--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Otchky-potchky, itchky-pitch, Pay…" description: "\"“Otchky-potchky, itchky-pitch, Pay attention to this witch. A donkey takes you to a knight -- Him you conquer in a fight. Then you wed a princess who I..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cde/william-steig-24495_magic-words_otchky-potchky-itchky-pitch-pay-attentio_989290.jpg" --- # Otchky-potchky, itchky-pitch, Pay attention to this witch… ![“Otchky-potchky, itchky-pitch, Pay attention to this witch. A donkey takes you to a knight -- Him you conquer in a fight. Then you wed a princess who Is even uglier than you. Ha ha ha and cockadoodle, The magic words are 'Apple Strudel” quote by William Steig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cde/william-steig-24495_magic-words_otchky-potchky-itchky-pitch-pay-attentio_989290.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cde/william-steig-24495_magic-words_otchky-potchky-itchky-pitch-pay-attentio_989290.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cde/william-steig-24495_magic-words_otchky-potchky-itchky-pitch-pay-attentio_989290.jpg) > ““Otchky-potchky, itchky-pitch, Pay attention to this witch. A donkey takes you to a knight -- Him you conquer in a fight. Then you wed a princess who Is even uglier than you. Ha ha ha and cockadoodle, The magic words are 'Apple Strudel”” [William Steig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-steig/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A whimsical, nonsensical rhyme that mixes absurd imagery with a hidden message, suggesting that playful language can conceal deeper meanings. **In simple terms:** Silly rhyme hides a secret phrase. Key Takeaway Look for hidden meaning in playful words. Themes humor playfulness language secret messages Mood playful curious mysterious Type literary humorous cryptic When to use this quote - children's literature - storytelling - creative writing - code breaking Key Concepts nonsense cryptic instruction surrealism Questions to Reflect On - What could the “magic words” symbolize? - How does absurdity affect comprehension? A Different Perspective The nonsense may distract from the underlying message. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Magic words](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/magic-words/) [Princess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/princess/) [Witch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/witch/) ## Related quotes > [I'm a witch woman--high on tobacco and holy water. I'm a woman delighted with her disasters. They give me something to do. A profession…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-cisneros/i-m-a-witch-woman-high-on-tobacco-and-holy-water-i-m-a-woman/) [Sandra Cisneros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-cisneros/) > [I know what you want. It is very stupid of you, but you shall have your way, and it will bring you to sorrow,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-christian-andersen/i-know-what-you-want-it-is-very-stupid-of-you-but-you-shall-have-your/) [Hans Christian Andersen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-christian-andersen/) > [I think deep down, we always knew that words are magic and some words have more power than others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hank-green/i-think-deep-down-we-always-knew-that-words-are-magic-and-some-words/) [Hank Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hank-green/) > [“terms. The net effect is that I have created $30,000 in my asset column for which I am paid interest, just like a bank…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-t-kiyosaki/terms-the-net-effect-is-that-i-have-created-30-000-in-my-asset-column/) [Robert T. Kiyosaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-t-kiyosaki/) > [We must take our sentences seriously, which means we must understand them philosophically, and the odd thing is that the few who do, who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-h-gass/we-must-take-our-sentences-seriously-which-means-we-must-understand/) [William H. Gass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-h-gass/) > [“I saw pearls in her mouth and the velvet cushion of her tongue and I heard the magic words come out of her.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenda-millard/i-saw-pearls-in-her-mouth-and-the-velvet-cushion-of-her-tongue-and-i/) [Glenda Millard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenda-millard/) > [“Magic is all about words and believing. If you believe then anything is possible.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-loiske/magic-is-all-about-words-and-believing-if-you-believe-then-anything/) [Jennifer Loiske](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-loiske/) > [“I wish there were some kind of magic words that could bridge the gap between the person I am and the one I wish…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-murphy/i-wish-there-were-some-kind-of-magic-words-that-could-bridge-the-gap/) [Julie Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-murphy/) > [I love you,” Bill said helplessly, as if he wished those magic words would heal me. But he knew they wouldn’t. “That’s what you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlaine-harris/i-love-you-bill-said-helplessly-as-if-he-wished-those-magic-words/) [Charlaine Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlaine-harris/) > [ I've come to understand that arguing with \[my wife\] about it has never solved anything. So instead of denying it, I've learned to take… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/i-ve-come-to-understand-that-arguing-with-my-wife-about-it-has-never/) [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) > [“I earn the magic of words by writing. I learn the myth of worlds by imagining.