--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It was all very well going on about pure…" description: "\"It was all very well going on about pure logic and how the universe was ruled by logic and the harmony of numbers, but the plain fact of the matter was..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fe8/terry-pratchett-19_atheist_it-was-all-very-well-going-on-about-pure_2371587.jpg" --- # It was all very well going on about pure logic and how the… ![“It was all very well going on about pure logic and how the universe was ruled by logic and the harmony of numbers, but the plain fact of the matter was that the Disc was manifestly traversing space on the back of a giant turtle and the gods had a habit of going round to atheists' houses and…” quote by Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fe8/terry-pratchett-19_atheist_it-was-all-very-well-going-on-about-pure_2371587.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fe8/terry-pratchett-19_atheist_it-was-all-very-well-going-on-about-pure_2371587.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fe8/terry-pratchett-19_atheist_it-was-all-very-well-going-on-about-pure_2371587.jpg) > “It was all very well going on about pure logic and how the universe was ruled by logic and the harmony of numbers, but the plain fact of the matter was that the Disc was manifestly traversing space on the back of a giant turtle and the gods had a habit of going round to atheists' houses and smashing their windows.” [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. Even in a universe of logic, absurdity and divine whimsy can dominate reality. **In simple terms:** Logic coexists with absurdity. Key Takeaway Accept chaos alongside reason. Themes humor absurdity divine logic Mood playful thoughtful Type satirical philosophical When to use this quote - storytelling - philosophical debates - creative writing Key Concepts cosmic order mythology satire Questions to Reflect On - How do you reconcile logic with the absurd? - What role do myths play in understanding reality? A Different Perspective Logic alone cannot explain all phenomena. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Atheist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atheist/) [Disc Manifestly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disc-manifestly-815473/) [Discs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discs/) [Facts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/facts/) [Giants](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giants/) [Habit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habit/) [Harmony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/harmony/) [House](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/house/) [Logic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/logic/) [Logic Universe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/logic-universe-1585744/) [Matter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/matter/) [Numbers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/numbers/) [Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace/) [Pure Logic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pure-logic-425407/) [Smashing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smashing/) [Space](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/space/) [Turtles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/turtles/) [Universe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/universe/) [Universe Ruled](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/universe-ruled-2415500/) [Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wells/) [Window](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/window/) ## Related quotes > [“the plain fact of the matter was that the Disc was manifestly traversing space on the back of a giant turtle and the gods…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/the-plain-fact-of-the-matter-was-that-the-disc-was-manifestly/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [He was determined to discover the underlying logic behind the universe. Which was going to be hard, because there wasn't one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/he-was-determined-to-discover-the-underlying-logic-behind-the/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“Science is predicated upon the belief that the Universe is algorithmically compressible and the modern search for a Theory of Everything is the ultimate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-d-barrow/science-is-predicated-upon-the-belief-that-the-universe-is/) [John D. Barrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-d-barrow/) > [“An immovable object and an unstoppable force don't exist in universe which ruled by single ruler.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toba-beta/an-immovable-object-and-an-unstoppable-force-don-t-exist-in-universe/) [Toba Beta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toba-beta/) > [Are you in a universe which is ruled by natural laws and, therefore, is stable, firm, absolute - and knowable? Or are you in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/are-you-in-a-universe-which-is-ruled-by-natural-laws-and-therefore-is/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [Our universe is ruled by random whim, inhabited by people who laugh at logic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-lindsay/our-universe-is-ruled-by-random-whim-inhabited-by-people-who-laugh-at/) [Jeff Lindsay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-lindsay/) > [“What feet may reach against the mind’s arrogance soaring wingless to Alpha Centauri light years away, daring the arctic whalepath, piercing a bacterium’s elegant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/merlie-m-alunan/what-feet-may-reach-against-the-mind-s-arrogance-soaring-wingless-to/) [Merlie M. Alunan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/merlie-m-alunan/) > [Science is complex and chilling. The mathematical language of science is understood by very few. 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'And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/sometimes-i-think-a-man-could-wander-across-the-disc-all-his-life-and/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [It's beautiful," said Mort softly. "What is it?" THE SUN IS UNDER THE DISC, said Death. "Is it like this every night?" EVERY NIGHT,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/it-s-beautiful-said-mort-softly-what-is-it-the-sun-is-under-the-disc/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [On the Disc, the Gods aren't so much worshipped, as they are blamed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/on-the-disc-the-gods-aren-t-so-much-worshipped-as-they-are-blamed/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“The gods of the Disc have never bothered much about judging the souls of the dead, and so people only go to hell if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/the-gods-of-the-disc-have-never-bothered-much-about-judging-the-souls/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [Rincewind shivered. He was not, of course, an atheist; on the Disc the gods dealt severely with atheists. On the few occasions when he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/rincewind-shivered-he-was-not-of-course-an-atheist-on-the-disc-the/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) ## 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. 