--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: William: \"I'm sure we can all pull…" description: "\"William: \"I'm sure we can all pull together, sir.\" Vetinari: \"Oh, I do hope not. Pulling together is the aim of despotism and tyranny. Free men pull in..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d01/terry-pratchett-19_aim_william-i-m-sure-we-can-all-pull-togethe_1418102.jpg" --- # William: "I'm sure we can all pull together, sir."… ![“William: "I'm sure we can all pull together, sir." Vetinari: "Oh, I do hope not. Pulling together is the aim of despotism and tyranny. Free men pull in all kinds of directions.” quote by Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d01/terry-pratchett-19_aim_william-i-m-sure-we-can-all-pull-togethe_1418102.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d01/terry-pratchett-19_aim_william-i-m-sure-we-can-all-pull-togethe_1418102.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d01/terry-pratchett-19_aim_william-i-m-sure-we-can-all-pull-togethe_1418102.jpg) > “William: "I'm sure we can all pull together, sir." Vetinari: "Oh, I do hope not. Pulling together is the aim of despotism and tyranny. Free men pull in all kinds of directions.” [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. Collective action can be a tool of oppression; true freedom thrives on diverse, independent efforts. **In simple terms:** Unity can mask tyranny. Key Takeaway Encourage independent thinking and collaboration. Themes freedom tyranny collaboration Mood thoughtful critical Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - team projects - community organizing - political activism Key Concepts political philosophy individualism Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance cooperation with autonomy? - When is dissent necessary? A Different Perspective Group consensus may suppress dissenting voices. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cooperation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cooperation/) [Despotism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/despotism/) [Free men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/free-men/) [Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hope/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Pulling together](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pulling-together/) [Tyranny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tyranny/) [Vetinari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vetinari/) ## Related quotes > [“Pulling together is the aim of despotism and tyranny. Free men pull in all kinds of directions.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/pulling-together-is-the-aim-of-despotism-and-tyranny-free-men-pull-in/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“But chaos is the natural state of things, for men pull always in their own directions. It is those who want the world to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-abercrombie/but-chaos-is-the-natural-state-of-things-for-men-pull-always-in-their/) [Joe Abercrombie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-abercrombie/) > [Peace?' said Vetinari. 'Ah, yes, defined as period of time to allow for preparation for the next war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/peace-said-vetinari-ah-yes-defined-as-period-of-time-to-allow-for/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“I believe you find life such a problem because you think there are good people and bad people. You're wrong, of course. There are,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/i-believe-you-find-life-such-a-problem-because-you-think-there-are/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [I was merely endeavoring to indicate that if we do not grab events by the collar they will have us by the throat. -Lord…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/i-was-merely-endeavoring-to-indicate-that-if-we-do-not-grab-events-by/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“I have to ask, sir...Why does it have to be done like this?" Vetinari smiled. "Can you keep a secret, Mister Lipwig?" "Oh, yes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/i-have-to-ask-sir-why-does-it-have-to-be-done-like-this-vetinari/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [I must confess the activities of the UK governments for the past couple of years have been watched with frank admiration and amazement by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/i-must-confess-the-activities-of-the-uk-governments-for-the-past/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“Oh, that's just Thud! That's easy!" yapped a voice. Both men turned to look at Horsefry, who had been made perky by sheer relief.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/oh-that-s-just-thud-that-s-easy-yapped-a-voice-both-men-turned-to/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [Putting up a statue to someone who tried to stop a war is not very, um, statuesque. 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It has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/the-female-mind-is-certainly-a-devious-one-my-lord-vetinari-looked-at/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [Technically, the city of Ankh-Morpork is a Tyranny, which is not always the same thing as a monarchy, and in fact even the post…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/technically-the-city-of-ankh-morpork-is-a-tyranny-which-is-not-always/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [Any sensible ruler would have killed off Leonard, and Lord Vetinari was extremely sensible and often wondered why he had not done so. He'd…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/any-sensible-ruler-would-have-killed-off-leonard-and-lord-vetinari/) [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/) ## 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 Aim quotes > [If you aim at nothing, you will hit it every time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/if-you-aim-at-nothing-you-will-hit-it-every-time/) [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) > [A good aim surveys the present state of experience of pupils, and forming a tentative plan of treatment, keeps the plan constantly in view…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dewey/a-good-aim-surveys-the-present-state-of-experience-of-pupils-and/) [John Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dewey/) > [The Christian man must aim at that complete obedience to God in which life finds its highest happiness, its greatest good, its perfect consummation,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-barclay/the-christian-man-must-aim-at-that-complete-obedience-to-god-in-which/) [William Barclay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-barclay/) > [ He \[an earnest young reporter\] seemed to share the view of many intelligent, well-educated, well-meaning people that, while adult literature may aim to be… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-paterson/he-an-earnest-young-reporter-seemed-to-share-the-view-of-many/) [Katherine Paterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-paterson/) > [In Bosnia, little children shot in the head by a guy who thinks it's okay to aim his gun at a child.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christiane-amanpour/in-bosnia-little-children-shot-in-the-head-by-a-guy-who-thinks-it-s/) [Christiane Amanpour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christiane-amanpour/) > [Design certainly has a cosmetic, aesthetic aim. It always aims at making things beautiful. But relevance is just as important. I often say, 'If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yves-behar/design-certainly-has-a-cosmetic-aesthetic-aim-it-always-aims-at/) [Yves Behar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yves-behar/) > [My aim was to make money for the bank. You lose track of the amounts involved when you are engaged in this kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-kerviel/my-aim-was-to-make-money-for-the-bank-you-lose-track-of-the-amounts/) [Jerome Kerviel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-kerviel/) > [My only aim is to clock a time that everyone remembers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hima-das/my-only-aim-is-to-clock-a-time-that-everyone-remembers/) [Hima Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hima-das/) > [My main aim has always been to do good quality films with roles that have some substance. With Power and Beauty there were loads…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-henstridge/my-main-aim-has-always-been-to-do-good-quality-films-with-roles-that/) [Natasha Henstridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-henstridge/) > [ I really enjoyed it - being involved in watching rushes and playback \[in "The Invisible Woman"\]. Ralph \[Fiennes\] was very open to my input,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felicity-jones/i-really-enjoyed-it-being-involved-in-watching-rushes-and-playback-in/) [Felicity Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felicity-jones/) > [My aim is to be counted among the top players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/babar-azam/my-aim-is-to-be-counted-among-the-top-players/) [Babar Azam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/babar-azam/) > [The single aim of my life is that every child is: free to be a child, free to grow and develop, free to eat,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kailash-satyarthi/the-single-aim-of-my-life-is-that-every-child-is-free-to-be-a-child/) [Kailash Satyarthi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kailash-satyarthi/) > [The aim of good prose words is to mean what they say. The aim of good poetical words is to mean what they do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/the-aim-of-good-prose-words-is-to-mean-what-they-say-the-aim-of-good/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) > [Prescribing hard work for the soft, or easy work for the hardy, is generally nonsense. What is always needed in any aim is right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idries-shah/prescribing-hard-work-for-the-soft-or-easy-work-for-the-hardy-is/) [Idries Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/idries-shah/) > [To be normal is the ultimate aim of the unsuccessful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/to-be-normal-is-the-ultimate-aim-of-the-unsuccessful/) [Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/) Browse all 3,047 Aim quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "William: \"I'm sure we can all pull together, sir.\" Vetinari: \"Oh, I do hope not. Pulling together is the aim of despotism and tyranny. 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