--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In which witches will be witches" description: "\"“In which witches will be witches”\" — Neal Stephenson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b38/neal-stephenson-362_witch_in-which-witches-will-be-witches-326220_326220.png" --- # In which witches will be witches ![“In which witches will be witches” quote by Neal Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b38/neal-stephenson-362_witch_in-which-witches-will-be-witches-326220_326220.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b38/neal-stephenson-362_witch_in-which-witches-will-be-witches-326220_326220.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b38/neal-stephenson-362_witch_in-which-witches-will-be-witches-326220_326220.png) > ““In which witches will be witches”” [Neal Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-stephenson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The phrase plays with the idea that identity and destiny are shaped by choices, implying that witches are defined by their actions rather than labels. **In simple terms:** Identity is shaped by choices, not labels. Key Takeaway Embrace agency over predetermined roles. Themes identity choice destiny labels Mood thoughtful provocative Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - character development - role‑playing games Key Concepts self‑determination social roles narrative agency Questions to Reflect On - What choices define who you are? - How do societal labels affect personal destiny? A Different Perspective Labels can limit personal growth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Witch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/witch/) [Witches](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/witches/) [Witches Witches](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/witches-witches-1225628/) ## Related quotes > [Witches don’t look like anything. Witches are. Witches do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franny-billingsley/witches-don-t-look-like-anything-witches-are-witches-do/) [Franny Billingsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franny-billingsley/) > [“Jarret supporters have been known, now and then, to form mobs and burn people at the stake for being witches. Witches! In 2032! A…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavia-e-butler/jarret-supporters-have-been-known-now-and-then-to-form-mobs-and-burn/) [Octavia E. Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavia-e-butler/) > [Witches never existed, except in people’s minds. All there was in the olden days was women and some men who believed in herbal cures…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-rankin/witches-never-existed-except-in-people-s-minds-all-there-was-in-the/) [Ian Rankin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-rankin/) > [“The archetype of the witch is long overdue for celebration. Daughters, mothers, queens, virgins, wives, et al. derive meaning from their relation to another…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pamela-j-grossman/the-archetype-of-the-witch-is-long-overdue-for-celebration-daughters/) [Pamela J. Grossman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pamela-j-grossman/) > [I know of the leafy paths that the witches take Who come with their crowns of pearl and their spindles of wool, And their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-butler-yeats/i-know-of-the-leafy-paths-that-the-witches-take-who-come-with-their/) [William Butler Yeats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-butler-yeats/) > [ In Charn \[Jadis\] had taken no notice of Polly (till the very end) because Digory was the one she wanted to make use of.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/in-charn-jadis-had-taken-no-notice-of-polly-till-the-very-end-because/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [People read a lot of stories about witches, fairies, paranormals, and children possessed by evil spirits. They go to films showing rituals featuring pentagrams,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/people-read-a-lot-of-stories-about-witches-fairies-paranormals-and/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [“Burning the witch Giordano Bruno is one more wound inflicted on Christ’s body.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dejan-stojanovic/burning-the-witch-giordano-bruno-is-one-more-wound-inflicted-on/) [Dejan Stojanovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dejan-stojanovic/) > [At present, I myself do not know of any local witches or warlocks, but there are several people who seem to have an uncanny…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-f-k-fisher/at-present-i-myself-do-not-know-of-any-local-witches-or-warlocks-but/) [M. F. K. Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-f-k-fisher/) > [“Xander: It could be witches, some evil witches, which is ridiculous cause witched they were persecuted, women power, love the eatrh, and I'll be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joss-whedon/xander-it-could-be-witches-some-evil-witches-which-is-ridiculous/) [Joss Whedon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joss-whedon/) > [To me, witches are the most divine creatures. I always thought of them not as old crones with double chins and dunce hats, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-moorehead/to-me-witches-are-the-most-divine-creatures-i-always-thought-of-them/) [Agnes Moorehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-moorehead/) > [“Most witches don’t believe in gods. They know that the gods exist, of course. They even deal with them occasionally. But they don’t believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/most-witches-don-t-believe-in-gods-they-know-that-the-gods-exist-of/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“Why is it every time a madman's prayers are answered, a witch burns?