Hogfather (Discworld, #20; Death, #4)

by Terry Pratchett

The philosopher Didactylos has summed up an alternative hypothesis as “Things just happen. What the hell.”

Getting an education was a bit like a communicable sexual disease. It made you unsuitable for a lot of jobs and then you had the urge to pass it on.

It was one wrong note among billions but all the more noticeable for that, like a tiny pebble in a very large shoe.

A bully, thought Susan. A very small, weak, very dull bully, who doesn’t manage any real bullying because there’s hardly anyone smaller and weaker than him, so he just makes everyone’s lives just that little bit more difficult

MERE ACCUMULATION OF OBSERVATIONAL EVIDENCE IS NOT PROOF.

“Tooth fairies? Hogfathers? Little—” YES. AS PRACTICE. YOU HAVE TO START OUT LEARNING TO BELIEVE THE LITTLE LIES. “So we can believe the big ones?” YES. JUSTICE. MERCY. DUTY. THAT SORT OF THING.