--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Poets have tried to describe…" description: "\"Poets have tried to describe Ankh-Morpork. They have failed. Perhaps it's the sheer zestful vitality of the place, or maybe it's just that a city with ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0dc/terry-pratchett-19_ankh_poets-have-tried-to-describe-ankh-morpor_2070901.jpg" --- # Poets have tried to describe Ankh-Morpork. They have… ![“Poets have tried to describe Ankh-Morpork. They have failed. Perhaps it's the sheer zestful vitality of the place, or maybe it's just that a city with a million inhabitants and no sewers is rather robust for poets, who prefer daffodils and no wonder. So let's just say that Ankh-Morpork is as full…” quote by Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0dc/terry-pratchett-19_ankh_poets-have-tried-to-describe-ankh-morpor_2070901.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0dc/terry-pratchett-19_ankh_poets-have-tried-to-describe-ankh-morpor_2070901.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0dc/terry-pratchett-19_ankh_poets-have-tried-to-describe-ankh-morpor_2070901.jpg) > “Poets have tried to describe Ankh-Morpork. They have failed. Perhaps it's the sheer zestful vitality of the place, or maybe it's just that a city with a million inhabitants and no sewers is rather robust for poets, who prefer daffodils and no wonder. So let's just say that Ankh-Morpork is as full of life as an old cheese on a hot day, as loud as a curse in a cathedral, as bright as an oil slick, as colourful as a bruise and as full of activity, industry, bustle and sheer exuberant busyness as a dead dog on a termite mound.” [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. He humorously claims poets cannot capture the chaotic, vibrant life of Ankh-Morpork, using vivid, absurd comparisons. **In simple terms:** Poets fail to describe the city's wild energy. Key Takeaway Accept that some places defy simple description. Themes humor city life chaos creativity Mood playful satirical Type descriptive humorous When to use this quote - travel writing - creative writing - city planning Key Concepts absurdity vivid metaphor urban vitality Questions to Reflect On - What makes a city impossible to poetically capture? - How does humor affect our perception of urban life? A Different Perspective The description may exaggerate, missing nuanced realities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ankh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ankh/) [Cathedrals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cathedrals/) [Cities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cities/) [Curse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/curse/) [Daffodil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/daffodil/) [Dog](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dog/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Poet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poet/) [Poetry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poetry/) [Vitality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vitality/) [Wonder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wonder/) ## Related quotes > [I don't like the word 'poetry,' and I don't like poetry readings, and I usually don't like poets. I would much prefer describing myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-waits/i-don-t-like-the-word-poetry-and-i-don-t-like-poetry-readings-and-i/) [Tom Waits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-waits/) > [Luck is my middle name. Mind you, my first name is Bad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/luck-is-my-middle-name-mind-you-my-first-name-is-bad/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [Of course, Ankh-Morpork's citizens had always claimed that the river water was incredibly pure. Any water that had passed through so many kidneys, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/of-course-ankh-morpork-s-citizens-had-always-claimed-that-the-river/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [There's a saying that all roads lead to Ankh-Morpork. And it's wrong. All roads lead away from Ankh-Morpork, but sometimes people just walk along…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/there-s-a-saying-that-all-roads-lead-to-ankh-morpork-and-it-s-wrong/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [When a man is tired of Ankh-Morpork, he is tired of ankle-deep slurry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/when-a-man-is-tired-of-ankh-morpork-he-is-tired-of-ankle-deep-slurry/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [I think that sick people in Ankh-Morpork generally go to a vet. It's generally a better bet. There's more pressure on a vet to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/i-think-that-sick-people-in-ankh-morpork-generally-go-to-a-vet-it-s/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [The point is that descriptive writing is very rarely entirely accurate and during the reign of Olaf Quimby II as Patrician of Ankh-Morpork some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/the-point-is-that-descriptive-writing-is-very-rarely-entirely-2/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [Ankh-Morpork had dallied with many forms of government and had ended up with that form of democracy known as One Man, One Vote. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/ankh-morpork-had-dallied-with-many-forms-of-government-and-had-ended/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [It was Carrot who'd suggested to the Patrician that hardened criminals should be given the chance to 'serve the community' by redecorating the homes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/it-was-carrot-who-d-suggested-to-the-patrician-that-hardened/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [Sergeant Colon of the Ankh-Morpork City Guard was on duty. He was guarding the Brass Bridge, the main link between Ankh and Morpork. From…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/sergeant-colon-of-the-ankh-morpork-city-guard-was-on-duty-he-was/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [The people of Ankh-Morpork had a straightforward, no-nonsense approach to entertainment, and while they were looking forward to seeing a dragon slain, they'd be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/the-people-of-ankh-morpork-had-a-straightforward-no-nonsense-approach/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [He found that he had this sudden desperate longing for the fuming, smoky streets of Ankh-Morpork, which was always at its best in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/he-found-that-he-had-this-sudden-desperate-longing-for-the-fuming/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [Technically, the city of Ankh-Morpork is a Tyranny, which is not always the same thing as a monarchy, and in fact even the