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Single sentence Quote by Terry Pratchett

“Ponder and his fellow students watched Hex carefully. 'It can't just, you know, stop,' said Adrian 'Mad Drongo' Tumipseed. 'The ants are just standing still,' said Ponder. He sighed. 'All right, put the wretched thing back.' Adrian carefully replaced the small fluffy teddy bear above Hex's…” quote by Terry Pratchett
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““Ponder and his fellow students watched Hex carefully. 'It can't just, you know, stop,' said Adrian 'Mad Drongo' Tumipseed. 'The ants are just standing still,' said Ponder. He sighed. 'All right, put the wretched thing back.' Adrian carefully replaced the small fluffy teddy bear above Hex's keyboard. Things immediately began to whirr. The ants started to trot again. The mouse squeaked. They'd tried this three times. Ponder looked again at the single sentence Hex had written. +++ Mine! Waaaah +++ 'I don't actually think,' he said, gloomily, 'that I want to tell the Archchancellor that this machine stops working if we take its fluffy teddy bear away. I just don't think I want to live in that kind of world.' 'Er,' said Mad Drongo, 'you could always, you know, sort of say it needs to work with the FTB enabled... 'You think that's better?' said Ponder, reluctantly. It wasn't as if it was even a very realistic interpretation of a bear. 'You mean, better than "fluffy teddy bear"?' Ponder nodded. 'It's better,' he said.””

Terry Pratchett

About This Quote

Source Novel: The Light Fantastic by Terry Pratchett, 1986

A character debates whether to reveal a flaw in a machine, weighing honesty against comfort, and chooses a less truthful but easier explanation.

In simple terms: Choosing convenience over truth can be tempting.

Key Takeaway

Weigh honesty against simplicity.

Themes

honesty convenience technology ethics

Mood

thoughtful critical

Type

philosophical inspirational

When to use this quote

  • workplace decisions
  • product design
  • team discussions
  • personal integrity

Key Concepts

moral dilemma communication technology ethics

Questions to Reflect On

  • When is it okay to simplify the truth?
  • What are the risks of hiding flaws?
A Different Perspective

Choosing a convenient lie may erode trust over time.

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