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Able Quote by Terry Pratchett

“Sam Vimes could parallel process. Most husbands can. They learn to follow their own line of thought while at the same time listening to what their wives say. And the listening is important, because at any time they could be challenged and must be ready to quote the last sentence in full. A vital…” quote by Terry Pratchett
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“Sam Vimes could parallel process. Most husbands can. They learn to follow their own line of thought while at the same time listening to what their wives say. And the listening is important, because at any time they could be challenged and must be ready to quote the last sentence in full. A vital additional skill is being able to scan the dialogue for telltale phrases such as "and they can deliver it tomorrow" or "so I've invited them for dinner?" or "they can do it in blue, really quite cheaply.”

Terry Pratchett

About This Quote

Source Novel: Guards! Guards! by Terry Pratchett, 1989

Men can juggle personal thoughts and partner input, staying ready to respond precisely when challenged.

In simple terms: Balancing self‑thought and listening lets husbands act quickly.

Key Takeaway

Practice mindful listening and quick recall.

Themes

communication relationships attention multitasking

Mood

thoughtful engaged

Type

advice observational

When to use this quote

  • marriage
  • team projects
  • conflict resolution
  • parenting

Key Concepts

active listening cognitive flexibility dialogue analysis

Questions to Reflect On

  • How can you ensure you hear underlying feelings?
  • What strategies help retain key details?
A Different Perspective

May overlook deeper emotions while focusing on surface cues.

2.2 out of 5 (3 ratings)

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