--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: They are ruby-colored, aren’t they?” he…" description: "\"“They are ruby-colored, aren’t they?” he said. “Well, they’re red,” said Magrat. “Is red all right?” “They’ve got to be red.” All the other dwarfs nodd..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba0/terry-pratchett-19_dwarfs_they-are-ruby-colored-aren-t-they-he-sai_200591.jpg" --- # They are ruby-colored, aren’t they?” he said. “Well… ![“They are ruby-colored, aren’t they?” he said. “Well, they’re red,” said Magrat. “Is red all right?” “They’ve got to be red.” All the other dwarfs nodded. “It’s no good if they’re not red.” Magrat gave him a blank look and shut the door.” quote by Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba0/terry-pratchett-19_dwarfs_they-are-ruby-colored-aren-t-they-he-sai_200591.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba0/terry-pratchett-19_dwarfs_they-are-ruby-colored-aren-t-they-he-sai_200591.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba0/terry-pratchett-19_dwarfs_they-are-ruby-colored-aren-t-they-he-sai_200591.jpg) > ““They are ruby-colored, aren’t they?” he said. “Well, they’re red,” said Magrat. “Is red all right?” “They’ve got to be red.” All the other dwarfs nodded. “It’s no good if they’re not red.” Magrat gave him a blank look and shut the door.”” [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 sat the absurdity of bureaucratic insistence on arbitrary rules, highlighting how trivial details can dominate decision‑making. **In simple terms:** People obsess over minor details instead of substance. Key Takeaway Question the importance of arbitrary standards. Themes absurdity bureaucracy detail authority conformity Mood ironic playful Type satirical humorous When to use this quote - team meetings - policy drafting - design reviews - customer specifications Key Concepts Satire social commentary power dynamics Questions to Reflect On - Why do we accept trivial rules? - What happens when rules become ends? A Different Perspective The humor may mask deeper critique of conformity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dwarfs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dwarfs/) [Dwarfs Nodded](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dwarfs-nodded-2096177/) [Red Dwarfs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/red-dwarfs-2096178/) [Ruby Colored](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ruby-colored-2096179/) [Said Red](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said-red-2096180/) ## Related quotes > [ 'Well,' said Red Jacket \[to someone complaining that he had not enough time\], 'I suppose you have all there is.' ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/well-said-red-jacket-to-someone-complaining-that-he-had-not-enough/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [“We got into an argument over the color of love. I said it was pink, and he said it was red. So you see,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/we-got-into-an-argument-over-the-color-of-love-i-said-it-was-pink-and/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [“I told you once,” said Red, “that I wanted to hear your voice. I did not think the first words I would hear would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juliet-marillier/i-told-you-once-said-red-that-i-wanted-to-hear-your-voice-i-did-not/) [Juliet Marillier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juliet-marillier/) > [“It was while he was on the tower that Robbie came to the rampart beneath. 'I want you to look at this,' Robbie called…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-cornwell/it-was-while-he-was-on-the-tower-that-robbie-came-to-the-rampart/) [Bernard Cornwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-cornwell/) > [Her elf is going to do just that,” he said, the red glow of the ever-after sun turning his hair auburn, almost as red…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-harrison/her-elf-is-going-to-do-just-that-he-said-the-red-glow-of-the-ever/) [Kim Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-harrison/) > [“I thought dwarfs loved gold," said Angua. "They just say that to get it into bed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/i-thought-dwarfs-loved-gold-said-angua-they-just-say-that-to-get-it/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [Dwarfs were not a naturally religious species, but in a world where pit props could crack without warning and pockets of fire damp could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/dwarfs-were-not-a-naturally-religious-species-but-in-a-world-where/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“All dwarfs have beards and wear up to twelve layers of clothing. Gender is more or less optional.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/all-dwarfs-have-beards-and-wear-up-to-twelve-layers-of-clothing/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“gold, gold, gold, gold, gold, gold" 'Is there a chorus?' "Gold, gold, gold, gold, gold".' said Hwel. 'You left out a "gold" there.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/gold-gold-gold-gold-gold-gold-is-there-a-chorus-gold-gold-gold-gold/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [The dwarfs can turn lead into gold... It reached the pointy ears of the dwarfs. -Can we? -Damned if I know. I can't. -Yeah,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/the-dwarfs-can-turn-lead-into-gold-it-reached-the-pointy-ears-of-the/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [I do not doubt but the majest and beauty of the world are latent in any iota of the world; I do not doubt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-whitman/i-do-not-doubt-but-the-majest-and-beauty-of-the-world-are-latent-in/) [Walt Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-whitman/) > [For it is a mad world and it will get madder if we allow the minorities, be they dwarf or giant, orangutan or dolphin,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/for-it-is-a-mad-world-and-it-will-get-madder-if-we-allow-the/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [“Did I offend you?” Lannister said. “Sorry. Dwarfs don’t have to be tactful. Generations of capering fools in motley have won me the right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin/did-i-offend-you-lannister-said-sorry-dwarfs-don-t-have-to-be-tactful/) [George R.R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin/) > [A dwarf can stand on a mountain, he's no taller.