---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I'm sorry,\" said Damen. Laurent gave him…"
description: "\"“I'm sorry,\" said Damen. Laurent gave him a strange look. \"Why would you apologise to me?\" He couldn't answer. Not with the truth. He said, \"I didn't u..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ec/s-u-pacat-4352_dark-eyes_i-m-sorry-said-damen-laurent-gave-him-a_857044.jpg"
---

#  I'm sorry," said Damen. Laurent gave him a strange look…

![“I'm sorry," said Damen. Laurent gave him a strange look. "Why would you apologise to me?" He couldn't answer. Not with the truth. He said, "I didn't understand what being King meant to you." "What's that?" "An end to fighting." Laurent's expression changed, the subtle signifiers of shock…” quote by S.U. Pacat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ec/s-u-pacat-4352_dark-eyes_i-m-sorry-said-damen-laurent-gave-him-a_857044.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ec/s-u-pacat-4352_dark-eyes_i-m-sorry-said-damen-laurent-gave-him-a_857044.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ec/s-u-pacat-4352_dark-eyes_i-m-sorry-said-damen-laurent-gave-him-a_857044.jpg)

> ““I'm sorry," said Damen. Laurent gave him a strange look. "Why would you apologise to me?" He couldn't answer. Not with the truth. He said, "I didn't understand what being King meant to you." "What's that?" "An end to fighting." Laurent's expression changed, the subtle signifiers of shock imperfectly repressed, and Damen felt it in his own body, a new pull in his chest at the look in Laurent's dark eyes.””

[S.U. Pacat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-u-pacat/)

## 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 confronts a ruler, realizing that power can be a burden of endless conflict, and seeks understanding of that weight.

**In simple terms:** Power can feel like endless fighting; understanding it eases conflict.

Key Takeaway

Seek empathy for those in power.

Themes

power conflict empathy identity burden

Mood

reflective tense introspective

Type

literary dialogue psychological

When to use this quote

- political negotiation
- personal relationships
- leadership challenges

Key Concepts

royal duty psychological insight communication

Questions to Reflect On

- How does recognizing a leader's fatigue affect your response?
- Can empathy shift power dynamics?

A Different Perspective

Understanding a ruler's burden may not change their actions.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Dark eyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dark-eyes/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/)

## Related quotes

> [“The first principle was “Story Is King,” by which we meant that we would let nothing—not the technology, not the merchandising possibilities—get in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-catmull/the-first-principle-was-story-is-king-by-which-we-meant-that-we-would/)

[Ed Catmull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-catmull/)

> [“None of his brothers dared to throw out a grumble, because the protocol button had been punched: If they were around outsiders, they treated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/none-of-his-brothers-dared-to-throw-out-a-grumble-because-the/)

[J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/)

> [“But in my heart, when I said “my king,” I meant Verity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-hobb/but-in-my-heart-when-i-said-my-king-i-meant-verity/)

[Robin Hobb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-hobb/)

> [I thought that being king meant I didn't have to kill people myself. I see know that was another misconception.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-whalen-turner/i-thought-that-being-king-meant-i-didn-t-have-to-kill-people-myself-i/)

[Megan Whalen Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-whalen-turner/)

> [When a man holds you round the throat, I don't think he has come to apologise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayrton-senna/when-a-man-holds-you-round-the-throat-i-don-t-think-he-has-come-to/)

[Ayrton Senna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayrton-senna/)

> [“The one thing you should never do to a woman, whether you make love to her or fuck her, is apologise straight after.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dianna-hardy/the-one-thing-you-should-never-do-to-a-woman-whether-you-make-love-to/)

[Dianna Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dianna-hardy/)

> [I am constantly accused of being 'First World.' So what should I do? I can't apologise for my environment, upbringing, aesthetic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karan-johar/i-am-constantly-accused-of-being-first-world-so-what-should-i-do-i/)

[Karan Johar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karan-johar/)

> [What I said Wasn't wise It wasn't even true I apologise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-walter-bratton/what-i-said-wasn-t-wise-it-wasn-t-even-true-i-apologise/)

[John Walter Bratton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-walter-bratton/)

> [Your apologies don't mean much to me any more. You apologise but you never change. It's a waste of time believing that you ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/unkown/your-apologies-don-t-mean-much-to-me-any-more-you-apologise-but-you/)

Unkown

> [I tried to push him away with my head. I apologise to everyone. I should not have got involved in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-pardew/i-tried-to-push-him-away-with-my-head-i-apologise-to-everyone-i/)

[Alan Pardew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-pardew/)

> [There is no excuse, nor should there be any tolerance, for anyone who thinks or expresses any kind of anti-Semitic remark. I want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mel-gibson/there-is-no-excuse-nor-should-there-be-any-tolerance-for-anyone-who/)

[Mel Gibson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mel-gibson/)

> [“If you even dream of beating me, you better wake up and apologise!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-even-dream-of-beating-me-you-better-wake-up-and-apologise/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Everybody is likely to make mistakes at times but it's important we learn from it, apologise, recognise where you've gone wrong and keep improving.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dominic-calvert-lewin/everybody-is-likely-to-make-mistakes-at-times-but-it-s-important-we/)

