--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There were times when the world did not…" description: "\"“There were times when the world did not need policemen, because what it really did need was for somebody who knew what they were doing to shut it all ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a6/terry-pratchett-19_policemen_there-were-times-when-the-world-did-not_753907.jpg" --- # There were times when the world did not need policemen… ![“There were times when the world did not need policemen, because what it really did need was for somebody who knew what they were doing to shut it all down and start it all up again so that this time it could be done properly.” quote by Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a6/terry-pratchett-19_policemen_there-were-times-when-the-world-did-not_753907.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a6/terry-pratchett-19_policemen_there-were-times-when-the-world-did-not_753907.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a6/terry-pratchett-19_policemen_there-were-times-when-the-world-did-not_753907.jpg) > ““There were times when the world did not need policemen, because what it really did need was for somebody who knew what they were doing to shut it all down and start it all up again so that this time it could be done properly.”” [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. Society sometimes needs decisive, knowledgeable intervention to reset and rebuild systems properly. **In simple terms:** Expert intervention can reset flawed systems. Key Takeaway Support informed leadership in systemic overhaul. Themes leadership systemic reform expertise reset rebuilding Mood cautious hopeful Type satirical philosophical When to use this quote - government reform - company restructuring - community crisis response Key Concepts strategic intervention organizational redesign Questions to Reflect On - Who holds the expertise to enact change? - When is a reset preferable to gradual improvement? A Different Perspective Expertise alone may not guarantee proper outcomes. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Did Need](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/did-need-676115/) [Need Policemen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/need-policemen-5859380/) [Policemen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/policemen/) [Policemen Really](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/policemen-really-5859381/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [World Did](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world-did-271410/) ## Related quotes > [Some of my best sources are ex-policemen, just to get a feeling of what it's like to be one. And it's quite different from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/some-of-my-best-sources-are-ex-policemen-just-to-get-a-feeling-of/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [Vimes struggled to his feet, shook his head and set off after it. No thought was involved. It is the ancient instinct of terriers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/vimes-struggled-to-his-feet-shook-his-head-and-set-off-after-it-no/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“Where there are policemen there’s crime, sergeant, remember that.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/where-there-are-policemen-there-s-crime-sergeant-remember-that/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“Could I please amend that suggestion? Could you not be there in the second darkest shadow one hour before midnight, to see who steps…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/could-i-please-amend-that-suggestion-could-you-not-be-there-in-the/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“He did not like that shit; he did not need that shit.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/he-did-not-like-that-shit-he-did-not-need-that-shit/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [I did not need to know if he could love me. I needed to know if he could need me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-safran-foer/i-did-not-need-to-know-if-he-could-love-me-i-needed-to-know-if-he/) [Jonathan Safran Foer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-safran-foer/) > [“She did not need anyone else's love when she had roses.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-lynn-payne/she-did-not-need-anyone-else-s-love-when-she-had-roses/) [Holly Lynn Payne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-lynn-payne/) > [“Did you really stop breathing? Did you even need mouth to mouth?” “No. But it was nice to get it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-eugene/did-you-really-stop-breathing-did-you-even-need-mouth-to-mouth-no-but/) [Lisa Eugene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-eugene/) > [“Men did not need to have balls to have balls.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/men-did-not-need-to-have-balls-to-have-balls/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [“ Did I need medication? Or did I need someone to talk to? Someone, that is, who would do more than charge the going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norah-vincent/did-i-need-medication-or-did-i-need-someone-to-talk-to-someone-that/) [Norah Vincent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norah-vincent/) > [“Why did I always need to do something, like referring one person to another, just for the sake of doing something, when sometimes, perhaps,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-schwalbe/why-did-i-always-need-to-do-something-like-referring-one-person-to/) [Will Schwalbe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-schwalbe/) > [Did I want a dog? No. Did I need a dog? Also no. We were six kids running for our lives, not knowing where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/did-i-want-a-dog-no-did-i-need-a-dog-also-no-we-were-six-kids-running/) [James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/) > [Let's face it, we really did need something like this in this country to fight childhood obesity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-biden/let-s-face-it-we-really-did-need-something-like-this-in-this-country/) [Jill Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-biden/) > [I was needed, but I myself did not need. I had followers, but not allies, and only now do I understand the difference. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-erikson/i-was-needed-but-i-myself-did-not-need-i-had-followers-but-not-allies/) [Steven Erikson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-erikson/) > [“Did you need something?' I asked. 