On Mon, 17 Feb 2003 12:49:27 -0800 (PST), David Silberstein <davids at kithrup.com> wrote: > They accept evil not > because they say *yes*, but because they don't say *no*." > -- Patrician Vetinari on humanity This is highly reminiscent of Edmund Burke's statement that "all it takes for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing." It would not surprise me if Pratchett had read Burke at some point -- he's one of the great English thinkers, and Pratchett has evolved from a purveyor of light and even somewhat sophomoric fantasy into a satirist proper -- I do not exaggerate when I say he's of similar caliber to Twain at the top of his form ('Small Gods,' 'Hogfather,' 'Feet of Clay'). Anyone who gave up on Pratchett because of the frankly dull opening books in the Discworld series really should take another shot at it -- the three above are, I think, his best, but 'Maskerade,' 'Lords and Ladies,' and 'The Fifth Elephant' are all solid as well. paul e.