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toba-beta/i-earn-the-magic-of-words-by-writing-i-learn-the-myth-of-worlds-by/) [Toba Beta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toba-beta/) > [If I do, I say so. That's the only way out of that. If there are three words that need to be used more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/if-i-do-i-say-so-that-s-the-only-way-out-of-that-if-there-are-three/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [If you want to meet someone who can fix any situation you don't like, who can bring you happiness in spite of what other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-bach/if-you-want-to-meet-someone-who-can-fix-any-situation-you-don-t-like/) [Richard Bach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-bach/) > [Network marketing is the only industry that allows common people to earn millions with a minimal investment and zero overhead, coupled with total time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-yarnell/network-marketing-is-the-only-industry-that-allows-common-people-to/) Mark Yarnell > [No one seems to have learned, or can remember, the magic words that calm people when they are frightened or threatened: "I'm sorry; I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-tavris/no-one-seems-to-have-learned-or-can-remember-the-magic-words-that/) [Carol Tavris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-tavris/) ## More by William Steig > [People are no damned good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-steig/people-are-no-damned-good/) [William Steig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-steig/) > [“Never had he been subjected to such rude treatment. How long could it last? How long, he wondered, could he abide it?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-steig/never-had-he-been-subjected-to-such-rude-treatment-how-long-could-it/) [William Steig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-steig/) > [“The world was all magic, and he had a special bottle of it in his right hand.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-steig/the-world-was-all-magic-and-he-had-a-special-bottle-of-it-in-his/) [William Steig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-steig/) > [To tell the truth, I don't read children's books. I'm an adult. I just write them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-steig/to-tell-the-truth-i-don-t-read-children-s-books-i-m-an-adult-i-just/) [William Steig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-steig/) > [did you ever see anybody so disgusting: said lightning to thunder, "never" thunder growled thunder, "lets give him the works](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-steig/did-you-ever-see-anybody-so-disgusting-said-lightning-to-thunder/) [William Steig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-steig/) > [“How did the world ever manage without me before I was born?' he wondered. 'Didn't they feel something was missing?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-steig/how-did-the-world-ever-manage-without-me-before-i-was-born-he/) [William Steig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-steig/) > [“Why had he wanted to be rich, or to feel rich? Was he an unhappy mouse before? Didn't he see the King himself often…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-steig/why-had-he-wanted-to-be-rich-or-to-feel-rich-was-he-an-unhappy-mouse/) [William Steig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-steig/) > [How deeply one felt when alone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-steig/how-deeply-one-felt-when-alone/) [William Steig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-steig/) > [“Somewhere out there, in the night sky-and it could only be night-were the glittering stars, and among them his, the one he had always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-steig/somewhere-out-there-in-the-night-sky-and-it-could-only-be-night-were/) [William Steig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-steig/) > [“The damp occupants of the cave stood close together in the vaulted entrance like actors who had played their parts and could now watch…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-steig/the-damp-occupants-of-the-cave-stood-close-together-in-the-vaulted/) [William Steig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-steig/) > [Oh, Life, I am yours. Whatever it is you want of me, I am ready to give.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-steig/oh-life-i-am-yours-whatever-it-is-you-want-of-me-i-am-ready-to-give/) [William Steig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-steig/) > [I've always despised old people. I got angry at my father when he began to show signs of age.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-steig/i-ve-always-despised-old-people-i-got-angry-at-my-father-when-he/) [William Steig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-steig/) > [“Abel also kept busy taking it easy. Only when taking it easy, he'd learned, could one properly do one's wondering.