--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I seem to have excalibured this knife." description: "\"I seem to have excalibured this knife.\" — Diana Wynne Jones" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cc3/diana-wynne-jones-1486_knives_i-seem-to-have-excalibured-this-knife-93_939494.jpg" --- # I seem to have excalibured this knife. ![“I seem to have excalibured this knife.” quote by Diana Wynne Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cc3/diana-wynne-jones-1486_knives_i-seem-to-have-excalibured-this-knife-93_939494.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cc3/diana-wynne-jones-1486_knives_i-seem-to-have-excalibured-this-knife-93_939494.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cc3/diana-wynne-jones-1486_knives_i-seem-to-have-excalibured-this-knife-93_939494.jpg) > “I seem to have excalibured this knife.” [Diana Wynne Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-wynne-jones/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A metaphor for feeling ill‑equipped or out of place, suggesting a mismatch between tool and task. **In simple terms:** The knife feels wrong for the job. Key Takeaway Seek tools that fit your purpose. Themes misfit self‑doubt skill mismatch growth Mood uncertain introspective motivational Type advisory inspirational When to use this quote - career change - learning new skill - project planning - artistic creation - problem solving Key Concepts metaphor self‑assessment adaptation Questions to Reflect On - How can you find or forge a better fit? A Different Perspective What other "knives" are you using that don't suit you? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet ## Related quotes > [What is that in his hand?" "A cleaver. As in-" "Butcher's knife." "You got it." "I hope not." "He does not look happy." "Are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ridley-pearson/what-is-that-in-his-hand-a-cleaver-as-in-butcher-s-knife-you-got-it-i/) [Ridley Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ridley-pearson/) > [It's like ten thousand spoons, when all you need is a knife.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alanis-morissette/it-s-like-ten-thousand-spoons-when-all-you-need-is-a-knife/) [Alanis Morissette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alanis-morissette/) > [I have a knife collection. I have my favourite black knife with me all the time. It's a switchblade. It relaxes me to flick…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-momsen/i-have-a-knife-collection-i-have-my-favourite-black-knife-with-me-all/) [Taylor Momsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-momsen/) > [Oh yeah, just push the knife in further and twist, why doncha?!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aya-nakahara/oh-yeah-just-push-the-knife-in-further-and-twist-why-doncha/) [Aya Nakahara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aya-nakahara/) > [She died with a knife in her hand in her kitchen, where she had cooked for fifty years, and the death was solemnly listed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-flanner/she-died-with-a-knife-in-her-hand-in-her-kitchen-where-she-had-cooked/) [Janet Flanner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-flanner/) > [The knife flaying the elephant does not have to be large, only sharp!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-norton/the-knife-flaying-the-elephant-does-not-have-to-be-large-only-sharp/) [Andre Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-norton/) > [Someone once told me that religion is like a knife: You can stab someone with it, or you can slice bread with it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vera-farmiga/someone-once-told-me-that-religion-is-like-a-knife-you-can-stab/) [Vera Farmiga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vera-farmiga/) > [I like food, I like stripping vegetables of their skins, I like to have a slim young parsnip under my knife.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stevie-smith/i-like-food-i-like-stripping-vegetables-of-their-skins-i-like-to-have/) [Stevie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stevie-smith/) > [It cuts like a knife, but it feels so right...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-adams/it-cuts-like-a-knife-but-it-feels-so-right/) [Bryan Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-adams/) > [When chimps threaten, they open their mouth and show their teeth. It's a little like waving a knife in front of you. It's very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-fisher/when-chimps-threaten-they-open-their-mouth-and-show-their-teeth-it-s/) [Helen Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-fisher/) > [To see the butcher slap the steak before he laid it on the block, and give his knife a sharpening, was to forget breakfast…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/to-see-the-butcher-slap-the-steak-before-he-laid-it-on-the-block-and/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [Most of the books and films I love walk a knife edge between romance and cynicism, and I wanted 'One Day' to stay on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-nicholls/most-of-the-books-and-films-i-love-walk-a-knife-edge-between-romance/) [David Nicholls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-nicholls/) > [Remember, it is never the knife's fault.