Fantasy Quote by Terry Pratchett
““The only things known to go faster than ordinary light is monarchy, according to the philosopher Ly Tin Weedle. He reasoned like this: you can't have more than one king, and tradition demands that there is no gap between kings, so when a king dies the succession must therefore pass to the heir instantaneously. Presumably, he said, there must be some elementary particles -- kingons, or possibly queons -- that do this job, but of course succession sometimes fails if, in mid-flight, they strike an anti-particle, or republicon. His ambitious plans to use his discovery to send messages, involving the careful torturing of a small king in order to modulate the signal, were never fully expanded because, at that point, the bar closed.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: Discworld – “The Light Fantastic”, 1986
A satirical metaphor comparing the speed of monarchical succession to light, suggesting absurd “king particles” that transmit signals instantly, but noting failures when opposing forces appear.
In simple terms: Monarchies are humorously likened to fast particles that can fail.
Key Takeaway
Question succession mechanisms and their fragility.
Themes
satire
politics
science fiction
Mood
playful
ironic
thought‑provoking
Type
satirical
fictional
philosophical
When to use this quote
- Political commentary
- science fiction writing
- creative brainstorming
- teaching absurdist logic
- exploring metaphors
Key Concepts
Monarchy
particle physics
communication
failure
humor
Questions to Reflect On
- How does satire reveal truths about power?
- What real-world systems resemble “kingons”?
A Different Perspective
The analogy oversimplifies complex systems and ignores real political dynamics.
