--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Actually, we'd have once chance\" … Even…" description: "\"“Actually, we'd have once chance\" … Even if it's a million to one chance, ma'am.\" \"That's all very well,\" said Nanny, \"but what you're saying is, for e..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c2/terry-pratchett-19_wizards_actually-we-d-have-once-chance-even-if-i_1824884.jpg" --- # Actually, we'd have once chance" … Even if it's a million… ![“Actually, we'd have once chance" … Even if it's a million to one chance, ma'am." "That's all very well," said Nanny, "but what you're saying is, for every Mr Ridcully that survives tonight's work, 999,999 are going to get killed?" "Yes, but I'm not bothered about those other buggers." said…” quote by Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c2/terry-pratchett-19_wizards_actually-we-d-have-once-chance-even-if-i_1824884.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c2/terry-pratchett-19_wizards_actually-we-d-have-once-chance-even-if-i_1824884.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c2/terry-pratchett-19_wizards_actually-we-d-have-once-chance-even-if-i_1824884.jpg) > ““Actually, we'd have once chance" … Even if it's a million to one chance, ma'am." "That's all very well," said Nanny, "but what you're saying is, for every Mr Ridcully that survives tonight's work, 999,999 are going to get killed?" "Yes, but I'm not bothered about those other buggers." said Ridcully "They can look after themselves. Serve 'em right for not inviting me to their weddings.”” [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker dismisses collateral damage, valuing personal survival over others' lives. **In simple terms:** Self‑preservation at others' of others Key Takeaway Prioritize your own safety, but consider ethical costs. Themes ethics survival indifference Mood cynical dark humor reflective Type philosophical satirical When to use this quote - war - dangerous missions - leadership decisions - team dynamics Key Concepts utilitarianism moral relativism Questions to Reflect On - Is it ever justified to sacrifice many for one? - How does this mindset affect trust? A Different Perspective Ignores broader moral responsibility and long‑term consequences. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [999 Going](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/999-going-2225254/) [Million Chance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/million-chance-902894/) [Nanny Saying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nanny-saying-2225253/) [Ridcully Survives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ridcully-survives-2225255/) [Said Nanny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said-nanny-712487/) [Wizards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wizards/) ## Related quotes > [“But all them things exist," said Nanny Ogg. "That's no call to go around believing in them. It only encourages 'em.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/but-all-them-things-exist-said-nanny-ogg-that-s-no-call-to-go-around/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [It's daft, locking us up," said Nanny. "I'd have had us killed." "That's because you're basically good," said Magrat. "The good are innocent and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/it-s-daft-locking-us-up-said-nanny-i-d-have-had-us-killed-that-s/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [Walter Plinge said: "You know she asked me a very silly question Mrs Ogg! It was a silly question any fool knows the answer!"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/walter-plinge-said-you-know-she-asked-me-a-very-silly-question-mrs/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“Er, excuse me,' said the man as Nanny Ogg turned away, 'but what is that on your shoulders?' 'It's. . . a fur collar,'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/er-excuse-me-said-the-man-as-nanny-ogg-turned-away-but-what-is-that/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“Well, basically, there are two sorts of opera," said Nanny, who also had the true witch's ability to be confidently expert on the basis…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/well-basically-there-are-two-sorts-of-opera-said-nanny-who-also-had-2/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [Divers alarums and excursions', she read, uncertainly. 'That means lots of terrible happenings, said Magrat. 'You always put that in plays.' Alarums and what?',…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/divers-alarums-and-excursions-she-read-uncertainly-that-means-lots-of/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“I’ve got nothing but the greatest respect for Mrs. Gogol,” said Granny. “A fine woman. But talks a bit too much. If I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/i-ve-got-nothing-but-the-greatest-respect-for-mrs-gogol-said-granny-a/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“I never understood that story, anyway,” said Nanny. “I mean, if I knew I’d got a heel that would kill me if someone stuck…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/i-never-understood-that-story-anyway-said-nanny-i-mean-if-i-knew-i-d/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“Never laid a finger on me," said Nanny. She sniffed. "They're not your real royalty," she added. "Old King Gruneweld, for one, he wouldn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/never-laid-a-finger-on-me-said-nanny-she-sniffed-they-re-not-your/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“Ah…it says here that she was, I mean is, fairer than all the stars in heaven….” They all looked at Tiffany. “You could try…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/ah-it-says-here-that-she-was-i-mean-is-fairer-than-all-the-stars-in/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“I heard this story once," she said, "where this bloke got locked up for years and years and he learned amazin' stuff about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/i-heard-this-story-once-she-said-where-this-bloke-got-locked-up-for/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“...what about this rule about not meddling?’ said Magrat. ‘Ah,’ said Nanny. She took the girl’s arm. ‘The thing is,’ she explained, ‘as you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/what-about-this-rule-about-not-meddling-said-magrat-ah-said-nanny-she/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“It’s only money.” “Yes, but it’s only my money, not only your money,” Nanny pointed out. “We witches have always held everything in common,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/it-s-only-money-yes-but-it-s-only-my-money-not-only-your-money-nanny/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“On that one-in-a-million chance when life actually gives you a do-over, you better make sure you get it right. Or the universe might swallow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabby-rivera/on-that-one-in-a-million-chance-when-life-actually-gives-you-a-do/) [Gabby Rivera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabby-rivera/) > [The million, million, million ... to one chance happens once in a million, million, million ... times no matter how surprised we may be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-fisher/the-million-million-million-to-one-chance-happens-once-in-a-million/) [Ronald Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-fisher/) ## More by Terry Pratchett > [“This one’s mental.’ ‘Eccentric.’ ‘What’s the difference?’ ‘A bag of cash.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/this-one-s-mental-eccentric-what-s-the-difference-a-bag-of-cash/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“But I did not return until half past four this morning and I distinctly remember stubbing my toe on the stairs. 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Much family…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/it-s-an-interesting-fact-that-fewer-than-17-of-real-cats-end-their/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [You can't trust folk songs. They always sneak up on you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/you-can-t-trust-folk-songs-they-always-sneak-up-on-you/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [Either dragons should exist completely or fail to exist at all, he felt. A dragon only half-existing was worse than the extremes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/either-dragons-should-exist-completely-or-fail-to-exist-at-all-he/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“Magrat wondered what it was like, spending your whole life doing something you didn’t want to do. Like being dead, she considered, only worse,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/magrat-wondered-what-it-was-like-spending-your-whole-life-doing/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [A hardback's harder at Christmas time because that's a good hardback buying time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/a-hardback-s-harder-at-christmas-time-because-that-s-a-good-hardback/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“There were more old people. The world was full of them,' said the wizard. 'Yes, I know. And now it's full of young people.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/there-were-more-old-people-the-world-was-full-of-them-said-the-wizard/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“Hobson was big and heavyset, but not exactly fat; he was probably what you’d get if you shaved a bear.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/hobson-was-big-and-heavyset-but-not-exactly-fat-he-was-probably-what/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“There is a night that never comes to an end… The clock of the world turns under its own shadow. Midnight is a moving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/there-is-a-night-that-never-comes-to-an-end-the-clock-of-the-world/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“You'd like Freedom, Truth, and Justice, wouldn't you, Comrade Sergeant?' said Reg encouragingly. 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Their transgressions are either punished or not punished. That is the only result that matters.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-mchugh/evil-people-do-not-believe-in-forgiveness-their-transgressions-are/) [Daniel McHugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-mchugh/) > [In a way, we are magicians. We are alchemists, sorcerers and wizards. We are a very strange bunch. But there is great fun in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-joel/in-a-way-we-are-magicians-we-are-alchemists-sorcerers-and-wizards-we/) [Billy Joel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-joel/) > [But people only die in proper duels, you know, with real wizards. The most you and Malfoy’ll be able to do is send sparks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/but-people-only-die-in-proper-duels-you-know-with-real-wizards-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I think most people are fascinated by chess for that reason. It's just these mystical shapes. 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Olchawska](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magda-m-olchawska/) [Browse all 473 Wizards quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wizards/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Actually, we'd have once chance\" … Even if it's a million to one chance, ma'am.\" \"That's all very well,\" said Nanny, \"but what you're saying is, for every Mr Ridcully that survives tonight's work, 999,999 are going to get killed?\" \"Yes, but I'm not bothered about those other buggers.\" said Ridcully \"They can look after themselves. 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