--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: But, however, I clapped a stopper over…" description: "\"“But, however, I clapped a stopper over his capers.’ Dr Maturin was proud of his nautical expressions: sometimes he got them right, but right or wrong ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eba/patrick-o-brian-2283_right-or-wrong_but-however-i-clapped-a-stopper-over-his_455547.png" --- # But, however, I clapped a stopper over his capers.’ Dr… ![“But, however, I clapped a stopper over his capers.’ Dr Maturin was proud of his nautical expressions: sometimes he got them right, but right or wrong he always brought them out with a slight emphasis of satisfaction, much as others might utter a particularly apt Greek or Latin quotation. ‘And…” quote by Patrick O'Brian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eba/patrick-o-brian-2283_right-or-wrong_but-however-i-clapped-a-stopper-over-his_455547.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eba/patrick-o-brian-2283_right-or-wrong_but-however-i-clapped-a-stopper-over-his_455547.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eba/patrick-o-brian-2283_right-or-wrong_but-however-i-clapped-a-stopper-over-his_455547.png) > ““But, however, I clapped a stopper over his capers.’ Dr Maturin was proud of his nautical expressions: sometimes he got them right, but right or wrong he always brought them out with a slight emphasis of satisfaction, much as others might utter a particularly apt Greek or Latin quotation. ‘And brought him up with a round stern,’ he added.”” [Patrick O'Brian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-o-brian/) ## 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 boasts about his nautical slang, mixing pride and humor while emphasizing his flair for dramatic language. **In simple terms:** He shows off his sea‑talk with confidence and a hint of satire. Key Takeaway Embrace your quirks, but stay humble. Themes pride humor language confidence Mood playful ironic reflective Type literary character When to use this quote - naval storytelling - character dialogue - writing workshops Key Concepts literary style self‑awareness Questions to Reflect On - Do you balance confidence with humility? - How does humor affect credibility? A Different Perspective Over‑emphasis can alienate listeners. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Clapped](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clapped-344038/) [Clapped Stopper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clapped-stopper-3967233/) [Maturin Proud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/maturin-proud-3967234/) [Nautical Expressions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nautical-expressions-3967232/) [Proud Nautical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/proud-nautical-3967235/) [Right or wrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right-or-wrong/) ## Related quotes > [“Patriotism is a word; and one that generally comes to mean either my country, right or wrong, which is infamous, or my country is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-o-brian/patriotism-is-a-word-and-one-that-generally-comes-to-mean-either-my/) [Patrick O'Brian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-o-brian/) > [This year I wish to be dead They all clapped They didn't know](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma/this-year-i-wish-to-be-dead-they-all-clapped-they-didn-t-know/) [Emma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma/) > [One minute I was a clapped-out, two-guinea, legal-aid lawyer, and the next minute I was in parliament.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/one-minute-i-was-a-clapped-out-two-guinea-legal-aid-lawyer-and-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You didn't," John said, stepping from the shadows as he clapped for me, "even hit your head this time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-cabot/you-didn-t-john-said-stepping-from-the-shadows-as-he-clapped-for-me/) [Meg Cabot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-cabot/) > [“Yeah. We consulted our crystal balls, so we knew just when to drop the piano out of the window.” I clapped my hands together.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-f-breene/yeah-we-consulted-our-crystal-balls-so-we-knew-just-when-to-drop-the/) [K.F. Breene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-f-breene/) > [“That left Cam, who was standing close to Daniel, their arms clapped around each other’s shoulders. “You pulled it off, brother.” “Course I did.”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-kate/that-left-cam-who-was-standing-close-to-daniel-their-arms-clapped/) [Lauren Kate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-kate/) > [“William clapped to gain everyone's attention. "All right, listen up. I've got good news and bad news. Because I'm such a positive person, we'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gena-showalter/william-clapped-to-gain-everyone-s-attention-all-right-listen-up-i-ve/) [Gena Showalter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gena-showalter/) > [“They all laughed and clapped, taking it for a deliberate witticism, while he had no idea what he was saying, so great was his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boris-pasternak/they-all-laughed-and-clapped-taking-it-for-a-deliberate-witticism/) [Boris Pasternak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boris-pasternak/) > [“He jumped to the adjacent table and America squealed and clapped, elbowing me. I shook my head; I had died and woken up in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-mcguire/he-jumped-to-the-adjacent-table-and-america-squealed-and-clapped/) [Jamie McGuire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-mcguire/) > [I have no face, only two profiles clapped together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margot-asquith/i-have-no-face-only-two-profiles-clapped-together/) [Margot Asquith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margot-asquith/) > [“Licata’s free hand clapped over his gaping mouth”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/licata-s-free-hand-clapped-over-his-gaping-mouth/) [James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/) > [I clapped because its finished, not because I liked it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/celeste-hartman/i-clapped-because-its-finished-not-because-i-liked-it/) [Celeste Hartman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/celeste-hartman/) > [“Max clapped his hands. “Go, go, go!