--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The figure stopped to cough long and…" description: "\"“The figure stopped to cough long and hard, making a noise like a wall being hit repeatedly with a bag of rocks. Moist saw that it had a beard of the s..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/728/terry-pratchett-19_quote_the-figure-stopped-to-cough-long-and-har_1271612.jpg" --- # The figure stopped to cough long and hard, making a noise… ![“The figure stopped to cough long and hard, making a noise like a wall being hit repeatedly with a bag of rocks. Moist saw that it had a beard of the short bristled type that suggested that its owner had been interrupted halfway through eating a hedgehog.” quote by Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/728/terry-pratchett-19_quote_the-figure-stopped-to-cough-long-and-har_1271612.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/728/terry-pratchett-19_quote_the-figure-stopped-to-cough-long-and-har_1271612.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/728/terry-pratchett-19_quote_the-figure-stopped-to-cough-long-and-har_1271612.jpg) > ““The figure stopped to cough long and hard, making a noise like a wall being hit repeatedly with a bag of rocks. Moist saw that it had a beard of the short bristled type that suggested that its owner had been interrupted halfway through eating a hedgehog.”” [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. A vivid, absurd description highlights how mundane details can become grotesque when observed closely. **In simple terms:** Details can become grotesque. Key Takeaway Notice details without exaggeration. Themes humor absurdity observation detail Mood playful witty Type literary satirical When to use this quote - creative writing - teaching observation - public speaking - media critique Key Concepts satire characterization imagery Questions to Reflect On - What mundane detail have you overlooked? - How can you balance humor with clarity? A Different Perspective Excessive focus on oddities may distract from core meaning. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Hedgehog](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hedgehog/) ## Related quotes > [Love, smoke and a cough cannot long be hid!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olive-schreiner/love-smoke-and-a-cough-cannot-long-be-hid/) [Olive Schreiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olive-schreiner/) > [“Better not to sit on a hedgehog if you are naked.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bulgakov-mikhail/better-not-to-sit-on-a-hedgehog-if-you-are-naked/) Bulgakov Mikhail > [“She was still going somewhere terrible, but she had a hedgehog, dammit.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-kingfisher/she-was-still-going-somewhere-terrible-but-she-had-a-hedgehog-dammit/) [T. Kingfisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-kingfisher/) > [When I went to college, I discovered the Sega console, and 'Sonic the Hedgehog' became very dear to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-wright/when-i-went-to-college-i-discovered-the-sega-console-and-sonic-the/) [Edgar Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-wright/) > [“Captain Phelan and I dislike each other,” Beatrix told her. “In fact, we’re sworn enemies.” Christopher glanced at her quickly. “When did we become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-kleypas/captain-phelan-and-i-dislike-each-other-beatrix-told-her-in-fact-we/) [Lisa Kleypas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-kleypas/) > [What's worse than a bull in a china shop? A hedgehog in a condom factory.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/what-s-worse-than-a-bull-in-a-china-shop-a-hedgehog-in-a-condom/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I never sleep before 4 A.M. and usually play 'Sonic the Hedgehog' computer games before bed. I like Sonic - he reminds me of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-millar/i-never-sleep-before-4-a-m-and-usually-play-sonic-the-hedgehog/) [Martin Millar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-millar/) > [“I'm not a mouse or a tigress, she thought, I'm a hedgehog.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikram-seth/i-m-not-a-mouse-or-a-tigress-she-thought-i-m-a-hedgehog/) [Vikram Seth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikram-seth/) > [Madame Michel has the elegance of the hedgehog: on the outside she is covered in quills, a real fortress, but my gut feeling is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muriel-barbery/madame-michel-has-the-elegance-of-the-hedgehog-on-the-outside-she-is/) [Muriel Barbery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muriel-barbery/) > [“The hedgehog was engaged in a fight with another hedgehog, which seemed to Alice an excellent opportunity for croqueting one of them with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-carroll/the-hedgehog-was-engaged-in-a-fight-with-another-hedgehog-which/) [Lewis Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-carroll/) > [“I successfully chloroformed a hedgehog that was entangled in the tennis net and so managed to release it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agatha-christie/i-successfully-chloroformed-a-hedgehog-that-was-entangled-in-the/) [Agatha Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agatha-christie/) > [“I want a hedgehog fund. They are so cute and I think I need one. But I would probably kill it by accident.