--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Sometimes I dream that we could deal with…" description: "\"“Sometimes I dream that we could deal with the big crimes, that we could make a law for countries and not just for people,”\" — Terry Pratchett" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/948/terry-pratchett-19_quote_sometimes-i-dream-that-we-could-deal-wit_1074317.jpg" --- # Sometimes I dream that we could deal with the big crimes… ![“Sometimes I dream that we could deal with the big crimes, that we could make a law for countries and not just for people,” quote by Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/948/terry-pratchett-19_quote_sometimes-i-dream-that-we-could-deal-wit_1074317.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/948/terry-pratchett-19_quote_sometimes-i-dream-that-we-could-deal-wit_1074317.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/948/terry-pratchett-19_quote_sometimes-i-dream-that-we-could-deal-wit_1074317.jpg) > ““Sometimes I dream that we could deal with the big crimes, that we could make a law for countries and not just for people,”” [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. Imagines a universal legal system that governs nations, highlighting the desire for global justice beyond individual accountability. **In simple terms:** Wants laws for whole countries, not just people. Key Takeaway Consider broader frameworks for justice. Themes justice law global governance ethics Mood reflective idealistic Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - policy drafting - human rights advocacy - global NGOs - academic research - diplomacy Key Concepts political philosophy international law collective responsibility Questions to Reflect On - What would a global law look like? - How can nations balance sovereignty with universal standards? A Different Perspective Implementing worldwide laws faces sovereignty conflicts and cultural differences. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Crimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crimes/) [Dream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dream/) ## Related quotes > [Little crimes breed big crimes. You smile at little crimes and then big crimes blow your head off.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/little-crimes-breed-big-crimes-you-smile-at-little-crimes-and-then/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [Only the big souls can forgive the big crimes!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/only-the-big-souls-can-forgive-the-big-crimes/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [If you had enough money, you could hardly commit crimes at all. You just perpetrated amusing little peccadilloes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/if-you-had-enough-money-you-could-hardly-commit-crimes-at-all-you/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“Judges ought to remember that their office is to interpret law, and not to make law, or give law.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-bacon/judges-ought-to-remember-that-their-office-is-to-interpret-law-and/) [Francis Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-bacon/) > [The house of representatives ... can make no law, which will not have its full operation on themselves and their friends, as well as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/the-house-of-representatives-can-make-no-law-which-will-not-have-its/) [James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/) > [Courts do not make the law.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-sasse/courts-do-not-make-the-law/) [Ben Sasse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-sasse/) > [“No," the Boss (Willie) corrected, "I'm not a lawyer. I know some law. In fact, I know a lot of law. And I made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-penn-warren/no-the-boss-willie-corrected-i-m-not-a-lawyer-i-know-some-law-in-fact/) [Robert Penn Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-penn-warren/) > [“But I'm not a lawyer. That's why I can see what the law is like. It's like a single-bed blanket on a double bed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-penn-warren/but-i-m-not-a-lawyer-that-s-why-i-can-see-what-the-law-is-like-it-s/) [Robert Penn Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-penn-warren/) > [If we desire respect for the law, we must first make the law respectable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-d-brandeis/if-we-desire-respect-for-the-law-we-must-first-make-the-law/) [Louis D. Brandeis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-d-brandeis/) > [If you're going to make a law, make a law that actually works. It's extraordinarily difficult.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-schmidt/if-you-re-going-to-make-a-law-make-a-law-that-actually-works-it-s/) [Eric Schmidt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-schmidt/) > [The First Amendment...begins with the five loveliest words in the English language: 'Congress shall make no law'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-will/the-first-amendment-begins-with-the-five-loveliest-words-in-the/) [George Will](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-will/) > [“Have you ever found yourself saying, "There ought to be a law against this," or, "Somebody should do something"? Well, here’s the good news…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-stoklasa-ma/have-you-ever-found-yourself-saying-there-ought-to-be-a-law-against/) Victoria Stoklasa MA > [“We have a problem when the same people who make the law get to decide whether or not they themselves have broken the law.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-templet/we-have-a-problem-when-the-same-people-who-make-the-law-get-to-decide/) [Michel Templet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-templet/) > [They can make no law which will not have its full operation on themselves and their friends, as well as on the great mass…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/they-can-make-no-law-which-will-not-have-its-full-operation-on/) [James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/) > [Law is downstream from culture. By the time you make a law about something, you're reacting, not acting. I'd rather shape the culture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/law-is-downstream-from-culture-by-the-time-you-make-a-law-about/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) ## 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. I am as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/but-i-did-not-return-until-half-past-four-this-morning-and-i/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“The universe contains any amount of horrible ways to be woken up, such as the noise of the mob breaking down the front door,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/the-universe-contains-any-amount-of-horrible-ways-to-be-woken-up-such/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“Someone broke from the scrum and, punching and kicking, staggered towards the Klatchian goal. "Isn't that man your butler?" said Ahmed. "Yes." "One of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/someone-broke-from-the-scrum-and-punching-and-kicking-staggered/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [It's an interesting fact that fewer than 17 % of Real cats end their lives with the same name they started with. 