Unseen Academicals (Discworld, #37; Rincewind, #8)

by Terry Pratchett

Nutt was young and as such did not have that reverence for age that is had by, mostly, the aged.

The Librarian was not very familiar with love, which had always struck him as a bit ethereal and soppy, but kindness, on the other hand, was practical.

The Watch was not inclined to get involved in alley scuffles, but out in the open they had to do something in case the taxpayers complained, and since tired coppers didn’t like having to do something, they did it good and hard, so with any luck they wouldn’t have to do it again any time soon.

Glenda enjoyed her job. She didn’t have a career; they were for people who could not hold down jobs.

‘And you are telling me I’m wrong. Are you?’ ‘I would rather you thought of me as suggesting a way in which you could be even more right.’

Every world spins in pain. If there is any kind of supreme being, I told myself, it is up to all of us to become his moral superior.’

Do you think the world is a better place with you in it, and would you do me the courtesy of actually thinking about your answer rather than pulling one off the “affronted” rack? I’m afraid there’s far too much of that these days. People believe that acting and thinking are the same thing.’