--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I mean, how do we know it works? Right…" description: "\"“I mean, how do we know it works? Right now it’s just a drawing—you can’t take fear away from a piece of paper, it doesn’t have any to begin with. We h..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/82d/cassandra-clare-9_fear_i-mean-how-do-we-know-it-works-right-now_79673.jpg" --- # I mean, how do we know it works? Right now it’s just a… ![“I mean, how do we know it works? Right now it’s just a drawing—you can’t take fear away from a piece of paper, it doesn’t have any to begin with. We have to try it out on one of us before we can be sure it’s a real rune.” “I’m not sure that’s such a great idea,” Luke said. “It’s a fabulous idea.”…” quote by Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/82d/cassandra-clare-9_fear_i-mean-how-do-we-know-it-works-right-now_79673.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/82d/cassandra-clare-9_fear_i-mean-how-do-we-know-it-works-right-now_79673.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/82d/cassandra-clare-9_fear_i-mean-how-do-we-know-it-works-right-now_79673.jpg) > ““I mean, how do we know it works? Right now it’s just a drawing—you can’t take fear away from a piece of paper, it doesn’t have any to begin with. We have to try it out on one of us before we can be sure it’s a real rune.” “I’m not sure that’s such a great idea,” Luke said. “It’s a fabulous idea.” Jace dropped the paper back onto the table, and began to slide off his jacket. “I’ve got a stele we can use. Who wants to do me?” “A regrettable choice of words,” muttered Magnus.”” [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The passage questions the validity of a symbolic object without empirical testing, emphasizing the need for practical demonstration before belief. **In simple terms:** Testing symbols before belief. Key Takeaway Proof requires action, not just theory. Themes skepticism empiricism belief symbolism risk Mood curious cautious Type dialogue philosophical When to use this quote - evaluating new technology - assessing magical artifacts - team decision making - risk assessment Key Concepts validation faith evidence ritual Practical Applications - prototype testing - peer review Questions to Reflect On - What evidence would convince you? - How do symbols gain power? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Clary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clary/) [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Rune](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rune/) ## Related quotes > [I'm not sure that's such a great idea." Luke said. "It's a fabulous idea." Jace dropped the paper back onto the table, and began…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/i-m-not-sure-that-s-such-a-great-idea-luke-said-it-s-a-fabulous-idea/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [I've got a stele we can use. Who wants to do me?" "A regrettable choice of words," muttered Magnus.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/i-ve-got-a-stele-we-can-use-who-wants-to-do-me-a-regrettable-choice/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“Tell Isabelle no.” “But she thinks it’s a good idea,” Alec protested. “Then tell her no twice .” Alec frowned. “What’s that supposed to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/tell-isabelle-no-but-she-thinks-it-s-a-good-idea-alec-protested-then/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [You know, when most girls say they want a big rock, they don't mean, you know, literally a big rock." "Very amusing, my sarcastic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/you-know-when-most-girls-say-they-want-a-big-rock-they-don-t-mean-you-2/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [his parabatai rune was bleeding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/his-parabatai-rune-was-bleeding/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“The feeling was a sword thrust as deep as anything he had ever felt, piercing through his body. It seemed like he had been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thea-harrison/the-feeling-was-a-sword-thrust-as-deep-as-anything-he-had-ever-felt/) [Thea Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thea-harrison/) > [“Strive to live the ordinary life in an extraordinary way”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rune/strive-to-live-the-ordinary-life-in-an-extraordinary-way/) Rune > [“Striving to live the ordinary life in a non-ordinary way.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/book-of-runes/striving-to-live-the-ordinary-life-in-a-non-ordinary-way/) Book of Runes > [“I don't want to lose anyone else I care about... for reasons I don't understand! I swore to myself I would do whatever necessary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noriko-ogiwara/i-don-t-want-to-lose-anyone-else-i-care-about-for-reasons-i-don-t/) [Noriko Ogiwara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noriko-ogiwara/) > [“She frowned. “Did I do or say something yesterday that I should apologize for?” “Not you cupcake,” said Graydon. “But apparently a lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thea-harrison/she-frowned-did-i-do-or-say-something-yesterday-that-i-should/) [Thea Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thea-harrison/) > [Runes, runes, runes... Runes. An inverted Algiz rune. The caption next to it said “Chernobog.” The Black God. Right. Of course, it wouldn’t be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilona-andrews/runes-runes-runes-runes-an-inverted-algiz-rune-the-caption-next-to-it/) [Ilona Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilona-andrews/) > [“Moon-letters are rune-letters, but you cannot see them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-r-tolkien/moon-letters-are-rune-letters-but-you-cannot-see-them/) [J.R.R. Tolkien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-r-tolkien/) > [“Thatz: "Why'd you have to get him all worked up? He'll drag us into it. Rune: "You're just lazy, Thatz.