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-danielle-dorn/why-is-it-every-time-a-madman-s-prayers-are-answered-a-witch-burns/) [J. Danielle Dorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-danielle-dorn/) > [Witches are a cold breed who keep unto themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-moorehead/witches-are-a-cold-breed-who-keep-unto-themselves/) [Agnes Moorehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-moorehead/) > [Men feared witches and burned women.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-d-brandeis/men-feared-witches-and-burned-women/) [Louis D. Brandeis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-d-brandeis/) ## More by Neal Stephenson > [“I study dead languages for a living,” I said. “That’s why you hired me. Why should I be up to speed on your line…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-stephenson/i-study-dead-languages-for-a-living-i-said-that-s-why-you-hired-me/) [Neal Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-stephenson/) > [“Other people - store clerks, burger flippers, software engineers, the whole vocabulary of meaningless jobs that make up Life in America - other people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-stephenson/other-people-store-clerks-burger-flippers-software-engineers-the/) [Neal Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-stephenson/) > [“It is what you don’t expect,” he’d said, “that most needs looking for.” “Do”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-stephenson/it-is-what-you-don-t-expect-he-d-said-that-most-needs-looking-for-do/) [Neal Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-stephenson/) > [“...the insects here see you as a big slab of animated but not very well defended food. The ability to move, far from being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-stephenson/the-insects-here-see-you-as-a-big-slab-of-animated-but-not-very-well/) [Neal Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-stephenson/) > [“There was no way that these guys were going to let a bleeding, barefoot woman simply wander off alone into the streets. Two of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-stephenson/there-was-no-way-that-these-guys-were-going-to-let-a-bleeding/) [Neal Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-stephenson/) > [“Space and Time! Two minor omissions that no one is likely to notice," grumbled Newton.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-stephenson/space-and-time-two-minor-omissions-that-no-one-is-likely-to-notice/) [Neal Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-stephenson/) > [See, the world is full of things more powerful than us. But if you know how to catch a ride, you can go places,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-stephenson/see-the-world-is-full-of-things-more-powerful-than-us-but-if-you-know/) [Neal Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-stephenson/) > [“Hey,” Shaftoe says, “if we surrender to you, you’ll kill us. Right?” “Yes.” “If you guys surrender to us, we won’t kill you. Promise.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-stephenson/hey-shaftoe-says-if-we-surrender-to-you-you-ll-kill-us-right-yes-if/) [Neal Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-stephenson/) > [“My men think you are dead now, and won’t waste balls on you,” Jack said. “In fact I have let you live, but for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-stephenson/my-men-think-you-are-dead-now-and-won-t-waste-balls-on-you-jack-said/) [Neal Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-stephenson/) > [“You’ve probably heard the expression that the Industry feeds off of biomass, like a whale straining krill from the ocean.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-stephenson/you-ve-probably-heard-the-expression-that-the-industry-feeds-off-of/) [Neal Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-stephenson/) > [“The Deliverator belongs to an elite order, a hallowed subcategory. He’s got esprit up to here. Right now, he is preparing to carry out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-stephenson/the-deliverator-belongs-to-an-elite-order-a-hallowed-subcategory-he-s/) [Neal Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-stephenson/) > [Interesting things happen along borders - transitions - not in the middle where everything is the same.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-stephenson/interesting-things-happen-along-borders-transitions-not-in-the-middle/) [Neal Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-stephenson/) > [“and people could only make sense of complicated matters through stories. Likewise”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-stephenson/and-people-could-only-make-sense-of-complicated-matters-through/) [Neal Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-stephenson/) > [“Van Eck phreaking,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-stephenson/van-eck-phreaking/) [Neal Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-stephenson/) > [“When the Deliverator puts the hammer down, shit happens.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-stephenson/when-the-deliverator-puts-the-hammer-down-shit-happens/) [Neal Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-stephenson/) [Explore all 633 Neal Stephenson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-stephenson/) ## More Witch quotes > [We're like the wicked witch. We promise gingerbread, then eat the little brats alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/we-re-like-the-wicked-witch-we-promise-gingerbread-then-eat-the/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [“You’re the witch, dude.  