--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The boy speaks up. When he does, there's…" description: "\"“The boy speaks up. When he does, there's such a tender quality to his voice that I can't help looking up at him. \"I don't know if anyone's ever told y..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e1e/marie-lu-1250_speaks_the-boy-speaks-up-when-he-does-there-s-s_1757716.jpg" --- # The boy speaks up. When he does, there's such a tender… ![“The boy speaks up. When he does, there's such a tender quality to his voice that I can't help looking up at him. "I don't know if anyone's ever told you this," he begins. He doesn't blush,and his eyes don't dart away. Instead I find myself staring into a pair of oceans-one perfect,the other…” quote by Marie Lu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e1e/marie-lu-1250_speaks_the-boy-speaks-up-when-he-does-there-s-s_1757716.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e1e/marie-lu-1250_speaks_the-boy-speaks-up-when-he-does-there-s-s_1757716.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e1e/marie-lu-1250_speaks_the-boy-speaks-up-when-he-does-there-s-s_1757716.jpg) > ““The boy speaks up. When he does, there's such a tender quality to his voice that I can't help looking up at him. "I don't know if anyone's ever told you this," he begins. He doesn't blush,and his eyes don't dart away. Instead I find myself staring into a pair of oceans-one perfect,the other blemished by that tiny ripple. "You're very attractive." I've been complimented on my appearance before.But never in his tone of voice.Of all the things he's said,I don't know why this catches me off guard. But it startles me so much that without thinking I blurt out, "I could say the same about you." I pause. "In case you didn't know." A slow grin spreads across his face. "Oh,trust me.I know.”” [Marie Lu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-lu/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A boy’s sincere compliment catches the narrator off guard, revealing how genuine words can create unexpected intimacy. **In simple terms:** A sincere compliment can surprise and connect people. Key Takeaway Appreciate honest praise and respond authentically. Themes vulnerability communication intimacy Mood thoughtful hopeful introspective Type narrative conversational emotional When to use this quote - first dates - friendship building - team feedback - public speaking - personal relationships Key Concepts psychology social dynamics emotional intelligence Questions to Reflect On - What makes a compliment feel genuine? - How do you respond when caught off guard by praise? A Different Perspective The impact may be fleeting if not followed by deeper connection. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Boy Speaks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boy-speaks-1663825/) [Complimented](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/complimented/) [Complimented Appearance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/complimented-appearance-1663826/) [Speaks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speaks/) [Things Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/things-said/) [Tone Of Voice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tone-of-voice/) ## Related quotes > [“I don't know if anyone's ever told you this", he begins. He doesn't blush, and his eyes don't dart away. Instead I find myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-lu/i-don-t-know-if-anyone-s-ever-told-you-this-he-begins-he-doesn-t/) [Marie Lu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-lu/) > [A boy speaks, a gentleman act.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-boy-speaks-a-gentleman-act/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I started to speak to him in his native tongue, "why would you want to sit with me?" He pressed his lips together, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-maizel/i-started-to-speak-to-him-in-his-native-tongue-why-would-you-want-to/) [Rebecca Maizel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-maizel/) > [Why it is necessary for a boy to keep all the things appropriate, just to maintain a relationship, I don't think so… When a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yusuf-akhtar/why-it-is-necessary-for-a-boy-to-keep-all-the-things-appropriate-just/) [Yusuf Akhtar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yusuf-akhtar/) > [“I seek to speak to you, in some way, as your own self. Who can tell what this may mean? I myself do not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/i-seek-to-speak-to-you-in-some-way-as-your-own-self-who-can-tell-what/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [“So how did you get this job, anyway?' I asked. 'My science teacher.' 'Why'd he pick you?' 'For my brains and good looks, obviously.'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/polly-shulman/so-how-did-you-get-this-job-anyway-i-asked-my-science-teacher-why-d/) [Polly Shulman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/polly-shulman/) > [“He always got this glint in his eyes when he complimented my looks, like he was seeing so much more than just my actual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/he-always-got-this-glint-in-his-eyes-when-he-complimented-my-looks/) [Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/) > [Yes, I am complimented on my work in Kids in the Hall once or twice a week. Its a nice feeling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-lennon/yes-i-am-complimented-on-my-work-in-kids-in-the-hall-once-or-twice-a/) [Thomas Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-lennon/) > [It's better that you're criticized than complimented as a person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yoko-ono/it-s-better-that-you-re-criticized-than-complimented-as-a-person/) [Yoko Ono](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yoko-ono/) > [Nothing is so silly as the expression of a man who is being complimented.