post…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/technically-the-city-of-ankh-morpork-is-a-tyranny-which-is-not-always/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“A number of religions in Ankh-Morpork still practiced human sacrifice, except that they didn't really need to practice any more because they had got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/a-number-of-religions-in-ankh-morpork-still-practiced-human-sacrifice/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [Ankh-Morpork! Pearl of cities! This is not a completely accurate description, of course — it was not round and shiny — but even its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/ankh-morpork-pearl-of-cities-this-is-not-a-completely-accurate/) [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 Ankh quotes > [Luck is my middle name. Mind you, my first name is Bad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/luck-is-my-middle-name-mind-you-my-first-name-is-bad/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“A number of religions in Ankh-Morpork still practiced human sacrifice, except that they didn't really need to practice any more because they had got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/a-number-of-religions-in-ankh-morpork-still-practiced-human-sacrifice/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [Technically, the city of Ankh-Morpork is a Tyranny, which is not always the same thing as a monarchy, and in fact even the post…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/technically-the-city-of-ankh-morpork-is-a-tyranny-which-is-not-always/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [He found that he had this sudden desperate longing for the fuming, smoky streets of Ankh-Morpork, which was always at its best in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/he-found-that-he-had-this-sudden-desperate-longing-for-the-fuming/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [The people of Ankh-Morpork had a straightforward, no-nonsense approach to entertainment, and while they were looking forward to seeing a dragon slain, they'd be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/the-people-of-ankh-morpork-had-a-straightforward-no-nonsense-approach/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [Sergeant Colon of the Ankh-Morpork City Guard was on duty. He was guarding the Brass Bridge, the main link between Ankh and Morpork. From…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/sergeant-colon-of-the-ankh-morpork-city-guard-was-on-duty-he-was/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [It was Carrot who'd suggested to the Patrician that hardened criminals should be given the chance to 'serve the community' by redecorating the homes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/it-was-carrot-who-d-suggested-to-the-patrician-that-hardened/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [Ankh-Morpork had dallied with many forms of government and had ended up with that form of democracy known as One Man, One Vote. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/ankh-morpork-had-dallied-with-many-forms-of-government-and-had-ended/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [The point is that descriptive writing is very rarely entirely accurate and during the reign of Olaf Quimby II as Patrician of Ankh-Morpork some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/the-point-is-that-descriptive-writing-is-very-rarely-entirely-2/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [I think that sick people in Ankh-Morpork generally go to a vet. It's generally a better bet. There's more pressure on a vet to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/i-think-that-sick-people-in-ankh-morpork-generally-go-to-a-vet-it-s/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [When a man is tired of Ankh-Morpork, he is tired of ankle-deep slurry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/when-a-man-is-tired-of-ankh-morpork-he-is-tired-of-ankle-deep-slurry/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [There's a saying that all roads lead to Ankh-Morpork. And it's wrong. All roads lead away from Ankh-Morpork, but sometimes people just walk along…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/there-s-a-saying-that-all-roads-lead-to-ankh-morpork-and-it-s-wrong/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“He said, "Were he only like his sister—what a difference that would make! For there never was such a sweet and gentle lady! I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susanna-clarke/he-said-were-he-only-like-his-sister-what-a-difference-that-would/) [Susanna Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susanna-clarke/) > [“Without warning a lady appeared. She came from the direction of Friday-street, for she had just been with Mr. Newbolt. She strode capably through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susanna-clarke/without-warning-a-lady-appeared-she-came-from-the-direction-of-friday/) [Susanna Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susanna-clarke/) > [Of course, Ankh-Morpork's citizens had always claimed that the river water was incredibly pure. Any water that had passed through so many kidneys, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/of-course-ankh-morpork-s-citizens-had-always-claimed-that-the-river/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) [Browse all 22 Ankh quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ankh/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Poets have tried to describe Ankh-Morpork. They have failed. Perhaps it's the sheer zestful vitality of the place, or maybe it's just that a city with a million inhabitants and no sewers is rather robust for poets, who prefer daffodils and no wonder. So let's just say that Ankh-Morpork is as full of life as an old cheese on a hot day, as loud as a curse in a cathedral, as bright as an oil slick, as colourful as a bruise and as full of activity, industry, bustle and sheer exuberant busyness as a dead dog on a termite mound.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Terry Pratchett" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/poets-have-tried-to-describe-ankh-morpork-they-have-failed-perhaps-it/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ankh" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/poets-have-tried-to-describe-ankh-morpork-they-have-failed-perhaps-it/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0dc/terry-pratchett-19_ankh_poets-have-tried-to-describe-ankh-morpor_2070901.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0dc/terry-pratchett-19_ankh_poets-have-tried-to-describe-ankh-morpor_2070901.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0dc/terry-pratchett-19_ankh_poets-have-tried-to-describe-ankh-morpor_2070901.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Poets have tried to describe Ankh-Morpork. 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