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Book Quote by Terry Pratchett

“Aziraphale collected books. If he were totally honest with himself he would have to have admitted that his bookshop was simply somewhere to store them. He was not unusual in this. In order to maintain his cover as a typical second-hand book seller, he used every means short of actual physical…” quote by Terry Pratchett
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“Aziraphale collected books. If he were totally honest with himself he would have to have admitted that his bookshop was simply somewhere to store them. He was not unusual in this. In order to maintain his cover as a typical second-hand book seller, he used every means short of actual physical violence to prevent customers from making a purchase. Unpleasant damp smells, glowering looks, erratic opening hours - he was incredibly good at it.”

Terry Pratchett

About This Quote

Source Novel: Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett, 1990

Aziraphale hides his true love of books behind a façade of a typical second‑hand shop, using subtle deterrents to avoid selling them.

In simple terms: He pretends his shop is just a storage place while secretly cherishing the books.

Key Takeaway

Accept your passions even if you must conceal them.

Themes

secrecy passion bookstore

Mood

wry reflective

Type

literary humorous

When to use this quote

  • running a used‑book shop
  • protecting personal collections
  • managing customer expectations

Key Concepts

deception love of literature self‑preservation

Questions to Reflect On

  • Do you hide what you truly love?
  • How can you balance honesty with self‑protection?
A Different Perspective

His tactics may alienate genuine customers and limit sales.

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