Doubt Quote by Terry Pratchett
““Right,' he said uncertainty. His mind was grinding through the problem. She was a witch. Just lately there'd been a lot of gossip about witches being bad for your health. He'd been told not to let witches pass, but no one had said anything about apple sellers. Apple sellers were not a problem. It was witches that were the problem. She'd said she was an apple seller and he wasn't about to doubt a witch's word.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: Discworld – The Color of Magic, 1983
A character rationalizes fear of witches while ignoring the real threat of an apple seller, highlighting selective paranoia.
In simple terms: Focusing on imagined dangers while missing real ones.
Key Takeaway
Question assumptions and seek evidence.
Themes
paranoia
logic
bias
storytelling
Mood
witty
thoughtful
Type
satirical
conversational
When to use this quote
- reading groups
- critical analysis classes
- creative writing
- media critique
- personal decision making
Key Concepts
Cognitive bias
critical thinking
fictional narrative
Questions to Reflect On
- What real threats are we overlooking?
- How does selective fear affect judgment?
A Different Perspective
The humor may downplay genuine concerns about misinformation.
