you practice mindfulness and live a life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-practice-mindfulness-on-the-one-hand-to-be-calm-and-peaceful-on/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“After the storm, reigns the calm.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simdi-onuora/after-the-storm-reigns-the-calm/) Simdi Onuora > [So mightiest powers buy deepest calms are fed, And sleep, how oft, in things that gentlest be!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-procter/so-mightiest-powers-buy-deepest-calms-are-fed-and-sleep-how-oft-in/) [Bryan Procter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-procter/) > [KEEP CALM and HAVE A SUGAR CUBE](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/keep-calm-and-have-a-sugar-cube/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [To practice Aikido fully you must calm the spirit and go back to the origin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morihei-ueshiba/to-practice-aikido-fully-you-must-calm-the-spirit-and-go-back-to-the/) [Morihei Ueshiba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morihei-ueshiba/) > [You imagine that I look back on my life's work with calm satisfaction. But from nearby it looks quite different. There is not a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/you-imagine-that-i-look-back-on-my-life-s-work-with-calm-satisfaction/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [Don't get divorced after your first argument! I have a lot of friends that have one fight and that's it, they get divorced. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-ripa/don-t-get-divorced-after-your-first-argument-i-have-a-lot-of-friends/) [Kelly Ripa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-ripa/) > [The goal of the operation is to send Gaza back to the Middle Ages, only then will Israel be calm for the next 40 years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ben-ari/the-goal-of-the-operation-is-to-send-gaza-back-to-the-middle-ages/) Michael Ben-Ari > [No physiologist who calmly considers the question in connection with the general truths of his science, can long resist the conviction that different parts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/no-physiologist-who-calmly-considers-the-question-in-connection-with/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [When I was a child I truly loved: Unthinking love as calm and deep As the North Sea. But I have lived, And now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gardner/when-i-was-a-child-i-truly-loved-unthinking-love-as-calm-and-deep-as/) [John Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gardner/) > [~Keep Calm and Swagger On~](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/im-nothing/keep-calm-and-swagger-on/) Im Nothing > [Ride your horse calm, forward and then make him straight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-zettl/ride-your-horse-calm-forward-and-then-make-him-straight/) [Walter Zettl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-zettl/) > [Life appears to me too short to be spent in nursing animosity, or registering wrongs. With this creed, revenge never worries my heart, degradation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/life-appears-to-me-too-short-to-be-spent-in-nursing-animosity-or/) [Charlotte Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/) > [Religious work is one of the best ways to keep from facing your reality if you are Christian, if you are using it to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-miller/religious-work-is-one-of-the-best-ways-to-keep-from-facing-your/) [Keith Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-miller/) [Browse all 3,074 Calm quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/calm/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "He wasn't handsome. That was too calm a word. He was intensely masculine. He was sexual. 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