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-gide/nothing-is-so-silly-as-the-expression-of-a-man-who-is-being/) [Andre Gide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-gide/) > [Montana and I had a chemistry that was unbelievable. When I first came into the league he told me I added five years to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-rice/montana-and-i-had-a-chemistry-that-was-unbelievable-when-i-first-came/) [Jerry Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-rice/) > [I have been complimented many times and they always embarrass me; I always feel that they have not said enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/i-have-been-complimented-many-times-and-they-always-embarrass-me-i/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [It undoubtedly feels nice when you are being appreciated and you get complimented by girls. Who doesn't like that? Having said that, I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virat-kohli/it-undoubtedly-feels-nice-when-you-are-being-appreciated-and-you-get/) [Virat Kohli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virat-kohli/) > [I have always been complimented that my voice matches all actors like Shahid Kapoor, Ajay Devgn, Amitabh Bachchan, Hrithik Roshan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/javed-ali/i-have-always-been-complimented-that-my-voice-matches-all-actors-like/) [Javed Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/javed-ali/) > [Compliment others on the virtues they have; and they're not half as pleased as being complimented for the ones they don't have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-forbes/compliment-others-on-the-virtues-they-have-and-they-re-not-half-as/) [Malcolm Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-forbes/) ## More by Marie Lu > [My first three manuscripts were epic fantasy - like high fantasy - and then the fourth one was a historical fantasy about Mozart as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-lu/my-first-three-manuscripts-were-epic-fantasy-like-high-fantasy-and/) [Marie Lu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-lu/) > [“When you refuse to ask for help, it tells others that they also shouldn't ask for help from you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-lu/when-you-refuse-to-ask-for-help-it-tells-others-that-they-also/) [Marie Lu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-lu/) > [You're brilliant,"he says."But you're a fool to stay with someone like me." I close my eyes at the touch of his hand."Then we are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-lu/you-re-brilliant-he-says-but-you-re-a-fool-to-stay-with-someone-like/) [Marie Lu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-lu/) > [“I pledge allegiance to the flag of the great Republic of America, to our Elector Primo, to our glorious states, to unity against the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-lu/i-pledge-allegiance-to-the-flag-of-the-great-republic-of-america-to/) [Marie Lu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-lu/) > [“I stand there for a while, then sit cross-legged before it and bow my head. "Hi, Metias," I say in a soft voice. "Today's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-lu/i-stand-there-for-a-while-then-sit-cross-legged-before-it-and-bow-my/) [Marie Lu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-lu/) > [“They’re making me so weak that I’m on the verge of collapsing to the floor. I’ve kissed a few boys in the past . . . but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-lu/they-re-making-me-so-weak-that-i-m-on-the-verge-of-collapsing-to-the/) [Marie Lu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-lu/) > [We determine whether a book is for boys or girls long before the reader gets a chance to decide: we package them with soldiers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-lu/we-determine-whether-a-book-is-for-boys-or-girls-long-before-the/) [Marie Lu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-lu/) > [“I bet the Republic hasn't seen the last of you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-lu/i-bet-the-republic-hasn-t-seen-the-last-of-you/) [Marie Lu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-lu/) > [You should have taken me with you," I whisper to him. Then I lean my head against his and begin to cry. In my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-lu/you-should-have-taken-me-with-you-i-whisper-to-him-then-i-lean-my/) [Marie Lu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-lu/) > [Fantasy and science fiction are my comfort spot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-lu/fantasy-and-science-fiction-are-my-comfort-spot/) [Marie Lu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-lu/) > [Be true to yourself. But that's something everyone says and no one means. No one wants you to be yourself. They want you to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-lu/be-true-to-yourself-but-that-s-something-everyone-says-and-no-one/) [Marie Lu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-lu/) > [“No, it wasn't the attention he needed. He just wanted to create something and know that it mattered to someone, that he mattered. That…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-lu/no-it-wasn-t-the-attention-he-needed-he-just-wanted-to-create/) [Marie Lu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-lu/) > [It is pointless to believe what you see, if you only see what you believe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-lu/it-is-pointless-to-believe-what-you-see-if-you-only-see-what-you/) [Marie Lu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-lu/) > [I've always had this interest in sibling relationships because I don't have any siblings. I'm completely a product of the one-child policy in China,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-lu/i-ve-always-had-this-interest-in-sibling-relationships-because-i-don/) [Marie Lu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-lu/) > [Fantasy and science