---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Any true wizard, faced with a sign like…"
description: "\"Any true wizard, faced with a sign like 'Do not open this door. Really. We mean it. We're not kidding. Opening this door will mean the end of the unive..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/607/terry-pratchett-19_door_any-true-wizard-faced-with-a-sign-like-d_2391023.jpg"
---

#  Any true wizard, faced with a sign like 'Do not open this…

![“Any true wizard, faced with a sign like 'Do not open this door. Really. We mean it. We're not kidding. Opening this door will mean the end of the universe,' would automatically open the door in order to see what all the fuss is about. This made signs rather a waste of time, but at least it meant…” quote by Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/607/terry-pratchett-19_door_any-true-wizard-faced-with-a-sign-like-d_2391023.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/607/terry-pratchett-19_door_any-true-wizard-faced-with-a-sign-like-d_2391023.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/607/terry-pratchett-19_door_any-true-wizard-faced-with-a-sign-like-d_2391023.jpg)

> “Any true wizard, faced with a sign like 'Do not open this door. Really. We mean it. We're not kidding. Opening this door will mean the end of the universe,' would automatically open the door in order to see what all the fuss is about. This made signs rather a waste of time, but at least it meant that when you handed what was left of the wizard to his grieving relatives you could say, as they grasped the jar, 'We told him not to.”

[Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

A wizard disregards a warning sign, leading to chaos, highlighting human curiosity and folly.

**In simple terms:** Ignoring warnings can cause disaster.

Key Takeaway

Think before acting on curiosity.

Themes

curiosity folly warning consequences

Mood

cautious reflective

Type

literary humorous

When to use this quote

- exploration
- science experiments
- adventure
- risk assessment

Key Concepts

Human nature risk decision making

Questions to Reflect On

- What would you do when faced with a dire warning?
- When is it wise to defy authority?

A Different Perspective

Blind curiosity can be dangerous.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Grieving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grieving/) [Open Door](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/open-door/) [Order](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/order/) [Universe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/universe/) [Waste](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/waste/) [Waste of time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/waste-of-time/) [Wasting time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wasting-time/) [Wizards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wizards/)

## Related quotes

> [The way the neurotic sees it: bars on his door mean that he's locked in; bars on your door mean that he's locked out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mignon-mclaughlin/the-way-the-neurotic-sees-it-bars-on-his-door-mean-that-he-s-locked/)

[Mignon McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mignon-mclaughlin/)

> [The sign, which says: "Do not, under any circumstances, open this door!" - Of course, I've read it. Why do you think I want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/the-sign-which-says-do-not-under-any-circumstances-open-this-door-of/)

[Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/)

> [“That's too bad," Mr. Hall said, opening Door 1. "You've won a goat." "But you didn't open another door yet or give me a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monty-hall/that-s-too-bad-mr-hall-said-opening-door-1-you-ve-won-a-goat-but-you/)

[Monty Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monty-hall/)

> [Igor?' said Moist. 'You have an Igor?' Oh, yes,' said Hubert. 'That's how I get this wonderful light. They know the secret of storing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/igor-said-moist-you-have-an-igor-oh-yes-said-hubert-that-s-how-i-get/)

[Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/)

> [“There was a stack of jars containing deliquescent bath salts, to which someone had fixed a rather sad and jaunty little notice announcing, in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/there-was-a-stack-of-jars-containing-deliquescent-bath-salts-to-which/)

[Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/)

> [He helped the Librarian up. There was a red glow in the ape's eyes. It had tried to steal his books. This was probably…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/he-helped-the-librarian-up-there-was-a-red-glow-in-the-ape-s-eyes-it/)

[Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/)

> [“The wizards were good at wind, weather being a matter not of force but of lepidoptery.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/the-wizards-were-good-at-wind-weather-being-a-matter-not-of-force-but/)

[Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/)

> [“The library was full of wizards, who care about their books in the same way that ants care about their eggs and in time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/the-library-was-full-of-wizards-who-care-about-their-books-in-the/)

[Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/)

> [“It was like ... like wizardry, but without the wizards and the mess.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/it-was-like-like-wizardry-but-without-the-wizards-and-the-mess/)

[Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/)

> [“Good so be would you if, duff plum of helping second A," said the Bursar. The table fell silent. "Did anyone understand that?" said…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/good-so-be-would-you-if-duff-plum-of-helping-second-a-said-the-bursar/)

[Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/)

> [An ancient proverb summed it up when a wizard is tired of looking for broken glass in his dinner, it ran, he is tired…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/an-ancient-proverb-summed-it-up-when-a-wizard-is-tired-of-looking-for/)

[Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/)

> [Do you know how wizards like to be buried?" "Yes!" "Well, how?" Granny Weatherwax paused at the bottom of the stairs. "Reluctantly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/do-you-know-how-wizards-like-to-be-buried-yes-well-how-granny/)

[Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/)

> [“There were really only four kind of people in the world: men and women and wizards and witches.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/there-were-really-only-four-kind-of-people-in-the-world-men-and-women/)

[Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/)

> [Do not meddle in the affairs of wizards because a refusal often offends, I read somewhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/do-not-meddle-in-the-affairs-of-wizards-because-a-refusal-often/)

[Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/)

> [I'm not the world's greatest expert, but I would have thought that the wizards, witches, trolls, unicorns, ... broomsticks and spells would have given…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/i-m-not-the-world-s-greatest-expert-but-i-would-have-thought-that-the/)

[Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/)

## More by Terry Pratchett

> [“This one’s mental.’ ‘Eccentric.’ ‘What’s the difference?’ ‘A bag of cash.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/this-one-s-mental-eccentric-what-s-the-difference-a-bag-of-cash/)

[Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/)

> [“But I did not return until half past four this morning and I distinctly remember stubbing my toe on the stairs. I am as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/but-i-did-not-return-until-half-past-four-this-morning-and-i/)

[Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/)

> [“The universe contains any amount of horrible ways to be woken up, such as the noise of the mob breaking down the front door,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/the-universe-contains-any-amount-of-horrible-ways-to-be-woken-up-such/)

[Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/)

> [“Someone broke from the scrum and, punching and kicking, staggered towards the Klatchian goal. "Isn't that man your butler?" said Ahmed. "Yes." "One of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/someone-broke-from-the-scrum-and-punching-and-kicking-staggered/)

[Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/)

> [It's an interesting fact that fewer than 17 % of Real cats end their lives with the same name they started with. Much family…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/it-s-an-interesting-fact-that-fewer-than-17-of-real-cats-end-their/)

[Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/)

> [You can't trust folk songs. They always sneak up on you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/you-can-t-trust-folk-songs-they-always-sneak-up-on-you/)

[Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/)

> [Either dragons should exist completely or fail to exist at all, he felt. A dragon only half-existing was worse than the extremes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/either-dragons-should-exist-completely-or-fail-to-exist-at-all-he/)

[Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/)

> [“Magrat wondered what it was like, spending your whole life doing something you didn’t want to do. Like being dead, she considered, only worse,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/magrat-wondered-what-it-was-like-spending-your-whole-life-doing/)

[Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/)

> [A hardback's harder at Christmas time because that's a good hardback buying time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/a-hardback-s-harder-at-christmas-time-because-that-s-a-good-hardback/)

[Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/)

> [“There were more old people. The world was full of them,' said the wizard. 'Yes, I know. And now it's full of young people.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/there-were-more-old-people-the-world-was-full-of-them-said-the-wizard/)

[Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/)

> [“Hobson was big and heavyset, but not exactly fat; he was probably what you’d get if you shaved a bear.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/hobson-was-big-and-heavyset-but-not-exactly-fat-he-was-probably-what/)

[Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/)

> [“There is a night that never comes to an end… The clock of the world turns under its own shadow. Midnight is a moving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/there-is-a-night-that-never-comes-to-an-end-the-clock-of-the-world/)

[Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/)

> [“You'd like Freedom, Truth, and Justice, wouldn't you, Comrade Sergeant?' said Reg encouragingly. 'I'd like a hard-boiled egg,' said Vimes, shaking the match out.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/you-d-like-freedom-truth-and-justice-wouldn-t-you-comrade-sergeant/)

[Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/)

> [“You are not apprehensive, are you? I can't detect no trace of fear none whatsoever Roomy cranium all possible videos of all possible outcomes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/you-are-not-apprehensive-are-you-i-can-t-detect-no-trace-of-fear-none/)

[Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/)

> [Imagination, not intelligence, made us human.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/imagination-not-intelligence-made-us-human/)

[Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/)

