---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Witches tended to be needed when human…"
description: "\"“Witches tended to be needed when human beings were meeting the dangerous edges of their lives, the places where there is no map.”\" — Terry Pratchett"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/96f/terry-pratchett-19_quote_witches-tended-to-be-needed-when-human-b_1209255.jpg"
---

#  Witches tended to be needed when human beings were meeting…

![“Witches tended to be needed when human beings were meeting the dangerous edges of their lives, the places where there is no map.” quote by Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/96f/terry-pratchett-19_quote_witches-tended-to-be-needed-when-human-b_1209255.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/96f/terry-pratchett-19_quote_witches-tended-to-be-needed-when-human-b_1209255.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/96f/terry-pratchett-19_quote_witches-tended-to-be-needed-when-human-b_1209255.jpg)

> ““Witches tended to be needed when human beings were meeting the dangerous edges of their lives, the places where there is no map.””

[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.

Witches appear at life’s dangerous, uncharted moments, symbolizing guidance in uncertainty.

**In simple terms:** Witches help navigate unknown, risky times.

Key Takeaway

Seek guidance when facing uncertainty.

Themes

myth guidance danger

Mood

cautious hopeful

Type

philosophical inspirational

When to use this quote

- career changes
- personal crises
- exploration
- adventure

Key Concepts

witchcraft life transitions

Questions to Reflect On

- When have you been your own guide?
- What risks are worth taking?

A Different Perspective

Relying on external guides can hinder personal growth.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Dangerous Edges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dangerous-edges-3657949/) [Needed Human](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needed-human-2920812/) [Tended Needed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tended-needed-3657950/) [Witch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/witch/) [Witches](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/witches/) [Witches Tended](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/witches-tended-3657948/)

## Related quotes

> [“It did not speak well of the power of God, in other words, if He needed a human government to prop him up.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-meacham/it-did-not-speak-well-of-the-power-of-god-in-other-words-if-he-needed/)

[Jon Meacham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-meacham/)

> [“On nights such as this, witches are abroad. Well, not actually abroad. They don't like the food and you can't trust the water and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/on-nights-such-as-this-witches-are-abroad-well-not-actually-abroad/)

[Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/)

> [“The trouble with witches is that they’ll never run away from things they really hate. And the trouble with small furry animals in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/the-trouble-with-witches-is-that-they-ll-never-run-away-from-things/)

[Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/)

> [“Most witches don’t believe in gods. They know that the gods exist, of course. They even deal with them occasionally. But they don’t believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/most-witches-don-t-believe-in-gods-they-know-that-the-gods-exist-of/)

[Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/)

> [A witch who is bored might do ANYTHING. People said things like 'we had to make our own amusements in those days' as if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/a-witch-who-is-bored-might-do-anything-people-said-things-like-we-had/)

[Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/)

> [“Being noticed is what being a witch is all about - Margrat Garlick”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/being-noticed-is-what-being-a-witch-is-all-about-margrat-garlick/)

[Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/)

> [“Esk wouldn't have known what a collective noun was if it had spat in her eye, but she knew there was a herd of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/esk-wouldn-t-have-known-what-a-collective-noun-was-if-it-had-spat-in/)

[Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/)

> [People read a lot of stories about witches, fairies, paranormals, and children possessed by evil spirits. They go to films showing rituals featuring pentagrams,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/people-read-a-lot-of-stories-about-witches-fairies-paranormals-and/)

[Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/)

> [“Burning the witch Giordano Bruno is one more wound inflicted on Christ’s body.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dejan-stojanovic/burning-the-witch-giordano-bruno-is-one-more-wound-inflicted-on/)

[Dejan Stojanovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dejan-stojanovic/)

> [At present, I myself do not know of any local witches or warlocks, but there are several people who seem to have an uncanny…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-f-k-fisher/at-present-i-myself-do-not-know-of-any-local-witches-or-warlocks-but/)

[M. F. K. Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-f-k-fisher/)

> [“Xander: It could be witches, some evil witches, which is ridiculous cause witched they were persecuted, women power, love the eatrh, and I'll be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joss-whedon/xander-it-could-be-witches-some-evil-witches-which-is-ridiculous/)

[Joss Whedon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joss-whedon/)

> [To me, witches are the most divine creatures. I always thought of them not as old crones with double chins and dunce hats, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-moorehead/to-me-witches-are-the-most-divine-creatures-i-always-thought-of-them/)

[Agnes Moorehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-moorehead/)

> [“Why is it every time a madman's prayers are answered, a witch burns?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-danielle-dorn/why-is-it-every-time-a-madman-s-prayers-are-answered-a-witch-burns/)

