Corpse Thinks Quote by Terry Pratchett
““Stabbity, stabbity, stab. That will be two dollars.’ ‘No,’ I say, ‘that’s not how assassination works. You do not charge the corpse.’ So she thinks about it and says, ‘My friend Keith,’ (another small munchkin salutes) ‘he’s from the Guild of Alchemists and will bring you alive again for three dollars.’ So with rigor mortis setting in, I stuck my hand in my pocket and gave them some of the fake convention money and then she smiled sweetly and said, ‘And for five dollars, I won’t kill you again.’ It was amazing to see how this Ankh-Morpork system evolved during the con.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: Discworld – The Fifth Elephant by Terry Pratchett, 1999
The scene sat the absurdity of a bureaucratic underworld where even death is priced and negotiated, highlighting the satirical critique of capitalism and institutional absurdities.
In simple terms: Even death is treated like a market transaction in a satirical world.
Key Takeaway
Question how absurdity can expose real-world flaws.
Themes
satire
economics
death
bureaucracy
Mood
witty
critical
thought‑provoking
Type
satirical
humorous
philosophical
When to use this quote
- role‑playing conventions
- fantasy markets
- humor writing
- ethical dilemmas
Key Concepts
capitalism
morality
social critique
Questions to Reflect On
- What does treating death as a commodity say about our values?
- How does satire help us see systemic absurdities?
A Different Perspective
The humor may downplay the seriousness of exploitation in real systems.
