---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: ...\"but there is no doubt they intend to…"
description: "\"“...\"but there is no doubt they intend to kill us as dead as possible in a short time.\" - said the Wizard \"As dead as poss'ble would be pretty dead, wo..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc6/l-frank-baum-1339_inspirational_but-there-is-no-doubt-they-intend-to-kil_2125403.png"
---

#  ..."but there is no doubt they intend to kill us as dead…

![“..."but there is no doubt they intend to kill us as dead as possible in a short time." - said the Wizard "As dead as poss'ble would be pretty dead, wouldn't it?" asked Dorothy. from "Dorothy and the Wizard of Oz” quote by L. Frank Baum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc6/l-frank-baum-1339_inspirational_but-there-is-no-doubt-they-intend-to-kil_2125403.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc6/l-frank-baum-1339_inspirational_but-there-is-no-doubt-they-intend-to-kil_2125403.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc6/l-frank-baum-1339_inspirational_but-there-is-no-doubt-they-intend-to-kil_2125403.png)

> ““..."but there is no doubt they intend to kill us as dead as possible in a short time." - said the Wizard "As dead as poss'ble would be pretty dead, wouldn't it?" asked Dorothy. from "Dorothy and the Wizard of Oz””

[L. Frank Baum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-frank-baum/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Characters discuss the inevitability of death and the desire to avoid it.

**In simple terms:** They fear dying quickly and want to stay alive.

Key Takeaway

Consider the value of life and mortality.

Themes

mortality fear existence

Mood

thoughtful serious

Type

literary philosophical

When to use this quote

- life choices
- health crises
- ethical debates

Key Concepts

philosophical dialogue

Questions to Reflect On

- How does humor affect discussions of death?
- What does “dead as possible” imply about survival?

A Different Perspective

The quote mixes humor with serious existential concern.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Asked Dorothy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asked-dorothy-4357128/) [Dead Possible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dead-possible-884027/) [Dead Wouldn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dead-wouldn-2519498/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Said Wizard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said-wizard-350822/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Wizard Dead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wizard-dead-4357129/)

## Related quotes

> [Marine Le Pen may want me dead, that's possible, but she must not count on my co-operation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-marie-le-pen/marine-le-pen-may-want-me-dead-that-s-possible-but-she-must-not-count/)

[Jean-Marie Le Pen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-marie-le-pen/)

> [“Now then, Mr. Crab," said the zebra, "here are the people I told you about; and they know more than you do, who live…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-frank-baum/now-then-mr-crab-said-the-zebra-here-are-the-people-i-told-you-about/)

[L. Frank Baum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-frank-baum/)

> [“H.M.," said the Woggle-Bug, pompously, "means Highly Magnified; and T.E. means Thoroughly Educated. I am, in reality, a very big bug, and doubtless the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-frank-baum/h-m-said-the-woggle-bug-pompously-means-highly-magnified-and-t-e/)

[L. Frank Baum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-frank-baum/)

> [So it's conceivable I'll do something insane, or more insane than Dawn of the Dead. If that's possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-polley/so-it-s-conceivable-i-ll-do-something-insane-or-more-insane-than-dawn/)

[Sarah Polley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-polley/)

> [If I was dead, I wouldn't know I was dead. That's the only thing I have against death. I want to enjoy my death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-beckett/if-i-was-dead-i-wouldn-t-know-i-was-dead-that-s-the-only-thing-i-have/)

[Samuel Beckett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-beckett/)

> [He was giving up on keeping me alive, letting nature–or rather mob justice–take its course. When he returned, and I was dead, he wouldn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephenie-meyer/he-was-giving-up-on-keeping-me-alive-letting-nature-or-rather-mob/)

[Stephenie Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephenie-meyer/)

> [If I were dead, I wouldn't be sad, and I wouldn't be glad, because I wouldn't be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-sedgwick/if-i-were-dead-i-wouldn-t-be-sad-and-i-wouldn-t-be-glad-because-i/)

[Marcus Sedgwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-sedgwick/)

> [“There were two knives. One you had stuck through the painting, and the other was slitting your wrist. Remember that? Remember how I found…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-a-denzil/there-were-two-knives-one-you-had-stuck-through-the-painting-and-the/)

[Sarah A. Denzil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-a-denzil/)

> [“Funny how we'll do things for people after they're dead that we wouldn't do for them while they're still alive.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-g-hemry/funny-how-we-ll-do-things-for-people-after-they-re-dead-that-we/)

[John G. Hemry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-g-hemry/)

