Sunday, March 15, 2015

The best of Terry Pratchett


Terry Pratchett's death has removed from us one of the wittiest, most humane minds in the fantasy and science fiction world.  No-one else can fill the niche he created for himself.

I've been at a loss to find words to suit the occasion, but I finally realized that only Mr. Pratchett could provide them.  Courtesy of the Telegraph, here's a selection.

  • Geography is just physics slowed down, with a couple of trees stuck in it.
  • The truth may be out there, but the lies are inside your head.
  • Real stupidity beats artificial intelligence every time.
  • In ancient times cats were worshipped as gods. They have not forgotten this.
  • I once absent-mindedly ordered Three Mile Island dressing in a restaurant and, with great presence of mind, they brought Thousand Island Dressing and a bottle of chili sauce.
  • The pen is mightier than the sword if the sword is very short, and the pen is very sharp.
  • Some humans would do anything to see if it was possible to do it. If you put a large switch in some cave somewhere, with a sign on it saying 'End-of-the-World Switch. PLEASE DO NOT TOUCH', the paint wouldn't even have time to dry.
  • It’s not worth doing something unless someone, somewhere, would much rather you weren’t doing it.
  • The presence of those seeking the truth is infinitely to be preferred to the presence of those who think they’ve found it.
  • There are times in life when people must know when not to let go. Balloons are designed to teach small children this.
  • Evil begins when you begin to treat people as things.
  • So much universe, and so little time.

There are many more at the link.  Highly recommended reading.

Peter

2 comments:

Sherm said...

My favorite (and growing more topical):
“What kind of man would put a known criminal in charge of a major branch of government? Apart from, say, the average voter.” from Going Postal

Dirk said...

I used many of those quotes as taglines back in the old BBS days.