--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: He shrugged. - They're just people - he…" description: "\"“He shrugged. - They're just people - he said. - They're just doing what people do. Sir. Lord Vetinari gave him a friendly smile. - Of course, of cours..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e38/terry-pratchett-19_humanity_he-shrugged-they-re-just-people-he-said_1453228.jpg" --- # He shrugged. - They're just people - he said. - They're… ![“He shrugged. - They're just people - he said. - They're just doing what people do. Sir. Lord Vetinari gave him a friendly smile. - Of course, of course - he said. - You have to believe that, I appreciate. Otherwise you'd go quite mad. Otherwise you'd think you're standing on a feather-thin bridge…” quote by Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e38/terry-pratchett-19_humanity_he-shrugged-they-re-just-people-he-said_1453228.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e38/terry-pratchett-19_humanity_he-shrugged-they-re-just-people-he-said_1453228.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e38/terry-pratchett-19_humanity_he-shrugged-they-re-just-people-he-said_1453228.jpg) > ““He shrugged. - They're just people - he said. - They're just doing what people do. Sir. Lord Vetinari gave him a friendly smile. - Of course, of course - he said. - You have to believe that, I appreciate. Otherwise you'd go quite mad. Otherwise you'd think you're standing on a feather-thin bridge over the vaults of Hell. Otherwise existence would be a dark agony and the only hope would be that there is no life after death. I quite understand.”” [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. Human existence feels fragile, but belief and humor help navigate madness and existential dread. **In simple terms:** Belief and humor ease life's fragility. Key Takeaway Use humor and belief to face existential anxiety. Themes existential dread humor belief madness fragility Mood wry thoughtful Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - coping with anxiety - philosophical debates - creative writing - daily stress - spiritual questioning Key Concepts existentialism psychology literary satire Questions to Reflect On - What role does humor play in your coping strategy? - How does belief shape your perception of meaning? A Different Perspective Humor may not resolve deep existential crises for everyone. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Humanity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humanity/) [Life after death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-after-death/) ## Related quotes > [“Vetinari gave him a look that did not actually employ a raised eyebrow but which implied that one might be forthcoming if the recipient…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/vetinari-gave-him-a-look-that-did-not-actually-employ-a-raised/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [Any sensible ruler would have killed off Leonard, and Lord Vetinari was extremely sensible and often wondered why he had not done so. He'd…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/any-sensible-ruler-would-have-killed-off-leonard-and-lord-vetinari/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“Lord Vetinari, as supreme ruler of Ankh-Morpork, could in theory summon the Archchancellor of Unseen University to his presence and, indeed, have him executed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/lord-vetinari-as-supreme-ruler-of-ankh-morpork-could-in-theory-summon/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“Everybody present laughed nervously, except Lord Vetinari, who just laughed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/everybody-present-laughed-nervously-except-lord-vetinari-who-just/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“A path cleared itself for Lord Vetinari, as paths do for men known to have dungeons in their basement.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/a-path-cleared-itself-for-lord-vetinari-as-paths-do-for-men-known-to/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [I was merely endeavoring to indicate that if we do not grab events by the collar they will have us by the throat. -Lord…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/i-was-merely-endeavoring-to-indicate-that-if-we-do-not-grab-events-by/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [I must confess the activities of the UK governments for the past couple of years have been watched with frank admiration and amazement by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/i-must-confess-the-activities-of-the-uk-governments-for-the-past/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“Moist waited. Lord Vetinari could outstare a statue and make even a statue start to feel nervous and confess. Moist's counter was a fetching…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/moist-waited-lord-vetinari-could-outstare-a-statue-and-make-even-a/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“Yes, my lord, and riding on sleek steel rails in a well-sprung carriage would be the height of comfort. So smooth!” said Moist. “Perhaps…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/yes-my-lord-and-riding-on-sleek-steel-rails-in-a-well-sprung-carriage/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“Persuasion comes in many forms," said Lord Vetinari. "No, I agree with Archchancellor Ridcully, sending Captain Carrot would be an excellent idea." "What? Did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/persuasion-comes-in-many-forms-said-lord-vetinari-no-i-agree-with/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“I usually hated when people said ‘just saying’ because they thought it gave them an excuse to say whatever the hell they wanted.