The Carpet People

by Terry Pratchett

It seemed to Snibril that those who carried all their personal goods in one hand looked a bit more cheerful than those who were leaving half theirs behind.

“Together, they are. Individually, they’re stupid. Hah! The opposite of us, really.

“Nothing has to happen. History isn’t something you live. It is something you make. One decision. One person. At the right time. Nothing is too small to make a difference. Anything can be changed.”

The Deftmenes are mad and the Dumii are sane, thought Snibril, and that’s just the same as being mad except that it’s quieter.

human voice, but with a sulky whine in it that suggested that its owner had been given too many sweets when he was young and not enough shoutings-at. It was the kind of voice that’s used to having its life with the crusts cut off.

“But the trouble about obeying orders is, it becomes a habit. And then everything depends on who’s giving the orders.”

“Because it doesn’t matter what he is. It matters what we are.”