--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Prophecies are a funny thing. They’re…" description: "\"“Prophecies are a funny thing. They’re nothing but lengthy riddles that only a blessed few can unravel, and yet people hang on to their every word as i..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/842/a-p-bartels-52289_quote_prophecies-are-a-funny-thing-they-re-not_579707.jpg" --- # Prophecies are a funny thing. They’re nothing but lengthy… ![“Prophecies are a funny thing. They’re nothing but lengthy riddles that only a blessed few can unravel, and yet people hang on to their every word as if Fate’s secrets were being spilled. Prophecies weave patterns of words and symbols into a rope so thick you could hang yourself with it. They cause…” quote by A.P. Bartels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/842/a-p-bartels-52289_quote_prophecies-are-a-funny-thing-they-re-not_579707.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/842/a-p-bartels-52289_quote_prophecies-are-a-funny-thing-they-re-not_579707.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/842/a-p-bartels-52289_quote_prophecies-are-a-funny-thing-they-re-not_579707.jpg) > ““Prophecies are a funny thing. They’re nothing but lengthy riddles that only a blessed few can unravel, and yet people hang on to their every word as if Fate’s secrets were being spilled. Prophecies weave patterns of words and symbols into a rope so thick you could hang yourself with it. They cause confusion, hope, paranoia, comfort, fear, and even war. They doom the virtuous before birth and revive the damned in their final hour. They are poems that don’t rhyme and lyrics without a song. And we rely on them as drivers of our own fate.”” [A.P. Bartels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-p-bartels/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Prophecies are complex riddles that inspire hope, fear, and conflict, shaping fate and history. **In simple terms:** Prophecies are riddles that affect emotions and actions. Key Takeaway Question and interpret predictions critically. Themes fate prediction human behavior Mood thoughtful cautious Type analytical philosophical When to use this quote - politics - personal decisions - war - cultural narratives Key Concepts psychology mythology social dynamics Questions to Reflect On - How do prophecies influence personal choices? - Can societies avoid conflict by rejecting predictions? A Different Perspective Reliance on prophecies can lead to fatalism and misuse. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Hope Paranoia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hope-paranoia-4768402/) [Prophecies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prophecies/) [Prophecies Funny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prophecies-funny-4768401/) [Prophecies Weave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prophecies-weave-4768399/) [Spilled Prophecies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spilled-prophecies-4768400/) ## Related quotes > [ “\[ When a religious couple wrote to Sagan about fulfilled prophecies, he wrote back in May 1996 :\] If ‘fulfilled prophecy’ is your criterion,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/when-a-religious-couple-wrote-to-sagan-about-fulfilled-prophecies-he/) [Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/) > [“Oracular ambiguity or statistical probability provides loopholes, and discrepancies are expunged by Faith.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ursula-k-le-guin/oracular-ambiguity-or-statistical-probability-provides-loopholes-and/) [Ursula K. Le Guin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ursula-k-le-guin/) > [About the time of the end, a body of men will be raised up who will turn their attention to the prophecies, and insist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sir-isaac-newton/about-the-time-of-the-end-a-body-of-men-will-be-raised-up-who-will/) [Sir Isaac Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sir-isaac-newton/) > [According to PhD astrophysicists and qualified American science professors, the odds of the more than 2,500 prophecies found in the Bible being fulfilled by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-ross/according-to-phd-astrophysicists-and-qualified-american-science/) [Hugh Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-ross/) > [The Old Testament contains over 300 references to the Messiah that were fulfilled in Jesus Christ. Computations using the science of probability on just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fritz-ridenour/the-old-testament-contains-over-300-references-to-the-messiah-that/) [Fritz Ridenour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fritz-ridenour/) > [“With his coming are the dread fires born again. The hills burn, and the land turns sere. The tides of men run out, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jordan/with-his-coming-are-the-dread-fires-born-again-the-hills-burn-and-the/) [Robert Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jordan/) > [There is no need to get caught up in any apocalyptic prophecies that have no basis in reality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ehud-olmert/there-is-no-need-to-get-caught-up-in-any-apocalyptic-prophecies-that/) [Ehud