I’m the data geek. ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debora-geary/you-re-the-witch-dude-i-m-the-data-geek/) [Debora Geary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debora-geary/) > [“have no interest in prisoners or battling today,” Manon said. The Queen of Terrasen gave her a grin. “Good.” Manon turned away, barking at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/have-no-interest-in-prisoners-or-battling-today-manon-said-the-queen/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [Those old hypocrites. They talk about killing witches but the Good Book’s full of magic. Turning the Nile to blood and parting the Red…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-barker/those-old-hypocrites-they-talk-about-killing-witches-but-the-good/) [Clive Barker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-barker/) > [Men feared witches and burned women.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-d-brandeis/men-feared-witches-and-burned-women/) [Louis D. Brandeis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-d-brandeis/) > [Witches are a cold breed who keep unto themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-moorehead/witches-are-a-cold-breed-who-keep-unto-themselves/) [Agnes Moorehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-moorehead/) > [It was lonely on the hill, and cold. And all you could do was keep going. You could scream, cry, and stamp your feet,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/it-was-lonely-on-the-hill-and-cold-and-all-you-could-do-was-keep/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [Actually,” I said, hesitant to bring it up, “I was thinking along the lines of a curse that can turn you human.” “Or witch?”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-harrison/actually-i-said-hesitant-to-bring-it-up-i-was-thinking-along-the/) [Kim Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-harrison/) > [Don't yield to that alluring witch, laziness, or else be prepared to surrender all that you have won in your better moments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace/don-t-yield-to-that-alluring-witch-laziness-or-else-be-prepared-to/) [Horace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace/) > [Everyone loves a witch hunt as long as it's someone else's witch being hunted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-kirn/everyone-loves-a-witch-hunt-as-long-as-it-s-someone-else-s-witch/) [Walter Kirn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-kirn/) > [The Witch' was very well planned, but 'The Lighthouse' was so much more so.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-eggers/the-witch-was-very-well-planned-but-the-lighthouse-was-so-much-more-so/) [Robert Eggers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-eggers/) > [“Why is it every time a madman's prayers are answered, a witch burns?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-danielle-dorn/why-is-it-every-time-a-madman-s-prayers-are-answered-a-witch-burns/) [J. Danielle Dorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-danielle-dorn/) > [“Too much power. Too much. Even the Blood weren’t meant to wield this much power. Even Witch had never controlled this much power. This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-bishop/too-much-power-too-much-even-the-blood-weren-t-meant-to-wield-this/) [Anne Bishop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-bishop/) > [We wanted to make Tucker's Witch just more human and playful, because I don't think we see enough playfulness between characters on TV. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-matheson/we-wanted-to-make-tucker-s-witch-just-more-human-and-playful-because/) [Tim Matheson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-matheson/) > [The Witch's Life" When I was a child there was an old woman in our neighborhood whom we called The Witch. All day she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-sexton/the-witch-s-life-when-i-was-a-child-there-was-an-old-woman-in-our/) [Anne Sexton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-sexton/) [Browse all 1,112 Witch quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/witch/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“In which witches will be witches”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Neal Stephenson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-stephenson/in-which-witches-will-be-witches/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Witch" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-stephenson/in-which-witches-will-be-witches/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b38/neal-stephenson-362_witch_in-which-witches-will-be-witches-326220_326220.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b38/neal-stephenson-362_witch_in-which-witches-will-be-witches-326220_326220.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b38/neal-stephenson-362_witch_in-which-witches-will-be-witches-326220_326220.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“In which witches will be witches” — Neal Stephenson", "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": "Neal Stephenson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-stephenson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“In which witches will be witches”", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-stephenson/in-which-witches-will-be-witches/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-stephenson/in-which-witches-will-be-witches/#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 } } ] } ```