--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You see the lighted windows and what you…" description: "\"You see the lighted windows and what you want to think is that there may be many interesting stories behind them, but what you know is that really ther..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d1/terry-pratchett-19_accounts_you-see-the-lighted-windows-and-what-you_269087.jpg" --- # You see the lighted windows and what you want to think is… ![“You see the lighted windows and what you want to think is that there may be many interesting stories behind them, but what you know is that really there are just dull, dull souls, mere consumers of food, who think their instincts are emotions and their tiny lives of more account than a whisper of…” quote by Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d1/terry-pratchett-19_accounts_you-see-the-lighted-windows-and-what-you_269087.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d1/terry-pratchett-19_accounts_you-see-the-lighted-windows-and-what-you_269087.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d1/terry-pratchett-19_accounts_you-see-the-lighted-windows-and-what-you_269087.jpg) > “You see the lighted windows and what you want to think is that there may be many interesting stories behind them, but what you know is that really there are just dull, dull souls, mere consumers of food, who think their instincts are emotions and their tiny lives of more account than a whisper of wind.” [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 quote critiques superficial judgments, suggesting people often appear interesting but are actually ordinary, driven by basic needs and mistaken self‑perception. **In simple terms:** People seem fascinating but are often ordinary and self‑deceived. Key Takeaway Look beyond appearances to see true depth. Themes appearance self‑deception mundanity consumerism Mood cynical reflective Type observational critical When to use this quote - urban life - social gatherings - media consumption - personal introspection Key Concepts existentialism social critique human nature Questions to Reflect On - Do you judge others by appearances? - How can we recognize deeper humanity? A Different Perspective It may overlook genuine complexity in individuals. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Consumers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consumers/) [Emotion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emotion/) [Instinct](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/instinct/) [Soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soul/) [Spirituality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spirituality/) [Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stories/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [What you want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/what-you-want/) [Wind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wind/) ## Related quotes > [“everything before you was just dull, empty, mediocre … it was nothing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-l-james/everything-before-you-was-just-dull-empty-mediocre-it-was-nothing/) [E.L. James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-l-james/) > [Some of those stories in local newspapers are just as dull and boring as the stories that I get from on-line services, which are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tabitha-soren/some-of-those-stories-in-local-newspapers-are-just-as-dull-and-boring/) [Tabitha Soren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tabitha-soren/) > [It's just very dull. Talking about yourself and about something that you've got less interest in than you had, because you've always moved on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupert-graves/it-s-just-very-dull-talking-about-yourself-and-about-something-that/) [Rupert Graves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupert-graves/) > [“BUT MOST PEOPLE ARE RATHER STUPID AND WASTE THEIR LIVES. HAVE YOU NOT SEEN THAT? HAVE YOU NOT LOOKED DOWN FROM THE HORSE AT…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett-soul-music/but-most-people-are-rather-stupid-and-waste-their-lives-have-you-not/) Terry Pratchett - Soul Music > [The aristocracy are not the farmers who work the land, and raise the produce, but are the mere consumers of the rent; and when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/the-aristocracy-are-not-the-farmers-who-work-the-land-and-raise-the/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [We cannot be mere consumers of good governance, we must be participants; we must be co-creators.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rohini-nilekani/we-cannot-be-mere-consumers-of-good-governance-we-must-be/) [Rohini Nilekani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rohini-nilekani/) > [I think too many comic book covers are way too busy, crammed with far too much information, both visual and verbal, that just becomes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chip-kidd/i-think-too-many-comic-book-covers-are-way-too-busy-crammed-with-far/) [Chip Kidd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chip-kidd/) > [I can't bear to look at Paris Hilton and all that. I mean, it really doesn't grab me. I don't think she's interesting, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-vanderbilt/i-can-t-bear-to-look-at-paris-hilton-and-all-that-i-mean-it-really/) [Gloria Vanderbilt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-vanderbilt/) > [I want to be surprised by life... I think that's more interesting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-lepage/i-want-to-be-surprised-by-life-i-think-that-s-more-interesting/) [Robert Lepage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-lepage/) > [I think if it's interesting, it's interesting, and if it's not, it's not working.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-campion/i-think-if-it-s-interesting-it-s-interesting-and-if-it-s-not-it-s-not/) [Jane Campion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-campion/) > [I try to find stories that I would think that everyone would find interesting, and just a good entertaining story, and then if I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-jewison/i-try-to-find-stories-that-i-would-think-that-everyone-would-find/) [Norman Jewison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-jewison/) > [It's always hard, but it's always fun to attack a premise that you think is interesting. It does take a few drafts for sure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-levin/it-s-always-hard-but-it-s-always-fun-to-attack-a-premise-that-you/) [Victor Levin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-levin/) > [I think the most interesting stuff comes from people who've just got nothing to lose. You know, let's kamikaze this thing - just throw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-ruscha/i-think-the-most-interesting-stuff-comes-from-people-who-ve-just-got/) [Edward Ruscha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-ruscha/) > [My mantra is, I want to work with people that I like to hang out with, who are smart, where I can add value,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christie-hefner/my-mantra-is-i-want-to-work-with-people-that-i-like-to-hang-out-with/) [Christie Hefner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christie-hefner/) > [I think it's much more interesting to live not knowing than to have answers that might be wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/feynman/i-think-it-s-much-more-interesting-to-live-not-knowing-than-to-have/) Feynman ## 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. 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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 Accounts quotes > [I think most artists feel like they're outside society - no matter how many accolades they receive, or how much money is in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-rose/i-think-most-artists-feel-like-they-re-outside-society-no-matter-how/) [Aaron Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-rose/) > [Think of these things, whence you came, where you are going, and to whom you must account.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/think-of-these-things-whence-you-came-where-you-are-going-and-to-whom/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [There is nothing that we can properly call our own but our time, and yet everybody fools us out of it who has a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/there-is-nothing-that-we-can-properly-call-our-own-but-our-time-and/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [The Hindus have a peculiar slovenliness in business matters, not being sufficiently methodical and strict in keeping accounts etc.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/the-hindus-have-a-peculiar-slovenliness-in-business-matters-not-being/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [With the Truman book, I wrote the entire account of his experiences in World War I before going over to Europe to follow his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mccullough/with-the-truman-book-i-wrote-the-entire-account-of-his-experiences-in/) [David McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mccullough/) > [A great read; an exciting, frightening account of organized crime today. But like all important works of nonfiction, it goes further… This book is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/le-ly-hayslip/a-great-read-an-exciting-frightening-account-of-organized-crime-today/) [Le Ly Hayslip](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/le-ly-hayslip/) > [I had a very blessed journey with the upbringing I had. When you're working on sets as a stuntman, you have a firsthand account…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ric-roman-waugh/i-had-a-very-blessed-journey-with-the-upbringing-i-had-when-you-re/) [Ric Roman Waugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ric-roman-waugh/) > [The suppression of uncomfortable ideas may be common in religion or in politics, but it is not the path to knowledge; it has no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/the-suppression-of-uncomfortable-ideas-may-be-common-in-religion-or/) [Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/) > [You've got to exercise. Your health account, your bank account, they're the same thing. 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