Olmert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ehud-olmert/) > [The wisdom of the Bible writers is more than human; the prophecies proclaim a Supreme Ruler who, though inhabiting all space, deigns to speak…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-jennings-bryan/the-wisdom-of-the-bible-writers-is-more-than-human-the-prophecies/) [William Jennings Bryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-jennings-bryan/) > [“The irony of it, is how Freemasons have been trying to create and fulfill prophecy, and in their endeavor to hide behind secrecy they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-c-estrada/the-irony-of-it-is-how-freemasons-have-been-trying-to-create-and/) [Alejandro C. Estrada](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-c-estrada/) > [“In trials of ir'n and silver fain “The dead will rise and walk again “The blesséd few that touch the light “Will aid the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nenia-campbell/in-trials-of-ir-n-and-silver-fain-the-dead-will-rise-and-walk-again/) [Nenia Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nenia-campbell/) > [The New Testament rests itself for credulity and testimony on what are called prophecies in the Old Testament, of the person called Jesus Christ;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/the-new-testament-rests-itself-for-credulity-and-testimony-on-what/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [“Do you follow the wrestling? Most people think it's illegal, but you can watch it there. Ruby and Python are on display this evening.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-r-delany/do-you-follow-the-wrestling-most-people-think-it-s-illegal-but-you/) [Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/) > [“If I sound as if I'm always predicting ominous things, it's because I'm a pragmatist. I use deductive reasoning to generalize, and I suppose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/if-i-sound-as-if-i-m-always-predicting-ominous-things-it-s-because-i/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [We were young, and we had no need for prophecies. Just living was itself an act of prophecy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/we-were-young-and-we-had-no-need-for-prophecies-just-living-was/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [“If prophecies about Christ must wait upon their fulfillment to be understood, why shouldn’t the same be true of prophecies about Antichrist? In other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-quinn/if-prophecies-about-christ-must-wait-upon-their-fulfillment-to-be/) [Daniel Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-quinn/) ## More by A.P. Bartels > [“Annabelle, if there is one thing I’ve learned over my years watching and protecting humans, it’s that we can talk about black and white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-p-bartels/annabelle-if-there-is-one-thing-i-ve-learned-over-my-years-watching/) [A.P. Bartels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-p-bartels/) > [“Slade was more alive, more tormented and afflicted and lovely than I had ever dreamed over the past few weeks. And the electricity between…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-p-bartels/slade-was-more-alive-more-tormented-and-afflicted-and-lovely-than-i/) [A.P. Bartels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-p-bartels/) > [“I dreamt of Slade. They were painful dreams, beautiful dreams, and harrowing dreams… dreams that both haunted me and lifted me to such heights…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-p-bartels/i-dreamt-of-slade-they-were-painful-dreams-beautiful-dreams-and/) [A.P. Bartels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-p-bartels/) > [“Lily, I know you like your independence. You nearly suffocate me with it whenever I see you. I know you can take care of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-p-bartels/lily-i-know-you-like-your-independence-you-nearly-suffocate-me-with/) [A.P. Bartels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-p-bartels/) > [“Nur you’re all I can see. You are everywhere, the scorching sunshine, the sound of my feet when I run, the thump in my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-p-bartels/nur-you-re-all-i-can-see-you-are-everywhere-the-scorching-sunshine/) [A.P. Bartels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-p-bartels/) > [“What a way to die. In the arms of a beautiful immortal, his mouth locked on your skin and his fangs so deep inside…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-p-bartels/what-a-way-to-die-in-the-arms-of-a-beautiful-immortal-his-mouth/) [A.P. Bartels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-p-bartels/) [Explore all 7 A.P. Bartels quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-p-bartels/) ## More Prophecies quotes > [ “\[ When a religious couple wrote to Sagan about fulfilled prophecies, he wrote back in May 1996 :\] If ‘fulfilled prophecy’ is your criterion,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/when-a-religious-couple-wrote-to-sagan-about-fulfilled-prophecies-he/) [Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/) > [We were young, and we had no need for prophecies. Just living was itself an act of prophecy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/we-were-young-and-we-had-no-need-for-prophecies-just-living-was/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [“If I sound as if I'm always predicting ominous things, it's because I'm a pragmatist. I use deductive reasoning to generalize, and I suppose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/if-i-sound-as-if-i-m-always-predicting-ominous-things-it-s-because-i/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [“Do you follow the wrestling? Most people think it's illegal, but you can watch it there. Ruby and Python are on display this evening.