--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Mr. Benedict: \"After I woke up and…" description: "\"“Mr. Benedict: \"After I woke up and composed myself, however, I realized the flowers must certainly be yours, Constance, to do with as you please. At a..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/054/trenton-lee-stewart-4808_agreement_mr-benedict-after-i-woke-up-and-composed_3021284.jpg" --- # Mr. Benedict: "After I woke up and composed myself… ![“Mr. Benedict: "After I woke up and composed myself, however, I realized the flowers must certainly be yours, Constance, to do with as you please. At any rate -- " Mr.Benedict broke off, for just then Constance jumped to her feet, snatched the bouquet from his desk, and hurled it into the…” quote by Trenton Lee Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/054/trenton-lee-stewart-4808_agreement_mr-benedict-after-i-woke-up-and-composed_3021284.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/054/trenton-lee-stewart-4808_agreement_mr-benedict-after-i-woke-up-and-composed_3021284.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/054/trenton-lee-stewart-4808_agreement_mr-benedict-after-i-woke-up-and-composed_3021284.jpg) > ““Mr. Benedict: "After I woke up and composed myself, however, I realized the flowers must certainly be yours, Constance, to do with as you please. At any rate -- " Mr.Benedict broke off, for just then Constance jumped to her feet, snatched the bouquet from his desk, and hurled it into the wastebasket with all the force she could muster -- so hard that flower petals flew up out of the wastebasket like tiny pink butterflies. Then placing her hands against the wall to steady herself, she stomped one foot repeatedly into the wastebasket as if trying to put out a fire. "I see we are of the same opinion," said Mr. Benedict as Constance returned to her seat, and the others congratulated her on her judgment.”” [Trenton Lee Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trenton-lee-stewart/) ## 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 asserts independence by rejecting imposed expectations, using bold action to claim agency. **In simple terms:** Standing up for yourself can involve dramatic, decisive acts. Key Takeaway Assert personal agency boldly. Themes independence assertion rebellion Mood defiant determined Type narrative dialogue When to use this quote - classroom dynamics - family conflict - personal boundaries Key Concepts personal agency social pressure assertive behavior Questions to Reflect On - When is defiance appropriate? - How do you balance respect and self‑assertion? A Different Perspective Bold actions can backfire or alienate others. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Agreement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/agreement/) [Benedict Broke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/benedict-broke-4891710/) [Bouquet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bouquet/) [Constance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/constance/) [Constance Jumped](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/constance-jumped-4891712/) [Flower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flower/) [Hilarious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hilarious/) [Petals Flew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/petals-flew-4891711/) [Snatched Bouquet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/snatched-bouquet-4891709/) ## Related quotes > [Poor Kate,"said Constance,"she's lost her marbles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trenton-lee-stewart/poor-kate-said-constance-she-s-lost-her-marbles/) [Trenton Lee Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trenton-lee-stewart/) > [At this, Constance sat down on a rock and covered her face. She seemed smaller than ever now - so small the harbor breeze…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trenton-lee-stewart/at-this-constance-sat-down-on-a-rock-and-covered-her-face-she-seemed/) [Trenton Lee Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trenton-lee-stewart/) > [“He wants a fifteen thousand pound settlement." "Fifteen thousand!" "He says you're a great deal of trouble." She hesitated for one startled moment before…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deeanne-gist/he-wants-a-fifteen-thousand-pound-settlement-fifteen-thousand-he-says/) [Deeanne Gist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deeanne-gist/) > [“Healthy surrender means allowing yourself to "be" rather than being in a constant state of want.