Human civilization Quote by Terry Pratchett
““The senior wizards of Unseen University stood and looked at the door. There was no doubt that whoever had shut it wanted it to stay shut. Dozens of nails secured it to the door frame. Planks had been nailed right across. And finally it had, up until this morning, been hidden by a bookcase that had been put in front of it. 'And there's the sign, Ridcully,' said the Dean. 'You have read it, I assume. You know? The sign which says "Do not, under any circumstances, open this door"?' 'Of course I've read it,' said Ridcully. 'Why d'yer think I want it opened?' 'Er ... why?' said the Lecturer in Recent Runes. 'To see why they wanted it shut, of course.' This exchange contains almost all you need to know about human civilization. At least, those bits of it that are now under the sea, fenced off or still smoking.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: Discworld – The Colour of Magic, 1983
A humorous scene shows how bureaucracy and secrecy can mask simple truths about human nature and history.
In simple terms: People hide things behind rules and doors.
Key Takeaway
Question what is being hidden and why.
Themes
bureaucracy
secrecy
human nature
history
humor
Mood
wry
reflective
critical
Type
literary
satirical
When to use this quote
- government archives
- family secrets
- personal boundaries
- institutional policies
Key Concepts
Power structures
information control
social commentary
Questions to Reflect On
- What doors in your life are unnecessarily closed?
- How does secrecy shape our understanding of history?
A Different Perspective
The joke may oversimplify complex societal issues.
