--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: He looked at her rather as a man looks at…" description: "\"He looked at her rather as a man looks at a problem that he would very much prefer to do without. She supposed it was a distinction of a sort to be a h..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ae/robin-mckinley-1591_distinction_he-looked-at-her-rather-as-a-man-looks-a_3228759.png" --- # He looked at her rather as a man looks at a problem that… ![“He looked at her rather as a man looks at a problem that he would very much prefer to do without. She supposed it was a distinction of a sort to be a harassment to a king.” quote by Robin McKinley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ae/robin-mckinley-1591_distinction_he-looked-at-her-rather-as-a-man-looks-a_3228759.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ae/robin-mckinley-1591_distinction_he-looked-at-her-rather-as-a-man-looks-a_3228759.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ae/robin-mckinley-1591_distinction_he-looked-at-her-rather-as-a-man-looks-a_3228759.png) > “He looked at her rather as a man looks at a problem that he would very much prefer to do without. She supposed it was a distinction of a sort to be a harassment to a king.” [Robin McKinley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-mckinley/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He treats her like a problem he wishes to avoid, seeing her as a nuisance rather than a person. **In simple terms:** He sees her as a bothersome issue. Key Takeaway Recognize people as individuals, not obstacles. Themes relationships power dynamics gender perception Mood conflicted critical Type literary analytical When to use this quote - romantic pursuit - courtship - political intrigue Key Concepts objectification avoidance social hierarchy Questions to Reflect On - How do you treat those you find inconvenient? - What assumptions turn people into problems? A Different Perspective He may be rationalizing his discomfort rather than confronting his own biases. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Distinction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/distinction/) [Harassment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/harassment/) [Harassment King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/harassment-king-6099377/) [Kings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kings/) [Looked](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/looked/) [Looked Man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/looked-man-1598522/) [Looks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/looks/) [Man Looks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man-looks/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem/) ## Related quotes > [It wasn't the way I looked at a man, it was the thought behind it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-grahame/it-wasn-t-the-way-i-looked-at-a-man-it-was-the-thought-behind-it/) [Gloria Grahame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-grahame/) > [I looked at this man and thought: Oh, how we are going to hurt each other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherynne-m-valente/i-looked-at-this-man-and-thought-oh-how-we-are-going-to-hurt-each/) [Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/) > [“He glanced at me again, a flash of brilliant eyes and a smile that was gone in an instant as I looked back to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-rice/he-glanced-at-me-again-a-flash-of-brilliant-eyes-and-a-smile-that-was/) [Anne Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-rice/) > [It wasnt the way I looked at a man, it was the thought behind it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-grahame/it-wasnt-the-way-i-looked-at-a-man-it-was-the-thought-behind-it/) [Gloria Grahame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-grahame/) > [He looked at her the way all women want to be looked at by a man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/he-looked-at-her-the-way-all-women-want-to-be-looked-at-by-a-man/) [F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) > [This is how a man looks when he's deciding that the risk of death is better than the risk of change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/this-is-how-a-man-looks-when-he-s-deciding-that-the-risk-of-death-is/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [A pessimist is a man who looks both ways when he crosses the street.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-j-peter/a-pessimist-is-a-man-who-looks-both-ways-when-he-crosses-the-street/) [Laurence J. Peter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-j-peter/) > [I hate a man who looks dirty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carmen-dell-orefice/i-hate-a-man-who-looks-dirty/) [Carmen Dell'Orefice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carmen-dell-orefice/) > [Describe your perfect man who looks like me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-tosh/describe-your-perfect-man-who-looks-like-me/) [Daniel Tosh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-tosh/) > [Every women deserves a man who looks at her every day like its the first time he saw her.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/itsme867/every-women-deserves-a-man-who-looks-at-her-every-day-like-its-the/) [Itsme867](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/itsme867/) > [“The more a man looks at a thing, the less he can see it, and the more a man learns a thing, the less…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-k-chesterton/the-more-a-man-looks-at-a-thing-the-less-he-can-see-it-and-the-more-a/) [G.K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-k-chesterton/) > [“For a moment he said nothing, then he reached over and traced a line down her cheek with his finger. "When a man looks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pamela-clare/for-a-moment-he-said-nothing-then-he-reached-over-and-traced-a-line/) [Pamela Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pamela-clare/) > [Study finds that a man looks into a womans eyes for 8.2 seconds if he is attracted to her, 4.5 seconds if he is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/azgraybebly-joslan/study-finds-that-a-man-looks-into-a-womans-eyes-for-8-2-seconds-if-he/) [Azgraybebly Joslan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/azgraybebly-joslan/) > [A woman, like a cross-eyed man, looks one way, but goes another--hence her mysteriousness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-o-malley/a-woman-like-a-cross-eyed-man-looks-one-way-but-goes-another-hence/) [Austin O'Malley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-o-malley/) > [The way a man looks at himself in a mirror will tell you if he can ever care about anyone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-rudner/the-way-a-man-looks-at-himself-in-a-mirror-will-tell-you-if-he-can/) [Rita Rudner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-rudner/) ## More by Robin McKinley > [It's hard to look too grand when you're led by someone who looks like a pudding with legs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-mckinley/it-s-hard-to-look-too-grand-when-you-re-led-by-someone-who-looks-like/) [Robin McKinley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-mckinley/) > [“The most serious drawback to the telling-nothing approach is that it made that much more of a mystery of what had happened, and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-mckinley/the-most-serious-drawback-to-the-telling-nothing-approach-is-that-it/) [Robin McKinley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-mckinley/) > [The magic in that country was so thick and tenacious that it settled over the land like chalk-dust and over floors and shelves like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-mckinley/the-magic-in-that-country-was-so-thick-and-tenacious-that-it-settled/) [Robin McKinley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-mckinley/) > [“There was something very odd about the carpet this morning… More hedgehogs? 