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mineko-ohkami/thatz-why-d-you-have-to-get-him-all-worked-up-he-ll-drag-us-into-it/) Mineko Ohkami > [“I will never leave you. I will never let you go. I will not let you fall, or fail. I will always come for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thea-harrison/i-will-never-leave-you-i-will-never-let-you-go-i-will-not-let-you/) [Thea Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thea-harrison/) > [“So, apart from casting runes, what other hobbies do you have? Forbidden rituals, human sacrifices, torturing? –”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simona-panova/so-apart-from-casting-runes-what-other-hobbies-do-you-have-forbidden/) [Simona Panova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simona-panova/) ## More by Cassandra Clare > [Against his own will, almost, Will felt himself understanding; he would have done anything, he thought, told any lie, taken any risk, to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/against-his-own-will-almost-will-felt-himself-understanding-he-would/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“So Jace is my actual family," Kit said. "But I can't go live with him, because him and his hot girlfriend are going off…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/so-jace-is-my-actual-family-kit-said-but-i-can-t-go-live-with-him/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [Clarissa," he said, "here with the vampire, I see. When things have settled a bit, we really must discuss you choice in pets..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/clarissa-he-said-here-with-the-vampire-i-see-when-things-have-settled/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [Must I go bound while you go free Must I love a manwho doesn't love me Must I be born with so little art…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/must-i-go-bound-while-you-go-free-must-i-love-a-manwho-doesn-t-love/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [If you're texting Magnus to say 'I think u r kewl,' I'm going to kill you." "Who's Magnus?" Max inquired. "He's a warlock," said…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/if-you-re-texting-magnus-to-say-i-think-u-r-kewl-i-m-going-to-kill/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“they all have always loved you Will Herondale, for you cannot hide what is good about yourself, however har you try.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/they-all-have-always-loved-you-will-herondale-for-you-cannot-hide/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“We work through this together, remember? No shutting me out. No epic sulks.” “I was figuring I could sulk for Idris in the next…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/we-work-through-this-together-remember-no-shutting-me-out-no-epic/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“Lex malla, lex nulla,” said Julian with a regretful wave of his hand. It was the Blackthorn family motto: A bad law is no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/lex-malla-lex-nulla-said-julian-with-a-regretful-wave-of-his-hand-it/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [Maybe that was why she couldn't cry, she realized, staring dry-eyed at the ceiling. Because what was the point in crying when there was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/maybe-that-was-why-she-couldn-t-cry-she-realized-staring-dry-eyed-at/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [I'm memorable, its true." -Magnus, pg.229-](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/i-m-memorable-its-true-magnus-pg-229/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“There is more to living than not dying.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/there-is-more-to-living-than-not-dying/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [Unless there was a reason for me to stay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/unless-there-was-a-reason-for-me-to-stay/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [Love didn't make you weak, it made you stronger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/love-didn-t-make-you-weak-it-made-you-stronger/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“I wasn’t just worried about him; I was worried about you, too. There’s something so . . . reassuring about you. And Jace is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/i-wasn-t-just-worried-about-him-i-was-worried-about-you-too-there-s/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [I firmly believe that you can't get a good movie without risking a bad