Sam Vimes Quotes

• Sam Vimes could parallel process. Most husbands can. They learn to follow their own line of thought while at the same time listening to what their wives say. And the listening is important, because at any time they could be challenged and must be ready to quote the last sentence in full. A vital additional skill is being able to scan the dialogue for telltale phrases such as "and they can deliver it tomorrow" or "so I've invited them for dinner?" or "they can do it in blue, really quite cheaply.

  Terry Pratchett

  Husband, Blue, Skills

  "The Fifth Elephant". Book by ‎Terry Pratchett, 1999.

  57 Copy quote

  Show source

• Cheery was aware that Commander Vimes didn't like the phrase 'The innocent have nothing to fear', believing the innocent had everything to fear, mostly from the guilty but in the longer term even more from those who say things like 'The innocent have nothing to fear'.

  Terry Pratchett

  Believe, Phrases, Snuff

  54 Copy quote

• It was so much easier to blame it on Them. It was bleakly depressing to think that They were Us. If it was Them, then nothing was anyone's fault. If it was us, what did that make Me? After all, I'm one of Us. I must be. I've certainly never thought of myself as one of Them. No one ever thinks of themselves as one of Them. We're always one of Us. It's Them that do the bad things.

  Terry Pratchett

  Depressing, Thinking, Self

  "Jingo". Book by Terry Pratchett, November 1997.

  65 Copy quote

  Show source

• The truth may be out there, but lies are inside your head.

  Terry Pratchett

  Fake People, Lying, Humor

  Terry Pratchett (2016). “Seriously Funny: The Endlessly Quotable Terry Pratchett”, p.29, Random House

  13 Copy quote

  Show source

• No! Please! I'll tell you whatever you want to know!" the man yelled. "Really?" said Vimes. "What's the orbital velocity of the moon?" "What?" "Oh, you'd like something simpler?

  Terry Pratchett

  Moon, Men, Want

  Terry Pratchett (2002). “Night watch”, Doubleday UK

  9 Copy quote

  Show source

• Well, the news has got around. The Duchess of Keepsake has invited us to a ball, Sir Henry and Lady Withering have invited us to a ball, and Lord and Lady Hangfinger have invited us to... yes, a ball." "Well, that's a lot of..." "Don't you dare, Sam.

  Terry Pratchett

  Balls, News, Lords And Ladies

  10 Copy quote

• Vimes had got around to a Clean Desk policy. It was a Clean Floor strategy that eluded him at the moment.

  Terry Pratchett

  Clean Desk, Moments, Strategy

  8 Copy quote

• And Sam Vimes thought: Why is Young Sam's nursery full of farmyard animals anyway? Why are his books full of moo-cows and baa-lambs? He is growing up in the city. He will only see them on a plate! They go sizzle!

  Terry Pratchett

  Growing Up, Book, Animal

  10 Copy quote

• Just because it's not nice doesn't mean it's not miraculous.

  Terry Pratchett

  Nice, Mean, Discworld

  Terry Pratchett (2008). “Interesting Times: (Discworld Novel 17)”, p.11, Random House

  7 Copy quote

  Show source

• That's a nice song,' said young Sam, and Vimes remembered that he was hearing it for the first time. It's an old soldiers' song,' he said. Really, sarge? But it's about angels.' Yes, thought Vimes, and it's amazing what bits those angels cause to rise up as the song progresses. It's a real soldiers' song: sentimental, with dirty bits. As I recall, they used to sing it after battles,’ he said. 'I've seen old men cry when they sing it,’ he added. Why? It sounds cheerful.' They were remembering who they were not singing it with, thought Vimes. You'll learn. I know you will.

  Terry Pratchett

  Song, Real, Nice

  Terry Pratchett (2002). “Night watch”, Doubleday UK

  9 Copy quote

  Show source

• You have reached the end of cake

  Terry Pratchett

  Cake, Ends

  Terry Pratchett (2002). “Night watch”, Doubleday UK

  8 Copy quote

  Show source

• What's the orbital velocity of the moon?

  Terry Pratchett

  Moon, Velocity

  Terry Pratchett (2002). “Night watch”, Doubleday UK

  8 Copy quote

  Show source

• But the helmet had gold decoration, and the bespoke armorers had made a new gleaming breastplate with useless gold ornamentation on it. Sam Vimes felt like a class traitor every time he wore it. He hated being thought of as one of those people that wore stupid ornamental armor. It was gilt by association.

  Terry Pratchett

  Stupid, Class, People

  4 Copy quote

• A Duke couldn't have the arse hanging out of his trousers when meeting foreign diplomats. Actually even plain old Sam Vimes never had the arse hanging out of his trousers, either, but no one would have actually started a war if he had.

  Terry Pratchett

  War, Arses, Diplomats

  Terry Pratchett (2002). “Night watch”, Doubleday UK

  4 Copy quote

  Show source