--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: That’s what the gods are! An answer that…" description: "\"“That’s what the gods are! An answer that will do! Because there’s food to be caught and babies to be born and life to be lived and so there is no time..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e95/terry-pratchett-19_gods_that-s-what-the-gods-are-an-answer-that_2535333.jpg" --- # That’s what the gods are! An answer that will do! Because… ![“That’s what the gods are! An answer that will do! Because there’s food to be caught and babies to be born and life to be lived and so there is no time for big, complicated, and worrying answers! Please give us a simple answer, so that we don’t have to think, because if we think, we might find…” quote by Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e95/terry-pratchett-19_gods_that-s-what-the-gods-are-an-answer-that_2535333.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e95/terry-pratchett-19_gods_that-s-what-the-gods-are-an-answer-that_2535333.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e95/terry-pratchett-19_gods_that-s-what-the-gods-are-an-answer-that_2535333.jpg) > ““That’s what the gods are! An answer that will do! Because there’s food to be caught and babies to be born and life to be lived and so there is no time for big, complicated, and worrying answers! Please give us a simple answer, so that we don’t have to think, because if we think, we might find answers that don’t fit the way we want the world to be.”” [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. The passage satirizes humanity’s desire for simple answers to avoid complex thinking, highlighting the tension between comfort and truth. **In simple terms:** People prefer simple answers to avoid thinking. Key Takeaway Beware oversimplification. Themes faith comfort complexity Mood critical humorous Type satire philosophical When to use this quote - politics - religion - education - personal decision making Key Concepts cognitive ease existential dread Questions to Reflect On - Why do we seek easy answers? - What are the costs of avoiding complexity? A Different Perspective Simple answers can limit growth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Gods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gods/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [“This was not the time to say “I don’t know.” The brothers had begging, hungry looks, like dogs waiting to be fed. They wanted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/this-was-not-the-time-to-say-i-don-t-know-the-brothers-had-begging/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [Please give us a simple answer, so that we don't have to think, because if we think, we might find answers that don't fit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/please-give-us-a-simple-answer-so-that-we-don-t-have-to-think-because/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [I don't think there are answers. I think there are thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muriel-cooper/i-don-t-think-there-are-answers-i-think-there-are-thoughts/) Muriel Cooper > [“Why is it that so many people think all the answers are in their wallet?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/why-is-it-that-so-many-people-think-all-the-answers-are-in-their/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [“Answers...God knows, I've begged for them," Gail mused. "I'm beginning the think sometimes there are no answers. I'm beginning to think sometimes there's only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-scalf-linamen/answers-god-knows-i-ve-begged-for-them-gail-mused-i-m-beginning-the/) [Karen Scalf Linamen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-scalf-linamen/) > [You do not need to justify asking questions. But if you think you have found answers, you do not have the right to remain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-neusner/you-do-not-need-to-justify-asking-questions-but-if-you-think-you-have/) [Jacob Neusner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-neusner/) > [“When you’re young, you think you have all the answers. You’re right wing or you’re left wing and the other side is a bunch…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-coben/when-you-re-young-you-think-you-have-all-the-answers-you-re-right/) [Harlan Coben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlan-coben/) > [We are closer to God when we are asking questions than when we think we have the answers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-joshua-heschel/we-are-closer-to-god-when-we-are-asking-questions-than-when-we-think/) [Abraham Joshua Heschel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-joshua-heschel/) > [“Just think and the answers are endless, who am I? Where am from? where will I go?…”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/difin-davis/just-think-and-the-answers-are-endless-who-am-i-where-am-from-where/) Difin Davis > [The losers in life think they have all the answers. They can’t learn because they’re too busy telling everyone what they know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kiyosaki/the-losers-in-life-think-they-have-all-the-answers-they-can-t-learn/) [Robert Kiyosaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kiyosaki/) > [Let me keep my distance, always, from those who think they have the answers. Let me keep company always with those who say “Look!”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-oliver/let-me-keep-my-distance-always-from-those-who-think-they-have-the/) [Mary Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-oliver/) > [The moment we think we have all the answers is the moment our brains began to decay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-reyes/the-moment-we-think-we-have-all-the-answers-is-the-moment-our-brains/) [Victor Reyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-reyes/) > [Think about the answers of the questions that have not yet been asked! When they are asked, you will have the answers ready!