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-boulud/remember-it-is-never-the-knife-s-fault/) [Daniel Boulud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-boulud/) > [Blood fills my mouth. Fire sears my veins. I choke back a howl. The silver knife slips--the choice is mine. I am death or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bree-despain/blood-fills-my-mouth-fire-sears-my-veins-i-choke-back-a-howl-the/) [Bree Despain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bree-despain/) > [Take pride away from a man and you might as well run a knife through his heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-garwood/take-pride-away-from-a-man-and-you-might-as-well-run-a-knife-through/) [Julie Garwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-garwood/) ## More by Diana Wynne Jones > [“Sophie and Howl were living - somewhat quarrelsomely it must be confessed, although they were said to be happiest that way - in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-wynne-jones/sophie-and-howl-were-living-somewhat-quarrelsomely-it-must-be/) [Diana Wynne Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-wynne-jones/) > [“What did you do?" said Charles. "You know that night all our shoes went into the hall," said Nirupam. "Well, we had a feast…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-wynne-jones/what-did-you-do-said-charles-you-know-that-night-all-our-shoes-went/) [Diana Wynne Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-wynne-jones/) > [Take it from me, Fate doesn't care most of the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-wynne-jones/take-it-from-me-fate-doesn-t-care-most-of-the-time/) [Diana Wynne Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-wynne-jones/) > [“For a moment it seemed as if he was going to lose his temper too. His strange, pale eyes all but glared at Sophie.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-wynne-jones/for-a-moment-it-seemed-as-if-he-was-going-to-lose-his-temper-too-his/) [Diana Wynne Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-wynne-jones/) > [The truth between two people always cuts two ways.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-wynne-jones/the-truth-between-two-people-always-cuts-two-ways/) [Diana Wynne Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-wynne-jones/) > [“The soldier was like that. He was an expert in getting other people to do what he wanted. The only creature that could make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-wynne-jones/the-soldier-was-like-that-he-was-an-expert-in-getting-other-people-to/) [Diana Wynne Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-wynne-jones/) > [Beauty isn't made of sugar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-wynne-jones/beauty-isn-t-made-of-sugar/) [Diana Wynne Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-wynne-jones/) > [“Not likely!” Howl yelled. “I’m a coward. Only way I can do something this frightening is to tell my self I’m not doing it!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-wynne-jones/not-likely-howl-yelled-i-m-a-coward-only-way-i-can-do-something-this/) [Diana Wynne Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-wynne-jones/) > [“Typical!” he said to Sophie. “ I break my neck to get here, and I find you peacefully tidying up!” Sophie looked up at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-wynne-jones/typical-he-said-to-sophie-i-break-my-neck-to-get-here-and-i-find-you/) [Diana Wynne Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-wynne-jones/) > [“Howl said, "I think we ought to live happily ever after," and she thought he meant it. Sophie knew that living happily ever after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-wynne-jones/howl-said-i-think-we-ought-to-live-happily-ever-after-and-she-thought/) [Diana Wynne Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-wynne-jones/) > [Busy old fool, unruly Sophie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-wynne-jones/busy-old-fool-unruly-sophie/) [Diana Wynne Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-wynne-jones/) > [But whoever heard of enchanted bacon anyway?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-wynne-jones/but-whoever-heard-of-enchanted-bacon-anyway/) [Diana Wynne Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-wynne-jones/) > [“Then the geese replaced themselves with six pigs and vanished.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-wynne-jones/then-the-geese-replaced-themselves-with-six-pigs-and-vanished/) [Diana Wynne Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-wynne-jones/) > [If I give you a hint and tell you it's a hint, it will be information.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-wynne-jones/if-i-give-you-a-hint-and-tell-you-it-s-a-hint-it-will-be-information/) [Diana Wynne Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-wynne-jones/) > [I only want to catch you,” Michael explained. “I won’t hurt you.” “No! No!” the star crackled desperately. “That’s wrong! I’m supposed to die!”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-wynne-jones/i-only-want-to-catch-you-michael-explained-i-won-t-hurt-you-no-no-the/) [Diana Wynne Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-wynne-jones/) [Explore all 232 Diana Wynne Jones quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-wynne-jones/) ## More Knife quotes > [“Next time," I said wryly, swinging open the door, "just give me a knife and ask for a vein.