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-mass/max-clapped-his-hands-go-go-go/) [Wendy Mass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-mass/) > [I clapped because it finished, not because I liked it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfonso-martinez/i-clapped-because-it-finished-not-because-i-liked-it/) [Alfonso Martinez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfonso-martinez/) > [“and when he saw the kid standing there looking looking down at him he held out to him his bloodied hands as if in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cormac-mccarthy/and-when-he-saw-the-kid-standing-there-looking-looking-down-at-him-he/) [Cormac McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cormac-mccarthy/) ## More by Patrick O'Brian > [“Christ's blood in heaven, you ignorant, incompetent whey-faced nestlecock, do you think I am a hired spy, an informer? That I have a master,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-o-brian/christ-s-blood-in-heaven-you-ignorant-incompetent-whey-faced/) [Patrick O'Brian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-o-brian/) > [“To tell the truth, sir, I believe I had rather sit in the shelter for a while. The cabbage seems to have turned my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-o-brian/to-tell-the-truth-sir-i-believe-i-had-rather-sit-in-the-shelter-for-a/) [Patrick O'Brian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-o-brian/) > [“Never mind the disappointment. Salt water will wash it away. You will be amazed how unimportant it will seem in a week’s time –…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-o-brian/never-mind-the-disappointment-salt-water-will-wash-it-away-you-will/) [Patrick O'Brian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-o-brian/) > [“The weather had freshened almost to coldness, for the wind was coming more easterly, from the chilly currents between Tristan and the Cape; the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-o-brian/the-weather-had-freshened-almost-to-coldness-for-the-wind-was-coming/) [Patrick O'Brian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-o-brian/) > [“Of course I do know it is the French who are so wicked; but there are all these people who keep coming and going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-o-brian/of-course-i-do-know-it-is-the-french-who-are-so-wicked-but-there-are/) [Patrick O'Brian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-o-brian/) > [My wife and I have spent most of our lives in France, and we are both pretty well bilingual, my wife more purely than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-o-brian/my-wife-and-i-have-spent-most-of-our-lives-in-france-and-we-are-both/) [Patrick O'Brian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-o-brian/) > [“This short watch that is about to come, or rather these two short watches--why are they called dog watches? Where, heu, heu, is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-o-brian/this-short-watch-that-is-about-to-come-or-rather-these-two-short/) [Patrick O'Brian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-o-brian/) > [The function of the novel is the exploration of the human condition. Really, that's what it's all about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-o-brian/the-function-of-the-novel-is-the-exploration-of-the-human-condition/) [Patrick O'Brian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-o-brian/) > [It is a great while since I felt the grind of bone under my saw,' he added, smiling with anticipation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-o-brian/it-is-a-great-while-since-i-felt-the-grind-of-bone-under-my-saw-he/) [Patrick O'Brian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-o-brian/) > [Other people's marriages are a perpetual source of amazement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-o-brian/other-people-s-marriages-are-a-perpetual-source-of-amazement/) [Patrick O'Brian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-o-brian/) > [“But I will tell you another misery that is not to be denied. In the common, natural course of events physicians, surgeons and apothecaries…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-o-brian/but-i-will-tell-you-another-misery-that-is-not-to-be-denied-in-the/) [Patrick O'Brian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-o-brian/) > [“Yet,'said Maturin, pursuing his own thought, 'there is a quality in dogs, I must confess, rarely to be seen elsewhere and that is affection:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-o-brian/yet-said-maturin-pursuing-his-own-thought-there-is-a-quality-in-dogs/) [Patrick O'Brian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-o-brian/) > [“Physically he was tired and his body relaxed throughout its entire length; his mind was in much the same state, floating free, detached, as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-o-brian/physically-he-was-tired-and-his-body-relaxed-throughout-its-entire/) [Patrick O'Brian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-o-brian/) > [“It was quite unlike their friendly discourse of some days before, and presently Stephen grew sadly bored: lies or half-lies, he reflected, had a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-o-brian/it-was-quite-unlike-their-friendly-discourse-of-some-days-before-and/) [Patrick O'Brian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-o-brian/) > [“it would be the Devil to pay and no pitch hot”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-o-brian/it-would-be-the-devil-to-pay-and-no-pitch-hot/) [Patrick O'Brian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-o-brian/) [Explore all 167 Patrick O'Brian quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-o-brian/) ## More Right or wrong quotes > [“In a world of fixed future, there can be no right or wrong. Right and wrong demand freedom of choice, but if each action…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-lightman/in-a-world-of-fixed-future-there-can-be-no-right-or-wrong-right-and/) [Alan Lightman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-lightman/) > [The major caveat in all of comedy is that it's all instinctive. There's no true criteria. There is no right or wrong. Ultimately, often…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-charles/the-major-caveat-in-all-of-comedy-is-that-it-s-all-instinctive-there/) [Larry Charles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-charles/) > [“Life doesn't always give us a choice between right and wrong. Occasionally, we are forced to choose between two rights or two wrongs...