Feet of Clay (Discworld, #19; City Watch, #3)

by Terry Pratchett

“Quod Subigo Farinam,” said Vimes, and wrinkled his forehead. “‘Because’ . . . ‘farinaceous’ means to do with corn, or flour, doesn’t it? . . . oh, no . . . ‘Because I Knead The Dough’?”

Rumor is information distilled so finely that it can filter through anything. It does not need doors and windows—sometimes it doesn’t even need people. It can exist free and wild, running from ear to ear without ever touching lips.

And, while it was regarded as pretty good evidence of criminality to be living in a slum, for some reason owning a whole street of them merely got you invited to the very best social occasions.

I’d rather have him unwell than dead. I wouldn’t trust Vetinari to stay in a grave.”

The Patrician relied on Vimes doing his job, knew he’d do his job, and that was the extent of his thought on the matter. Well, one day, Vimes would . . . would . . . . . . Would bloody well do his job, of course, because he didn’t know how to do anything else. But realizing that made it all the worse.

It wasn’t by eliminating the impossible that you got at the truth, however improbable; it was by the much harder process of eliminating the possibilities.

There was a ripple of nervous laughter but it didn’t last long, because you don’t laugh too loud at someone who knows exactly how much you’re worth dead.

People said that there was one law for the rich and one law for the poor, but it wasn’t true. There was no law for those who made the law, and no law for the incorrigibly lawless. All the laws and rules were for those people stupid enough to think like Cockbill Street people.

There were no public health laws in Ankh-Morpork. It would be like installing smoke detectors in Hell.

“The thought occurs, sir, that if Commander Vimes did not exist you would have had to invent him.” “You know, Drumknott, I rather think I did.”

“What Better Work For One Who Loves Freedom Than The Job Of Watchman? Law Is The Servant of Freedom. Freedom Without Limits Is Just A Word,” said Dorfl ponderously.

“You Say To People ‘Throw Off Your Chains’ And They Make New Chains For Themselves?”