---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You don't understand!' Foaly objected…"
description: "\"“You don't understand!' Foaly objected. Trouble cut him off with a chop of his hand through the air. 'I never understand. That's why we pay you and you..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b9c/eoin-colfer-736_every-day_you-don-t-understand-foaly-objected-trou_2817289.png"
---

#  You don't understand!' Foaly objected. Trouble cut him off…

![“You don't understand!' Foaly objected. Trouble cut him off with a chop of his hand through the air. 'I never understand. That's why we pay you and your dork posse.&quot; Foaly objected again. 'They are not dorks!' Trouble found space for yet another holster. 'Really? That guy brings a Beanie Baby to…” quote by Eoin Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b9c/eoin-colfer-736_every-day_you-don-t-understand-foaly-objected-trou_2817289.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b9c/eoin-colfer-736_every-day_you-don-t-understand-foaly-objected-trou_2817289.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b9c/eoin-colfer-736_every-day_you-don-t-understand-foaly-objected-trou_2817289.png)

> ““You don't understand!' Foaly objected. Trouble cut him off with a chop of his hand through the air. 'I never understand. That's why we pay you and your dork posse." Foaly objected again. 'They are not dorks!' Trouble found space for yet another holster. 'Really? That guy brings a Beanie Baby to work every day. And your nephew, Mayne, speaks fluent Unicorn.' 'They're not all dorks,' said Foaly, correcting himself.””

[Eoin Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eoin-colfer/)

## 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 defends a group labeled as “dorks,” highlighting misunderstandings and the value of diverse talents.

**In simple terms:** Defending misunderstood groups shows hidden value.

Key Takeaway

Recognize and respect unconventional abilities.

Themes

diversity misunderstanding identity

Mood

playful defensive

Type

narrative humorous

When to use this quote

- team projects
- online communities
- creative collaborations

Key Concepts

social perception group dynamics

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you challenge labels in your group?
- What strengths do “outliers” bring?

A Different Perspective

Stereotypes can obscure true contributions.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humor/) [Nerds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nerds/)

## Related quotes

> [“Don't worry chief,"said foaly,"It's like riding a unicorn,you never forget.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eoin-colfer/don-t-worry-chief-said-foaly-it-s-like-riding-a-unicorn-you-never/)

[Eoin Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eoin-colfer/)

> [Mulch's tongue lolled out, resting on the centaur's neck. "Mmm," he mumbled around his tongue. "Horse. Tasty" "Let's go," said Foaly nervously. "Let's go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eoin-colfer/mulch-s-tongue-lolled-out-resting-on-the-centaur-s-neck-mmm-he/)

[Eoin Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eoin-colfer/)

> [Look!" said Foaly, pointing with some urgency into the vast steel-gray gloom, "Someone who cares!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eoin-colfer/look-said-foaly-pointing-with-some-urgency-into-the-vast-steel-gray/)

[Eoin Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eoin-colfer/)

> [“How do I love thee? wondered Orion. "Let me see. I love thee passionately and eternally...obviously eternally-that goes without saying." Holly blinked sweat from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eoin-colfer/how-do-i-love-thee-wondered-orion-let-me-see-i-love-thee-passionately/)

[Eoin Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eoin-colfer/)

> [I would say that nerds, as a rule, are much more sexually active than the average person. There's a lot of anxiety and stress…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hardwick/i-would-say-that-nerds-as-a-rule-are-much-more-sexually-active-than/)

[Chris Hardwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hardwick/)

> [I write about nerds who go the extra mile and become rock stars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-mezrich/i-write-about-nerds-who-go-the-extra-mile-and-become-rock-stars/)

[Ben Mezrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-mezrich/)

> [I try to stay away from calling people nerds or whatever, because I've got my own fetishes and interests.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyle-kinane/i-try-to-stay-away-from-calling-people-nerds-or-whatever-because-i-ve/)

[Kyle Kinane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyle-kinane/)

> [I think people have this stereotypical idea in their head of what a nerd is. People have said to me before, "You're not a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hardwick/i-think-people-have-this-stereotypical-idea-in-their-head-of-what-a/)

[Chris Hardwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hardwick/)

> [I worked in a post-production facility for television, but in the machine room, so I was one of the nerds, essentially - making sure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shura/i-worked-in-a-post-production-facility-for-television-but-in-the/)

Shura

> [Nerds like us are allowed to be unironically enthusiastic about stuff. Nerds are allowed to love stuff, like jump-up-and-down-in-your-chair-can't-control-yourself love it. when people call…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/nerds-like-us-are-allowed-to-be-unironically-enthusiastic-about-stuff/)

[John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/)

> [“We're all nerds because we're all too good at something”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/care/we-re-all-nerds-because-we-re-all-too-good-at-something/)

Care

> [“It is easy to criticize the antisocial, but hard to get close to know what keeps them at bay.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/it-is-easy-to-criticize-the-antisocial-but-hard-to-get-close-to-know/)

[Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/)

