--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: ...one day when I was a young boy on…" description: "\"“...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 ende..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a93/terry-pratchett-19_children_one-day-when-i-was-a-young-boy-on-holida_2859337.jpg" --- # ...one day when I was a young boy on holiday in Uberwald I… ![“...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'll agree, and even as I watched, the mother otter dived into the water and came up with a plump salmon, which she subdued…” quote by Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a93/terry-pratchett-19_children_one-day-when-i-was-a-young-boy-on-holida_2859337.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a93/terry-pratchett-19_children_one-day-when-i-was-a-young-boy-on-holida_2859337.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a93/terry-pratchett-19_children_one-day-when-i-was-a-young-boy-on-holida_2859337.jpg) > ““...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'll 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 onto 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 upon mother and children. And that is when I first learned about evil. It is built into the very 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](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 narrator reflects on witnessing a predator feeding its young, realizing that cruelty is inherent in nature, leading to a personal moral resolve to surpass any higher power. **In simple terms:** Seeing a mother otter feed its cubs taught the narrator that cruelty exists naturally, prompting a vow to be morally superior. Key Takeaway Strive to act with compassion despite natural cruelty. Themes morality nature evil responsibility Mood reflective thoughtful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - wildlife observation - personal moral development - ethical decision making Key Concepts predation ethical resolve philosophical reflection Questions to Reflect On - How does observing nature influence your moral choices? - Can we separate natural instincts from ethical responsibility? A Different Perspective The view may overgeneralize animal behavior as a model for human evil. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Baby Otters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/baby-otters-2636757/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Mother Otter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mother-otter-2636756/) [Otter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/otter/) [Otter Dived](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/otter-dived-3850595/) [Otters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/otters/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Vetinari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vetinari/) [Young boy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/young-boy/) ## Related quotes > [“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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/i-was-walking-along-the-bank-of-a-stream-when-i-saw-a-mother-otter/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/the-patrician-took-a-sip-of-his-beer-i-have-told-this-to-few-people/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [Jung Min made my nickname. 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A very endearing sight, I'm sure you'll 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 onto 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 upon mother and children. And that is when I first learned about evil. It is built into the very nature of the universe. Every world spins in pain. 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