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/think-about-the-answers-of-the-questions-that-have-not-yet-been-asked/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [The minute we begin to think we have all the answers, we forget the questions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-l-engle/the-minute-we-begin-to-think-we-have-all-the-answers-we-forget-the/) [Madeleine L'Engle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-l-engle/) > [I don't think any of us have the answers to everything. There's no human being on earth who fits that category. So why wouldn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/i-don-t-think-any-of-us-have-the-answers-to-everything-there-s-no/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) ## 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 Gods quotes > [“Is that what they teach you at the convent? That the gods demand the hearts from our bodies?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-lafevers/is-that-what-they-teach-you-at-the-convent-that-the-gods-demand-the/) [Robin LaFevers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-lafevers/) > [What Gods do you believe in? I'll build you a temple of mirrors so you can see them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-gibson/what-gods-do-you-believe-in-i-ll-build-you-a-temple-of-mirrors-so-you/) [Andrea Gibson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-gibson/) > [Against stupidity the gods themselves contend in vain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/against-stupidity-the-gods-themselves-contend-in-vain/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Do you see those dull stars?" She outlined the formation with her finger. "A pentagram," whispered Scott. "Yes, but not just any pentagram. Take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-mattie/do-you-see-those-dull-stars-she-outlined-the-formation-with-her/) [Katie Mattie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-mattie/) > [How do you explain a person like Asha Bhosle? A star or a super star or just someone from the Gods.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anu-malik/how-do-you-explain-a-person-like-asha-bhosle-a-star-or-a-super-star/) [Anu Malik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anu-malik/) > [“Once upon a time, there was a man as great as the gods… But even the great can tremble with fear. Even the great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-e-pearson/once-upon-a-time-there-was-a-man-as-great-as-the-gods-but-even-the/) [Mary E. Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-e-pearson/) > [“Aeneas' mother is a star?" "No; a goddess." I said cautiously, "Venus is the power that we invoke in spring, in the garden, when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ursula-k-le-guin/aeneas-mother-is-a-star-no-a-goddess-i-said-cautiously-venus-is-the/) [Ursula K. Le Guin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ursula-k-le-guin/) > [“Holy gods. He'd frozen the whole damn lake. He was THAT powerful?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/holy-gods-he-d-frozen-the-whole-damn-lake-he-was-that-powerful/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“The Gods know what it is to be eternal, and they love to toy with mortals who use absolutes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josephine-angelini/the-gods-know-what-it-is-to-be-eternal-and-they-love-to-toy-with/) [Josephine Angelini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josephine-angelini/) > [“It was suffering and incapacity that created all afterworlds - this, and that brief madness of bliss which is experienced only by those who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/it-was-suffering-and-incapacity-that-created-all-afterworlds-this-and/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [“The natural gods of men are other men, mythic or real, who embody manhood in men's eyes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-donovan/the-natural-gods-of-men-are-other-men-mythic-or-real-who-embody/) [Jack Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-donovan/) > [“Every nation is part of the history we inherit, blacks and whites, slaves and gods; we have no other option, embracing each other.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-f-moonzajer/every-nation-is-part-of-the-history-we-inherit-blacks-and-whites/) [M.F. Moonzajer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-f-moonzajer/) > [Ancient societies had anthropomorphic gods: a huge pantheon expanding into centuries of dynastic drama; fathers and sons, martyred heroes, star-crossed lovers, the deaths of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hiddleston/ancient-societies-had-anthropomorphic-gods-a-huge-pantheon-expanding/) [Tom Hiddleston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hiddleston/) > [It is convenient that there be gods, and, as it is convenient, let us believe there are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/it-is-convenient-that-there-be-gods-and-as-it-is-convenient-let-us/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [Astrology reveals the will of the gods.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juvenal/astrology-reveals-the-will-of-the-gods/) [Juvenal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juvenal/) [Browse all 1,461 Gods quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gods/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“That’s what the gods are! 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