--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was supposed to be making some soup,\"…" description: "\"“I was supposed to be making some soup,\" said Rincewind. He waved the onions vaguely. It was probably not the most heroic or purposeful gesture ever ma..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c5/terry-pratchett-19_gesture_i-was-supposed-to-be-making-some-soup-sa_1807535.jpg" --- # I was supposed to be making some soup," said Rincewind. He… ![“I was supposed to be making some soup," said Rincewind. He waved the onions vaguely. It was probably not the most heroic or purposeful gesture ever made.” quote by Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c5/terry-pratchett-19_gesture_i-was-supposed-to-be-making-some-soup-sa_1807535.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c5/terry-pratchett-19_gesture_i-was-supposed-to-be-making-some-soup-sa_1807535.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c5/terry-pratchett-19_gesture_i-was-supposed-to-be-making-some-soup-sa_1807535.jpg) > ““I was supposed to be making some soup," said Rincewind. He waved the onions vaguely. It was probably not the most heroic or purposeful gesture ever made.”” [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. Even mundane acts can feel insignificant, yet they are part of life's heroic narrative. **In simple terms:** Small acts feel insignificant. Key Takeaway Find meaning in everyday tasks. Themes humor heroism mundane Mood lighthearted reflective Type fictional humorous When to use this quote - cooking - volunteering - daily chores Key Concepts absurdism everyday heroics Questions to Reflect On - How can you make a small act meaningful? - What makes a task feel heroic? A Different Perspective Not all acts are heroic. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Gesture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gesture/) [Heroic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heroic/) [Rincewind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rincewind/) ## Related quotes > [“Luck is my middle name," said Rincewind, indistinctly. "Mind you, my first name is Bad.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/luck-is-my-middle-name-said-rincewind-indistinctly-mind-you-my-first/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [The Tezuman priests have a sophisticated calendar and an advanced horology," quoted Rincewind. "Ah," said Eric, "Good." 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There was a whole bunch of people across the street helping themselves to musical instruments, can you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/all-the-shops-have-been-smashed-open-there-was-a-whole-bunch-of/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“I expect you know what this is, don’t you?” Rincewind stared down at the box. It had a round glass eye protruding from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/i-expect-you-know-what-this-is-don-t-you-rincewind-stared-down-at-the/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“There was something else I was trying to say,’ said Rincewind, letting go of the hand. He looked blank for a moment, and then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/there-was-something-else-i-was-trying-to-say-said-rincewind-letting/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“Lightning is the spears hurled by the thunder giants when they fight,” it said gently. “Established meteorological fact. You can’t harness it.” “I know,”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/lightning-is-the-spears-hurled-by-the-thunder-giants-when-they-fight/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“Not much. I never really spent anything. I’ve often wondered what being poor was like.” “You’re going to get a huge opportunity to find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/not-much-i-never-really-spent-anything-i-ve-often-wondered-what-being/) [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 Gesture quotes > [“The first language humans had was gestures. There was nothing primitive about this language that flowed from people’s hands, nothing we say now that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-krauss/the-first-language-humans-had-was-gestures-there-was-nothing/) [Nicole Krauss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-krauss/) > [Never raise your hand menacingly, but only in a friendly gesture!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-von-la-roche/never-raise-your-hand-menacingly-but-only-in-a-friendly-gesture/) Sophie von La Roche > [“The desire to describe voice, gesture, skin color, is a desire to eat, take over, make into part of the pattern. I am happy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-lockwood/the-desire-to-describe-voice-gesture-skin-color-is-a-desire-to-eat/) [Patricia Lockwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-lockwood/) > [“Thanks. I forgot how to flip off the English. I'll use the correct hand gesture next time." "My pleasure. Always happy to educate.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-perkins/thanks-i-forgot-how-to-flip-off-the-english-i-ll-use-the-correct-hand/) [Stephanie Perkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-perkins/) > [All art is an intensely vulnerable gesture, and it is made with no small amounts of risk, and fear. So, I have plenty of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-erikson/all-art-is-an-intensely-vulnerable-gesture-and-it-is-made-with-no/) [Steven Erikson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-erikson/) > [Even the smallest gesture can make a huge difference.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-butler/even-the-smallest-gesture-can-make-a-huge-difference/) [Billy Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-butler/) > [All my life I have struggled to make one authentic gesture…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isadora-duncan/all-my-life-i-have-struggled-to-make-one-authentic-gesture/) [Isadora Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isadora-duncan/) > [Then something unexpected happens. At least, I don't expect it because I don't think of District 12 as a place that cares about me.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/then-something-unexpected-happens-at-least-i-don-t-expect-it-because/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [“She gives me the finger and turns back around. "Did you see that?" I flinch at the gesture. "That is completely illegal in here.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/addison-moore/she-gives-me-the-finger-and-turns-back-around-did-you-see-that-i/) [Addison Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/addison-moore/) > [There's something strange about a laptop, how you can make the tiniest gesture and make the biggest sound. 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