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/healthy-surrender-means-allowing-yourself-to-be-rather-than-being-in/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [“You could have arrived atop a wildcat and no one would have said a word. They will adore you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deeanne-gist/you-could-have-arrived-atop-a-wildcat-and-no-one-would-have-said-a/) [Deeanne Gist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deeanne-gist/) > [“You were kidnapped not?" "I was kidnapped." "You were forced not into marriage?" "I was forced into marriage." "You want not an annulment?" "I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deeanne-gist/you-were-kidnapped-not-i-was-kidnapped-you-were-forced-not-into/) [Deeanne Gist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deeanne-gist/) > [“Their daughter scrunched up her hands and legs, waving them wildly in the air. He opened his palm, allowing the babe to kick his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deeanne-gist/their-daughter-scrunched-up-her-hands-and-legs-waving-them-wildly-in/) [Deeanne Gist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deeanne-gist/) > [“Thought you didn't like red hair." One of Drew's dimples kicked in as he draped an arm about Grandma's shoulder. "Must have me confused…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deeanne-gist/thought-you-didn-t-like-red-hair-one-of-drew-s-dimples-kicked-in-as/) [Deeanne Gist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deeanne-gist/) > [I'd love to play Constance in 'King John' or Paulina in 'The Winter's Tale.' I'd like to go on working till I drop.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prunella-scales/i-d-love-to-play-constance-in-king-john-or-paulina-in-the-winter-s/) [Prunella Scales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prunella-scales/) > [“Lord Randall barreled inside, brandishing his cane in Drew's face. "You beggarly knave, I was told this marriage was in name only! Who gave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deeanne-gist/lord-randall-barreled-inside-brandishing-his-cane-in-drew-s-face-you/) [Deeanne Gist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deeanne-gist/) > [“As her feet beat the concrete ground beneath them, her chest began to ache. It had been a long time since she had run…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ross-caligiuri/as-her-feet-beat-the-concrete-ground-beneath-them-her-chest-began-to/) [Ross Caligiuri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ross-caligiuri/) > [“Constance helped Mick see that there are never any sides. Only things we understand and things we have chosen to pretend we don't understand.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-gran/constance-helped-mick-see-that-there-are-never-any-sides-only-things/) [Sara Gran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-gran/) > [“Oh, they'll never believe a woman could solve such puzzles. They'll just assume I'm humoring you by editing it myself and allowing you to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deeanne-gist/oh-they-ll-never-believe-a-woman-could-solve-such-puzzles-they-ll/) [Deeanne Gist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deeanne-gist/) > [“My dream is to create something so beautiful that it encourages people to present the best version of themselves to me everywhere I go.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ross-caligiuri/my-dream-is-to-create-something-so-beautiful-that-it-encourages/) [Ross Caligiuri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ross-caligiuri/) > [“Try to think of it as though we are rewriting history––the first time this experience occurred you and I never kissed in this Dream…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ross-caligiuri/try-to-think-of-it-as-though-we-are-rewriting-history-the-first-time/) [Ross Caligiuri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ross-caligiuri/) ## More by Trenton Lee Stewart > [You are the smartest children i know. You just don't beleive it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trenton-lee-stewart/you-are-the-smartest-children-i-know-you-just-don-t-beleive-it/) [Trenton Lee Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trenton-lee-stewart/) > [May your adventures bring you closer together, even as they take you far away from home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trenton-lee-stewart/may-your-adventures-bring-you-closer-together-even-as-they-take-you/) [Trenton Lee Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trenton-lee-stewart/) > [... Speaking of which, the boys weren't actually touching the breifcases in the trunk, I hope?" Wondering how Milligan knew, Kate stuck her head…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trenton-lee-stewart/speaking-of-which-the-boys-weren-t-actually-touching-the-breifcases/) [Trenton Lee Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trenton-lee-stewart/) > [In the candle's flickering light, the library's thousands of books emerged from the shadows, and for a moment Nicholas could not help admiring them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trenton-lee-stewart/in-the-candle-s-flickering-light-the-library-s-thousands-of-books/) [Trenton Lee Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trenton-lee-stewart/) > [She announced her age right away, for children consider their ages every bit as important as their names.