fiction are where my brain lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-lu/fantasy-and-science-fiction-are-where-my-brain-lives/) [Marie Lu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-lu/) [Explore all 259 Marie Lu quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-lu/) ## More Speaks quotes > [He who knows does not speak. He who speaks does not know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/he-who-knows-does-not-speak-he-who-speaks-does-not-know/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [God speaks through me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/god-speaks-through-me/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [“The Just and the unJust inhabiting the same body, so close you can’t pry us apart, but we are not friends. He speaks, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ward-just/the-just-and-the-unjust-inhabiting-the-same-body-so-close-you-can-t/) [Ward Just](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ward-just/) > [My brothers and sister and me grew up making fun of each other, the way we'd speak or move. When we get together, everyone's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colman-domingo/my-brothers-and-sister-and-me-grew-up-making-fun-of-each-other-the/) [Colman Domingo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colman-domingo/) > [Every so often you read a play and a character just speaks to you - almost seems to speak through you, in fact.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-rickman/every-so-often-you-read-a-play-and-a-character-just-speaks-to-you/) [Alan Rickman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-rickman/) > [For people of color - especially African Americans - the idea that racist cops might frame members of their community is no abstract notion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-wise/for-people-of-color-especially-african-americans-the-idea-that-racist/) [Tim Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-wise/) > [She speaks with a stutter and she and she walks with a hop. I don't know why I love her, but I just can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dylan/she-speaks-with-a-stutter-and-she-and-she-walks-with-a-hop-i-don-t/) [Bob Dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dylan/) > [“President Trumps election speaks volumes about the blatant failures of the Obama administration.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/president-trumps-election-speaks-volumes-about-the-blatant-failures/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [“That is how a man speaks. And that is why.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-alderman/that-is-how-a-man-speaks-and-that-is-why/) [Naomi Alderman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-alderman/) > [Action speaks louder than words.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/action-speaks-louder-than-words/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [In comic strips, the person on the left always speaks first.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/in-comic-strips-the-person-on-the-left-always-speaks-first/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) > [Who speaks of triumph? To endure is everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-pacino/who-speaks-of-triumph-to-endure-is-everything/) [Al Pacino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-pacino/) > [It speaks truth when you listen to Bob Marley.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rohan-marley/it-speaks-truth-when-you-listen-to-bob-marley/) [Rohan Marley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rohan-marley/) > [My mother-in-law speaks not a word of English. I speak not a word of Tajiki. So I smile at her ingratiatingly and she fixes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilbur-smith/my-mother-in-law-speaks-not-a-word-of-english-i-speak-not-a-word-of/) [Wilbur Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilbur-smith/) > [The only problem was that I couldn't communicate with Dario. He speaks Italian and I don't. We had a translator the whole time. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-hunter/the-only-problem-was-that-i-couldn-t-communicate-with-dario-he-speaks/) [Kim Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-hunter/) [Browse all 386 Speaks quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speaks/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“The boy speaks up. When he does, there's such a tender quality to his voice that I can't help looking up at him. \"I don't know if anyone's ever told you this,\" he begins. He doesn't blush,and his eyes don't dart away. Instead I find myself staring into a pair of oceans-one perfect,the other blemished by that tiny ripple. \"You're very attractive.\" I've been complimented on my appearance before.But never in his tone of voice.Of all the things he's said,I don't know why this catches me off guard. But it startles me so much that without thinking I blurt out, \"I could say the same about you.\" I pause. \"In case you didn't know.\" A slow grin spreads across his face. \"Oh,trust me.I know.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Marie Lu" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-lu/the-boy-speaks-up-when-he-does-there-s-such-a-tender-quality-to-his/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Speaks" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-lu/the-boy-speaks-up-when-he-does-there-s-such-a-tender-quality-to-his/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e1e/marie-lu-1250_speaks_the-boy-speaks-up-when-he-does-there-s-s_1757716.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e1e/marie-lu-1250_speaks_the-boy-speaks-up-when-he-does-there-s-s_1757716.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e1e/marie-lu-1250_speaks_the-boy-speaks-up-when-he-does-there-s-s_1757716.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The boy speaks up. 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