Skip to content

Children Quote by Terry Pratchett

“The Patrician took a sip of his beer. “I have told this to few people, gentlemen, and I suspect I never will again, but one day when I was a young boy on holiday in Uberwald I was walking along the bank of a stream when I saw a mother otter with her cubs. A very endearing sight, I’m sure you will…” quote by Terry Pratchett
Download Open image
““The Patrician took a sip of his beer. “I have told this to few people, gentlemen, and I suspect I never will again, but one day when I was a young boy on holiday in Uberwald I was walking along the bank of a stream when I saw a mother otter with her cubs. A very endearing sight, I’m sure you will agree, and even as I watched, the mother otter dived into the water and came up with a plump salmon, which she subdued and dragged on to a half-submerged log. As she ate it, while of course it was still alive, the body split and I remember to this day the sweet pinkness of its roes as they spilled out, much to the delight of the baby otters, who scrambled over themselves to feed on the delicacy. One of nature’s wonders, gentlemen: mother and children dining on mother and children. And that’s when I first learned about evil. It is built into the nature of the universe. Every world spins in pain. If there is any kind of supreme being, I told myself, it is up to all of us to become his moral superior.””

Terry Pratchett

About This Quote

Source Novel: Discworld – “The Fifth Elephant” by Terry Pratchett, 1999

The narrator reflects on a brutal natural scene to illustrate that suffering is inherent in the universe, suggesting humanity must strive to surpass any divine moral standard.

In simple terms: Nature shows cruelty; we must aim higher morally.

Key Takeaway

Seek moral superiority despite inherent suffering.

Themes

philosophy ethics human nature suffering

Mood

thoughtful serious

Type

philosophical reflective literary

When to use this quote

  • personal reflection
  • ethical debate
  • philosophical discussion

Key Concepts

moral relativism existentialism naturalism

Questions to Reflect On

  • How can we define moral superiority?
  • What responsibilities arise from recognizing universal suffering?
A Different Perspective

The analogy may oversimplify complex moral systems.

3.1 out of 5 (7 ratings)

More by Terry Pratchett

Explore all 3,328 Terry Pratchett quotes

More Children quotes

Browse all 62,396 Children quotes