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/assegid-habtewold/life-doesn-t-always-give-us-a-choice-between-right-and-wrong/) [Assegid Habtewold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/assegid-habtewold/) > [“surround yourself with people who allow you to be yourself, it does not mean be around others who do not have a sense of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tasha-hoggatt/surround-yourself-with-people-who-allow-you-to-be-yourself-it-does/) [Tasha Hoggatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tasha-hoggatt/) > [“And what does God ask of you?” “To fly without wings. To do what seems impossible. To cling to our loves through the rapids…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-storace/and-what-does-god-ask-of-you-to-fly-without-wings-to-do-what-seems/) [Patricia Storace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-storace/) > [“No wonder the left seeks to avoid political debate at all costs. Why bother? Members of the left are not interested in having a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-shapiro/no-wonder-the-left-seeks-to-avoid-political-debate-at-all-costs-why/) [Ben Shapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-shapiro/) > [“We are built to desire free will and to choose our own destiny. It's not about being right or wrong; it's about the celebration…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deiamor-verus/we-are-built-to-desire-free-will-and-to-choose-our-own-destiny-it-s/) [DeiAmor Verus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deiamor-verus/) > [The Christian must recognize that there are no degrees in right or wrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-barnhouse/the-christian-must-recognize-that-there-are-no-degrees-in-right-or/) [Donald Barnhouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-barnhouse/) > [Sometimes couple have to argue not to prove what is right or wrong but to be reminded that there love is worth fighting for](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-nwakama/sometimes-couple-have-to-argue-not-to-prove-what-is-right-or-wrong/) [Anne Nwakama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-nwakama/) > [When it comes to being happy, there's no right or wrong. It's just a battle between your happiness and their judgement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-it-comes-to-being-happy-there-s-no-right-or-wrong-it-s-just-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“This life is a path more than just going to heaven or hell, it’s a way of testing ourselves everyday. I feel that there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-v-songer/this-life-is-a-path-more-than-just-going-to-heaven-or-hell-it-s-a-way/) [Austin V. Songer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-v-songer/) > [Reputation is what others perceive you as being, and their opinion may be right or wrong. Character, however, is what you really are, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/reputation-is-what-others-perceive-you-as-being-and-their-opinion-may/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [“Today, the entire nation has been indoctrinated to go along with whatever the Supreme Court says, regardless of whether it is right or wrong;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-befumo/today-the-entire-nation-has-been-indoctrinated-to-go-along-with/) [Joseph Befumo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-befumo/) > [No matter what you do, any country in the world is going to have the ability to set its own rules internally. Any country…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vint-cerf/no-matter-what-you-do-any-country-in-the-world-is-going-to-have-the/) [Vint Cerf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vint-cerf/) > [Our religious belief usurps the place of our sensations, our imaginations of our judgment. We no longer look to actions, trace their consequences, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/our-religious-belief-usurps-the-place-of-our-sensations-our/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 774 Right or wrong quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right-or-wrong/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“But, however, I clapped a stopper over his capers.’ Dr Maturin was proud of his nautical expressions: sometimes he got them right, but right or wrong he always brought them out with a slight emphasis of satisfaction, much as others might utter a particularly apt Greek or Latin quotation. ‘And brought him up with a round stern,’ he added.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Patrick O'Brian" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-o-brian/but-however-i-clapped-a-stopper-over-his-capers-dr-maturin-was-proud/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Right or wrong" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-o-brian/but-however-i-clapped-a-stopper-over-his-capers-dr-maturin-was-proud/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eba/patrick-o-brian-2283_right-or-wrong_but-however-i-clapped-a-stopper-over-his_455547.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eba/patrick-o-brian-2283_right-or-wrong_but-however-i-clapped-a-stopper-over-his_455547.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eba/patrick-o-brian-2283_right-or-wrong_but-however-i-clapped-a-stopper-over-his_455547.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“But, however, I clapped a stopper over his capers.’ Dr Maturin was proud of his nautical expressions…” — Patrick O'Brian", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Patrick O'Brian", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-o-brian/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“But, however, I clapped a stopper...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-o-brian/but-however-i-clapped-a-stopper-over-his-capers-dr-maturin-was-proud/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-o-brian/but-however-i-clapped-a-stopper-over-his-capers-dr-maturin-was-proud/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```