Thank goodness Quote by Richelle Mead
““Very good, Mr.—?” “Robinson,” the boy supplied. Ms. Terwilliger produced a clipboard and scanned a list. “Ah, there you are. Robinson. Stephanie.” “Stephan,” corrected the boy, flushing as some of his friends giggled. Ms. Terwilliger pushed her glasses up her nose and squinted. “So you are. Thank goodness. I was just thinking how difficult your life must be with such a name. My apologies. I broke my glasses in a freak croquet accident this weekend, forcing me to bring my old ones today. So, Stephan-not-Stephanie, you’re correct. It’s a temple. Can you be more specific?” ... “Indeed it is,” she said. “And your name is?” “Sydney.” “Sydney …” She checked the clipboard and looked up in astonishment. “Sydney Melbourne? My goodness. You don’t sound Australian.” “Er, it’s Sydney Melrose, ma’am,” I corrected. Ms. Terwilliger scowled and handed the clipboard to Trey, who seemed to think my name was the funniest thing ever. “You take over, Mr. Juarez. Your youthful eyes are better than mine. If I keep at this, I’ll keep turning boys into girls and perfectly nice young ladies into the descendants of criminals.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: Vampire Academy, 2007
A bureaucratic figure uses a name mix‑up to mock and control a student, highlighting absurd authority.
In simple terms: A teacher teases a student over a name mistake, asserting power.
Question authority that treats people as jokes.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- school setting
- workplace
- administrative meetings
- online forums
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How does name mispronunciation affect self‑esteem?
- When does teasing become abuse?
The ridicule may reinforce harmful stereotypes.