---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Taking Ogen’s temperature, I said, “Right…"
description: "\"“Taking Ogen’s temperature, I said, “Right on. I vote we swim it.” He whimpered. “No swim—NO SWIM!” Death commanded him in that foreign tongue, and he ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/afe/kresley-cole-334_quote_taking-ogen-s-temperature-i-said-right-o_496424.jpg"
---

#  Taking Ogen’s temperature, I said, “Right on. I vote we…

![“Taking Ogen’s temperature, I said, “Right on. I vote we swim it.” He whimpered. “No swim—NO SWIM!” Death commanded him in that foreign tongue, and he shut up. “Well, aren’t you a good wittle doggie, Ogen?” I said. “You know how to sit, stay, and hush even better than Lark’s wolves.” He stared…” quote by Kresley Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/afe/kresley-cole-334_quote_taking-ogen-s-temperature-i-said-right-o_496424.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/afe/kresley-cole-334_quote_taking-ogen-s-temperature-i-said-right-o_496424.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/afe/kresley-cole-334_quote_taking-ogen-s-temperature-i-said-right-o_496424.jpg)

> ““Taking Ogen’s temperature, I said, “Right on. I vote we swim it.” He whimpered. “No swim—NO SWIM!” Death commanded him in that foreign tongue, and he shut up. “Well, aren’t you a good wittle doggie, Ogen?” I said. “You know how to sit, stay, and hush even better than Lark’s wolves.” He stared, disbelieving that I’d just insulted him like that. “I am the DESECRATOR! I sit upon Lucifer’s knee!” “That makes total sense, Scooby.” With a puzzled expression, Death said, “You taunt him at your peril.” “What’s he going to do? Kill me?” Over my shoulder I told Ogen, “Get in line, dick.””

[Kresley Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kresley-cole/)

## 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 confronts death with humor and defiance, showing bravado in the face of danger.

**In simple terms:** Facing death with bold humor.

Key Takeaway

Use wit to confront fear.

Themes

courage humor defiance death identity

Mood

defiant playful darkly humorous

Type

literary dialogue

When to use this quote

- combat
- life-threatening situations
- personal challenges

Key Concepts

Existentialism heroic bravado psychological resilience

Questions to Reflect On

- How does humor affect your perception of danger?
- Can defiance become reckless?

A Different Perspective

Humor may not change the outcome of lethal threats.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

## Related quotes

> [“Even if you escaped this place, which is impossible,” Death said, “you would never reach her. I glanced up at Death. “So my plan…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kresley-cole/even-if-you-escaped-this-place-which-is-impossible-death-said-you/)

[Kresley Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kresley-cole/)

> [“You have tasted of death now,” said the old man. “Is it good?” “It is good,” said Mossy. “It is better than life.” “No,”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/you-have-tasted-of-death-now-said-the-old-man-is-it-good-it-is-good/)

[George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/)

> [“Shall we proceed, and ought I do so with my knife drawn?” “You’d better keep it where it is for the moment,” he said.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loretta-chase/shall-we-proceed-and-ought-i-do-so-with-my-knife-drawn-you-d-better/)

[Loretta Chase](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loretta-chase/)

> [“The flame in her eyes was not of your usual sort, I take it.' Lucien shook his head. 'No. It spoke to nothing in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/the-flame-in-her-eyes-was-not-of-your-usual-sort-i-take-it-lucien/)

[Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/)

> [Celebrate my death for the good times I've had, For the work that I've done and the friends that I've made. Celebrate my death,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malvina-reynolds/celebrate-my-death-for-the-good-times-i-ve-had-for-the-work-that-i-ve/)

[Malvina Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malvina-reynolds/)

> [“YOU ARE NOT AFRAID? 'Not yet. But, er...which way to the egress, please?' There was a pause. Then Death said, in a puzzled voice:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/you-are-not-afraid-not-yet-but-er-which-way-to-the-egress-please/)

[Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/)

> [“SOD YOU, THEN, Death said.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/sod-you-then-death-said/)

[Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/)

> [“Death has this much to be said for it: You don’t have to get out of bed for it. Wherever you happen to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/death-has-this-much-to-be-said-for-it-you-don-t-have-to-get-out-of/)

[Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/)

> [“Oh, such a shame, such a shame. Oh, such a shame. What’s it all about anyhow?” “I’ve wondered for a long time.” “But why…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/oh-such-a-shame-such-a-shame-oh-such-a-shame-what-s-it-all-about/)

[F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/)

> [I looked at death and I said fuck you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-limn/i-looked-at-death-and-i-said-fuck-you/)

[Jeremy Limn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-limn/)

> [“...Death," she said, as her hand dropped away, " is how you know you were alive in the first place.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vicki-pettersson/death-she-said-as-her-hand-dropped-away-is-how-you-know-you-were/)

[Vicki Pettersson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vicki-pettersson/)

> [“Go away and bleed to death,’ said his onetime saviour sharply. ‘On behalf of the female sex I feel I may cheer every lesion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-dunnett/go-away-and-bleed-to-death-said-his-onetime-saviour-sharply-on-behalf/)