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"I am sorry, you ugly creature,"… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-mckinley/the-sheep-sidled-up-beside-him-and-bumped-him-lovingly-with-its-head/) [Robin McKinley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-mckinley/) > [I long for another human face just as I fear it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-mckinley/i-long-for-another-human-face-just-as-i-fear-it/) [Robin McKinley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-mckinley/) > [“Rosie hated her curly golden hair. When she was old enough to hold minimal conversations, the itsy-bitsy-cutesycoo sort of grown-ups would pull the soft…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-mckinley/rosie-hated-her-curly-golden-hair-when-she-was-old-enough-to-hold/) [Robin McKinley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-mckinley/) > [“There was, too, a reality to her new life that her old life had lacked, and she realized with a shock that she had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-mckinley/there-was-too-a-reality-to-her-new-life-that-her-old-life-had-lacked/) [Robin McKinley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-mckinley/) > [Oh,' she said, too bone-weary to pretend: 'I would far rather that I love you as I saw yesterday I do than that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-mckinley/oh-she-said-too-bone-weary-to-pretend-i-would-far-rather-that-i-love/) [Robin McKinley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-mckinley/) > [But I'm going to try to tell the truth. Except for the parts I'm leaving out, because there's still stuff I'm just not going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-mckinley/but-i-m-going-to-try-to-tell-the-truth-except-for-the-parts-i-m/) [Robin McKinley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-mckinley/) > [“The magic in that country was so thick and tenacious that it settled over the land like chalk-dust and over floors and shelves like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-mckinley/the-magic-in-that-country-was-so-thick-and-tenacious-that-it-settled-2/) [Robin McKinley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-mckinley/) > [Roses are for love. Not silly sweet-hearts' love but the love that makes you and keeps you whole, love that gets you through the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-mckinley/roses-are-for-love-not-silly-sweet-hearts-love-but-the-love-that/) [Robin McKinley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-mckinley/) [Explore all 225 Robin McKinley quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-mckinley/) ## More Distinction quotes > [I do think that theater is a great venue for science fiction, and not just adaptations but also original work. 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If he attempts several, he will fail to achieve distinction in any.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/each-man-is-capable-of-doing-one-thing-well-if-he-attempts-several-he/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [If I have a system it is limited to a recognition of what Kierkegaard called 'the infinite qualitative distinction' between time and eternity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-barth/if-i-have-a-system-it-is-limited-to-a-recognition-of-what-kierkegaard/) [Karl Barth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-barth/) > [“In your goals to go the extra mile, prepare to pay an extra cost. Excellence is to be exceptional, surpassing, more competent and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/in-your-goals-to-go-the-extra-mile-prepare-to-pay-an-extra-cost/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [I make no distinction between writing and storytelling; I've always wanted to tell stories.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damon-lindelof/i-make-no-distinction-between-writing-and-storytelling-i-ve-always/) [Damon Lindelof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damon-lindelof/) > [Where did you find that one?" "I have no idea. I'm a magnet for crazies, I guess." "They must be able to sense a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiersten-white/where-did-you-find-that-one-i-have-no-idea-i-m-a-magnet-for-crazies-i/) [Kiersten White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiersten-white/) > [No people is wholly civilized where a distinction is drawn between stealing an office and stealing a purse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/no-people-is-wholly-civilized-where-a-distinction-is-drawn-between/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [I realized early on that the academy and the literary world alike - and I don't think there really is a distinction between the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-bloom/i-realized-early-on-that-the-academy-and-the-literary-world-alike-and/) [Harold Bloom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-bloom/) > [Alfred Nobel stipulated that no distinction of race or colour will determine who received of his generosity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abdus-salam/alfred-nobel-stipulated-that-no-distinction-of-race-or-colour-will/) [Abdus Salam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abdus-salam/) > [I think it is important for all those young out there - who someday hope to play real football, where you throw it and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kemp/i-think-it-is-important-for-all-those-young-out-there-who-someday/) [Jack Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kemp/) > [I've always longed for the theatre and acting to be popular. 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You can respect the office even as you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-greenberg/people-should-make-distinctions-between-the-office-of-the-presidency/) [David Greenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-greenberg/) [Browse all 1,181 Distinction quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/distinction/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "He looked at her rather as a man looks at a problem that he would very much prefer to do without. 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