[J. Danielle Dorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-danielle-dorn/)

> [Witches are a cold breed who keep unto themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-moorehead/witches-are-a-cold-breed-who-keep-unto-themselves/)

[Agnes Moorehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-moorehead/)

> [Men feared witches and burned women.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-d-brandeis/men-feared-witches-and-burned-women/)

[Louis D. Brandeis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-d-brandeis/)

## 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 Witch quotes

> [We're like the wicked witch. We promise gingerbread, then eat the little brats alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/we-re-like-the-wicked-witch-we-promise-gingerbread-then-eat-the/)

[Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/)

> [“You’re the witch, dude.  I’m the data geek. ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debora-geary/you-re-the-witch-dude-i-m-the-data-geek/)

[Debora Geary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debora-geary/)

> [“have no interest in prisoners or battling today,” Manon said. The Queen of Terrasen gave her a grin. “Good.” Manon turned away, barking at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/have-no-interest-in-prisoners-or-battling-today-manon-said-the-queen/)

[Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/)

> [Those old hypocrites. They talk about killing witches but the Good Book’s full of magic. Turning the Nile to blood and parting the Red…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-barker/those-old-hypocrites-they-talk-about-killing-witches-but-the-good/)

[Clive Barker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-barker/)

> [Men feared witches and burned women.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-d-brandeis/men-feared-witches-and-burned-women/)

[Louis D. Brandeis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-d-brandeis/)

> [Witches are a cold breed who keep unto themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-moorehead/witches-are-a-cold-breed-who-keep-unto-themselves/)

[Agnes Moorehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-moorehead/)

> [It was lonely on the hill, and cold. And all you could do was keep going. You could scream, cry, and stamp your feet,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/it-was-lonely-on-the-hill-and-cold-and-all-you-could-do-was-keep/)

[Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/)

> [Actually,” I said, hesitant to bring it up, “I was thinking along the lines of a curse that can turn you human.” “Or witch?”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-harrison/actually-i-said-hesitant-to-bring-it-up-i-was-thinking-along-the/)

[Kim Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-harrison/)

> [Don't yield to that alluring witch, laziness, or else be prepared to surrender all that you have won in your better moments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace/don-t-yield-to-that-alluring-witch-laziness-or-else-be-prepared-to/)

[Horace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace/)

> [Everyone loves a witch hunt as long as it's someone else's witch being hunted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-kirn/everyone-loves-a-witch-hunt-as-long-as-it-s-someone-else-s-witch/)

[Walter Kirn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-kirn/)

> [The Witch' was very well planned, but 'The Lighthouse' was so much more so.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-eggers/the-witch-was-very-well-planned-but-the-lighthouse-was-so-much-more-so/)

[Robert Eggers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-eggers/)

> [“Why is it every time a madman's prayers are answered, a witch burns?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-danielle-dorn/why-is-it-every-time-a-madman-s-prayers-are-answered-a-witch-burns/)

[J. Danielle Dorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-danielle-dorn/)

> [“Too much power. Too much. Even the Blood weren’t meant to wield this much power. Even Witch had never controlled this much power. This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-bishop/too-much-power-too-much-even-the-blood-weren-t-meant-to-wield-this/)

[Anne Bishop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-bishop/)

> [We wanted to make Tucker's Witch just more human and playful, because I don't think we see enough playfulness between characters on TV. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-matheson/we-wanted-to-make-tucker-s-witch-just-more-human-and-playful-because/)

[Tim Matheson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-matheson/)

> [The Witch's Life" When I was a child there was an old woman in our neighborhood whom we called The Witch. All day she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-sexton/the-witch-s-life-when-i-was-a-child-there-was-an-old-woman-in-our/)

[Anne Sexton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-sexton/)

[Browse all 1,112 Witch quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/witch/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“Witches tended to be needed when human beings were meeting the dangerous edges of their lives, the places where there is no map.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Terry Pratchett"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/witches-tended-to-be-needed-when-human-beings-were-meeting-the/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Witch"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/witches-tended-to-be-needed-when-human-beings-were-meeting-the/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/96f/terry-pratchett-19_quote_witches-tended-to-be-needed-when-human-b_1209255.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/96f/terry-pratchett-19_quote_witches-tended-to-be-needed-when-human-b_1209255.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/96f/terry-pratchett-19_quote_witches-tended-to-be-needed-when-human-b_1209255.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Witches tended to be needed when human beings were meeting the dangerous edges of their lives, the places…” — 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": "“Witches tended to be needed when...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/witches-tended-to-be-needed-when-human-beings-were-meeting-the/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/witches-tended-to-be-needed-when-human-beings-were-meeting-the/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