> [I think there's a misconception that chess players are all total nerds. Well, I guess they are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-naroditsky/i-think-there-s-a-misconception-that-chess-players-are-all-total/)

[Daniel Naroditsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-naroditsky/)

> [“Halliday’s favorites, like WarGames, Ghostbusters, Real Genius, Better Off Dead, or Revenge of the Nerds”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-cline/halliday-s-favorites-like-wargames-ghostbusters-real-genius-better/)

[Ernest Cline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-cline/)

> [In our society we have hard nerds and soft nerds. The hard nerds are the ones who used to have the slide rules at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-kay/in-our-society-we-have-hard-nerds-and-soft-nerds-the-hard-nerds-are/)

[Alan Kay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-kay/)

## More by Eoin Colfer

> [There’s always time for babbling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eoin-colfer/there-s-always-time-for-babbling/)

[Eoin Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eoin-colfer/)

> [And I will not be beaten by that jackass." "Jackass?" said Foaly, wounded. "My favorite uncle is a jackass.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eoin-colfer/and-i-will-not-be-beaten-by-that-jackass-jackass-said-foaly-wounded/)

[Eoin Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eoin-colfer/)

> [Thankfully the rest of the world assumed that the Irish were crazy, a theory that the Irish themselves did nothing to debunk. They had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eoin-colfer/thankfully-the-rest-of-the-world-assumed-that-the-irish-were-crazy-a/)

[Eoin Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eoin-colfer/)

> [The craft's occupants clutched their armrests, and more than one of them closed their eyes. But not Artemis. He couldn't. There was something morbidly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eoin-colfer/the-craft-s-occupants-clutched-their-armrests-and-more-than-one-of/)

[Eoin Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eoin-colfer/)

> [Tea? At the beach? No time for luxuries, Holly. There is important work to be done.” He winked at Butler. “Are you sure you’re…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eoin-colfer/tea-at-the-beach-no-time-for-luxuries-holly-there-is-important-work/)

[Eoin Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eoin-colfer/)

> [Wait," said Butler. "Just wait, Holly. Artemis has a plan." He squinted through the green dome. "What is your plan, Artemis?" All Artemis could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eoin-colfer/wait-said-butler-just-wait-holly-artemis-has-a-plan-he-squinted/)

[Eoin Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eoin-colfer/)

> [Holly is alive,' thought Foaly 'My princess lives,'exulted Orion. 'And we're chasing a dragon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eoin-colfer/holly-is-alive-thought-foaly-my-princess-lives-exulted-orion-and-we/)

[Eoin Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eoin-colfer/)

> [“There were only two men on the planet better educated in the various martial arts than Butler, and he was related to one of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eoin-colfer/there-were-only-two-men-on-the-planet-better-educated-in-the-various/)

[Eoin Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eoin-colfer/)

> [If Elmore Leonard met Jim Thompson down a dark alley at midnight they might emerge a week later with thick beards, bloodshot eyes and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eoin-colfer/if-elmore-leonard-met-jim-thompson-down-a-dark-alley-at-midnight-they/)

[Eoin Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eoin-colfer/)

> [Sig Sauer. Nine millimetres. Thirteen in the magazine. Big bullets. One of these hits you and it could blow your head off; something even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eoin-colfer/sig-sauer-nine-millimetres-thirteen-in-the-magazine-big-bullets-one/)

[Eoin Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eoin-colfer/)

> [“I feel him near in the twist of me guts. It's something I've always been able to do. --The Reluctant Assassin”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eoin-colfer/i-feel-him-near-in-the-twist-of-me-guts-it-s-something-i-ve-always/)

[Eoin Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eoin-colfer/)

> [Onscreen, Foaly rubbed his eyelids with his index fingers. "Yeah, yeah. Here we go. Captain Short goes rogue once more. Hands up who's surprised.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eoin-colfer/onscreen-foaly-rubbed-his-eyelids-with-his-index-fingers-yeah-yeah/)

[Eoin Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eoin-colfer/)

> [(about his terrible attempt at making a sandwich) It's more difficult than it looks. (Artemis Fowl)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eoin-colfer/about-his-terrible-attempt-at-making-a-sandwich-it-s-more-difficult/)

[Eoin Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eoin-colfer/)

> [Play along, the wink said. I'll get you out of this. At least Artemis hoped this was what his wink communicated and not something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eoin-colfer/play-along-the-wink-said-i-ll-get-you-out-of-this-at-least-artemis/)

[Eoin Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eoin-colfer/)

> [“ It's now or never , thought Otto. Now, now! thought Witmeyer. And so Ram kissed Thundercat, and suddenly neither bed of roses nor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eoin-colfer/it-s-now-or-never-thought-otto-now-now-thought-witmeyer-and-so-ram/)

[Eoin Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eoin-colfer/)

[Explore all 371 Eoin Colfer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eoin-colfer/)

## More Every day quotes

> [“Don’t allow anyone to pressure you into taking a job in a field that doesn’t feel right in your gut. You are the one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-james/don-t-allow-anyone-to-pressure-you-into-taking-a-job-in-a-field-that/)