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-steig/abel-also-kept-busy-taking-it-easy-only-when-taking-it-easy-he-d/) [William Steig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-steig/) > [“He was able to love them again, but he loved them now in a wiser way, knowing their weakness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-steig/he-was-able-to-love-them-again-but-he-loved-them-now-in-a-wiser-way/) [William Steig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-steig/) > [Later she sat on the ground in the forest between school and home, and spring was so bright and beautiful, the warm air touched…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-steig/later-she-sat-on-the-ground-in-the-forest-between-school-and-home-and/) [William Steig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-steig/) [Explore all 24 William Steig quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-steig/) ## More Donkey quotes > [“There was once an old but clever donkey, who never liked the sting of any bee, Nor for all the Slung mud, did he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/priyavrat-thareja/there-was-once-an-old-but-clever-donkey-who-never-liked-the-sting-of/) [Priyavrat Thareja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/priyavrat-thareja/) > [No lusting after your neighbor's house - or wife or servant or maid or ox or donkey. Don't set your heart on anything that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moses/no-lusting-after-your-neighbor-s-house-or-wife-or-servant-or-maid-or/) [Moses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moses/) > [Give me the enchilada with the pickle sauce shoved up between the donkey's ass.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-zappa/give-me-the-enchilada-with-the-pickle-sauce-shoved-up-between-the/) [Frank Zappa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-zappa/) > [Left to their own devices, men would wear trainers with a pair of stonewashed jeans and would think nothing of throwing on a donkey…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claudia-winkleman/left-to-their-own-devices-men-would-wear-trainers-with-a-pair-of/) [Claudia Winkleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claudia-winkleman/) > [“An uncomfortable marriage can not bear the strain of the death of a beloved donkey.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/merrie-haskell/an-uncomfortable-marriage-can-not-bear-the-strain-of-the-death-of-a/) [Merrie Haskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/merrie-haskell/) > [Poetry is a dumb Buddha who thinks a donkey is as important as a diamond.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-goldberg/poetry-is-a-dumb-buddha-who-thinks-a-donkey-is-as-important-as-a/) [Natalie Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-goldberg/) > [The whole new Democratic Party is the old Republican Party. We have a whole bunch of elephants running around in donkey's clothes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-novak/the-whole-new-democratic-party-is-the-old-republican-party-we-have-a/) [Robert Novak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-novak/) > [“as a copy she was not a very good copy. There were differences. She was not one of His best efforts. There is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-morgan/as-a-copy-she-was-not-a-very-good-copy-there-were-differences-she-was/) [Elaine Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-morgan/) > [A donkey a day keeps the tubesocks at bay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-schober/a-donkey-a-day-keeps-the-tubesocks-at-bay/) Greg Schober > [If a woman's got nothing but her fair fame to feed on, why, it's thin tack, and a donkey would die of it!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-h-lawrence/if-a-woman-s-got-nothing-but-her-fair-fame-to-feed-on-why-it-s-thin/) [D. H. Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-h-lawrence/) > [Donkeys live a long time. None of you has ever seen a dead donkey.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/donkeys-live-a-long-time-none-of-you-has-ever-seen-a-dead-donkey/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [Maybe your life resembles a Bethlehem stable. Crude in some spots, smelly in others. Not much glamour. Not always neat. People in your circle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/maybe-your-life-resembles-a-bethlehem-stable-crude-in-some-spots/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [I do believe the Democratic party has moved far to the right. I do believe that the party has a bunch of elephants running…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-sharpton/i-do-believe-the-democratic-party-has-moved-far-to-the-right-i-do/) [Al Sharpton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-sharpton/) > [In the Bible, God uses brothel owners, pagan kings, murderers and mercenaries as instruments of good; at one point God even speaks to a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-claiborne/in-the-bible-god-uses-brothel-owners-pagan-kings-murderers-and/) [Shane Claiborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-claiborne/) > [From my first years, my favourite animal was always the donkey.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kai-havertz/from-my-first-years-my-favourite-animal-was-always-the-donkey/) [Kai Havertz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kai-havertz/) Browse all 262 Donkey quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Otchky-potchky, itchky-pitch, Pay attention to this witch. 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