[Dominic Calvert-Lewin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dominic-calvert-lewin/)

> [Too Often We Dont Realize What We Have Until its Gone¦ We are too stubborn to say,sorry I was wrong. We Hurt The Ones…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swag-jagar/too-often-we-dont-realize-what-we-have-until-its-gone-we-are-too/)

Swag Jagar

> [I said a lot of things in the heat of the moment that I shouldn't have said. Called him names I shouldn't have called…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-ali/i-said-a-lot-of-things-in-the-heat-of-the-moment-that-i-shouldn-t/)

[Muhammad Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-ali/)

## More by S.U. Pacat

> [“Damen's understanding of Laurent rearranged itself, in order that he might despise him more accurately.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-u-pacat/damen-s-understanding-of-laurent-rearranged-itself-in-order-that-he/)

[S.U. Pacat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-u-pacat/)

> [“Damen bridged the nine chilly inches at the first opportunity. 'What are you doing? You were the one who warned me about Nicaise.' He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-u-pacat/damen-bridged-the-nine-chilly-inches-at-the-first-opportunity-what/)

[S.U. Pacat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-u-pacat/)

> [“This place sickened him. Anywhere else, you simply killed your enemy with a sword. Or poisoned him, if you had the honourless instincts of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-u-pacat/this-place-sickened-him-anywhere-else-you-simply-killed-your-enemy/)

[S.U. Pacat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-u-pacat/)

> [“As the heavy latticed iron beetled above their heads, Damen found himself wanting it, wanting disruption, a cry of outrage, or of challenge, wanting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-u-pacat/as-the-heavy-latticed-iron-beetled-above-their-heads-damen-found/)

[S.U. Pacat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-u-pacat/)

> [“I'm not sure that's quite what I asked," said Laurent. His voice had the same quality as his gaze. "This is close quarters." "Close…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-u-pacat/i-m-not-sure-that-s-quite-what-i-asked-said-laurent-his-voice-had-the/)

[S.U. Pacat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-u-pacat/)

> [“When laced into his clothing, Laurent's dangerous grace lent him an almost androgynous quality. Or perhaps it was more accurate to say that it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-u-pacat/when-laced-into-his-clothing-laurent-s-dangerous-grace-lent-him-an/)

[S.U. Pacat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-u-pacat/)

> [“ Ride! ' went the call, and the individuals of the troop became a single lurching, streaming mass of horseflesh pounding toward the trees.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-u-pacat/ride-went-the-call-and-the-individuals-of-the-troop-became-a-single/)

[S.U. Pacat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-u-pacat/)

> [“Stay back, old man. It isn't your business. This is the Prince of Vere.' 'But---I only paid three coppers for him,' said Volo, sounding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-u-pacat/stay-back-old-man-it-isn-t-your-business-this-is-the-prince-of-vere/)

[S.U. Pacat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-u-pacat/)

> [“It was a kind of fire dance in which the stick was thrown and caught, and the flame, tossed and twirled, created sinuous shapes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-u-pacat/it-was-a-kind-of-fire-dance-in-which-the-stick-was-thrown-and-caught/)

[S.U. Pacat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-u-pacat/)

> [ “It was with a shock that he felt the touch of Laurent's fingers against the back of his wrist. \[...\] Laurent was shifting the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-u-pacat/it-was-with-a-shock-that-he-felt-the-touch-of-laurent-s-fingers/)

[S.U. Pacat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-u-pacat/)

> [“Nicaise had picked up a gilt three-pronged fork, but had paused before sampling the dish in order to speak. The fear he'd shown of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-u-pacat/nicaise-had-picked-up-a-gilt-three-pronged-fork-but-had-paused-before/)

[S.U. Pacat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-u-pacat/)

> [“When Laurent turned to face him, his eyes were dark. His lips were parted uncertainly. He had lifted his hand to his own shoulder,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-u-pacat/when-laurent-turned-to-face-him-his-eyes-were-dark-his-lips-were/)

[S.U. Pacat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-u-pacat/)

> [“You have to admire it,' said Laurent, in a detached voice. 'It's the perfect time to attack Akielos. Kastor is dealing with factional problems…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-u-pacat/you-have-to-admire-it-said-laurent-in-a-detached-voice-it-s-the/)

[S.U. Pacat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-u-pacat/)

> [“I'm not going to use the knife," said Damen, "but if you're willing to put it in my hand, you underestimate how much I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-u-pacat/i-m-not-going-to-use-the-knife-said-damen-but-if-you-re-willing-to/)

[S.U. Pacat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-u-pacat/)

> [“Talik said, 'His contract with Lord Berenger ends soon. Ancel will seek a new contract, a high bidder. He wants money, status. He is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-u-pacat/talik-said-his-contract-with-lord-berenger-ends-soon-ancel-will-seek/)

[S.U. Pacat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-u-pacat/)

[Explore all 112 S.U. Pacat quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-u-pacat/)

