# The Nose-Breaking Distress explained — The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman > Chapter companion for The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman by Laurence Sterne. ## What happens Tristram reflects on his father Walter's peculiar distress following the injury to Tristram's nose during birth, noting that while any man would be vexed by such an accident, Walter's extreme reaction requires further explanation. The chapter leaves Walter lying on the bed and Uncle Toby sitting beside him in his fringed chair. ## Themes in this chapter ### Obsession and Hobbyhorses Walter's extreme and 'unchristian' affliction over the nose injury reflects his obsessive hobbyhorse about the importance of a well-formed nose. ### The Absurdity of Systems Walter's odd way of thinking and his reading of odd books lead to whimsical distresses, highlighting the absurdity of his intellectual systems. ## Character check-ins ### Walter Shandy Lying on the bed, overwhelmed by distress over Tristram's nose injury. ### Uncle Toby Sitting beside Walter in his old fringed chair. ## Key lines > All is not gain that is got into the purse. Not everything acquired is beneficial. _Proverbial warning that applies to Walter's intellectual pursuits._ > the breaking down of the bridge of a child’s nose, by the edge of a pair of forceps—however scientifically applied—would vex any man in the world, who was at so much pains in begetting a child, as my father was—yet it will not account for the extravagance of his affliction While any father who took such care in conceiving a child would be upset by a forceps injury to the nose, that alone does not explain the excessive nature of Walter's grief. _Tristram distinguishes between a reasonable vexation and Walter's disproportionate despair._ ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/tristram_shandy_se/chapters/xxx - Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/tristram_shandy_se - All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/tristram_shandy_se/chapters