--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Standing around watching people was, of…" description: "\"“Standing around watching people was, of course, Ankh-Morpork’s leading industry. The place was a net exporter of penetrating stares.”\" — Terry Pratchett" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d2/terry-pratchett-19_stares_standing-around-watching-people-was-of-c_2501585.jpg" --- # Standing around watching people was, of course… ![“Standing around watching people was, of course, Ankh-Morpork’s leading industry. The place was a net exporter of penetrating stares.” quote by Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d2/terry-pratchett-19_stares_standing-around-watching-people-was-of-c_2501585.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d2/terry-pratchett-19_stares_standing-around-watching-people-was-of-c_2501585.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d2/terry-pratchett-19_stares_standing-around-watching-people-was-of-c_2501585.jpg) > ““Standing around watching people was, of course, Ankh-Morpork’s leading industry. The place was a net exporter of penetrating stares.”” [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. Ankh‑Morpork’s main industry is observing people, exporting penetrating stares. **In simple terms:** The city trades in observation and judgment. Key Takeaway Be aware of being watched. Themes society observation judgment humor Mood witty satirical Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - urban life - media consumption - interpersonal dynamics Key Concepts social scrutiny cultural satire Questions to Reflect On - How does observation shape behavior? - What are the costs of constant scrutiny? A Different Perspective Satire may exaggerate reality. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Morpork Leading](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/morpork-leading-1066049/) [Penetrating Stares](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/penetrating-stares-1066048/) [Standing Watching](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/standing-watching-1066047/) [Stares](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stares/) [Watching People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/watching-people/) ## Related quotes > [You know your friends when things are falling apart around you & there in the background a person standing and watching you, they follow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glen-rambharack/you-know-your-friends-when-things-are-falling-apart-around-you-there/) [Glen Rambharack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glen-rambharack/) > [“Standing there. watching her go, I felt lonelier than I have ever been in my life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-cross/standing-there-watching-her-go-i-felt-lonelier-than-i-have-ever-been/) [Ian Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-cross/) > [You can't sit there judging me when you are not standing here watching what am doing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-can-t-sit-there-judging-me-when-you-are-not-standing-here/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I was there laughing and joking with everyone else, but it’s like there was some part of me standing back, watching, thinking, “Is this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-peterson-haddix/i-was-there-laughing-and-joking-with-everyone-else-but-it-s-like/) [Margaret Peterson Haddix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-peterson-haddix/) > [“ How do you know this? Because I'm always watching people. When I watch people I too look through them. I learned that from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-eggers/how-do-you-know-this-because-i-m-always-watching-people-when-i-watch/) [Dave Eggers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-eggers/) > [If I am out partying, I end up watching the people doing yoga on my way home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dino-morea/if-i-am-out-partying-i-end-up-watching-the-people-doing-yoga-on-my/) [Dino Morea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dino-morea/) > [“I like watching other people watching other people.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/i-like-watching-other-people-watching-other-people/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [You have to watch out because being an athlete and playing at the college level with the opportunity to go the NFL, you're under…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-donald/you-have-to-watch-out-because-being-an-athlete-and-playing-at-the/) [Aaron Donald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-donald/) > [I learned a lot just watching people perform.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hader/i-learned-a-lot-just-watching-people-perform/) [Bill Hader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hader/) > [It's always awkard watching two people flirt for the first time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stassi-schroeder/it-s-always-awkard-watching-two-people-flirt-for-the-first-time/) [Stassi Schroeder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stassi-schroeder/) > [The POLICE used to watch over the people Now they are watching the people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-manson/the-police-used-to-watch-over-the-people-now-they-are-watching-the/) [Charles Manson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-manson/) > [Voyeurism, watching people go about their daily lives, is universally funny, no matter the culture, no matter the anything, it's just always funny to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-murray/voyeurism-watching-people-go-about-their-daily-lives-is-universally/) [James Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-murray/) > [As an actor, the training I received was that I walk through the world as an observer of life and of people. My job…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-schwimmer/as-an-actor-the-training-i-received-was-that-i-walk-through-the-world/) [David Schwimmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-schwimmer/) > [I tend to be hypercritical of my performances. That's why I hate watching them with people I know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-flint/i-tend-to-be-hypercritical-of-my-performances-that-s-why-i-hate/) [Jill Flint](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-flint/) > [Im always looking and watching people and how they behave and wondering how they got where they are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-mccartney/im-always-looking-and-watching-people-and-how-they-behave-and/) [Mary