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Art Quote by Terry Pratchett

“Now, there is a tendency at a point like this to look over one’s shoulder at the cover artist and start going on at length about leather, tightboots and naked blades. Words like ‘full’, ‘round’ and even ‘pert’ creep into the narrative, until the writer has to go and have a cold shower and a lie…” quote by Terry Pratchett
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““Now, there is a tendency at a point like this to look over one’s shoulder at the cover artist and start going on at length about leather, tightboots and naked blades. Words like ‘full’, ‘round’ and even ‘pert’ creep into the narrative, until the writer has to go and have a cold shower and a lie down. Which is all rather silly, because any woman setting out to make a living by the sword isn’t about to go around looking like something off the cover of the more advanced kind of lingerie catalogue for the specialized buyer. Oh well, all right. The point that must be made is that although Herrena the Henna-Haired Harridan would look quite stunning after a good bath, a heavy-duty manicure, and the pick of the leather racks in Woo Hun Ling’s Oriental Exotica and Martial Aids on Heroes Street, she was currently quite sensibly dressed in light chain mail, soft boots, and a short sword. All right, maybe the boots were leather. But not black.””

Terry Pratchett

About This Quote

Source Novel: Discworld – The Sword of ... (fictional), 1995

A warrior’s appearance is often exaggerated in fantasy, but practicality wins; the character chooses functional armor over flashy attire.

In simple terms: Practical gear beats flashy fashion for warriors.

Key Takeaway

Prioritize function over style in dangerous roles.

Themes

fantasy practicality characterization

Mood

humorous lighthearted

Type

fictional satirical

When to use this quote

  • costume design
  • role‑playing games
  • historical reenactments
  • military training

Key Concepts

World‑building humor

Questions to Reflect On

  • How does armor reflect a character’s personality?
  • When is flashy attire appropriate?
A Different Perspective

Overemphasis on practicality can diminish artistic expression.

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