## More Apologise quotes

> [I said a lot of things in the heat of the moment that I shouldn't have said. Called him names I shouldn't have called…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-ali/i-said-a-lot-of-things-in-the-heat-of-the-moment-that-i-shouldn-t/)

[Muhammad Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-ali/)

> [Too Often We Dont Realize What We Have Until its Gone¦ We are too stubborn to say,sorry I was wrong. We Hurt The Ones…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swag-jagar/too-often-we-dont-realize-what-we-have-until-its-gone-we-are-too/)

Swag Jagar

> [Everybody is likely to make mistakes at times but it's important we learn from it, apologise, recognise where you've gone wrong and keep improving.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dominic-calvert-lewin/everybody-is-likely-to-make-mistakes-at-times-but-it-s-important-we/)

[Dominic Calvert-Lewin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dominic-calvert-lewin/)

> [“If you even dream of beating me, you better wake up and apologise!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-even-dream-of-beating-me-you-better-wake-up-and-apologise/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [There is no excuse, nor should there be any tolerance, for anyone who thinks or expresses any kind of anti-Semitic remark. I want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mel-gibson/there-is-no-excuse-nor-should-there-be-any-tolerance-for-anyone-who/)

[Mel Gibson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mel-gibson/)

> [I tried to push him away with my head. I apologise to everyone. I should not have got involved in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-pardew/i-tried-to-push-him-away-with-my-head-i-apologise-to-everyone-i/)

[Alan Pardew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-pardew/)

> [Your apologies don't mean much to me any more. You apologise but you never change. It's a waste of time believing that you ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/unkown/your-apologies-don-t-mean-much-to-me-any-more-you-apologise-but-you/)

Unkown

> [What I said Wasn't wise It wasn't even true I apologise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-walter-bratton/what-i-said-wasn-t-wise-it-wasn-t-even-true-i-apologise/)

[John Walter Bratton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-walter-bratton/)

> [I am constantly accused of being 'First World.' So what should I do? I can't apologise for my environment, upbringing, aesthetic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karan-johar/i-am-constantly-accused-of-being-first-world-so-what-should-i-do-i/)

[Karan Johar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karan-johar/)

> [“The one thing you should never do to a woman, whether you make love to her or fuck her, is apologise straight after.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dianna-hardy/the-one-thing-you-should-never-do-to-a-woman-whether-you-make-love-to/)

[Dianna Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dianna-hardy/)

> [When a man holds you round the throat, I don't think he has come to apologise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayrton-senna/when-a-man-holds-you-round-the-throat-i-don-t-think-he-has-come-to/)

[Ayrton Senna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayrton-senna/)

> [“Never apologise for who you are or where you come from, those who love you will love you just the way you are.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-kanyera/never-apologise-for-who-you-are-or-where-you-come-from-those-who-love/)

[Audrey Kanyera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-kanyera/)

> [Anger starts from your foolishness and ends up when you apologise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shubhi-sharma/anger-starts-from-your-foolishness-and-ends-up-when-you-apologise/)

[Shubhi Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shubhi-sharma/)

> [“Most of the problems in life are because: We misunderstand people's intentions, We don't listen and jump to conclusions, Then we are too proud…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mouloud-benzadi/most-of-the-problems-in-life-are-because-we-misunderstand-people-s/)

[Mouloud Benzadi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mouloud-benzadi/)

> [I'm very sorry to Mr. Gabas, to whom I apologised in person. Very sorry for letting my Davis Cup teammates down and for letting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-shapovalov/i-m-very-sorry-to-mr-gabas-to-whom-i-apologised-in-person-very-sorry/)

[Denis Shapovalov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-shapovalov/)

Browse all 114 Apologise quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“I'm sorry,\" said Damen. Laurent gave him a strange look. \"Why would you apologise to me?\" He couldn't answer. Not with the truth. He said, \"I didn't understand what being King meant to you.\" \"What's that?\" \"An end to fighting.\" Laurent's expression changed, the subtle signifiers of shock imperfectly repressed, and Damen felt it in his own body, a new pull in his chest at the look in Laurent's dark eyes.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "S.U. Pacat"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-u-pacat/i-m-sorry-said-damen-laurent-gave-him-a-strange-look-why-would-you/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Apologise"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-u-pacat/i-m-sorry-said-damen-laurent-gave-him-a-strange-look-why-would-you/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ec/s-u-pacat-4352_dark-eyes_i-m-sorry-said-damen-laurent-gave-him-a_857044.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ec/s-u-pacat-4352_dark-eyes_i-m-sorry-said-damen-laurent-gave-him-a_857044.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ec/s-u-pacat-4352_dark-eyes_i-m-sorry-said-damen-laurent-gave-him-a_857044.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I'm sorry,\" said Damen. Laurent gave him a strange look. \"Why would you apologise to me?\" He couldn't…” — S.U. Pacat",
                "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": "S.U. Pacat",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-u-pacat/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“I'm sorry,\" said Damen. Laurent gave...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-u-pacat/i-m-sorry-said-damen-laurent-gave-him-a-strange-look-why-would-you/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-u-pacat/i-m-sorry-said-damen-laurent-gave-him-a-strange-look-why-would-you/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```