'I'd like a hard-boiled egg,' said Vimes, shaking the match out.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/you-d-like-freedom-truth-and-justice-wouldn-t-you-comrade-sergeant/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“You are not apprehensive, are you? I can't detect no trace of fear none whatsoever Roomy cranium all possible videos of all possible outcomes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/you-are-not-apprehensive-are-you-i-can-t-detect-no-trace-of-fear-none/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [Imagination, not intelligence, made us human.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/imagination-not-intelligence-made-us-human/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) [Explore all 3,328 Terry Pratchett quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) ## More Atheist quotes > [From Augustine down, theologians have tried to compel people to accept their special interpretation of the Scripture, and the tortures of the inquisition, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matilda-joslyn-gage/from-augustine-down-theologians-have-tried-to-compel-people-to-accept/) [Matilda Joslyn Gage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matilda-joslyn-gage/) > [Let me tell you that atheism has never painted a masterpiece. Atheism has never dispelled fear. Atheism has never healed a disease; faith in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hagee/let-me-tell-you-that-atheism-has-never-painted-a-masterpiece-atheism/) [John Hagee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hagee/) > [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [That the world is in a bad shape is undeniable, but there is not the faintest reason in history to suppose that Christianity offers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/that-the-world-is-in-a-bad-shape-is-undeniable-but-there-is-not-the/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [“I felt like praying or something, when I was in bed, but I couldn't do it. I can't always pray when I feel like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-salinger/i-felt-like-praying-or-something-when-i-was-in-bed-but-i-couldn-t-do/) [J.D. Salinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-salinger/) > [Atheist’s denial of God’s existence needs just as much substantiation as does the theist’s claim; the atheist must give plausible reasons for rejecting God’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-copan/atheist-s-denial-of-god-s-existence-needs-just-as-much-substantiation/) [Paul Copan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-copan/) > [“The atheist joined his hands. It wasn't against the Gods. He smiled, with his hands folded, saw his daughter's in-laws approaching near.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bhavik-sarkhedi/the-atheist-joined-his-hands-it-wasn-t-against-the-gods-he-smiled/) [Bhavik Sarkhedi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bhavik-sarkhedi/) > [I am surprised that anyone can profess to be an atheist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-comfort/i-am-surprised-that-anyone-can-profess-to-be-an-atheist/) [Ray Comfort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-comfort/) > [“I have found it an amusing strategy, when asked whether I am an atheist, to point out that the questioner is also an atheist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/i-have-found-it-an-amusing-strategy-when-asked-whether-i-am-an/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [An Atheist wandering down a road where he meets up a four road junction , he asks a passer by hey !, where does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glen-rambharack/an-atheist-wandering-down-a-road-where-he-meets-up-a-four-road/) [Glen Rambharack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glen-rambharack/) > [Good churches are not built by bad men; at least, there must be probity and enthusiasm somewhere in the society. These minsters were neither…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/good-churches-are-not-built-by-bad-men-at-least-there-must-be-probity/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [An ineffably holy God, who has the utmost abhorrence of sin, was never invented by any of Adam's descendents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-w-pink/an-ineffably-holy-god-who-has-the-utmost-abhorrence-of-sin-was-never/) [Arthur W. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-w-pink/) > [If all the Atheists & Agnostics left America, they'd lose 93% of The National Academy of Sciences & less than 1% of the prison population.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-gervais/if-all-the-atheists-agnostics-left-america-they-d-lose-93-of-the/) [Ricky Gervais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-gervais/) > [I am an atheist. I don't think there's anything divine. Beautiful, impressive, awe-inspiring - sure, but not divine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nomy-arpaly/i-am-an-atheist-i-don-t-think-there-s-anything-divine-beautiful/) [Nomy Arpaly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nomy-arpaly/) > [I am like all other atheists only in that I do not believe there are any gods. Beyond that, I may differ dramatically in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-carrier/i-am-like-all-other-atheists-only-in-that-i-do-not-believe-there-are/) [Richard Carrier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-carrier/) [Browse all 2,434 Atheist quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atheist/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It was all very well going on about pure logic and how the universe was ruled by logic and the harmony of numbers, but the plain fact of the matter was that the Disc was manifestly traversing space on the back of a giant turtle and the gods had a habit of going round to atheists' houses and smashing their windows.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Terry Pratchett" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/it-was-all-very-well-going-on-about-pure-logic-and-how-the-universe/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Atheist" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/it-was-all-very-well-going-on-about-pure-logic-and-how-the-universe/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fe8/terry-pratchett-19_atheist_it-was-all-very-well-going-on-about-pure_2371587.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fe8/terry-pratchett-19_atheist_it-was-all-very-well-going-on-about-pure_2371587.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fe8/terry-pratchett-19_atheist_it-was-all-very-well-going-on-about-pure_2371587.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It was all very well going on about pure logic and how the universe was ruled by logic and the harmony of…” — Terry Pratchett", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Terry Pratchett", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It was all very well going...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/it-was-all-very-well-going-on-about-pure-logic-and-how-the-universe/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/it-was-all-very-well-going-on-about-pure-logic-and-how-the-universe/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```