--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I say a clever thing to people they…" description: "\"“When I say a clever thing to people they look startled and uncomfortable. I should just like to be quiet for years and years ... and not have to go on..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec9/l-m-montgomery-567_clever_when-i-say-a-clever-thing-to-people-they_1690935.jpg" --- # When I say a clever thing to people they look startled and… ![“When I say a clever thing to people they look startled and uncomfortable. I should just like to be quiet for years and years ... and not have to go on pretending to be bright and happy and quite, quite satisfied.” quote by L.M. Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec9/l-m-montgomery-567_clever_when-i-say-a-clever-thing-to-people-they_1690935.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec9/l-m-montgomery-567_clever_when-i-say-a-clever-thing-to-people-they_1690935.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec9/l-m-montgomery-567_clever_when-i-say-a-clever-thing-to-people-they_1690935.jpg) > ““When I say a clever thing to people they look startled and uncomfortable. I should just like to be quiet for years and years ... and not have to go on pretending to be bright and happy and quite, quite satisfied.”” [L.M. Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-m-montgomery/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker feels pressured to maintain a witty, happy façade, causing discomfort and a desire for authentic quietude. **In simple terms:** Feeling forced to be clever and happy is exhausting. Key Takeaway Embrace authenticity over performance. Themes authenticity social pressure self‑image Mood reflective melancholic Type personal psychological When to use this quote - personal relationships - work environments - social gatherings Key Concepts performance anxiety identity social expectations Questions to Reflect On - Do you hide your true feelings to please others? - How can you create space for genuine quiet? A Different Perspective Self‑presentation can strain mental health and relationships. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Clever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clever/) [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Loneliness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/loneliness/) [Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace/) [Sad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sad/) [Society](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/society/) [Solitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/solitude/) [Sorrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sorrow/) ## Related quotes > [People may say that what I do is very clever, but it's not really at all. 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Cale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-j-cale/) ## More by L.M. Montgomery > [“The other day Nan said, 'Nothing can ever be quite the same for any of us again.' It made me feel rebellious. Why shouldn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-m-montgomery/the-other-day-nan-said-nothing-can-ever-be-quite-the-same-for-any-of/) [L.M. Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-m-montgomery/) > [“It's a very bad habit to put off disagreeable things...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-m-montgomery/it-s-a-very-bad-habit-to-put-off-disagreeable-things/) [L.M. Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-m-montgomery/) > [“Who was it said, ‘We forget because we must’? He was right.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-m-montgomery/who-was-it-said-we-forget-because-we-must-he-was-right/) [L.M. Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-m-montgomery/) > [“I don't think it's any help that it's your habit. 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Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-m-montgomery/) > [“I think there are two kinds of TRUE THINGS-- true things that ARE, and true things that ARE NOT, but MIGHT be.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-m-montgomery/i-think-there-are-two-kinds-of-true-things-true-things-that-are-and/) [L.M. Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-m-montgomery/) > [“when the darkness is close to us it is a friend. But when we sorter push it away from us—divorce ourselves from it, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-m-montgomery/when-the-darkness-is-close-to-us-it-is-a-friend-but-when-we-sorter/) [L.M. Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-m-montgomery/) > [“Yesterday she had been all her own. Now she was this man's.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-m-montgomery/yesterday-she-had-been-all-her-own-now-she-was-this-man-s/) [L.M. Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-m-montgomery/) > [“I suppose that's how it looks in prose. But it's very different if you look at it through poetry…and I think it's nicer…' Anne…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-m-montgomery/i-suppose-that-s-how-it-looks-in-prose-but-it-s-very-different-if-you/) [L.M. Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-m-montgomery/) > [“Ilse and I hunted all over the old orchard today for a four-leaved clover and couldn't find one. Then I found one in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-m-montgomery/ilse-and-i-hunted-all-over-the-old-orchard-today-for-a-four-leaved/) [L.M. Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-m-montgomery/) > [“Nothing seems worthwhile. My very thoughts are old. I've thought them all before. What is the use of living after all, Anne?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-m-montgomery/nothing-seems-worthwhile-my-very-thoughts-are-old-i-ve-thought-them/) [L.M. Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-m-montgomery/) [Explore all 463 L.M. 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