--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: my father said, \"when in dount, castle" description: "\"“my father said, \"when in dount, castle”\" — Kurt Vonnegut" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f84/kurt-vonnegut-41_father_my-father-said-when-in-dount-castle-2049_2049991.jpg" --- # my father said, "when in dount, castle ![“my father said, "when in dount, castle” quote by Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f84/kurt-vonnegut-41_father_my-father-said-when-in-dount-castle-2049_2049991.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f84/kurt-vonnegut-41_father_my-father-said-when-in-dount-castle-2049_2049991.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f84/kurt-vonnegut-41_father_my-father-said-when-in-dount-castle-2049_2049991.jpg) > ““my father said, "when in dount, castle”” [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The father advises that in doubt, one should retreat to a castle, implying seeking safety or a stronghold. **In simple terms:** In doubt, retreat to a safe place Key Takeaway Find a secure refuge when uncertain Themes advice metaphor decision making Mood thoughtful cautious Type advice metaphor When to use this quote - personal crises - career decisions - relationship conflicts - emotional turmoil Key Concepts psychological safety strategic retreat personal sanctuary Questions to Reflect On - When do you seek a “castle”? - What does your “castle” represent? A Different Perspective Retreat may delay confronting issues ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Castle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/castle/) [Father](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/father/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) ## Related quotes > [My father said, ‘When in doubt, castle.’](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/my-father-said-when-in-doubt-castle/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [It's like my father always said to me, he said to me, he said, Roseanna Roseanadana, it's always something. If it isn't one thing--it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilda-radner/it-s-like-my-father-always-said-to-me-he-said-to-me-he-said-roseanna/) [Gilda Radner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilda-radner/) > [“Well finish your story anyway." Where was I?" The bubonic plague. The bulldozer was stalled by corpses." Oh, yes. Anyway, one sleepless night I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/well-finish-your-story-anyway-where-was-i-the-bubonic-plague-the/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [After the thing went off, after it was a sure thing that America could wipe out a city with just one bomb, a scientist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/after-the-thing-went-off-after-it-was-a-sure-thing-that-america-could/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [Son,' my father said to me, 'someday this will all be yours.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/son-my-father-said-to-me-someday-this-will-all-be-yours/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [ \[Erwin Rommel\] explained why in short words, what the two generals' message and then he explained his position and he gave some reason for… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manfred-rommel/erwin-rommel-explained-why-in-short-words-what-the-two-generals/) [Manfred Rommel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manfred-rommel/) > [If Inigo Montoya were around now, he wouldn't need to storm the castle to bring his father's murderer to justice; the police would do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-bloom/if-inigo-montoya-were-around-now-he-wouldn-t-need-to-storm-the-castle/) [Paul Bloom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-bloom/) > [“I loved your father,” she said. “I don’t mean just love like a good friend. I mean I’d have hopped into bed with him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-bradford/i-loved-your-father-she-said-i-don-t-mean-just-love-like-a-good/) [Richard Bradford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-bradford/) > [And what is literature, Rabo," he said, "but an insider's newsletter about affairs relating to molecules, of no importance to anything in the universe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/and-what-is-literature-rabo-he-said-but-an-insider-s-newsletter-about/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [I took a lot of influences from Studio Ghibli, which is the Japanese animation studio that made 'Spirited Away' and 'Castle in the Sky.'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-hewlett/i-took-a-lot-of-influences-from-studio-ghibli-which-is-the-japanese/) [Jamie Hewlett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-hewlett/) > [Happiness is always the inaccessible castle which sinks in ruin when we set foot on it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arsene-houssaye/happiness-is-always-the-inaccessible-castle-which-sinks-in-ruin-when/) [Arsene Houssaye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arsene-houssaye/) > [The first Westerns I saw as a child were those little 8-mm. home movies put out by Castle Films.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-pullman/the-first-westerns-i-saw-as-a-child-were-those-little-8-mm-home/) [Bill Pullman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-pullman/) > [“When you master a language, you are given the key to a castle. What you’ll find inside depends on you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elif-shafak/when-you-master-a-language-you-are-given-the-key-to-a-castle-what-you/) [Elif Shafak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elif-shafak/) > [I will build you a castle with a tower so high it reaches the moon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/smokey-robinson/i-will-build-you-a-castle-with-a-tower-so-high-it-reaches-the-moon/) [Smokey Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/smokey-robinson/) > [I especially like the songs Hurry Up and The Curse Of Castle Dragon, and I often include them in my live show.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-gilbert/i-especially-like-the-songs-hurry-up-and-the-curse-of-castle-dragon/) [Paul Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-gilbert/) ## More by Kurt Vonnegut > [“You must bloom as a writer and I must bloom as a painter. Everything else about us is uninteresting.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/you-must-bloom-as-a-writer-and-i-must-bloom-as-a-painter-everything/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“People aren't supposed to look back.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/people-aren-t-supposed-to-look-back/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“Have a good nap, did you?” said the porter. “Yes,” said Billy. “Man,” said the porter, “you sure had a hard-on.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/have-a-good-nap-did-you-said-the-porter-yes-said-billy-man-said-the/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“I told him that if we doubted that we are demons in Hell, he should read The Mysterious Stranger, which Mark Twain wrote in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/i-told-him-that-if-we-doubted-that-we-are-demons-in-hell-he-should/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [ “Thomas Jefferson High School \[..\] His high school was named after a slave owner who was also one of the world’s greatest theoreticians on… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/thomas-jefferson-high-school-his-high-school-was-named-after-a-slave/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“I had a certain amount of skill as a dramatist, and Dr. Goebbels wanted me to use it”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/i-had-a-certain-amount-of-skill-as-a-dramatist-and-dr-goebbels-wanted/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [I was some of the mud that got to sit up and look around. Lucky me, lucky mud.