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-schumer/i-want-a-hedgehog-fund-they-are-so-cute-and-i-think-i-need-one-but-i/) [Amy Schumer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-schumer/) > [When I was super young, I had an Atari and used to play 'Space Invaders.' Then I fell in love with 'Mario Bros.,' 'Sonic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amber-rose/when-i-was-super-young-i-had-an-atari-and-used-to-play-space-invaders/) [Amber Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amber-rose/) > [“The fox knows many tricks; the hedgehog one good one.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/archilochus/the-fox-knows-many-tricks-the-hedgehog-one-good-one/) [Archilochus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/archilochus/) > [Sonic the hedgehog is a beautiful statement on capitalism. You spend your whole life collecting yellow rings and then hit one spike and lose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thom-yorke/sonic-the-hedgehog-is-a-beautiful-statement-on-capitalism-you-spend/) [Thom Yorke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thom-yorke/) ## 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 Hedgehog quotes > [“Better not to sit on a hedgehog if you are naked.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bulgakov-mikhail/better-not-to-sit-on-a-hedgehog-if-you-are-naked/) Bulgakov Mikhail > [“The fox knows many tricks; the hedgehog one good one.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/archilochus/the-fox-knows-many-tricks-the-hedgehog-one-good-one/) [Archilochus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/archilochus/) > [When I was super young, I had an Atari and used to play 'Space Invaders.' Then I fell in love with 'Mario Bros.,' 'Sonic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amber-rose/when-i-was-super-young-i-had-an-atari-and-used-to-play-space-invaders/) [Amber Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amber-rose/) > [“I want a hedgehog fund. They are so cute and I think I need one. But I would probably kill it by accident.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-schumer/i-want-a-hedgehog-fund-they-are-so-cute-and-i-think-i-need-one-but-i/) [Amy Schumer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-schumer/) > [“I successfully chloroformed a hedgehog that was entangled in the tennis net and so managed to release it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agatha-christie/i-successfully-chloroformed-a-hedgehog-that-was-entangled-in-the/) [Agatha Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agatha-christie/) > [“The hedgehog was engaged in a fight with another hedgehog, which seemed to Alice an excellent opportunity for croqueting one of them with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-carroll/the-hedgehog-was-engaged-in-a-fight-with-another-hedgehog-which/) [Lewis Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-carroll/) > [Madame Michel has the elegance of the hedgehog: on the outside she is covered in quills, a real fortress, but my gut feeling is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muriel-barbery/madame-michel-has-the-elegance-of-the-hedgehog-on-the-outside-she-is/) [Muriel Barbery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muriel-barbery/) > [“I'm not a mouse or a tigress, she thought, I'm a hedgehog.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikram-seth/i-m-not-a-mouse-or-a-tigress-she-thought-i-m-a-hedgehog/) [Vikram Seth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikram-seth/) > [I never sleep before 4 A.M. and usually play 'Sonic the Hedgehog' computer games before bed. I like Sonic - he reminds me of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-millar/i-never-sleep-before-4-a-m-and-usually-play-sonic-the-hedgehog/) [Martin Millar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-millar/) > [What's worse than a bull in a china shop? A hedgehog in a condom factory.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/what-s-worse-than-a-bull-in-a-china-shop-a-hedgehog-in-a-condom/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Captain Phelan and I dislike each other,” Beatrix told her. “In fact, we’re sworn enemies.” Christopher glanced at her quickly. “When did we become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-kleypas/captain-phelan-and-i-dislike-each-other-beatrix-told-her-in-fact-we/) [Lisa Kleypas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-kleypas/) > [When I went to college, I discovered the Sega console, and 'Sonic the Hedgehog' became very dear to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-wright/when-i-went-to-college-i-discovered-the-sega-console-and-sonic-the/) [Edgar Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-wright/) > [“She was still going somewhere terrible, but she had a hedgehog, dammit.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-kingfisher/she-was-still-going-somewhere-terrible-but-she-had-a-hedgehog-dammit/) [T. Kingfisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-kingfisher/) > [Sonic the hedgehog is a beautiful statement on capitalism. You spend your whole life collecting yellow rings and then hit one spike and lose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thom-yorke/sonic-the-hedgehog-is-a-beautiful-statement-on-capitalism-you-spend/) [Thom Yorke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thom-yorke/) > [It's not always easy to hug a hedgehog, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-etheridge/it-s-not-always-easy-to-hug-a-hedgehog-but-that-doesn-t-mean-you/) [Rose Etheridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-etheridge/) [Browse all 41 Hedgehog quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hedgehog/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“The figure stopped to cough long and hard, making a noise like a wall being hit repeatedly with a bag of rocks. 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