> [Oh Julie, wouldn’t I know if you were dead? Wouldn’t I feel it happening, like a jolt of electricity to my heart?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-wein/oh-julie-wouldn-t-i-know-if-you-were-dead-wouldn-t-i-feel-it/)

[Elizabeth Wein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-wein/)

> [No one should be posing for duck-lipped selfies with the plaque of the dead. That wouldn't be right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mira-grant/no-one-should-be-posing-for-duck-lipped-selfies-with-the-plaque-of/)

[Mira Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mira-grant/)

> [If I died would you care? Would my death even matter to you? Would you miss me? If we were arguing the night before,would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasmine/if-i-died-would-you-care-would-my-death-even-matter-to-you-would-you/)

[Jasmine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasmine/)

> [Wizard Howl," said Wizard Suliman. "I must apologize for trying to bite you so often. In the normal way, I wouldn't dream of setting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-wynne-jones/wizard-howl-said-wizard-suliman-i-must-apologize-for-trying-to-bite/)

[Diana Wynne Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-wynne-jones/)

> [“Delsani, you said that the Wizard and Witch Councils have joined?” said Saren curiously. “Yes. The Councils have decided to join together into one,”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-alan-ferguson/delsani-you-said-that-the-wizard-and-witch-councils-have-joined-said/)

[R. Alan Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-alan-ferguson/)

> [“There were more old people. The world was full of them,' said the wizard. 'Yes, I know. And now it's full of young people.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/there-were-more-old-people-the-world-was-full-of-them-said-the-wizard/)

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

## More by L. Frank Baum

> [No matter how dreary and gray our homes are, we people of flesh and blood would rather live there than in any other country,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-frank-baum/no-matter-how-dreary-and-gray-our-homes-are-we-people-of-flesh-and/)

[L. Frank Baum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-frank-baum/)

> [“The Tin Woodman knew very well he had no heart, and therefore he took great care never to be cruel or unkind to anything.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-frank-baum/the-tin-woodman-knew-very-well-he-had-no-heart-and-therefore-he-took/)

[L. Frank Baum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-frank-baum/)

> [The proud spirit of the original owners of these vast prairies inherited through centuries of fierce and bloody wars for their possession, lingered last…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-frank-baum/the-proud-spirit-of-the-original-owners-of-these-vast-prairies/)

[L. Frank Baum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-frank-baum/)

> [“If I had a heart”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-frank-baum/if-i-had-a-heart/)

[L. Frank Baum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-frank-baum/)

> [I believe that dreams - day dreams, you know, with your eyes wide open and your brain machinery whizzing - are likely to lead…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-frank-baum/i-believe-that-dreams-day-dreams-you-know-with-your-eyes-wide-open/)

[L. Frank Baum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-frank-baum/)

> [“Oh, no my dear. I'm a very good man. I'm just a very bad Wizard.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-frank-baum/oh-no-my-dear-i-m-a-very-good-man-i-m-just-a-very-bad-wizard/)

[L. Frank Baum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-frank-baum/)

> [“Perhaps I should admit on the title page that this book is "By L. Frank Baum and his correspondents," for I have used many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-frank-baum/perhaps-i-should-admit-on-the-title-page-that-this-book-is-by-l-frank/)

[L. Frank Baum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-frank-baum/)

> [Beautiful things may be admired, if not loved,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-frank-baum/beautiful-things-may-be-admired-if-not-loved/)

[L. Frank Baum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-frank-baum/)

> [My people have been wearing green glasses on their eyes for so long that most of them think this really is an Emerald City.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-frank-baum/my-people-have-been-wearing-green-glasses-on-their-eyes-for-so-long/)

[L. Frank Baum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-frank-baum/)

> [“cut the beast’s head clean”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-frank-baum/cut-the-beast-s-head-clean/)

[L. Frank Baum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-frank-baum/)

> [“When Dorothy stood in the doorway and looked around, she could see nothing but the great gray prairie on every side. Not a tree…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-frank-baum/when-dorothy-stood-in-the-doorway-and-looked-around-she-could-see/)

[L. Frank Baum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-frank-baum/)

> [“you do not I will make an end of you, as I did of the Tin Woodman and the Scarecrow." Dorothy followed her through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-frank-baum/you-do-not-i-will-make-an-end-of-you-as-i-did-of-the-tin-woodman-and/)

[L. Frank Baum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-frank-baum/)

> [“Don't tell anyone I'm a poet; they might want me to write a book. Don't tell 'em I can sing, or they'd want me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-frank-baum/don-t-tell-anyone-i-m-a-poet-they-might-want-me-to-write-a-book-don-t/)