Alison James

> [OBSESSED, p.p. Vexed by an evil spirit, like the Gadarene swine and other critics. Obsession was once more common than it is now. Arasthus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/obsessed-p-p-vexed-by-an-evil-spirit-like-the-gadarene-swine-and/)

[Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/)

> [I loved the game so much that even though our playing field was muddy and we had many trees on it, I used to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roberto-clemente/i-loved-the-game-so-much-that-even-though-our-playing-field-was-muddy/)

[Roberto Clemente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roberto-clemente/)

> [On stage, you can bring all those strong emotions that you don't have the opportunity to live. You don't want to die for love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvie-guillem/on-stage-you-can-bring-all-those-strong-emotions-that-you-don-t-have/)

[Sylvie Guillem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvie-guillem/)

> [A real Christian in an odd number anyway. He feels supreme love for One whom he has never seen, talks familiarly every day to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-real-christian-in-an-odd-number-anyway-he-feels-supreme-love-for/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I think naturally I've been kind of a lead-by-doing guy. Just showing up to work every day. You never ask teammates something you wouldn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrell-suggs/i-think-naturally-i-ve-been-kind-of-a-lead-by-doing-guy-just-showing/)

[Terrell Suggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrell-suggs/)

> [Love is the Key started in 1994 with a simple idea: that Love is the Key that would open all the doors in life.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/love-is-the-key/love-is-the-key-started-in-1994-with-a-simple-idea-that-love-is-the/)

[Love Is The Key®](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/love-is-the-key/)

> [Being under-recruited coming out of Highland, I've carried that with me. I keep pushing forward, keep working hard every day, keep my head on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-daniels/being-under-recruited-coming-out-of-highland-i-ve-carried-that-with/)

[Mike Daniels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-daniels/)

> [“(one would say yes, if not every day, at least fairly regularly), whether only for yourself or also for others (often only for yourself,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/italo-calvino/one-would-say-yes-if-not-every-day-at-least-fairly-regularly-whether/)

[Italo Calvino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/italo-calvino/)

> [“Are you sure?" he asked in a low voice. "Because if I had the chance... I would spend every moment of every day with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-monir/are-you-sure-he-asked-in-a-low-voice-because-if-i-had-the-chance-i/)

[Alexandra Monir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-monir/)

> [I don't think I've ever bench-pressed anything in my life. Until about two years ago I swam a mile almost every day. Then I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-antosca/i-don-t-think-i-ve-ever-bench-pressed-anything-in-my-life-until-about/)

[Nick Antosca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-antosca/)

> [I have to justify my job every day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-silva/i-have-to-justify-my-job-every-day/)

[Marco Silva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-silva/)

> [Merlin' was awesome, but the costumes would drive you insane. Every day, you'd get into chain mail and wear 30 pounds of that stuff.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eoin-macken/merlin-was-awesome-but-the-costumes-would-drive-you-insane-every-day/)

[Eoin Macken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eoin-macken/)

> [This cold weather has set all the young Folks to providing Bedfellows. I have signed two or three Licences every Day \[as a Fairfax…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-mason/this-cold-weather-has-set-all-the-young-folks-to-providing-bedfellows/)

[George Mason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-mason/)

> [I work every day. Sometimes I don't accomplish anything every day, but if I don't work every day, I get depressed and get afraid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-didion/i-work-every-day-sometimes-i-don-t-accomplish-anything-every-day-but/)

[Joan Didion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-didion/)

Browse all 16,614 Every day quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“You don't understand!' Foaly objected. Trouble cut him off with a chop of his hand through the air. 'I never understand. That's why we pay you and your dork posse.\" Foaly objected again. 'They are not dorks!' Trouble found space for yet another holster. 'Really? That guy brings a Beanie Baby to work every day. And your nephew, Mayne, speaks fluent Unicorn.' 'They're not all dorks,' said Foaly, correcting himself.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Eoin Colfer"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eoin-colfer/you-don-t-understand-foaly-objected-trouble-cut-him-off-with-a-chop/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Every day"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eoin-colfer/you-don-t-understand-foaly-objected-trouble-cut-him-off-with-a-chop/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b9c/eoin-colfer-736_every-day_you-don-t-understand-foaly-objected-trou_2817289.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b9c/eoin-colfer-736_every-day_you-don-t-understand-foaly-objected-trou_2817289.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b9c/eoin-colfer-736_every-day_you-don-t-understand-foaly-objected-trou_2817289.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“You don't understand!' Foaly objected. Trouble cut him off with a chop of his hand through the air. 'I never…” — Eoin Colfer",
                "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": "Eoin Colfer",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eoin-colfer/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“You don't understand!' Foaly objected. Trouble...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eoin-colfer/you-don-t-understand-foaly-objected-trouble-cut-him-off-with-a-chop/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eoin-colfer/you-don-t-understand-foaly-objected-trouble-cut-him-off-with-a-chop/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
