--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Pippi stroking his back. ‘Bosh, that was…" description: "\"“Pippi stroking his back. ‘Bosh, that was a true fib,’ she added. ‘But if it was true, how could it be a fib? Perhaps when all’s said and done, he real..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da0/astrid-lindgren-13229_fib-said_pippi-stroking-his-back-bosh-that-was-a_633272.jpg" --- # Pippi stroking his back. ‘Bosh, that was a true fib,’ she… ![“Pippi stroking his back. ‘Bosh, that was a true fib,’ she added. ‘But if it was true, how could it be a fib? Perhaps when all’s said and done, he really has been a butler in Sourabaya, after all! Well, if that’s so, I know who’s going” quote by Astrid Lindgren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da0/astrid-lindgren-13229_fib-said_pippi-stroking-his-back-bosh-that-was-a_633272.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da0/astrid-lindgren-13229_fib-said_pippi-stroking-his-back-bosh-that-was-a_633272.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da0/astrid-lindgren-13229_fib-said_pippi-stroking-his-back-bosh-that-was-a_633272.jpg) > ““Pippi stroking his back. ‘Bosh, that was a true fib,’ she added. ‘But if it was true, how could it be a fib? Perhaps when all’s said and done, he really has been a butler in Sourabaya, after all! Well, if that’s so, I know who’s going”” [Astrid Lindgren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/astrid-lindgren/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Pippi questions the nature of truth, suggesting that if something is true it cannot be a lie, highlighting the complexity of honesty. **In simple terms:** Truth and lies are intertwined; truth cannot be a lie. Key Takeaway Consider the nuance behind statements before judging. Themes honesty truth perception childhood imagination Mood playful thoughtful inquisitive Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - teaching children - debating facts - writing stories - critical thinking Key Concepts philosophical literary ethical cognitive Questions to Reflect On - What does truth mean to you? - How do you handle contradictions? A Different Perspective Children may oversimplify truth, missing subtlety. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet ## Related quotes > [Then she yelled after the girl, 'No, we haven't seen any bald 'uns all days. But yesterday seventeen of 'em went by. Arm in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/astrid-lindgren/then-she-yelled-after-the-girl-no-we-haven-t-seen-any-bald-uns-all/) [Astrid Lindgren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/astrid-lindgren/) > [No Fridolf, bother all this learning. I can't study anymore because I must climb the mast to see what kind of weather we're going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/astrid-lindgren/no-fridolf-bother-all-this-learning-i-can-t-study-anymore-because-i/) [Astrid Lindgren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/astrid-lindgren/) > [If I have managed to brighten up even one gloomy childhood – then I’m satisfied.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/astrid-lindgren/if-i-have-managed-to-brighten-up-even-one-gloomy-childhood-then-i-m/) [Astrid Lindgren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/astrid-lindgren/) > [Give the children love, more love and still more love – and the common sense will come by itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/astrid-lindgren/give-the-children-love-more-love-and-still-more-love-and-the-common/) [Astrid Lindgren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/astrid-lindgren/) > [I have never experienced being madly in love the way most people seem to have been, although it is not something I would miss.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/astrid-lindgren/i-have-never-experienced-being-madly-in-love-the-way-most-people-seem/) [Astrid Lindgren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/astrid-lindgren/) > [“Don't you worry about me. I'll always come out on top.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/astrid-lindgren/don-t-you-worry-about-me-i-ll-always-come-out-on-top/) [Astrid Lindgren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/astrid-lindgren/) > [At least, not in this country,' she added after a moment's thought. 'In China it's a little different. Once I saw a Chinaman in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/astrid-lindgren/at-least-not-in-this-country-she-added-after-a-moment-s-thought-in/) [Astrid Lindgren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/astrid-lindgren/) > [There is very little you can beat into a child, but no limit to what you can hug out of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/astrid-lindgren/there-is-very-little-you-can-beat-into-a-child-but-no-limit-to-what/) [Astrid Lindgren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/astrid-lindgren/) > [“Why did you save Park's life, was that so good?' 'I don't know if it was such a good thing to do,' said Jonathan.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/astrid-lindgren/why-did-you-save-park-s-life-was-that-so-good-i-don-t-know-if-it-was/) [Astrid Lindgren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/astrid-lindgren/) > [If I have brightened up one single sad childhood, then I have at least accomplished something in my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/astrid-lindgren/if-i-have-brightened-up-one-single-sad-childhood-then-i-have-at-least/) [Astrid Lindgren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/astrid-lindgren/) > [Don't let them get you down. Be cheeky. And wild. And wonderful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/astrid-lindgren/don-t-let-them-get-you-down-be-cheeky-and-wild-and-wonderful/) [Astrid Lindgren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/astrid-lindgren/) > [And so I write the way I myself would like the book to be – if I were a child. I write for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/astrid-lindgren/and-so-i-write-the-way-i-myself-would-like-the-book-to-be-if-i-were-a/) [Astrid Lindgren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/astrid-lindgren/) > [But still, if it's true, how can it be a lie?