Fire Quote by Terry Pratchett
““I don’t reckon it’s allowed, going round setting fire to people,” said Adam. “Otherwise people’d be doin’ it all the time.” “It’s all right if you’re religious,” said Brian reassuringly. “And it stops the witches from goin’ to Hell, so I expect they’d be quite grateful if they understood it properly.””
About This Quote
Source Book: Discworld – Small Gods, 1992
The quote humorously questions moral hypocrisy, suggesting that prohibitions are often ignored unless justified by religion or superstition.
In simple terms: People often break rules unless they claim a higher reason.
Key Takeaway
Question your own moral justifications.
Themes
hypocrisy
morality
religion
Mood
ironic
critical
thought‑provoking
Type
satirical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- legal debates
- religious discussions
- ethical training
- policy making
Key Concepts
ethical relativism
social norms
Questions to Reflect On
- What rules do you follow only religious reasons
- Does belief always justify actions?
A Different Perspective
It may oversimplify complex moral reasoning and ignore cultural context.
![“Next came the Patent laws. These began in England in 1624; and, in this country, with the adoption of our constitution. Before then [these?], any man might instantly use what another had invented; so that the inventor had no special advantage from his own invention. The patent system changed this…” quote by Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/449/abraham-lincoln-88_adoption_next-came-the-patent-laws-these-began-in_1828.jpg)
