How big a war?" "A worse one than the one fifty years ago…
““How big a war?" "A worse one than the one fifty years ago, I expect," said Cheery. "I don't recall people talking about that one," said Vimes. "Most humans didn't know about it," said Cheery. "It mostly took place underground. Undermining passages and digging invasion tunnels and so on. Perhaps a few houses fell into mysterious holes and people didn't get their coal, but that was about it." "You mean dwarfs just try to collapse mines on other dwarfs?" "Oh, yes." "I thought you were all law-abiding?" "Oh, yes, sir. Very law-abiding. Just not very merciful.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Characters discuss an underground war, revealing hidden conflict and the brutal reality of dwarven mining battles, juxtaposing lawfulness with mercilessness.
In simple terms: Underground war hidden; lawfulness masks cruelty
Key Takeaway
Acknowledge hidden struggles beneath the surface
Themes
war
underground
dwarves
law
mercilessness
Mood
dark
satirical
thought‑provoking
Type
fiction
humor
When to use this quote
- fantasy battles
- political allegory
- social commentary
Key Concepts
Conflict concealment
moral ambiguity
survival tactics
Questions to Reflect On
- What unseen conflicts exist in society?
- How does lawfulness coexist with cruelty?
A Different Perspective
War’s hidden nature can be ignored