An old woman (Granny Weatherwax, who happens to be a witch) and a priest (Mightily Oats) are sitting by the road having a conversation.
(The conversation starts on the classic subject of "how many angels can dance on the head of a pin?")
Granny Weatherwax: "Sixteen!"
Mightily Oats: "You've counted sixteen?" said Oats eventually.
GW: "No, but it is as good an answer as any you'll get. And that's what you holy men discuss is it?"
MO: "Not usually. There is a very interesting debate raging at the moment on the nature of sin, for example."
GW: "And what do they think? Against it, are they?"
MO: "It is not as simple as that. It's not a black and white issue. There are so many shades of gray."
GW: "Nope."
MO: "Pardon?"
GW: "There's no grays, only white that's got grubby. I'm surprised you don't know that. And sin, young man, is when you treat people as things. Including yourself. That's what sin is."
MO: "It's a lot more complicated than that--"
GW: "No it ain't. When people say things are a lot more complicated than that, they means they're getting worried that they won't like the truth. People as things, that's where it starts."
MO: "Oh, I'm sure there are worse crimes-"
GW: "But they starts with thinking about people as things…"
Mightily Oats: "You've counted sixteen?" said Oats eventually.
GW: "No, but it is as good an answer as any you'll get. And that's what you holy men discuss is it?"
MO: "Not usually. There is a very interesting debate raging at the moment on the nature of sin, for example."
GW: "And what do they think? Against it, are they?"
MO: "It is not as simple as that. It's not a black and white issue. There are so many shades of gray."
GW: "Nope."
MO: "Pardon?"
GW: "There's no grays, only white that's got grubby. I'm surprised you don't know that. And sin, young man, is when you treat people as things. Including yourself. That's what sin is."
MO: "It's a lot more complicated than that--"
GW: "No it ain't. When people say things are a lot more complicated than that, they means they're getting worried that they won't like the truth. People as things, that's where it starts."
MO: "Oh, I'm sure there are worse crimes-"
GW: "But they starts with thinking about people as things…"
Carpe Jugulum, Terry Pratchett
Lord have mercy on me, a sinner.
1 comment:
I must meet this Granny Weatherwax. She has true grit.
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