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/i-was-some-of-the-mud-that-got-to-sit-up-and-look-around-lucky-me/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“The town was Newport, Rhode Island, U.S.A., Earth, Solar System, Milky Way.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/the-town-was-newport-rhode-island-u-s-a-earth-solar-system-milky-way/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“Her face was one of a kind, a surprising variation that made observers think, Yes--that would be another very nice way for people to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/her-face-was-one-of-a-kind-a-surprising-variation-that-made-observers/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“You finally fell in love, I see,” said Salo. “Only an Earthling year ago,” said Constant. “It took us that long to realize that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/you-finally-fell-in-love-i-see-said-salo-only-an-earthling-year-ago/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“Like all Earthlings at the point of death, Mary Young sent faint reminders of herself to those who had known her. She released a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/like-all-earthlings-at-the-point-of-death-mary-young-sent-faint/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“And contrast Mary Kathleen, if you will, with my wife Ruth, the Ophelia of the death camps, who believed that even the most intelligent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/and-contrast-mary-kathleen-if-you-will-with-my-wife-ruth-the-ophelia/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [Someday, someday, this crazy world will have to end, And our God will take things back that He to us did lend. And if,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/someday-someday-this-crazy-world-will-have-to-end-and-our-god-will/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“They were going back to the slaughterhouse for souvenirs of the war.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/they-were-going-back-to-the-slaughterhouse-for-souvenirs-of-the-war/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“There are plenty of good reasons for fighting," I said, "but no good reason ever to hate without reservation, to imagine that God Almighty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/there-are-plenty-of-good-reasons-for-fighting-i-said-but-no-good/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) [Explore all 2,089 Kurt Vonnegut quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) ## More Castle quotes > [I especially like the songs Hurry Up and The Curse Of Castle Dragon, and I often include them in my live show.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-gilbert/i-especially-like-the-songs-hurry-up-and-the-curse-of-castle-dragon/) [Paul Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-gilbert/) > [My father said, ‘When in doubt, castle.’](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/my-father-said-when-in-doubt-castle/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [Happiness is always the inaccessible castle which sinks in ruin when we set foot on it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arsene-houssaye/happiness-is-always-the-inaccessible-castle-which-sinks-in-ruin-when/) [Arsene Houssaye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arsene-houssaye/) > [I took a lot of influences from Studio Ghibli, which is the Japanese animation studio that made 'Spirited Away' and 'Castle in the Sky.'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-hewlett/i-took-a-lot-of-influences-from-studio-ghibli-which-is-the-japanese/) [Jamie Hewlett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-hewlett/) > [If Inigo Montoya were around now, he wouldn't need to storm the castle to bring his father's murderer to justice; the police would do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-bloom/if-inigo-montoya-were-around-now-he-wouldn-t-need-to-storm-the-castle/) [Paul Bloom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-bloom/) > [The first Westerns I saw as a child were those little 8-mm. home movies put out by Castle Films.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-pullman/the-first-westerns-i-saw-as-a-child-were-those-little-8-mm-home/) [Bill Pullman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-pullman/) > [“When you master a language, you are given the key to a castle. What you’ll find inside depends on you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elif-shafak/when-you-master-a-language-you-are-given-the-key-to-a-castle-what-you/) [Elif Shafak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elif-shafak/) > [I will build you a castle with a tower so high it reaches the moon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/smokey-robinson/i-will-build-you-a-castle-with-a-tower-so-high-it-reaches-the-moon/) [Smokey Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/smokey-robinson/) > [“This is not one of your fictions where people bleed ink.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence-paul-winter/this-is-not-one-of-your-fictions-where-people-bleed-ink/) Terence Paul Winter > [You dont need a castle to be her prince. Just treat your princess right and youl be a prince in her eyes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-dont-need-a-castle-to-be-her-prince-just-treat-your-princess/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [An Englishman's home is his castle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/english-proverb/an-englishman-s-home-is-his-castle/) English Proverb > [The Magic Castle is not a place that people know nationally, but as soon as you move to L.A., you hear people talk about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-rust/the-magic-castle-is-not-a-place-that-people-know-nationally-but-as/) [Paul Rust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-rust/) > [“The Castle can be rebuilt, in time. It's not the walls that make a lord, it's the man. - Stannis Baratheon”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin/the-castle-can-be-rebuilt-in-time-it-s-not-the-walls-that-make-a-lord/) [George R.R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin/) > [“Mahoney sees that she is locked down and bolted. If she were a castle she would have wound up the drawbridge and woken the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jess-kidd/mahoney-sees-that-she-is-locked-down-and-bolted-if-she-were-a-castle/) [Jess Kidd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jess-kidd/) > [The house of every one is to him as his castle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-coke/the-house-of-every-one-is-to-him-as-his-castle/) [Edward Coke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-coke/) [Browse all 265 Castle quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/castle/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“my father said, \"when in dount, castle”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Kurt Vonnegut" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/my-father-said-when-in-dount-castle/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Castle" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/my-father-said-when-in-dount-castle/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f84/kurt-vonnegut-41_father_my-father-said-when-in-dount-castle-2049_2049991.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f84/kurt-vonnegut-41_father_my-father-said-when-in-dount-castle-2049_2049991.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f84/kurt-vonnegut-41_father_my-father-said-when-in-dount-castle-2049_2049991.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“my father said, \"when in dount, castle” — Kurt Vonnegut", "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": "Kurt Vonnegut", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“my father said, \"when in dount,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/my-father-said-when-in-dount-castle/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/my-father-said-when-in-dount-castle/#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 } } ] } ```