--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What do the dice say?\" Dice say nothing…" description: "\"“What do the dice say?\" Dice say nothing. They are dice.\" Why roll'em, then?\" They are dice. What else would I do with them?”\" — Joe Abercrombie" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/39e/joe-abercrombie-791_dice_what-do-the-dice-say-dice-say-nothing-th_42693.png" --- # What do the dice say?" Dice say nothing. They are dice."… ![“What do the dice say?" Dice say nothing. They are dice." Why roll'em, then?" They are dice. What else would I do with them?” quote by Joe Abercrombie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/39e/joe-abercrombie-791_dice_what-do-the-dice-say-dice-say-nothing-th_42693.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/39e/joe-abercrombie-791_dice_what-do-the-dice-say-dice-say-nothing-th_42693.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/39e/joe-abercrombie-791_dice_what-do-the-dice-say-dice-say-nothing-th_42693.png) > ““What do the dice say?" Dice say nothing. They are dice." Why roll'em, then?" They are dice. What else would I do with them?”” [Joe Abercrombie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-abercrombie/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The dialogue highlights the futility of seeking meaning in random chance; dice are merely objects, not orators. **In simple terms:** Randomness lacks inherent meaning. Key Takeaway Don't overinterpret chance. Themes existentialism absurdism randomness meaninglessness determinism Mood wry skeptical reflective Type aphor dialogue When to use this quote - playing games - making decisions - philosophical debate - creative writing Key Concepts dice as metaphor search for meaning human tendency to anthropomorphize Practical Applications - writing dialogue - teaching about randomness Questions to Reflect On - What does it mean to assign purpose to neutral objects? - How does this reflect our need for narratives? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dice/) ## Related quotes > [God throws dice, what can I say?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michio-kaku/god-throws-dice-what-can-i-say/) [Michio Kaku](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michio-kaku/) > [Life is fair. We all get the same nine-month shake in the box, and then the dice roll. Some people get a run of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/life-is-fair-we-all-get-the-same-nine-month-shake-in-the-box-and-then/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [Love is always a gamble, but waiting won't change the dice. Either you roll them or you lose your turn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anurag-prakash-ray/love-is-always-a-gamble-but-waiting-won-t-change-the-dice-either-you/) [Anurag Prakash Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anurag-prakash-ray/) > [I collect dice and I collect coins. I travel the world so I love dice, I always have dice on me. I collect magnets…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kellan-lutz/i-collect-dice-and-i-collect-coins-i-travel-the-world-so-i-love-dice/) [Kellan Lutz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kellan-lutz/) > [The value of a dollar is to buy just things; a dollar goes on increasing in value with all the genius and all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-value-of-a-dollar-is-to-buy-just-things-a-dollar-goes-on/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Just a random roll of the dice could change everything in your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lostintears/just-a-random-roll-of-the-dice-could-change-everything-in-your-life/) LostInTears > [Had I been brighter, the ladies been gentler, the Scotch been weaker, had the gods been kinder, had the dice been hotter, this could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mickey-rooney/had-i-been-brighter-the-ladies-been-gentler-the-scotch-been-weaker/) [Mickey Rooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mickey-rooney/) > [Life is like the dice that, falling, still show a different face. So life, though it remains the same, is always presenting different aspects.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-sanchez/life-is-like-the-dice-that-falling-still-show-a-different-face-so/) [Alexis Sanchez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-sanchez/) > [“Stop telling God what to do with his dice.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niels-bohr/stop-telling-god-what-to-do-with-his-dice/) [Niels Bohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niels-bohr/) > [With improvisation, I just do it. It might be a total failure but then you just throw the dice again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-marclay/with-improvisation-i-just-do-it-it-might-be-a-total-failure-but-then/) [Christian Marclay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-marclay/) > [“As she spoke, the dice started tumbling inside his head.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jordan/as-she-spoke-the-dice-started-tumbling-inside-his-head/) [Robert Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jordan/) > [I love him who is ashamed when the dice fall in his favour, and who then asketh: "Am I a dishonest player?" - for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/i-love-him-who-is-ashamed-when-the-dice-fall-in-his-favour-and-who/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [“Her personality had more sides than a set of dice.