[L. Frank Baum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-frank-baum/)

> [“It is but honest that I should acknowledge at the beginning of my recital that I was born an ordinary Woggle-Bug," began the creature,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-frank-baum/it-is-but-honest-that-i-should-acknowledge-at-the-beginning-of-my/)

[L. Frank Baum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-frank-baum/)

> [“Not willingly," admitted the tiger. "But here is the alternative; either you transform yourself into an eye for our child, or I and my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-frank-baum/not-willingly-admitted-the-tiger-but-here-is-the-alternative-either/)

[L. Frank Baum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-frank-baum/)

[Explore all 242 L. Frank Baum quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-frank-baum/)

## More Inspirational quotes

> [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/)

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

> [We talk to God--that is prayer; God talks to us--that is inspiration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-emilie-cady/we-talk-to-god-that-is-prayer-god-talks-to-us-that-is-inspiration/)

[H. Emilie Cady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-emilie-cady/)

> [You cant be controlling in improv.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-walsh/you-cant-be-controlling-in-improv/)

[Matt Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-walsh/)

> [The man who can master his time can master nearly anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/the-man-who-can-master-his-time-can-master-nearly-anything/)

[Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/)

> [You'll seldom experience regret for anything that you've done. It is what you haven't done that will torment you. The message, therefore, is clear.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-ll-seldom-experience-regret-for-anything-that-you-ve-done-it-is/)

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

> [Just understand that the good that you want is already here. All you have to do is get in harmony with it. And you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/just-understand-that-the-good-that-you-want-is-already-here-all-you/)

[Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/)

> [“If you want to build a ship, don’t drum up the men to gather wood, divide the work, and give orders. Instead, teach them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/if-you-want-to-build-a-ship-don-t-drum-up-the-men-to-gather-wood/)

[Antoine de Saint-Exupéry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/)

> [Obviously, if you don't love life, you can't enjoy an oyster.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-clark/obviously-if-you-don-t-love-life-you-can-t-enjoy-an-oyster/)

[Eleanor Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-clark/)

> [It's not the method, it's the mindset.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-gilbert/it-s-not-the-method-it-s-the-mindset/)

[Andy Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-gilbert/)

> [It's a hard thing to describe. It's just this sense that you got something to say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonah-lehrer/it-s-a-hard-thing-to-describe-it-s-just-this-sense-that-you-got/)

[Jonah Lehrer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonah-lehrer/)

> [Too much familiarity breeds contempt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/too-much-familiarity-breeds-contempt/)

[Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/)

> [We never really perceive what color is physically!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josef-albers/we-never-really-perceive-what-color-is-physically/)

[Josef Albers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josef-albers/)

> [Politics is not an issue whether you like or dislike , but every citizen must involve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khem-veasna/politics-is-not-an-issue-whether-you-like-or-dislike-but-every/)

[Khem Veasna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khem-veasna/)

> [God reveals Himself through surprises.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/god-reveals-himself-through-surprises/)

[Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/)

> [Never underestimate the power of the human mind to believe what it wants to believe, no matter the conflicting evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/never-underestimate-the-power-of-the-human-mind-to-believe-what-it/)

[Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/)

[Browse all 114,561 Inspirational quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“...\"but there is no doubt they intend to kill us as dead as possible in a short time.\" - said the Wizard \"As dead as poss'ble would be pretty dead, wouldn't it?\" asked Dorothy. from \"Dorothy and the Wizard of Oz”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "L. Frank Baum"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-frank-baum/but-there-is-no-doubt-they-intend-to-kill-us-as-dead-as-possible-in-a/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Inspirational"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-frank-baum/but-there-is-no-doubt-they-intend-to-kill-us-as-dead-as-possible-in-a/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc6/l-frank-baum-1339_inspirational_but-there-is-no-doubt-they-intend-to-kil_2125403.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc6/l-frank-baum-1339_inspirational_but-there-is-no-doubt-they-intend-to-kil_2125403.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc6/l-frank-baum-1339_inspirational_but-there-is-no-doubt-they-intend-to-kil_2125403.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“...\"but there is no doubt they intend to kill us as dead as possible in a short time.\" - said the Wizard \"As…” — L. Frank Baum",
                "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": "L. Frank Baum",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-frank-baum/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“...\"but there is no doubt they...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-frank-baum/but-there-is-no-doubt-they-intend-to-kill-us-as-dead-as-possible-in-a/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-frank-baum/but-there-is-no-doubt-they-intend-to-kill-us-as-dead-as-possible-in-a/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```