--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: [The clerk] held in front of him a scroll…" description: "\"“[The clerk] held in front of him a scroll with a red wax seal affixed, the kind of thing believed to make a document official - or at least expensive ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/58c/terry-pratchett-19_documentation_the-clerk-held-in-front-of-him-a-scroll_1618095.jpg" --- # \[The clerk\] held in front of him a scroll with a red wax… ![“[The clerk] held in front of him a scroll with a red wax seal affixed, the kind of thing believed to make a document official - or at least expensive and difficult to understand, which, in fact, amounts to the same thing.” quote by Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/58c/terry-pratchett-19_documentation_the-clerk-held-in-front-of-him-a-scroll_1618095.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/58c/terry-pratchett-19_documentation_the-clerk-held-in-front-of-him-a-scroll_1618095.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/58c/terry-pratchett-19_documentation_the-clerk-held-in-front-of-him-a-scroll_1618095.jpg) > ““\[The clerk\] held in front of him a scroll with a red wax seal affixed, the kind of thing believed to make a document official - or at least expensive and difficult to understand, which, in fact, amounts to the same thing.”” [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. Satirizes bureaucratic red‑tape that makes simple matters seem complex and costly **In simple terms:** Official seals can mask unnecessary complexity Key Takeaway Question the purpose behind overly formal procedures Themes bureaucracy complexity satire Mood wry critical Type satirical observational When to use this quote - government paperwork - legal contracts - corporate policies - academic citations Key Concepts administrative law social critique language theory Questions to Reflect On - When does formality add value versus hinder clarity? - How can you simplify processes without losing essential safeguards? 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