--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: People think that it is strange to have a…" description: "\"“People think that it is strange to have a turtle ten thousand miles long and an elephant more than two thousand miles tall, which just shows that the ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ef/terry-pratchett-19_human-brain_people-think-that-it-is-strange-to-have_2526484.jpg" --- # People think that it is strange to have a turtle ten… ![“People think that it is strange to have a turtle ten thousand miles long and an elephant more than two thousand miles tall, which just shows that the human brain is ill-adapted for thinking and was probably originally designed for cooling the blood.” quote by Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ef/terry-pratchett-19_human-brain_people-think-that-it-is-strange-to-have_2526484.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ef/terry-pratchett-19_human-brain_people-think-that-it-is-strange-to-have_2526484.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ef/terry-pratchett-19_human-brain_people-think-that-it-is-strange-to-have_2526484.jpg) > ““People think that it is strange to have a turtle ten thousand miles long and an elephant more than two thousand miles tall, which just shows that the human brain is ill-adapted for thinking and was probably originally designed for cooling the blood.”” [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 cognition is limited, often misapplied to absurd concepts. **In simple terms:** Our brains struggle with extremes. Key Takeaway Recognize mental limits. Themes humor science biology Mood playful witty Type satirical commentary When to use this quote - education - science communication - critical thinking Key Concepts cognitive bias evolutionary psychology Questions to Reflect On - How do you test your assumptions? - What mental shortcuts do you rely on? A Different Perspective Humor may oversimplify complex issues. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Human brain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-brain/) ## Related quotes > [“The place where the story happened was a world on the back of four elephants perched on the shell of a giant turtle. That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/the-place-where-the-story-happened-was-a-world-on-the-back-of-four/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“The human brain is the most complex entity in the universe. It has between fifty and one hundred billion nerve cells, or neurons, each…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabor-mat/the-human-brain-is-the-most-complex-entity-in-the-universe-it-has/) [Gabor Maté](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabor-mat/) > [“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/) > [“There were people who called themselves Satanists who made Crowley squirm. It wasn't just the things they did, it was the way they blamed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/there-were-people-who-called-themselves-satanists-who-made-crowley/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [I think that we are in a very strange time, when everybody is thinking about what is going to happen, and everybody is kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alber-elbaz/i-think-that-we-are-in-a-very-strange-time-when-everybody-is-thinking/) [Alber Elbaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alber-elbaz/) > [I don't really care if you think I'm strange--I ain't gonna change!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-jett/i-don-t-really-care-if-you-think-i-m-strange-i-ain-t-gonna-change/) [Joan Jett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-jett/) > [I do think there is a strange idea that the media has that if you tell the public what you think, they can no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-grim/i-do-think-there-is-a-strange-idea-that-the-media-has-that-if-you/) [Ryan Grim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-grim/) > [“I think I have a strange thing growing out of my neck that causes me to think too much.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/i-think-i-have-a-strange-thing-growing-out-of-my-neck-that-causes-me/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [The more things change, the more you think it's strange.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-more-things-change-the-more-you-think-it-s-strange/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Don't you think it's strange that life, described as so rich and full, a camel-trail of adventure, should shrink to this coin sized world?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeanette-winterson/don-t-you-think-it-s-strange-that-life-described-as-so-rich-and-full-2/) [Jeanette Winterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeanette-winterson/) > [“We are men, fighting God's war. Do you think it strange?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raev-gray/we-are-men-fighting-god-s-war-do-you-think-it-strange/) Raev Gray > [People think it's strange how briskly I move through museums. Sure, I could stand in front of each piece and stare at it for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-broad/people-think-it-s-strange-how-briskly-i-move-through-museums-sure-i/) [Eli Broad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-broad/) > [I think its strange you think I'm funny, cause he never did. And I've been spending the last 8 months thinking all love Ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-swift/i-think-its-strange-you-think-i-m-funny-cause-he-never-did-and-i-ve/) [Taylor Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-swift/) > [“Why should you think it so strange that in some countries there are monkeys which insinuates themselves into the good graces of the ladies;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/why-should-you-think-it-so-strange-that-in-some-countries-there-are/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [People think it's very strange because I love whale watching - you don't see whales a lot where I'm from.