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trenton-lee-stewart/she-announced-her-age-right-away-for-children-consider-their-ages/) [Trenton Lee Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trenton-lee-stewart/) > [Milligan! Come and tell us why you're so dreadfully glum!" ~ Constance, The Mysterious Benedict Society](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trenton-lee-stewart/milligan-come-and-tell-us-why-you-re-so-dreadfully-glum-constance-the/) [Trenton Lee Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trenton-lee-stewart/) > [It just supports my personal opinion that he's a wacko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trenton-lee-stewart/it-just-supports-my-personal-opinion-that-he-s-a-wacko/) [Trenton Lee Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trenton-lee-stewart/) > [Children are capable of such open rudeness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trenton-lee-stewart/children-are-capable-of-such-open-rudeness/) [Trenton Lee Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trenton-lee-stewart/) > [Remember, children. For every exit, there is also an entrance. ~ Milligan, The Mysterious Benedict Society](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trenton-lee-stewart/remember-children-for-every-exit-there-is-also-an-entrance-milligan/) [Trenton Lee Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trenton-lee-stewart/) > [I think when I started to write 'The Mysterious Benedict Society' that I had that kind of thing in mind - the notion of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trenton-lee-stewart/i-think-when-i-started-to-write-the-mysterious-benedict-society-that/) [Trenton Lee Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trenton-lee-stewart/) > [Don't thank me,' Mr. Curtain called as the door slid closed. 'Impress me!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trenton-lee-stewart/don-t-thank-me-mr-curtain-called-as-the-door-slid-closed-impress-me/) [Trenton Lee Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trenton-lee-stewart/) > [“Majesty the Queen)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trenton-lee-stewart/majesty-the-queen/) [Trenton Lee Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trenton-lee-stewart/) > [If you like to tell stories and compose sentences, and if you work hard at being good at these things, then you are a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trenton-lee-stewart/if-you-like-to-tell-stories-and-compose-sentences-and-if-you-work/) [Trenton Lee Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trenton-lee-stewart/) > [Daddy, will you take me to the mill, again?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trenton-lee-stewart/daddy-will-you-take-me-to-the-mill-again/) [Trenton Lee Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trenton-lee-stewart/) > [“Books had been her means of escape; now they would be her refuge.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trenton-lee-stewart/books-had-been-her-means-of-escape-now-they-would-be-her-refuge/) [Trenton Lee Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trenton-lee-stewart/) [Explore all 105 Trenton Lee Stewart quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trenton-lee-stewart/) ## More Agreement quotes > [Therefore, I see whatever exists as good, death is to me like life, sin like holiness, wisdom like foolishness, everything has to be as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/therefore-i-see-whatever-exists-as-good-death-is-to-me-like-life-sin/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [There's no way to have a peace agreement unless the mediator or negotiator looks at both sides from an equal basis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-carter/there-s-no-way-to-have-a-peace-agreement-unless-the-mediator-or/) [Jimmy Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-carter/) > [Biochemists and biologists who adhere blindly to the Darwinism theory search for results that will be in agreement with their theories and consequently orient…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-paul-grasse/biochemists-and-biologists-who-adhere-blindly-to-the-darwinism-theory/) [Pierre-Paul Grasse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-paul-grasse/) > [In coming to that agreement, my party had a clear philosophy throughout. In Northern Ireland, we should have institutions that respected the differences of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hume/in-coming-to-that-agreement-my-party-had-a-clear-philosophy/) [John Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hume/) > [Identity is not negotiable. An identity you have achieved by agreement is always a prison.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-john-harrison/identity-is-not-negotiable-an-identity-you-have-achieved-by-agreement/) [M. John Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-john-harrison/) > [I am formally accountable to the steering board of the PIC, and I meet with nine ambassadors from the PIC every week. I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paddy-ashdown/i-am-formally-accountable-to-the-steering-board-of-the-pic-and-i-meet/) [Paddy Ashdown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paddy-ashdown/) > [Because countries often have differing political and economic systems, agreements are needed to protect those invested in trade.