[Explore all 3,328 Terry Pratchett quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/)

## More Door quotes

> [Strange - is it not? That of the myriads who Before us passed the door of Darkness through, Not one returns to tell us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace/strange-is-it-not-that-of-the-myriads-who-before-us-passed-the-door/)

[Horace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace/)

> [When one door closes another doesn't just open, you can either open the same door or open a different one...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-one-door-closes-another-doesn-t-just-open-you-can-either-open/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I wonder: when a Jehovah's Witness dies and goes to Heaven, does God hide behind the door and pretend He's not home?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-celio/i-wonder-when-a-jehovah-s-witness-dies-and-goes-to-heaven-does-god/)

[Brian Celio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-celio/)

> [We can't love a place or a person if we always have one foot out the door.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-weiner/we-can-t-love-a-place-or-a-person-if-we-always-have-one-foot-out-the/)

[Eric Weiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-weiner/)

> [Kindness unlocks doors that were thought to be closed forever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/unkown/kindness-unlocks-doors-that-were-thought-to-be-closed-forever/)

Unkown

> [Dear parents,knocking while open the door to my bedroom kind of defeats the purpose of knocking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/dear-parents-knocking-while-open-the-door-to-my-bedroom-kind-of/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [There are times when we can feel destiny close around us like a fist around a doorknob. Sure, we can resist. But a knob…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/there-are-times-when-we-can-feel-destiny-close-around-us-like-a-fist/)

[Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/)

> [I won't be managing the Mets. I am closing the door on managing the Mets and probably everybody else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-torre/i-won-t-be-managing-the-mets-i-am-closing-the-door-on-managing-the/)

[Joe Torre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-torre/)

> [If opportunity doesnt knock, build a door…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-opportunity-doesnt-knock-build-a-door/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Couples Therapy' is pretty big for me because it's opening the door to a new audience - a hip-hop following, which I feel is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carmen-carrera/couples-therapy-is-pretty-big-for-me-because-it-s-opening-the-door-to/)

[Carmen Carrera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carmen-carrera/)

> [“Happiness isn't something that you plan for. It comes knocking unexpectedly, just like opportunity. And it's up to you to answer the door and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/autumn-doughton/happiness-isn-t-something-that-you-plan-for-it-comes-knocking/)

[Autumn Doughton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/autumn-doughton/)

> [Nothing attracts me like a closed door.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-bourke-white/nothing-attracts-me-like-a-closed-door/)

[Margaret Bourke-White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-bourke-white/)

> [They never opened the door which leads to the soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-miller/they-never-opened-the-door-which-leads-to-the-soul/)

[Henry Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-miller/)

> [“Hayley Haslett raised her hand and tapped on the door.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-rose/hayley-haslett-raised-her-hand-and-tapped-on-the-door/)

[Carol Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-rose/)

> [I think you've still got to try to be good, day-to-day. You see a granny, you hold the door open for her. You just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sami-zayn/i-think-you-ve-still-got-to-try-to-be-good-day-to-day-you-see-a/)

[Sami Zayn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sami-zayn/)

Browse all 3,104 Door quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Any true wizard, faced with a sign like 'Do not open this door. Really. We mean it. We're not kidding. Opening this door will mean the end of the universe,' would automatically open the door in order to see what all the fuss is about. This made signs rather a waste of time, but at least it meant that when you handed what was left of the wizard to his grieving relatives you could say, as they grasped the jar, 'We told him not to.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Terry Pratchett"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/any-true-wizard-faced-with-a-sign-like-do-not-open-this-door-really/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Door"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/any-true-wizard-faced-with-a-sign-like-do-not-open-this-door-really/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/607/terry-pratchett-19_door_any-true-wizard-faced-with-a-sign-like-d_2391023.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/607/terry-pratchett-19_door_any-true-wizard-faced-with-a-sign-like-d_2391023.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/607/terry-pratchett-19_door_any-true-wizard-faced-with-a-sign-like-d_2391023.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Any true wizard, faced with a sign like 'Do not open this door. Really. We mean it. We're not kidding…” — Terry Pratchett",
                "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": "Terry Pratchett",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Any true wizard, faced with a...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/any-true-wizard-faced-with-a-sign-like-do-not-open-this-door-really/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/any-true-wizard-faced-with-a-sign-like-do-not-open-this-door-really/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
