---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: No!” Moist's fist thumped the table…"
description: "\"“No!” Moist's fist thumped the table. “Never say that, Tolliver! Never! Run before you walk! Fly before you crawl! Keep moving forward!”\" — Terry Pratc..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f1/terry-pratchett-19_moving-forward_no-moist-s-fist-thumped-the-table-never_1178907.jpg"
---

#  No!” Moist's fist thumped the table. “Never say that…

![“No!” Moist's fist thumped the table. “Never say that, Tolliver! Never! Run before you walk! Fly before you crawl! Keep moving forward!” quote by Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f1/terry-pratchett-19_moving-forward_no-moist-s-fist-thumped-the-table-never_1178907.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f1/terry-pratchett-19_moving-forward_no-moist-s-fist-thumped-the-table-never_1178907.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f1/terry-pratchett-19_moving-forward_no-moist-s-fist-thumped-the-table-never_1178907.jpg)

> ““No!” Moist's fist thumped the table. “Never say that, Tolliver! Never! Run before you walk! Fly before you crawl! Keep moving forward!””

[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.

Avoid rushing ahead; master basics before advancing, and keep progressing despite setbacks.

**In simple terms:** Learn basics first, then keep moving forward.

Key Takeaway

Master fundamentals before scaling up.

Themes

growth patience resilience

Mood

reflective encouraging

Type

philosophical inspirational

When to use this quote

- skill training
- career development
- personal fitness

Key Concepts

learning curves progression

Questions to Reflect On

- What basics are you neglecting?
- How can you balance speed with mastery?

A Different Perspective

Overemphasis on basics may stall innovation.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Fist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fist/) [Moist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moist/) [Moving forward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moving-forward/)

## Related quotes

> [“It's madness, of course', thought Moist. 'But now I've got it, too.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/it-s-madness-of-course-thought-moist-but-now-i-ve-got-it-too/)

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

> [“The dark organ music filled the Department of Post-Mortem Communications. Moist assumed it was all part of the ambience, although the mood would have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/the-dark-organ-music-filled-the-department-of-post-mortem/)

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

> [“Welcome to fear , Moist said to himself. It's hope, turned inside out.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/welcome-to-fear-moist-said-to-himself-it-s-hope-turned-inside-out/)

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

> [My husband was very special and very funny and outspoken, and he would have a black and blue every so often because under the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blythe-danner/my-husband-was-very-special-and-very-funny-and-outspoken-and-he-would/)

[Blythe Danner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blythe-danner/)

> [“I use the chopsticks to outline the biggest heart possible. Then I use the Sweet'N Low packets to fill it in. I borrow some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/i-use-the-chopsticks-to-outline-the-biggest-heart-possible-then-i-use/)

[David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/)

> [ Most of \[ the Negro leaders\] who - who, whose existence or whose position of leadership depends upon the - on the subsidy or… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/most-of-the-negro-leaders-who-who-whose-existence-or-whose-position/)

[Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/)

> [I have to have a seat at the table. I have to have a say on how we, as African-Americans, are produced and depicted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/byron-allen/i-have-to-have-a-seat-at-the-table-i-have-to-have-a-say-on-how-we-as/)

[Byron Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/byron-allen/)

> [“I’m not sure who started it, but whoever had the most exhausting day would lay a hand in the center of the table and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-asher/i-m-not-sure-who-started-it-but-whoever-had-the-most-exhausting-day/)

[Jay Asher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-asher/)

> [“I enrage myself with an imbecile. I say, 'I would like to kick him.' Instead I kick the table. I say, 'This table, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agatha-christie/i-enrage-myself-with-an-imbecile-i-say-i-would-like-to-kick-him/)

[Agatha Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agatha-christie/)

> [“1. "Ahem. I know you hate Mondays, madam, but you picked the absolutely wrong one to play hooky. Or be sick. Yes, I suppose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-jensen/1-ahem-i-know-you-hate-mondays-madam-but-you-picked-the-absolutely/)

[Melissa Jensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-jensen/)

> [“warm, moist environment. “Then you’re going to stick that in your mouth? Not a good idea,” says Gerba.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/warm-moist-environment-then-you-re-going-to-stick-that-in-your-mouth/)

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

> [“Please don’t say moist.” “—feelings”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-collett/please-don-t-say-moist-feelings/)

Meg Collett

> [Want dome chicken? its moist. Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/icarly/want-dome-chicken-its-moist-spencer/)

ICarly

> [“It was a hot, moist armpit of a night...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-carey/it-was-a-hot-moist-armpit-of-a-night/)