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 Crimes quotes > [The Constitution is very clear on the - on the declaration of war or reacting to international crimes - crimes against nations. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-pitts/the-constitution-is-very-clear-on-the-on-the-declaration-of-war-or/) Joe Pitts > [Among our crimes oblivion may be set.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/among-our-crimes-oblivion-may-be-set/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [The greatest of all crimes are the wars that are carried on by governments, to plunder, enslave, and destroy mankind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lysander-spooner/the-greatest-of-all-crimes-are-the-wars-that-are-carried-on-by/) [Lysander Spooner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lysander-spooner/) > [I stated that Hiroshima and Nagasaki are 'among the most unspeakable crimes in history.' I took no position on just where they stand on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/i-stated-that-hiroshima-and-nagasaki-are-among-the-most-unspeakable/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [High testosterone levels have been proven to make men more likely to commit crimes. The tendency in men toward risky behaviour keeps turning up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-stark/high-testosterone-levels-have-been-proven-to-make-men-more-likely-to/) [Rodney Stark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-stark/) > [I've always thought that you don't love a country by turning a blind eye to its crimes and to a problem. The way that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junot-diaz/i-ve-always-thought-that-you-don-t-love-a-country-by-turning-a-blind/) [Junot Diaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junot-diaz/) > [Heinous crimes are not new to our society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sanjay-mishra/heinous-crimes-are-not-new-to-our-society/) [Sanjay Mishra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sanjay-mishra/) > [Crimes against women are growing day by day. Despite this, the mindset of our leaders, politicians, or judicial system is not changing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raveena-tandon/crimes-against-women-are-growing-day-by-day-despite-this-the-mindset/) [Raveena Tandon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raveena-tandon/) > [Formerly we suffered from crimes; now we suffer from laws.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tacitus/formerly-we-suffered-from-crimes-now-we-suffer-from-laws/) [Tacitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tacitus/) > [“Any profession you engage in, no matter how profitable, unless it is truly helpful and good for others, is a crime against your soul,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/any-profession-you-engage-in-no-matter-how-profitable-unless-it-is/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [The greatest crimes are to associate another with God, to vex your father and mother, to murder your own species, to commit suicide, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad/the-greatest-crimes-are-to-associate-another-with-god-to-vex-your/) [Muhammad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad/) > [It is the greatest of crimes to depress true art and science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-blake/it-is-the-greatest-of-crimes-to-depress-true-art-and-science/) [William Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-blake/) > [“The greatest crimes in the world are not committed by people breaking the rules, but by people following the rules.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-greatest-crimes-in-the-world-are-not-committed-by-people-breaking/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“In life there are many thing's you may not like or want but is necessary for stability and sustainability for life and its environment.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymouse/in-life-there-are-many-thing-s-you-may-not-like-or-want-but-is/) Anonymouse > [The trial organized with U.N. participation of some kind will be for crimes committed by Khmer Rouge leaders from 1975 to 1979. That's it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hun-sen/the-trial-organized-with-u-n-participation-of-some-kind-will-be-for/) [Hun Sen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hun-sen/) [Browse all 276 Crimes quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crimes/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Sometimes I dream that we could deal with the big crimes, that we could make a law for countries and not just for people,”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Terry Pratchett" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/sometimes-i-dream-that-we-could-deal-with-the-big-crimes-that-we/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Crimes" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/sometimes-i-dream-that-we-could-deal-with-the-big-crimes-that-we/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/948/terry-pratchett-19_quote_sometimes-i-dream-that-we-could-deal-wit_1074317.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/948/terry-pratchett-19_quote_sometimes-i-dream-that-we-could-deal-wit_1074317.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/948/terry-pratchett-19_quote_sometimes-i-dream-that-we-could-deal-wit_1074317.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Sometimes I dream that we could deal with the big crimes, that we could make a law for countries and not…” — 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": "“Sometimes I dream that we could...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/sometimes-i-dream-that-we-could-deal-with-the-big-crimes-that-we/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/sometimes-i-dream-that-we-could-deal-with-the-big-crimes-that-we/#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 } } ] } ```