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-suzuki/because-countries-often-have-differing-political-and-economic-systems/) [David Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-suzuki/) > [As long as I sit at Henry Clay's desk, I will remember his lifelong desire to forge agreement, but I will also keep close…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/as-long-as-i-sit-at-henry-clay-s-desk-i-will-remember-his-lifelong/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [Gaia's main problems are not industrialization, ozone depletion, overpopulation, or resource depletion. Gaia's main problem is the lack of mutual understanding and mutual agreement…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-wilber/gaia-s-main-problems-are-not-industrialization-ozone-depletion/) [Ken Wilber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-wilber/) > [We recognize that NAFTA is a three-country agreement, and we need a three-country negotiation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chrystia-freeland/we-recognize-that-nafta-is-a-three-country-agreement-and-we-need-a/) [Chrystia Freeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chrystia-freeland/) > [At Ohio State University, to avoid being guilty of 'sexual assault' or 'sexual violence,' you and your partner now apparently have to agree on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/at-ohio-state-university-to-avoid-being-guilty-of-sexual-assault-or/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [Whatever you perceive, you always make a story with yourself as the main character, and that dictates your life. Then when you read 'The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-angel-ruiz/whatever-you-perceive-you-always-make-a-story-with-yourself-as-the/) [Miguel Angel Ruiz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-angel-ruiz/) > [ Look at what I am proposing, and we \[wih Bernie Sanders\] have a vigorous agreement here. We both want to reign in the excesses… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/look-at-what-i-am-proposing-and-we-wih-bernie-sanders-have-a-vigorous/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [I spoke on the phone with President Rouhani of the Islamic Republic of Iran. The two of us discussed our ongoing efforts to reach…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-spoke-on-the-phone-with-president-rouhani-of-the-islamic-republic/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Netanyahu made all sorts of claims. This was going to be a terrible deal. This was going to result in Iran getting 50 billion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/netanyahu-made-all-sorts-of-claims-this-was-going-to-be-a-terrible/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) [Browse all 1,138 Agreement quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/agreement/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Mr. Benedict: \"After I woke up and composed myself, however, I realized the flowers must certainly be yours, Constance, to do with as you please. At any rate -- \" Mr.Benedict broke off, for just then Constance jumped to her feet, snatched the bouquet from his desk, and hurled it into the wastebasket with all the force she could muster -- so hard that flower petals flew up out of the wastebasket like tiny pink butterflies. Then placing her hands against the wall to steady herself, she stomped one foot repeatedly into the wastebasket as if trying to put out a fire. \"I see we are of the same opinion,\" said Mr. Benedict as Constance returned to her seat, and the others congratulated her on her judgment.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Trenton Lee Stewart" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trenton-lee-stewart/mr-benedict-after-i-woke-up-and-composed-myself-however-i-realized/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Agreement" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trenton-lee-stewart/mr-benedict-after-i-woke-up-and-composed-myself-however-i-realized/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/054/trenton-lee-stewart-4808_agreement_mr-benedict-after-i-woke-up-and-composed_3021284.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/054/trenton-lee-stewart-4808_agreement_mr-benedict-after-i-woke-up-and-composed_3021284.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/054/trenton-lee-stewart-4808_agreement_mr-benedict-after-i-woke-up-and-composed_3021284.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Mr. Benedict: \"After I woke up and composed myself, however, I realized the flowers must certainly be yours…” — Trenton Lee Stewart", "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": "Trenton Lee Stewart", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trenton-lee-stewart/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Mr. Benedict: \"After I woke up...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trenton-lee-stewart/mr-benedict-after-i-woke-up-and-composed-myself-however-i-realized/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trenton-lee-stewart/mr-benedict-after-i-woke-up-and-composed-myself-however-i-realized/#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 } } ] } ```