'Yes,' he said, reaching out and taking my hand. My heart thumped hard at his touch. I told…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-donaldson/did-you-need-something-i-asked-yes-he-said-reaching-out-and-taking-my/) [Julianne Donaldson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-donaldson/) ## 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 Policemen quotes > [As far as Japan is concerned, I want to help all of our allies, but we are losing billions and billions of dollars. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/as-far-as-japan-is-concerned-i-want-to-help-all-of-our-allies-but-we/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [In France they spend six months training policemen, then they give them a gun and put them on the streets, and I don't know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mathieu-kassovitz/in-france-they-spend-six-months-training-policemen-then-they-give/) [Mathieu Kassovitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mathieu-kassovitz/) > [There are two things that really get under Gary Neville's skin: scousers and policemen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rio-ferdinand/there-are-two-things-that-really-get-under-gary-neville-s-skin/) [Rio Ferdinand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rio-ferdinand/) > [I never write Metropolis for seven cents because I can get the same price for city. I never write policeman because I can get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/i-never-write-metropolis-for-seven-cents-because-i-can-get-the-same/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [The policeman on the beat or in the patrol car makes more decisions and exercises broader discretion affecting the daily lives of people every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-e-burger/the-policeman-on-the-beat-or-in-the-patrol-car-makes-more-decisions/) [Warren E. Burger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-e-burger/) > [Some of my best sources are ex-policemen, just to get a feeling of what it's like to be one. And it's quite different from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/some-of-my-best-sources-are-ex-policemen-just-to-get-a-feeling-of/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [The collectors of revenue and the policeman are the only symbols by which millions in India's villages know British rule.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/the-collectors-of-revenue-and-the-policeman-are-the-only-symbols-by/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [Follow your inclinations with due regard to the policeman round the corner.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/follow-your-inclinations-with-due-regard-to-the-policeman-round-the/) [W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/) > [ \[The Utopia of Rules\] should offer a challenge to us all. Should we just accept this bureaucracy as inevitable? Or is there a way… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gillian-tett/the-utopia-of-rules-should-offer-a-challenge-to-us-all-should-we-just/) [Gillian Tett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gillian-tett/) > [He was a long, stripy policeman, who flowed out of his uniform at odd spots, as if Nature, setting out to make a constable,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-g-wodehouse-2/he-was-a-long-stripy-policeman-who-flowed-out-of-his-uniform-at-odd/) [P. G. Wodehouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-g-wodehouse-2/) > [When the penalty for a policeman's mistake is to put a criminal back out on the street, then we are hurting America; we are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-bauer/when-the-penalty-for-a-policeman-s-mistake-is-to-put-a-criminal-back/) [Gary Bauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-bauer/) > [I was told when I grew up I could be anything I wanted: a fireman, a policeman, a doctor – even President, it seemed.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hicks/i-was-told-when-i-grew-up-i-could-be-anything-i-wanted-a-fireman-a/) [Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hicks/) > [“Police not enforcing laws results in a high crime rate that is formally reported as a low crime rate in police statistics.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/police-not-enforcing-laws-results-in-a-high-crime-rate-that-is/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [It's easy to whip up resentment against anything that smacks with authority. Nobody ever organizes over pan handlers. So even if a cop is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-gutfeld/it-s-easy-to-whip-up-resentment-against-anything-that-smacks-with/) [Greg Gutfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-gutfeld/) > [We are tired of being beaten by policemen. We are tired of seeing our people locked up in jails over and over again. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lewis/we-are-tired-of-being-beaten-by-policemen-we-are-tired-of-seeing-our/) [John Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lewis/) [Browse all 340 Policemen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/policemen/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“There were times when the world did not need policemen, because what it really did need was for somebody who knew what they were doing to shut it all down and start it all up again so that this time it could be done properly.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Terry Pratchett" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/there-were-times-when-the-world-did-not-need-policemen-because-what/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Policemen" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/there-were-times-when-the-world-did-not-need-policemen-because-what/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a6/terry-pratchett-19_policemen_there-were-times-when-the-world-did-not_753907.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a6/terry-pratchett-19_policemen_there-were-times-when-the-world-did-not_753907.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a6/terry-pratchett-19_policemen_there-were-times-when-the-world-did-not_753907.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“There were times when the world did not need policemen, because what it really did need was for somebody who…” — 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": "“There were times when the world...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/there-were-times-when-the-world-did-not-need-policemen-because-what/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/there-were-times-when-the-world-did-not-need-policemen-because-what/#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 } } ] } ```