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