[Mike Carey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-carey/)

> [I hate the word 'moist.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-teigen/i-hate-the-word-moist/)

[Christine Teigen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-teigen/)

## 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 Fist quotes

> [You hit somebody with your fist and not with your fingers spread.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heinz-guderian/you-hit-somebody-with-your-fist-and-not-with-your-fingers-spread/)

[Heinz Guderian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heinz-guderian/)

> [Well this is just a fist. But when I start throwing it around I can leave one hell of a mess.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-carrey/well-this-is-just-a-fist-but-when-i-start-throwing-it-around-i-can/)

[Jim Carrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-carrey/)

> [“When a woman with an iron fist tells you to get out there and clean spit off the door, you do it. Especially when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/when-a-woman-with-an-iron-fist-tells-you-to-get-out-there-and-clean/)

[Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/)

> [“you will die with a clenched fist and a tense jaw, the epitome of hatred and struggle, because you are not a symbol but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernesto-che-guevara/you-will-die-with-a-clenched-fist-and-a-tense-jaw-the-epitome-of/)

[Ernesto Che Guevara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernesto-che-guevara/)

> [As individual fingers we can easily be broken, but all together we make a mighty fist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sitting-bull/as-individual-fingers-we-can-easily-be-broken-but-all-together-we/)

[Sitting Bull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sitting-bull/)

> [The right to swing my fist ends where the other man's nose begins.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr-2/the-right-to-swing-my-fist-ends-where-the-other-man-s-nose-begins/)

[Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr-2/)

> [I'm not the type of guy to go out and just say, 'Hey, I'm raising my fist to do this and do that.' I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willie-mays/i-m-not-the-type-of-guy-to-go-out-and-just-say-hey-i-m-raising-my/)

[Willie Mays](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willie-mays/)

> [You know what it takes to win. Just look at my fist. When I make a fist, it's strong and you can't tear it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ara-parseghian/you-know-what-it-takes-to-win-just-look-at-my-fist-when-i-make-a-fist/)

[Ara Parseghian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ara-parseghian/)

> [“Have you ever seen a human heart? It looks like a fist, wrapped in blood! Go fuck yourself!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-marber/have-you-ever-seen-a-human-heart-it-looks-like-a-fist-wrapped-in/)

[Patrick Marber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-marber/)

> [“A strong mind is greater than a strong fist.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/a-strong-mind-is-greater-than-a-strong-fist/)

[Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/)

> [The man who raises a fist has run out of ideas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-g-wells/the-man-who-raises-a-fist-has-run-out-of-ideas/)

[H. G. Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-g-wells/)

> [Being an activist is about getting things done. It's not about standing around shaking your fist in anger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-quinn/being-an-activist-is-about-getting-things-done-it-s-not-about/)

[Christine Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-quinn/)

> [Fighting is fighting. You close your fist and it's all pretty much the same.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-shamrock/fighting-is-fighting-you-close-your-fist-and-it-s-all-pretty-much-the/)

[Frank Shamrock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-shamrock/)

> [“(The only time making a fist around the fork helps is when you want to stab someone because he’s stealing your food. Now I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-elder-robison/the-only-time-making-a-fist-around-the-fork-helps-is-when-you-want-to/)

[John Elder Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-elder-robison/)

> [“\*fist bump\* \*high five\* \*bottom pat\* … too far?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penny-reid/fist-bump-high-five-bottom-pat-too-far/)

[Penny Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penny-reid/)

[Browse all 190 Fist quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fist/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“No!” Moist's fist thumped the table. “Never say that, Tolliver! Never! Run before you walk! Fly before you crawl! Keep moving forward!”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Terry Pratchett"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/no-moist-s-fist-thumped-the-table-never-say-that-tolliver-never-run/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Fist"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/no-moist-s-fist-thumped-the-table-never-say-that-tolliver-never-run/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f1/terry-pratchett-19_moving-forward_no-moist-s-fist-thumped-the-table-never_1178907.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f1/terry-pratchett-19_moving-forward_no-moist-s-fist-thumped-the-table-never_1178907.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f1/terry-pratchett-19_moving-forward_no-moist-s-fist-thumped-the-table-never_1178907.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“No!” Moist's fist thumped the table. “Never say that, Tolliver! Never! Run before you walk! Fly before you…” — 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": "“No!” Moist's fist thumped the table....",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/no-moist-s-fist-thumped-the-table-never-say-that-tolliver-never-run/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/no-moist-s-fist-thumped-the-table-never-say-that-tolliver-never-run/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