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/santino-hassell/i-usually-hated-when-people-said-just-saying-because-they-thought-it/) [Santino Hassell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/santino-hassell/) > [I believe that everyone can appreciate the right of a family to grieve the loss of a loved one in peace, regardless of anyone's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-reichert/i-believe-that-everyone-can-appreciate-the-right-of-a-family-to/) [Dave Reichert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-reichert/) > [I believe in karma what you give is what you get returned, I believe you can't appreciate real love till you've been burned, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/i-believe-in-karma-what-you-give-is-what-you-get-returned-i-believe-2/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [I believe in karma. What you give is what you get returned. I believe you can't appreciate real love until you've been burned. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-believe-in-karma-what-you-give-is-what-you-get-returned-i-believe/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [My dad is truly the person who always made me believe in myself, to appreciate that I was smart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-davis/my-dad-is-truly-the-person-who-always-made-me-believe-in-myself-to/) [Wendy Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-davis/) ## 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. 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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 Humanity quotes > [Scrabble - The game is available in Braille. That’s a nice fact. This makes me feel better about humanity for some reason. I can’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/scrabble-the-game-is-available-in-braille-that-s-a-nice-fact-this/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The truth is, of course, that the curtness of the Ten Commandments is an evidence, not of the gloom and narrowness of a religion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-truth-is-of-course-that-the-curtness-of-the-ten-commandments-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Half the misery of human life might be extinguished if men would alleviate the general curse they lie under by mutual offices of compassion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/half-the-misery-of-human-life-might-be-extinguished-if-men-would/) [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/) > [During human progress, every science is evolved out of its corresponding art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/during-human-progress-every-science-is-evolved-out-of-its/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [“Is it necessary to recall that the earth is not infinite, and that our civilization is close to having invaded all of it? The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabriel-tarde/is-it-necessary-to-recall-that-the-earth-is-not-infinite-and-that-our/) Gabriel Tarde > [“If attempting to make the world a civilized one, makes you a bad woman in the eyes of the dumb patriarchal society, then, by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/if-attempting-to-make-the-world-a-civilized-one-makes-you-a-bad-woman/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [“Once the switch of parenthood is thrown, it changes you for ever & you can never escape the extra pull of humanity it gives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-hammond/once-the-switch-of-parenthood-is-thrown-it-changes-you-for-ever-you/) [Richard hammond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-hammond/) > [“The power of imagination is strongest in the place of solitude.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/the-power-of-imagination-is-strongest-in-the-place-of-solitude/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [“Is there any holy beings like human beings?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/is-there-any-holy-beings-like-human-beings/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [“I now know that deep within the human concept is something dark, selfish, and completely willing to do whatever is necessary to support the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-west/i-now-know-that-deep-within-the-human-concept-is-something-dark/) [Melissa West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-west/) > [The concept of humanity is an especially useful ideological instrument of imperialist expansion, and in its ethical-humanitarian form it is a specific vehicle of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-schmitt/the-concept-of-humanity-is-an-especially-useful-ideological/) [Carl Schmitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-schmitt/) > [“He grew away from old associations, and saw something new in life and humanity. Secondarily, he made close acquaintance with phenomena which he had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hardy/he-grew-away-from-old-associations-and-saw-something-new-in-life-and/) [Thomas Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hardy/) > [What is accurately portrayed is the rich humanity not just of Martin Luther King but of the movement, which was a multiracial movement. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornel-west/what-is-accurately-portrayed-is-the-rich-humanity-not-just-of-martin/) [Cornel West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornel-west/) > [He is not humanity deified. He is not Godhead humanized. He is God. He is man. He is all that God is, and all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/he-is-not-humanity-deified-he-is-not-godhead-humanized-he-is-god-he/) [Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/) > [You must not lose faith in humanity. 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