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clare-donoghue/her-personality-had-more-sides-than-a-set-of-dice/) [Clare Donoghue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clare-donoghue/) > [God's dice always have a lucky roll.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/god-s-dice-always-have-a-lucky-roll/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) > [The happy medium is television. And if you find a good suitor, you can do it for years. With movies, you roll the dice.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-campbell/the-happy-medium-is-television-and-if-you-find-a-good-suitor-you-can/) [Bruce Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-campbell/) ## More by Joe Abercrombie > [“She shrugged. “I fell. I’m a clumsy fool.” “I know how you feel. I’m such a fool I knocked half my teeth out and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-abercrombie/she-shrugged-i-fell-i-m-a-clumsy-fool-i-know-how-you-feel-i-m-such-a/) [Joe Abercrombie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-abercrombie/) > [Things aren't what they used to be' is the rallying cry of small minds. When men say things used to be better, they invariably…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-abercrombie/things-aren-t-what-they-used-to-be-is-the-rallying-cry-of-small-minds/) [Joe Abercrombie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-abercrombie/) > [“Mercy and weakness are the same thing in war, and there's no prize for nice behavior.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-abercrombie/mercy-and-weakness-are-the-same-thing-in-war-and-there-s-no-prize-for/) [Joe Abercrombie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-abercrombie/) > [“The lowly have small ambitions, and are satisfied with small indulgences. They need not get fair treatment. They need only think that they do... ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-abercrombie/the-lowly-have-small-ambitions-and-are-satisfied-with-small/) [Joe Abercrombie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-abercrombie/) > [“You have to realistic about these things.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-abercrombie/you-have-to-realistic-about-these-things/) [Joe Abercrombie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-abercrombie/) > [“That was the difference between a hero and a villain, a soldier and a murderer, a victory and a crime. Which side of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-abercrombie/that-was-the-difference-between-a-hero-and-a-villain-a-soldier-and-a/) [Joe Abercrombie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-abercrombie/) > [“Nostalgia was becoming a favoured hobby of his. Strange, how the best moments of our lives we scarcely notice except in looking back.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-abercrombie/nostalgia-was-becoming-a-favoured-hobby-of-his-strange-how-the-best/) [Joe Abercrombie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-abercrombie/) > [“The only difference between war and murder is the number of dead.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-abercrombie/the-only-difference-between-war-and-murder-is-the-number-of-dead/) [Joe Abercrombie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-abercrombie/) > [Names turned over by time, like the plough turning the soil. Bringing up the new while the old were buried in the mud.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-abercrombie/names-turned-over-by-time-like-the-plough-turning-the-soil-bringing/) [Joe Abercrombie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-abercrombie/) > [“Knives,’ muttered Calder, ‘and threats, and bribes, and war?’ Bayaz’ eyes shone with the lamplight. ‘Yes?’ ‘What kind of a fucking wizard are you?’…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-abercrombie/knives-muttered-calder-and-threats-and-bribes-and-war-bayaz-eyes/) [Joe Abercrombie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-abercrombie/) > [“Straining and straining, getting nowhere, but unable to stop pushing in case the rock should fall and crush him. Meanwhile, arrogant bastards who were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-abercrombie/straining-and-straining-getting-nowhere-but-unable-to-stop-pushing-in/) [Joe Abercrombie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-abercrombie/) > [“Yarvi: 'If we had known the hardship of it, we might have chosen another.' Shidwala: 'So it is with many choices.' Yarvi: 'All we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-abercrombie/yarvi-if-we-had-known-the-hardship-of-it-we-might-have-chosen-another/) [Joe Abercrombie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-abercrombie/) > [Sometimes men change for the better. Sometimes men change for the worse. And often, very often, given time and opportunity . . .’ He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-abercrombie/sometimes-men-change-for-the-better-sometimes-men-change-for-the/) [Joe Abercrombie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-abercrombie/) > [“A bitter ending' said Yarvi. 