"It is said that the gods play games with the lives of men. But what games, and why, and the identities of the actual …"

"That was how you got to be a power in the land, he thought. You never cared a toss about whatever anyone else thought…"

"They may be called the Palace Guard, the City Guard, or the Patrol. Whatever the name, their purpose in any work of h…"

"The relevant equation is: Knowledge = power = energy = matter = mass; a good bookshop is just a genteel Black Hole th…"

"To the axeman, all supplicants are the same height. (p. 5)"

"'No one knows how to do officering, Fred. That's why they're officers. If they'd knew anything, they'd be sergeants.'"

"He is also bearing a sword presented to him in mysterious circumstances. Very mysterious circumstances. Surprisingly,…"

"Vimes opened his eyes. There was a moment of empty peace before memory hit him like a shovel. (p. 22)"

""In a manner of speaking, yes," said his father. "In another manner of speaking, which is a rather more precise and a…"

"Perhaps the magic would last. Perhaps it wouldn't. But then, what does? (p. 355; closing words)"