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yuna/people-think-it-s-very-strange-because-i-love-whale-watching-you-don/) [Yuna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yuna/) ## 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 Human brain quotes > [Translating is a respectable, valuable, creative and worthwhile use of a human brain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bellos/translating-is-a-respectable-valuable-creative-and-worthwhile-use-of/) David Bellos > [When I look at the human brain I'm still in awe of it. Every single time you lift off the bone and open the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-carson/when-i-look-at-the-human-brain-i-m-still-in-awe-of-it-every-single/) [Benjamin Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-carson/) > [The human brain is an incredible pattern-matching machine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-bezos/the-human-brain-is-an-incredible-pattern-matching-machine/) [Jeff Bezos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-bezos/) > [The vast majority of us imagine ourselves as like literature people or math people. But the truth is that the massive processor known as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/the-vast-majority-of-us-imagine-ourselves-as-like-literature-people/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [“The purpose of all of this (left hemisphere's way of choosing denial or repression over considering an anomaly) is to impose stability on behavior…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/v-s-ramachandran/the-purpose-of-all-of-this-left-hemisphere-s-way-of-choosing-denial/) [V.S. Ramachandran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/v-s-ramachandran/) > [I guess that is the strange part of the human brain that people have studied for eons - is hatred and self-hatred. You can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trevor-noah/i-guess-that-is-the-strange-part-of-the-human-brain-that-people-have/) [Trevor Noah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trevor-noah/) > [The hope is that, in not too many years, human brains and computing machines will be coupled together very tightly, and that the resulting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-r-licklider/the-hope-is-that-in-not-too-many-years-human-brains-and-computing/) [J. C. R. Licklider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-r-licklider/) > [The human brain must continue to frame the problems for the electronic machine to solve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sarnoff/the-human-brain-must-continue-to-frame-the-problems-for-the/) [David Sarnoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sarnoff/) > [The human brain has left and right brain symmetry with its own nature and can process information which initially appears to have no pattern…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-buzan/the-human-brain-has-left-and-right-brain-symmetry-with-its-own-nature/) [Tony Buzan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-buzan/) > [Never expect naything from any body because human brain changes when the status changed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/never-expect-naything-from-any-body-because-human-brain-changes-when/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [C++ is an insult to the human brain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niklaus-wirth/c-is-an-insult-to-the-human-brain/) [Niklaus Wirth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niklaus-wirth/) > [“The most amazing mechanism in the known universe is the human brain; it takes in information all the time then uses it, all of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-dubin/the-most-amazing-mechanism-in-the-known-universe-is-the-human-brain/) Amanda Dubin > [“No one paid any attention to them. Perhaps they saw nothing at all. Perhaps they saw what their minds were instructed to see, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/no-one-paid-any-attention-to-them-perhaps-they-saw-nothing-at-all/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [The human brain had a vast memory storage. It made us curious and very creative. Those were the characteristics that gave us an advantage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-suzuki/the-human-brain-had-a-vast-memory-storage-it-made-us-curious-and-very/) [David Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-suzuki/) > [“We neither encourage nor discourage. We accept it. Accept it as we accept that spider web up there on the cornice. Given the nature…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/we-neither-encourage-nor-discourage-we-accept-it-accept-it-as-we/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) [Browse all 438 Human brain quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-brain/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“People think that it is strange to have a turtle ten thousand miles long and an elephant more than two thousand miles tall, which just shows that the human brain is ill-adapted for thinking and was probably originally designed for cooling the blood.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Terry Pratchett" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/people-think-that-it-is-strange-to-have-a-turtle-ten-thousand-miles/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Human brain" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/people-think-that-it-is-strange-to-have-a-turtle-ten-thousand-miles/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ef/terry-pratchett-19_human-brain_people-think-that-it-is-strange-to-have_2526484.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ef/terry-pratchett-19_human-brain_people-think-that-it-is-strange-to-have_2526484.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ef/terry-pratchett-19_human-brain_people-think-that-it-is-strange-to-have_2526484.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“People think that it is strange to have a turtle ten thousand miles long and an elephant more than two…” — 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": "“People think that it is strange...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/people-think-that-it-is-strange-to-have-a-turtle-ten-thousand-miles/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/people-think-that-it-is-strange-to-have-a-turtle-ten-thousand-miles/#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 } } ] } ```