[Dorothy Dunnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-dunnett/)

> [I could have clasped the red walls to my bosom as a garment of eternal peace. "Death," I said, "any death but that of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-allan-poe/i-could-have-clasped-the-red-walls-to-my-bosom-as-a-garment-of/)

[Edgar Allan Poe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-allan-poe/)

> [“The living used to wonder what happened after death. She said that whole religions were born and evolved around this one simple uncertainty.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-ryan/the-living-used-to-wonder-what-happened-after-death-she-said-that/)

[Carrie Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-ryan/)

> [Thales said there was no difference between life and death. Why, then, said some one to him, do not you die? Because, said he,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diogenes-laertius/thales-said-there-was-no-difference-between-life-and-death-why-then/)

[Diogenes Laertius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diogenes-laertius/)

## More by Kresley Cole

> [“Before you were my enemy, you were my best friend.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kresley-cole/before-you-were-my-enemy-you-were-my-best-friend/)

[Kresley Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kresley-cole/)

> [“When drops from the canopy kissed her face, he drew his wings over his head, creating a shelter. “I’ve always room for you too.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kresley-cole/when-drops-from-the-canopy-kissed-her-face-he-drew-his-wings-over-his/)

[Kresley Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kresley-cole/)

> [“Nix to Regin: What about that nice leopard-shifter pack that wanted to date you? The benefits of a variety pack of males cannot be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kresley-cole/nix-to-regin-what-about-that-nice-leopard-shifter-pack-that-wanted-to/)

[Kresley Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kresley-cole/)

> [“A woman who likes her whisky,” he said while refilling her glass. “Careful that you doona steal my heart, Annalía.” “It figures that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kresley-cole/a-woman-who-likes-her-whisky-he-said-while-refilling-her-glass/)

[Kresley Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kresley-cole/)

> [“Call her Betty Fucking Crocker, because the cake was so going to be worth the bake.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kresley-cole/call-her-betty-fucking-crocker-because-the-cake-was-so-going-to-be/)

[Kresley Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kresley-cole/)

> [“She gazed up at him. "Just don't forget our new motto, Leo. 'We can always murder them later, but we can't bring them back.'"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kresley-cole/she-gazed-up-at-him-just-don-t-forget-our-new-motto-leo-we-can-always/)

[Kresley Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kresley-cole/)

> [“This was why we fought to survive. For love. Vincent had it all wrong. I’d had it wrong. Love wasn’t the most destructive force…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kresley-cole/this-was-why-we-fought-to-survive-for-love-vincent-had-it-all-wrong-i/)

[Kresley Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kresley-cole/)

> [“Ah, but she was a pastel wearer. She was forever dead to Sabine.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kresley-cole/ah-but-she-was-a-pastel-wearer-she-was-forever-dead-to-sabine/)

[Kresley Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kresley-cole/)

> [“Too bad,Elizabeth. You're Stuck with me.Not for a few decades,not for centuries. You're tied to me forever. That boy and girl offspring you talked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kresley-cole/too-bad-elizabeth-you-re-stuck-with-me-not-for-a-few-decades-not-for/)

[Kresley Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kresley-cole/)

> [“He was staring at my lips, and before I could think better of it, I’d wetted them. “That’s it, bébé,” he said in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kresley-cole/he-was-staring-at-my-lips-and-before-i-could-think-better-of-it-i-d/)

[Kresley Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kresley-cole/)

> [“Because of one unsuccessful beheading?” She tapped her claw to her chin. “Wow. I never thought you were such a pussy. I’m rethinking our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kresley-cole/because-of-one-unsuccessful-beheading-she-tapped-her-claw-to-her-chin/)

[Kresley Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kresley-cole/)

> [“I suppose that now you'll want to sleep with me?Alas big guy I'm taken.' 'No. you're not,'Regin said. 'Am too,' Nix said. 'Mike Rowe,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kresley-cole/i-suppose-that-now-you-ll-want-to-sleep-with-me-alas-big-guy-i-m/)

[Kresley Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kresley-cole/)

> [“He’d given her his word—when he was soused and under duress from needing to tup her—but still his word.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kresley-cole/he-d-given-her-his-word-when-he-was-soused-and-under-duress-from/)

[Kresley Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kresley-cole/)

> [I write what I like to read, and I enjoy love triangles in YA and adult fiction - not to mention in other media…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kresley-cole/i-write-what-i-like-to-read-and-i-enjoy-love-triangles-in-ya-and/)

[Kresley Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kresley-cole/)

> [“It's a sweet setup, I'll admit. For all that the maids STILL show up each day with jumbo crucifixes, jumpy movements, and red eyes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kresley-cole/it-s-a-sweet-setup-i-ll-admit-for-all-that-the-maids-still-show-up/)

[Kresley Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kresley-cole/)

[Explore all 663 Kresley Cole quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kresley-cole/)

## More Death Said quotes

> [“You have tasted of death now,” said the old man. “Is it good?” “It is good,” said Mossy. “It is better than life.” “No,”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/you-have-tasted-of-death-now-said-the-old-man-is-it-good-it-is-good/)