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/a-dwarf-can-stand-on-a-mountain-he-s-no-taller/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [He had quite liked the dwarfs. He often had no idea what they were talking about, but for a group of homicidal, class-obsessed small…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-connolly/he-had-quite-liked-the-dwarfs-he-often-had-no-idea-what-they-were/) [John Connolly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-connolly/) ## 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 Dwarfs quotes > [He had quite liked the dwarfs. He often had no idea what they were talking about, but for a group of homicidal, class-obsessed small…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-connolly/he-had-quite-liked-the-dwarfs-he-often-had-no-idea-what-they-were/) [John Connolly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-connolly/) > [A dwarf can stand on a mountain, he's no taller.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/a-dwarf-can-stand-on-a-mountain-he-s-no-taller/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [For it is a mad world and it will get madder if we allow the minorities, be they dwarf or giant, orangutan or dolphin,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/for-it-is-a-mad-world-and-it-will-get-madder-if-we-allow-the/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [I do not doubt but the majest and beauty of the world are latent in any iota of the world; I do not doubt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-whitman/i-do-not-doubt-but-the-majest-and-beauty-of-the-world-are-latent-in/) [Walt Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-whitman/) > [“Did I offend you?” Lannister said. “Sorry. Dwarfs don’t have to be tactful. Generations of capering fools in motley have won me the right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin/did-i-offend-you-lannister-said-sorry-dwarfs-don-t-have-to-be-tactful/) [George R.R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin/) > [Art is gushing hot bile on the fields and harvesting the looks of nasty dwarfs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gunter-brus/art-is-gushing-hot-bile-on-the-fields-and-harvesting-the-looks-of/) [Gunter Brus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gunter-brus/) > [As long as our people quote English standards they dwarf their own proportions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/as-long-as-our-people-quote-english-standards-they-dwarf-their-own/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Being a famous writer is a little like being a tall dwarf. You're on the edge of normality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-updike/being-a-famous-writer-is-a-little-like-being-a-tall-dwarf-you-re-on/) [John Updike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-updike/) > [“You're our honorary sixth member with mysterious abilities and visions of the future. The Snow White to our motley group of dwarfs. Plus, you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-rowen/you-re-our-honorary-sixth-member-with-mysterious-abilities-and/) [Michelle Rowen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-rowen/) > [Worry is a mean-faced dwarf who beats on your heart like a kettledrum.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-brockmeier/worry-is-a-mean-faced-dwarf-who-beats-on-your-heart-like-a-kettledrum/) [Kevin Brockmeier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-brockmeier/) > [Some are dinning in our ears that we Americans, and moderns generally, are intellectual dwarfs compared with the ancients, or eventhe Elizabethan men. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/some-are-dinning-in-our-ears-that-we-americans-and-moderns-generally/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [We are like dwarfs sitting on the shoulders of giants. We see more, and things that are more distant, than they did, not because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-of-salisbury/we-are-like-dwarfs-sitting-on-the-shoulders-of-giants-we-see-more-and/) [John of Salisbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-of-salisbury/) > ["Another name? Oh, certainly. And when the Faceless Men come to kill me, I'll say, 'No, you have the wrong man, I'm a different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin-2/another-name-oh-certainly-and-when-the-faceless-men-come-to-kill-me-i/) [George R. R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin-2/) > [Whether we're talking about what the role of the government is, what you think of the United Nations, political leaders or how to respond…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-c-dawson/whether-we-re-talking-about-what-the-role-of-the-government-is-what/) [Michael C Dawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-c-dawson/) > [All dwarfs are bastards in their father's eyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/all-dwarfs-are-bastards-in-their-father-s-eyes/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 145 Dwarfs quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dwarfs/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“They are ruby-colored, aren’t they?” he said. “Well, they’re red,” said Magrat. “Is red all right?” “They’ve got to be red.” All the other dwarfs nodded. “It’s no good if they’re not red.” Magrat gave him a blank look and shut the door.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Terry Pratchett" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/they-are-ruby-colored-aren-t-they-he-said-well-they-re-red-said/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Dwarfs" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/they-are-ruby-colored-aren-t-they-he-said-well-they-re-red-said/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba0/terry-pratchett-19_dwarfs_they-are-ruby-colored-aren-t-they-he-sai_200591.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba0/terry-pratchett-19_dwarfs_they-are-ruby-colored-aren-t-they-he-sai_200591.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba0/terry-pratchett-19_dwarfs_they-are-ruby-colored-aren-t-they-he-sai_200591.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“They are ruby-colored, aren’t they?” he said. “Well, they’re red,” said Magrat. “Is red all right?” “They’ve…” — 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": "“They are ruby-colored, aren’t they?” he...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/they-are-ruby-colored-aren-t-they-he-said-well-they-re-red-said/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/they-are-ruby-colored-aren-t-they-he-said-well-they-re-red-said/#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 } } ] } ```