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Better job Quote by Terry Pratchett

“People said there had to be a Supreme Being because otherwise how could the universe exist, eh? And of course there clearly had to be, said Koomi, a Supreme Being. But since the universe was a bit of a mess, it was obvious that the Supreme Being hadn't in fact made it. If he had made it he would…” quote by Terry Pratchett
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““People said there had to be a Supreme Being because otherwise how could the universe exist, eh? And of course there clearly had to be, said Koomi, a Supreme Being. But since the universe was a bit of a mess, it was obvious that the Supreme Being hadn't in fact made it. If he had made it he would, being Supreme, have made a better job of it, with far better thought given, taking an example at random, to things like the design of the common nostril. Or, to put it another way, the existence of a badly put-together watch proved the existence of a blind watchmaker. You only had to look around to see that there was room for improvement practically everywhere. This suggested that the Universe had probably been put together in a bit of a rush by an underling while the Supreme Being wasn't looking, in the same way that Boy Scouts' Association minutes are done on office photocopiers all over the country. So, reasoned Koomi, it was not a good idea to address any prayers to a Supreme Being. It would only attract his attention and might cause trouble.””

Terry Pratchett

About This Quote

Source Book: Discworld – Small Gods, 1992

The quote sat that a hastily made universe with many flaws suggests a creator who is either absent, inattentive, or incompetent, making prayer pointless.

In simple terms: Flawed universe implies a careless creator, so praying may be futile.

Key Takeaway

Question the purpose of prayer in an imperfect world.

Themes

theism philosophy skepticism humor

Mood

wry thoughtful ironic

Type

satirical philosophical humorous

When to use this quote

  • Debates on religion
  • science discussions
  • personal reflection
  • creative writing
  • ethical decision making

Key Concepts

Existentialism absurdism theodicy

Questions to Reflect On

  • Does imperfection invalidate belief?
  • Can prayer serve purposes beyond influencing a deity?
A Different Perspective

It may overlook the possibility of a benevolent but limited deity or symbolic meaning in rituals.

3.2 out of 5 (10 ratings)

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