[George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/)

> [“The living used to wonder what happened after death. She said that whole religions were born and evolved around this one simple uncertainty.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-ryan/the-living-used-to-wonder-what-happened-after-death-she-said-that/)

[Carrie Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-ryan/)

> [I could have clasped the red walls to my bosom as a garment of eternal peace. "Death," I said, "any death but that of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-allan-poe/i-could-have-clasped-the-red-walls-to-my-bosom-as-a-garment-of/)

[Edgar Allan Poe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-allan-poe/)

> [“Go away and bleed to death,’ said his onetime saviour sharply. ‘On behalf of the female sex I feel I may cheer every lesion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-dunnett/go-away-and-bleed-to-death-said-his-onetime-saviour-sharply-on-behalf/)

[Dorothy Dunnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-dunnett/)

> [“...Death," she said, as her hand dropped away, " is how you know you were alive in the first place.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vicki-pettersson/death-she-said-as-her-hand-dropped-away-is-how-you-know-you-were/)

[Vicki Pettersson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vicki-pettersson/)

> [I looked at death and I said fuck you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-limn/i-looked-at-death-and-i-said-fuck-you/)

[Jeremy Limn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-limn/)

> [“Oh, such a shame, such a shame. Oh, such a shame. What’s it all about anyhow?” “I’ve wondered for a long time.” “But why…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/oh-such-a-shame-such-a-shame-oh-such-a-shame-what-s-it-all-about/)

[F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/)

> [“Death has this much to be said for it: You don’t have to get out of bed for it. Wherever you happen to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/death-has-this-much-to-be-said-for-it-you-don-t-have-to-get-out-of/)

[Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/)

> [“SOD YOU, THEN, Death said.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/sod-you-then-death-said/)

[Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/)

> [“Even if you escaped this place, which is impossible,” Death said, “you would never reach her. I glanced up at Death. “So my plan…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kresley-cole/even-if-you-escaped-this-place-which-is-impossible-death-said-you/)

[Kresley Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kresley-cole/)

> [“YOU ARE NOT AFRAID? 'Not yet. But, er...which way to the egress, please?' There was a pause. Then Death said, in a puzzled voice:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/you-are-not-afraid-not-yet-but-er-which-way-to-the-egress-please/)

[Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/)

> [Celebrate my death for the good times I've had, For the work that I've done and the friends that I've made. Celebrate my death,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malvina-reynolds/celebrate-my-death-for-the-good-times-i-ve-had-for-the-work-that-i-ve/)

[Malvina Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malvina-reynolds/)

> [“The flame in her eyes was not of your usual sort, I take it.' Lucien shook his head. 'No. It spoke to nothing in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/the-flame-in-her-eyes-was-not-of-your-usual-sort-i-take-it-lucien/)

[Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/)

> [“Shall we proceed, and ought I do so with my knife drawn?” “You’d better keep it where it is for the moment,” he said.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loretta-chase/shall-we-proceed-and-ought-i-do-so-with-my-knife-drawn-you-d-better/)

[Loretta Chase](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loretta-chase/)

> [Thales said there was no difference between life and death. Why, then, said some one to him, do not you die? Because, said he,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diogenes-laertius/thales-said-there-was-no-difference-between-life-and-death-why-then/)

[Diogenes Laertius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diogenes-laertius/)

Browse all 47 Death Said quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“Taking Ogen’s temperature, I said, “Right on. I vote we swim it.” He whimpered. “No swim—NO SWIM!” Death commanded him in that foreign tongue, and he shut up. “Well, aren’t you a good wittle doggie, Ogen?” I said. “You know how to sit, stay, and hush even better than Lark’s wolves.” He stared, disbelieving that I’d just insulted him like that. “I am the DESECRATOR! I sit upon Lucifer’s knee!” “That makes total sense, Scooby.” With a puzzled expression, Death said, “You taunt him at your peril.” “What’s he going to do? Kill me?” Over my shoulder I told Ogen, “Get in line, dick.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Kresley Cole"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kresley-cole/taking-ogen-s-temperature-i-said-right-on-i-vote-we-swim-it-he/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Death Said"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kresley-cole/taking-ogen-s-temperature-i-said-right-on-i-vote-we-swim-it-he/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/afe/kresley-cole-334_quote_taking-ogen-s-temperature-i-said-right-o_496424.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/afe/kresley-cole-334_quote_taking-ogen-s-temperature-i-said-right-o_496424.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/afe/kresley-cole-334_quote_taking-ogen-s-temperature-i-said-right-o_496424.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Taking Ogen’s temperature, I said, “Right on. I vote we swim it.” He whimpered. “No swim—NO SWIM!” Death…” — Kresley Cole",
                "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": "Kresley Cole",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kresley-cole/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“Taking Ogen’s temperature, I said, “Right...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kresley-cole/taking-ogen-s-temperature-i-said-right-on-i-vote-we-swim-it-he/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kresley-cole/taking-ogen-s-temperature-i-said-right-on-i-vote-we-swim-it-he/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