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-r-delany/do-you-follow-the-wrestling-most-people-think-it-s-illegal-but-you/) [Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/) > [The New Testament rests itself for credulity and testimony on what are called prophecies in the Old Testament, of the person called Jesus Christ;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/the-new-testament-rests-itself-for-credulity-and-testimony-on-what/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [“In trials of ir'n and silver fain “The dead will rise and walk again “The blesséd few that touch the light “Will aid the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nenia-campbell/in-trials-of-ir-n-and-silver-fain-the-dead-will-rise-and-walk-again/) [Nenia Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nenia-campbell/) > [“The irony of it, is how Freemasons have been trying to create and fulfill prophecy, and in their endeavor to hide behind secrecy they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-c-estrada/the-irony-of-it-is-how-freemasons-have-been-trying-to-create-and/) [Alejandro C. Estrada](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-c-estrada/) > [The wisdom of the Bible writers is more than human; the prophecies proclaim a Supreme Ruler who, though inhabiting all space, deigns to speak…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-jennings-bryan/the-wisdom-of-the-bible-writers-is-more-than-human-the-prophecies/) [William Jennings Bryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-jennings-bryan/) > [There is no need to get caught up in any apocalyptic prophecies that have no basis in reality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ehud-olmert/there-is-no-need-to-get-caught-up-in-any-apocalyptic-prophecies-that/) [Ehud Olmert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ehud-olmert/) > [“With his coming are the dread fires born again. The hills burn, and the land turns sere. The tides of men run out, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jordan/with-his-coming-are-the-dread-fires-born-again-the-hills-burn-and-the/) [Robert Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jordan/) > [The Old Testament contains over 300 references to the Messiah that were fulfilled in Jesus Christ. Computations using the science of probability on just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fritz-ridenour/the-old-testament-contains-over-300-references-to-the-messiah-that/) [Fritz Ridenour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fritz-ridenour/) > [According to PhD astrophysicists and qualified American science professors, the odds of the more than 2,500 prophecies found in the Bible being fulfilled by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-ross/according-to-phd-astrophysicists-and-qualified-american-science/) [Hugh Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-ross/) > [About the time of the end, a body of men will be raised up who will turn their attention to the prophecies, and insist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sir-isaac-newton/about-the-time-of-the-end-a-body-of-men-will-be-raised-up-who-will/) [Sir Isaac Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sir-isaac-newton/) > [“Oracular ambiguity or statistical probability provides loopholes, and discrepancies are expunged by Faith.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ursula-k-le-guin/oracular-ambiguity-or-statistical-probability-provides-loopholes-and/) [Ursula K. Le Guin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ursula-k-le-guin/) > [“If prophecies about Christ must wait upon their fulfillment to be understood, why shouldn’t the same be true of prophecies about Antichrist? In other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-quinn/if-prophecies-about-christ-must-wait-upon-their-fulfillment-to-be/) [Daniel Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-quinn/) [Browse all 95 Prophecies quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prophecies/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Prophecies are a funny thing. They’re nothing but lengthy riddles that only a blessed few can unravel, and yet people hang on to their every word as if Fate’s secrets were being spilled. Prophecies weave patterns of words and symbols into a rope so thick you could hang yourself with it. They cause confusion, hope, paranoia, comfort, fear, and even war. 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