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vicki-pettersson/next-time-i-said-wryly-swinging-open-the-door-just-give-me-a-knife/) [Vicki Pettersson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vicki-pettersson/) > [“The cold cut like a many bladed knife”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israel-zangwill/the-cold-cut-like-a-many-bladed-knife/) [Israel Zangwill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israel-zangwill/) > [I'm still stupid. I still do what I'm not supposed to do. Are you serious? I'm Jake 'The Snake,' man. I never claimed to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-roberts/i-m-still-stupid-i-still-do-what-i-m-not-supposed-to-do-are-you/) [Jake Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-roberts/) > [“If you are a big eater, put a knife to your throat,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-fike/if-you-are-a-big-eater-put-a-knife-to-your-throat/) [Al Fike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-fike/) > [“Sharp like a spoon, that one. Anyway,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethan-cross/sharp-like-a-spoon-that-one-anyway/) [Ethan Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethan-cross/) > [“There was never a good knife made of bad steel ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-isaacson/there-was-never-a-good-knife-made-of-bad-steel/) [Walter Isaacson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-isaacson/) > [“Power is like a knife. It can be used to cut bread to share with your neighbor or stab you in the back.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sadiqua-hamdan/power-is-like-a-knife-it-can-be-used-to-cut-bread-to-share-with-your/) [Sadiqua Hamdan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sadiqua-hamdan/) > [“Tobiah was Black Knife.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-meadows/tobiah-was-black-knife/) [Jodi Meadows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-meadows/) > [“Anger dulls the blade.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hollow/anger-dulls-the-blade/) Hollow > [What is that in his hand?" "A cleaver. As in-" "Butcher's knife." "You got it." "I hope not." "He does not look happy." "Are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ridley-pearson/what-is-that-in-his-hand-a-cleaver-as-in-butcher-s-knife-you-got-it-i/) [Ridley Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ridley-pearson/) > [“I have a knife in my hand, slicing beef on the willowware plate, and I cut harder, faster, thinking it is your pink neck…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-turner/i-have-a-knife-in-my-hand-slicing-beef-on-the-willowware-plate-and-i/) Ann Turner > [Blood fills my mouth. Fire sears my veins. I choke back a howl. The silver knife slips--the choice is mine. I am death or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bree-despain/blood-fills-my-mouth-fire-sears-my-veins-i-choke-back-a-howl-the/) [Bree Despain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bree-despain/) > [Remember, it is never the knife's fault.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-boulud/remember-it-is-never-the-knife-s-fault/) [Daniel Boulud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-boulud/) > [Sorry, the knife just slipped, I didn't mean to cut my wrists. I was just thinking of all the bad things that happened to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sorry-the-knife-just-slipped-i-didn-t-mean-to-cut-my-wrists-i-was/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Don't try to hug me with one hand when your hiding a knife in the other. If your gonna take a stab at me,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brii-ann/don-t-try-to-hug-me-with-one-hand-when-your-hiding-a-knife-in-the/) [Brii Ann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brii-ann/) Browse all 577 Knife quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I seem to have excalibured this knife.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Diana Wynne Jones" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-wynne-jones/i-seem-to-have-excalibured-this-knife/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Knife" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-wynne-jones/i-seem-to-have-excalibured-this-knife/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cc3/diana-wynne-jones-1486_knives_i-seem-to-have-excalibured-this-knife-93_939494.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cc3/diana-wynne-jones-1486_knives_i-seem-to-have-excalibured-this-knife-93_939494.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cc3/diana-wynne-jones-1486_knives_i-seem-to-have-excalibured-this-knife-93_939494.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I seem to have excalibured this knife.” — Diana Wynne Jones", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Diana Wynne Jones", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-wynne-jones/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I seem to have excalibured this...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-wynne-jones/i-seem-to-have-excalibured-this-knife/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-wynne-jones/i-seem-to-have-excalibured-this-knife/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```