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/astrid-lindgren/but-still-if-it-s-true-how-can-it-be-a-lie/) [Astrid Lindgren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/astrid-lindgren/) > [“Någon ropade på mig i drömmen och jag seker honom långt i fjärran bortom bergen.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/astrid-lindgren/n-gon-ropade-p-mig-i-dr-mmen-och-jag-seker-honom-l-ngt-i-fj-rran/) [Astrid Lindgren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/astrid-lindgren/) > [“The children came to a perfume shop. In the show window was a large jar of freckle salve, and beside the jar was a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/astrid-lindgren/the-children-came-to-a-perfume-shop-in-the-show-window-was-a-large/) [Astrid Lindgren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/astrid-lindgren/) ## More by Astrid Lindgren > [Then she yelled after the girl, 'No, we haven't seen any bald 'uns all days. But yesterday seventeen of 'em went by. Arm in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/astrid-lindgren/then-she-yelled-after-the-girl-no-we-haven-t-seen-any-bald-uns-all/) [Astrid Lindgren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/astrid-lindgren/) > [“Någon ropade på mig i drömmen och jag seker honom långt i fjärran bortom bergen.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/astrid-lindgren/n-gon-ropade-p-mig-i-dr-mmen-och-jag-seker-honom-l-ngt-i-fj-rran/) [Astrid Lindgren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/astrid-lindgren/) > [But still, if it's true, how can it be a lie?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/astrid-lindgren/but-still-if-it-s-true-how-can-it-be-a-lie/) [Astrid Lindgren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/astrid-lindgren/) > [And so I write the way I myself would like the book to be – if I were a child. I write for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/astrid-lindgren/and-so-i-write-the-way-i-myself-would-like-the-book-to-be-if-i-were-a/) [Astrid Lindgren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/astrid-lindgren/) > [Don't let them get you down. Be cheeky. And wild. And wonderful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/astrid-lindgren/don-t-let-them-get-you-down-be-cheeky-and-wild-and-wonderful/) [Astrid Lindgren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/astrid-lindgren/) > [If I have brightened up one single sad childhood, then I have at least accomplished something in my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/astrid-lindgren/if-i-have-brightened-up-one-single-sad-childhood-then-i-have-at-least/) [Astrid Lindgren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/astrid-lindgren/) > [“Why did you save Park's life, was that so good?' 'I don't know if it was such a good thing to do,' said Jonathan.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/astrid-lindgren/why-did-you-save-park-s-life-was-that-so-good-i-don-t-know-if-it-was/) [Astrid Lindgren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/astrid-lindgren/) > [There is very little you can beat into a child, but no limit to what you can hug out of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/astrid-lindgren/there-is-very-little-you-can-beat-into-a-child-but-no-limit-to-what/) [Astrid Lindgren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/astrid-lindgren/) > [At least, not in this country,' she added after a moment's thought. 'In China it's a little different. Once I saw a Chinaman in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/astrid-lindgren/at-least-not-in-this-country-she-added-after-a-moment-s-thought-in/) [Astrid Lindgren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/astrid-lindgren/) > [“Don't you worry about me. I'll always come out on top.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/astrid-lindgren/don-t-you-worry-about-me-i-ll-always-come-out-on-top/) [Astrid Lindgren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/astrid-lindgren/) > [I have never experienced being madly in love the way most people seem to have been, although it is not something I would miss.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/astrid-lindgren/i-have-never-experienced-being-madly-in-love-the-way-most-people-seem/) [Astrid Lindgren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/astrid-lindgren/) > [Give the children love, more love and still more love – and the common sense will come by itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/astrid-lindgren/give-the-children-love-more-love-and-still-more-love-and-the-common/) [Astrid Lindgren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/astrid-lindgren/) > [If I have managed to brighten up even one gloomy childhood – then I’m satisfied.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/astrid-lindgren/if-i-have-managed-to-brighten-up-even-one-gloomy-childhood-then-i-m/) [Astrid Lindgren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/astrid-lindgren/) > [No Fridolf, bother all this learning. I can't study anymore because I must climb the mast to see what kind of weather we're going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/astrid-lindgren/no-fridolf-bother-all-this-learning-i-can-t-study-anymore-because-i/) [Astrid Lindgren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/astrid-lindgren/) > [“The children came to a perfume shop. In the show window was a large jar of freckle salve, and beside the jar was a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/astrid-lindgren/the-children-came-to-a-perfume-shop-in-the-show-window-was-a-large/) [Astrid Lindgren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/astrid-lindgren/) [Explore all 37 Astrid Lindgren quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/astrid-lindgren/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Pippi stroking his back. ‘Bosh, that was a true fib,’ she added. ‘But if it was true, how could it be a fib? Perhaps when all’s said and done, he really has been a butler in Sourabaya, after all! 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