'Many sweet stories have them', said Jaud.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-abercrombie/a-bitter-ending-said-yarvi-many-sweet-stories-have-them-said-jaud/) [Joe Abercrombie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-abercrombie/) > [“Then, once he had eaten, he would ask the spirits for guidance. Their guidance was pretty useless, but the company would be welcome.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-abercrombie/then-once-he-had-eaten-he-would-ask-the-spirits-for-guidance-their/) [Joe Abercrombie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-abercrombie/) [Explore all 364 Joe Abercrombie quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-abercrombie/) ## More Dice quotes > [The happy medium is television. And if you find a good suitor, you can do it for years. With movies, you roll the dice.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-campbell/the-happy-medium-is-television-and-if-you-find-a-good-suitor-you-can/) [Bruce Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-campbell/) > [God's dice always have a lucky roll.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/god-s-dice-always-have-a-lucky-roll/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) > [“Her personality had more sides than a set of dice.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clare-donoghue/her-personality-had-more-sides-than-a-set-of-dice/) [Clare Donoghue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clare-donoghue/) > [I love him who is ashamed when the dice fall in his favour, and who then asketh: "Am I a dishonest player?" - for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/i-love-him-who-is-ashamed-when-the-dice-fall-in-his-favour-and-who/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [“As she spoke, the dice started tumbling inside his head.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jordan/as-she-spoke-the-dice-started-tumbling-inside-his-head/) [Robert Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jordan/) > [With improvisation, I just do it. It might be a total failure but then you just throw the dice again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-marclay/with-improvisation-i-just-do-it-it-might-be-a-total-failure-but-then/) [Christian Marclay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-marclay/) > [“Stop telling God what to do with his dice.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niels-bohr/stop-telling-god-what-to-do-with-his-dice/) [Niels Bohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niels-bohr/) > [Life is like the dice that, falling, still show a different face. So life, though it remains the same, is always presenting different aspects.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-sanchez/life-is-like-the-dice-that-falling-still-show-a-different-face-so/) [Alexis Sanchez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-sanchez/) > [Had I been brighter, the ladies been gentler, the Scotch been weaker, had the gods been kinder, had the dice been hotter, this could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mickey-rooney/had-i-been-brighter-the-ladies-been-gentler-the-scotch-been-weaker/) [Mickey Rooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mickey-rooney/) > [Just a random roll of the dice could change everything in your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lostintears/just-a-random-roll-of-the-dice-could-change-everything-in-your-life/) LostInTears > [The value of a dollar is to buy just things; a dollar goes on increasing in value with all the genius and all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-value-of-a-dollar-is-to-buy-just-things-a-dollar-goes-on/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [I collect dice and I collect coins. I travel the world so I love dice, I always have dice on me. I collect magnets…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kellan-lutz/i-collect-dice-and-i-collect-coins-i-travel-the-world-so-i-love-dice/) [Kellan Lutz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kellan-lutz/) > [My favorite characters are always the unpredictable ones, and with Domino, you literally never know which way the dice are going to roll.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-simone/my-favorite-characters-are-always-the-unpredictable-ones-and-with/) [Gail Simone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-simone/) > [Most gods throw dice, but Fate plays chess, and you don't find out til too late that he's been playing with two queens all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/most-gods-throw-dice-but-fate-plays-chess-and-you-don-t-find-out-til/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“LIFE IS LIKE A DICE... YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT COMES NEXT!!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tia-dickens/life-is-like-a-dice-you-never-know-what-comes-next/) TIA DICKENS [Browse all 306 Dice quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dice/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“What do the dice say?\" Dice say nothing. They are dice.\" Why roll'em, then?\" They are dice. 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