movie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/i-firmly-believe-that-you-can-t-get-a-good-movie-without-risking-a/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) [Explore all 4,049 Cassandra Clare quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) ## More Clary quotes > [“So Jace is my actual family," Kit said. "But I can't go live with him, because him and his hot girlfriend are going off…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/so-jace-is-my-actual-family-kit-said-but-i-can-t-go-live-with-him/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“We work through this together, remember? No shutting me out. No epic sulks.” “I was figuring I could sulk for Idris in the next…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/we-work-through-this-together-remember-no-shutting-me-out-no-epic/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“I wasn’t just worried about him; I was worried about you, too. There’s something so . . . reassuring about you. And Jace is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/i-wasn-t-just-worried-about-him-i-was-worried-about-you-too-there-s/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“Magnus? Magnus Bane?” “That would be me.” The man blocking the doorway was as tall and thin as a rail, his hair a crown…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/magnus-magnus-bane-that-would-be-me-the-man-blocking-the-doorway-was/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [Clary screamed out loud as he fell like a stone- And landed lightly on his feet just in front of her. Clary stared with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/clary-screamed-out-loud-as-he-fell-like-a-stone-and-landed-lightly-on/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“Not everything, Jace, is about you ," Clary said furiously. "Possibly," Jace said, "but you have to admit that the majority of things are.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/not-everything-jace-is-about-you-clary-said-furiously-possibly-jace/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“Clary, Despite everything, I can't bear the thought of this ring being lost forever, any more then I can bear the thought of leaving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/clary-despite-everything-i-can-t-bear-the-thought-of-this-ring-being/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [Why, oh why, had Jace picked a fight with a pack of wolves? What had possessed him? Then again, it was Jace. He'd pick…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/why-oh-why-had-jace-picked-a-fight-with-a-pack-of-wolves-what-had/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [Something inside Clary cracked and broke, and words came pouring out. 'What do you want me to tell you? The truth? The truth is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/something-inside-clary-cracked-and-broke-and-words-came-pouring-out/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“Simon - "You look happy. And a good thing for you that she does" Jace - "Is this the part where you tell me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/simon-you-look-happy-and-a-good-thing-for-you-that-she-does-jace-is/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“Unless... " Now he looked at her in surprise. "Unless what?" She jabbed a finger at his shoulder. "When did you get that?" Jace…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/unless-now-he-looked-at-her-in-surprise-unless-what-she-jabbed-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [(Jace) "Is there anything special you want to see? Paris? Budapest? The Leaning Tower of Pisa?" Only if it falls on Sebastian's head, she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/jace-is-there-anything-special-you-want-to-see-paris-budapest-the/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“There are many levels to the Silent City, interjected Jeremiah. And not all the dead are buried here. There is another ossuary in Idris,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/there-are-many-levels-to-the-silent-city-interjected-jeremiah-and-not/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [It's Simon, he's missing." Ahh." said Magnus delicately "Missing what exactly?" Missing!" Jace repeated "As in gone, absent, notable for his lack of presence,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/it-s-simon-he-s-missing-ahh-said-magnus-delicately-missing-what/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [I don't care about risk to me," he hissed, leaning forward across the table. "I care about what happens to you! Dammit, I'm practically…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/i-don-t-care-about-risk-to-me-he-hissed-leaning-forward-across-the/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) [Browse all 521 Clary quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clary/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I mean, how do we know it works? Right now it’s just a drawing—you can’t take fear away from a piece of paper, it doesn’t have any to begin with. We have to try it out on one of us before we can be sure it’s a real rune.” “I’m not sure that’s such a great idea,” Luke said. “It’s a fabulous idea.” Jace dropped the paper back onto the table, and began to slide off his jacket. “I’ve got a stele we can use. 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