--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Valkyrie dialed Skulduggery's number and…" description: "\"Valkyrie dialed Skulduggery's number and he picked up. 'Hey,' she said, 'It's me.' Skulduggery paused. 'No it's not. If it were me, then I'd be talking..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51c/derek-landy-826_firsts_valkyrie-dialed-skulduggery-s-number-and_1434566.png" --- # Valkyrie dialed Skulduggery's number and he picked up… ![“Valkyrie dialed Skulduggery's number and he picked up. 'Hey,' she said, 'It's me.' Skulduggery paused. 'No it's not. If it were me, then I'd be talking to myself, and I don't do that any more. I certainly don't RING myself. That's one of the first signs of madness, and if it's not, it should be.'…” quote by Derek Landy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51c/derek-landy-826_firsts_valkyrie-dialed-skulduggery-s-number-and_1434566.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51c/derek-landy-826_firsts_valkyrie-dialed-skulduggery-s-number-and_1434566.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51c/derek-landy-826_firsts_valkyrie-dialed-skulduggery-s-number-and_1434566.png) > “Valkyrie dialed Skulduggery's number and he picked up. 'Hey,' she said, 'It's me.' Skulduggery paused. 'No it's not. If it were me, then I'd be talking to myself, and I don't do that any more. I certainly don't RING myself. That's one of the first signs of madness, and if it's not, it should be.' She sighed. 'Are you finished talking nonsense?' 'I haven't talked nonsense all morning. I miss it.” [Derek Landy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-landy/) ## 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 uses humor and denial to confront madness, highlighting the thin line between sanity and absurdity. **In simple terms:** Denial can mask madness, but humor reveals truth. Key Takeaway Question reality before dismissing it. Themes madness humor identity reality Mood wry skeptical Type literary conversational When to use this quote - personal dialogue - mental health discussions - creative writing Key Concepts denial self‑awareness psychology Questions to Reflect On - What defines the boundary between sanity and madness? - When does denial become protective? A Different Perspective Humor may trivialize serious mental health issues. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Madness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/madness/) [Morning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/morning/) [Nonsense](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nonsense/) ## Related quotes > [Vengeous scowled. 'As you can see,' he said, 'you are vastly outnumbered.' I usually am.' Your situation has become quite untenable.' It usually does.'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-landy/vengeous-scowled-as-you-can-see-he-said-you-are-vastly-outnumbered-i/) [Derek Landy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-landy/) > [“Ah, bless. I've missed her. Do you have bullets?" "Uh, no." Skulduggery paused. "Excellent.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-landy/ah-bless-i-ve-missed-her-do-you-have-bullets-uh-no-skulduggery-paused/) [Derek Landy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-landy/) > [“Skulduggery." "Fletcher." Fletcher stuck out his hand. Skulduggery observed it for a moment. "I'm sorry, what are we doing now?" "Shaking hands," Fletcher said.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-landy/skulduggery-fletcher-fletcher-stuck-out-his-hand-skulduggery-observed/) [Derek Landy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-landy/) > [Of course I want to kill you," said Skulduggery. "I want to kill most people. But then where would I be? In a field…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-landy/of-course-i-want-to-kill-you-said-skulduggery-i-want-to-kill-most/) [Derek Landy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-landy/) > [We're not robbing him," Skulduggery said." But I'm afraid I have some bad news." "Is it Deacon?" Francine asked, her eyes wide. "It is."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-landy/we-re-not-robbing-him-skulduggery-said-but-i-m-afraid-i-have-some-bad/) [Derek Landy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-landy/) > [I'm not a showbiz person. I just enjoy talking nonsense on the radio. I'm not bothered about going to clubs or the paparazzi, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-blackburn/i-m-not-a-showbiz-person-i-just-enjoy-talking-nonsense-on-the-radio-i/) [Tony Blackburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-blackburn/) > [Out of hate, if you try to love that love will just be a hidden hate; it cannot be anything else-you are full of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/out-of-hate-if-you-try-to-love-that-love-will-just-be-a-hidden-hate/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [Look at life through the wrong end of the telescope.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-seuss/look-at-life-through-the-wrong-end-of-the-telescope/) [Dr. Seuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-seuss/) > [It is well for us that we are born babies in intellect. Could we understand half what mothers say and do to their infants,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augustus-william-hare/it-is-well-for-us-that-we-are-born-babies-in-intellect-could-we/) [Augustus William Hare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augustus-william-hare/) > [Theology is that discipline whereby we stop talking nonsense about God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-mccabe/theology-is-that-discipline-whereby-we-stop-talking-nonsense-about-god/) [Herbert McCabe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-mccabe/) > [“‎" You think I am attacking them for talking nonsense? Not a bit! I like them to talk nonsense. That's man's one privilege over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-think-i-am-attacking-them-for-talking-nonsense-not-a-bit-i-like/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Employees hate meetings because they reveal that self-promotion, sycophancy, dissimulation and constantly talking nonsense in a loud confident voice are more impressive than merely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-foley/employees-hate-meetings-because-they-reveal-that-self-promotion/) [Michael