--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: she was opposed to books on strict moral…" description: "\"“she was opposed to books on strict moral grounds, since she had heard that many of them were written by dead people and therefore it stood to reason r..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/770/terry-pratchett-19_books_she-was-opposed-to-books-on-strict-moral_105127.jpg" --- # she was opposed to books on strict moral grounds, since… ![“she was opposed to books on strict moral grounds, since she had heard that many of them were written by dead people and therefore it stood to reason reading them would be as bad as necromancy.” quote by Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/770/terry-pratchett-19_books_she-was-opposed-to-books-on-strict-moral_105127.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/770/terry-pratchett-19_books_she-was-opposed-to-books-on-strict-moral_105127.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/770/terry-pratchett-19_books_she-was-opposed-to-books-on-strict-moral_105127.jpg) > ““she was opposed to books on strict moral grounds, since she had heard that many of them were written by dead people and therefore it stood to reason reading them would be as bad as necromancy.”” [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. She equates reading books with necromancy, fearing that engaging with the dead's thoughts is morally wrong, highlighting absurd superstition. **In simple terms:** She sees books as forbidden magic. Key Takeaway Superstitions can distort perception of knowledge. Themes humor skepticism literature morality Mood witty ironic Type satire fiction When to use this quote - debates on censorship - religious objections to literature - media influence concerns Key Concepts cognitive bias cultural myth Practical Applications - educate about historical context of texts - encourage critical reading skills Questions to Reflect On - What modern 'taboos' resemble this fear? - How does humor expose irrational beliefs? A Different Perspective The analogy is intentionally exaggerated for comic effect, not a serious moral argument. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Dead people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dead-people/) [Necromancy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/necromancy/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) ## Related quotes > [“For the first time in her life Granny wondered whether there might be something important in all these books people were setting such store…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/for-the-first-time-in-her-life-granny-wondered-whether-there-might-be/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [For the first time in her life Granny wondered whether there might be something important in all these books people were setting store by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/for-the-first-time-in-her-life-granny-wondered-whether-there-might-be-2/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“He mostly read articles as opposed to books. He hides behind numbers, percentage points, and grim prediction for the future. He thinks they will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmond-manning/he-mostly-read-articles-as-opposed-to-books-he-hides-behind-numbers/) [Edmond Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmond-manning/) > [“Rather than offering a strict moral code to live by, popular culture today provides more of a moral posture.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-d-fitzgerald/rather-than-offering-a-strict-moral-code-to-live-by-popular-culture/) Jonathan D. Fitzgerald > [“The Realistic Vision recognizes the need for strict moral education through parents, family, friends, and community because people have a dual nature of being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-shermer/the-realistic-vision-recognizes-the-need-for-strict-moral-education/) [Michael Shermer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-shermer/) > [“So far Fichte’s program of education includes the communal separation of children, severe authoritarian top-down training, strict moral duty and selflessness, and total religious…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-r-c-hicks/so-far-fichte-s-program-of-education-includes-the-communal-separation/) [Stephen R.C. Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-r-c-hicks/) > [President Trump's critics call him an immoral lout. By strict moral standards, so are we all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-j-knowles/president-trump-s-critics-call-him-an-immoral-lout-by-strict-moral/) [Michael J. Knowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-j-knowles/) > [“Necromancy is wrong on two levels,” Lintz said, his voice dropping to a whisper. “The first is that it taps into a school of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bella-forrest/necromancy-is-wrong-on-two-levels-lintz-said-his-voice-dropping-to-a/) [Bella Forrest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bella-forrest/) > [The so-called science of poll-taking is not a science at all but mere necromancy. People are unpredictable by nature, and although you can take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-b-white/the-so-called-science-of-poll-taking-is-not-a-science-at-all-but-mere/) [E. B. White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-b-white/) > [“necromancy was essentially a bookish art,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-d-bailey/necromancy-was-essentially-a-bookish-art/) Michael D. Bailey > [“I require pie before I desecrate a mass grave.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-beth-durst/i-require-pie-before-i-desecrate-a-mass-grave/) [Sarah Beth Durst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-beth-durst/) > [“Should they inquire of the Dead on account of the Living?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaiah/should-they-inquire-of-the-dead-on-account-of-the-living/) [Isaiah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaiah/) > [“Prognoses which have been made contend that our technology will terminate in pure necromancy. If so, everything we now experience would be only a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernst-junger/prognoses-which-have-been-made-contend-that-our-technology-will/) [Ernst Jünger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernst-junger/) > [Much of this world's wisdom is still acquired by necromancy,--by consulting the oracular dead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augustus-william-hare/much-of-this-world-s-wisdom-is-still-acquired-by-necromancy-by/) [Augustus William Hare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augustus-william-hare/) > [“Too many words,” said Gideon confidentially. “How about these: One flesh, one end, bitch.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamsyn-muir/too-many-words-said-gideon-confidentially-how-about-these-one-flesh/) Tamsyn Muir ## 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. 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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 Books quotes > [I think a new world will arise out of the religious mists when we approach our Bible with the idea that it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/i-think-a-new-world-will-arise-out-of-the-religious-mists-when-we/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [If I had a dollar for every time I couldn’t sleep, I could buy a billion locks and finally read a book in peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aesop-rock/if-i-had-a-dollar-for-every-time-i-couldn-t-sleep-i-could-buy-a/) [Aesop Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aesop-rock/) > [If what I write is literature, I guess you'd better emphasize the 'litter.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lydia-lunch/if-what-i-write-is-literature-i-guess-you-d-better-emphasize-the/) [Lydia Lunch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lydia-lunch/) > [My sentences got sharper and my stories more efficient, and I gradually learned to imagine the reader more clearly and to empathize with that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-thompson-walker/my-sentences-got-sharper-and-my-stories-more-efficient-and-i/) [Karen Thompson Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-thompson-walker/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [“Within the pages of books, I've journeyed to Mandalay, the Milky Way and Santa Fe, without once having to leave my armchair.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-ansbro/within-the-pages-of-books-i-ve-journeyed-to-mandalay-the-milky-way/) [Kevin Ansbro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-ansbro/) > [The Rosary is the book of the blind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/the-rosary-is-the-book-of-the-blind/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) > [“Tacitus did not write a most dangerous book. His readers made it so.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-k-krebs/tacitus-did-not-write-a-most-dangerous-book-his-readers-made-it-so/) Christopher K. Krebs > [“Take some books and read; that’s an immense help; and books are always good company if you have the right sort.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louisa-may-alcott/take-some-books-and-read-that-s-an-immense-help-and-books-are-always/) [Louisa May Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louisa-may-alcott/) > [Reader, if you are gifted with nerves like mine, aspire to any character but that of a wit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/reader-if-you-are-gifted-with-nerves-like-mine-aspire-to-any/) [Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) > [I have many who keep me going, I am very fortunate in this sense. There is nothing like a child who knows more about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/floyd-cooper/i-have-many-who-keep-me-going-i-am-very-fortunate-in-this-sense-there/) [Floyd Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/floyd-cooper/) > [I think books in which people are really happy and things are going well are probably the most challenging novels there are to write,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-quindlen/i-think-books-in-which-people-are-really-happy-and-things-are-going/) [Anna Quindlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-quindlen/) > [It's like the query letter problem that I just mentioned, magnified a hundredfold. You might be good at telling a story, but that doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/it-s-like-the-query-letter-problem-that-i-just-mentioned-magnified-a/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [“Be careful about reading health books. 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