McCartney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-mccartney/) ## 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 Stares quotes > [“He was hot. A nonhotboy stares at you relentlessly and it is, at best, awkward and, at worst, a form of assault. But a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/he-was-hot-a-nonhotboy-stares-at-you-relentlessly-and-it-is-at-best/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [“Well at least your awake," he sighs "You had me worried." "Get your hands away from me." He waves sheathed fingers in front of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/well-at-least-your-awake-he-sighs-you-had-me-worried-get-your-hands/) [Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) > [“For a moment we sit in silence. Eventually, I turn to him and say, "Do you believe in God?" His eyes narrow for a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-sparrow/for-a-moment-we-sit-in-silence-eventually-i-turn-to-him-and-say-do/) [Rebecca Sparrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-sparrow/) > [“Look," I say at last. 'You know me. You know my life. I always thought-or hoped-" "You thought what?" "I just want to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-grunwald/look-i-say-at-last-you-know-me-you-know-my-life-i-always-thought-or/) [Lisa Grunwald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-grunwald/) > [“I love you,” he whispers before he pulls back and stares down into her eyes. “You’re gonna get really fucking tired of hearing me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-beckett/i-love-you-he-whispers-before-he-pulls-back-and-stares-down-into-her/) [Madeleine Beckett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-beckett/) > [You don’t mind when he stares at you.” Cecil jerked his head toward Eldric. "He doesn’t stare,” I said. “He looks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franny-billingsley/you-don-t-mind-when-he-stares-at-you-cecil-jerked-his-head-toward/) [Franny Billingsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franny-billingsley/) > [It often happens that what stares us in the face is the most difficult to perceive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-teilhard-de-chardin/it-often-happens-that-what-stares-us-in-the-face-is-the-most/) [Pierre Teilhard de Chardin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-teilhard-de-chardin/) > [“I love you,” he says as he stares into my eyes; I fight not to look away. “You may not hear me say this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-love-you-he-says-as-he-stares-into-my-eyes-i-fight-not-to-look-away/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [ “\[A\]s I stepped over the curb, I became excruciatingly aware of my skin color, and my heart pounded with social anxiety. In going around… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jared-taylor/a-s-i-stepped-over-the-curb-i-became-excruciatingly-aware-of-my-skin/) [Jared Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jared-taylor/) > [“The dread of being stares us in the eye, and in a deadly gush we perceive how the minds are dangling in threads of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-wessel-zapffe/the-dread-of-being-stares-us-in-the-eye-and-in-a-deadly-gush-we/) [Peter Wessel Zapffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-wessel-zapffe/) > [His dark hair is perfectly recklessly up today, those tanned muscles flexing as he extends out his arms and does his little turn. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katy-evans/his-dark-hair-is-perfectly-recklessly-up-today-those-tanned-muscles/) [Katy Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katy-evans/) > [“You know the horrible life of the alarm clock – it’s a monster that has always appalled me because of the number of things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-vache/you-know-the-horrible-life-of-the-alarm-clock-it-s-a-monster-that-has/) [Jacques Vache](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-vache/) > [“What’s the one thing so terrible that you’ve never told anyone? The one thing no one could ever forgive?” She stares hard into him.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-dunbar/what-s-the-one-thing-so-terrible-that-you-ve-never-told-anyone-the/) [Robert Dunbar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-dunbar/) > [“I risk a glance, and St. Clair stares back. Deeply. He has not looked at me like this before. I turn away first, then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-perkins/i-risk-a-glance-and-st-clair-stares-back-deeply-he-has-not-looked-at/) [Stephanie Perkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-perkins/) > [“The way he stares at me—it’s as if he doesn’t even see the outside anymore. His eyes pierce me as if he can see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-mcgarry/the-way-he-stares-at-me-it-s-as-if-he-doesn-t-even-see-the-outside/) [Katie McGarry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-mcgarry/) [Browse all 98 Stares quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stares/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Standing around watching people was, of course, Ankh-Morpork’s leading industry. The place was a net exporter of penetrating stares.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Terry Pratchett" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/standing-around-watching-people-was-of-course-ankh-morpork-s-leading/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Stares" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/standing-around-watching-people-was-of-course-ankh-morpork-s-leading/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d2/terry-pratchett-19_stares_standing-around-watching-people-was-of-c_2501585.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d2/terry-pratchett-19_stares_standing-around-watching-people-was-of-c_2501585.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d2/terry-pratchett-19_stares_standing-around-watching-people-was-of-c_2501585.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Standing around watching people was, of course, Ankh-Morpork’s leading industry. The place was a net…” — 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": "“Standing around watching people was, of...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/standing-around-watching-people-was-of-course-ankh-morpork-s-leading/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/standing-around-watching-people-was-of-course-ankh-morpork-s-leading/#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 } } ] } ```