Foley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-foley/) > [“If you don't attend, Gwendolen," said the mistress, "and stop looking out of the window, I shall have to give you an order-mark." "But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis-2/if-you-don-t-attend-gwendolen-said-the-mistress-and-stop-looking-out/) [C.S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis-2/) > [“Many orthodox people speak as though it were the business of sceptics to disprove received dogmas rather than of dogmatists to prove them. This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/many-orthodox-people-speak-as-though-it-were-the-business-of-sceptics/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [In every province, the chief occupations, in order of importance, are lovemaking, malicious gossip, and talking nonsense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/in-every-province-the-chief-occupations-in-order-of-importance-are/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) ## More by Derek Landy > [Stephanie could see the greed seep into the watery eyes of her father’s other brother, a horrible little man called Fergus, as he nodded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-landy/stephanie-could-see-the-greed-seep-into-the-watery-eyes-of-her-father/) [Derek Landy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-landy/) > [“strike from the shadows, disapear into darkness”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-landy/strike-from-the-shadows-disapear-into-darkness/) [derek landy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-landy/) > [“But if you can confront your inner demons—" "I did confront my inner demon. I punched him in the face and he exploded." Valkyrie…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-landy/but-if-you-can-confront-your-inner-demons-i-did-confront-my-inner/) [Derek Landy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-landy/) > [“What does a clue look like?" Tanith whispered. Stephanie fought the giggle down and whispered back. "I'm looking for a footprint or something." "Have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-landy/what-does-a-clue-look-like-tanith-whispered-stephanie-fought-the/) [Derek Landy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-landy/) > [“He took her hand in his and knelt before her. Valkyrie looked at him. He was serious. (...)'Dude, I'm sixteen.' 'I love you.' 'That…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-landy/he-took-her-hand-in-his-and-knelt-before-her-valkyrie-looked-at-him/) [Derek Landy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-landy/) > [I find it rude to laugh at a man with a sword.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-landy/i-find-it-rude-to-laugh-at-a-man-with-a-sword/) [Derek Landy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-landy/) > [What?" she asked again. He pointed ahead of them. "See that?" "What, the snow?" "Beyond that." "More snow?" "Stop looking at the snow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-landy/what-she-asked-again-he-pointed-ahead-of-them-see-that-what-the-snow/) [Derek Landy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-landy/) > [The Baron, unfortunately, turns it all the way up to eleven." "Seriously? Because, you know, that's one more evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-landy/the-baron-unfortunately-turns-it-all-the-way-up-to-eleven-seriously/) [Derek Landy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-landy/) > [“Valkyrie walked over to her. Since she had met her, all she'd wanted to do was punch her face in. But that was when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-landy/valkyrie-walked-over-to-her-since-she-had-met-her-all-she-d-wanted-to/) [Derek Landy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-landy/) > [“I've always been a monster,' Scapegrace told her, 'but now, finally, my physical for reflects my inner darkness.' 'You smell terrible.' 'That's the smell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-landy/i-ve-always-been-a-monster-scapegrace-told-her-but-now-finally-my/) [Derek Landy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-landy/) > [The rain battered the cottage. Valkyrie risked a look up at Skulduggery. “What is it?” she whispered. “It’s a box,” he whispered back. “What…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-landy/the-rain-battered-the-cottage-valkyrie-risked-a-look-up-at/) [Derek Landy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-landy/) > [There’s no such thing as winning or losing. There is won and there is lost, there is victory and defeat. There are absolutes. Everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-landy/there-s-no-such-thing-as-winning-or-losing-there-is-won-and-there-is/) [Derek Landy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-landy/) > [“He liked murder. Murder and long walks had been two of his favorite things when he was younger.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-landy/he-liked-murder-murder-and-long-walks-had-been-two-of-his-favorite/) [Derek Landy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-landy/) > [Of course I want to kill you," said Skulduggery. "I want to kill most people. But then where would I be? In a field…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-landy/of-course-i-want-to-kill-you-said-skulduggery-i-want-to-kill-most/) [Derek Landy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-landy/) > [We don’t need a cure,” the other zombie said. “That’s right,” Scapegrace nodded. “We’re happy the way we are.” “Happy with the power,” Scapegrace…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-landy/we-don-t-need-a-cure-the-other-zombie-said-that-s-right-scapegrace/) [Derek Landy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-landy/) [Explore all 355 Derek Landy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-landy/) ## More Firsts quotes > [I always say there are two things to be successful. The first is decide exactly what you want - set your goals - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/i-always-say-there-are-two-things-to-be-successful-the-first-is/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [My first ever job after college was as a flight attendant. 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