They've got something they do it with, I think it's called a mocracy, and it means everyone in the whole country can say who the new Tyrant is. One man ... one vet. ... Everyone has ... the vet. Except for women, of course. And children. And criminals. And slaves. And stupid people. And people of foreign extraction. And people disapproved of for, er, various reasons. And lots of other people. But everyone apart from them. It's a very enlightened civilization.
Interpretation
The quote critiques the concept of democracy by highlighting its exclusionary nature.
Terry Pratchett's quote satirically examines the limitations of democratic systems, pointing out that while democracy is often lauded for giving everyone a voice, in reality, many groups are systematically excluded. This commentary suggests that a truly enlightened civilization should include all individuals, regardless of their background or status, instead of just a select few, exposing the hypocrisy that often underlies political ideals.
In practice
During a lecture on political systems, I could use this quote to spark a discussion on the limitations of democracy.
And then Jack chopped down what was the world's last beanstalk, adding murder and ecological terrorism to the theft, enticement, and trespass charges already mentioned, and all the giant's children didn't have a daddy anymore. But he got away with it and lived happily ever after, without so much as a guilty twinge about what he had done...which proves that you can be excused for just about anything if you are a hero, because no one asks inconvenient questions.
Geography is just physics slowed down, with a couple of trees stuck in it.
You can't trample infidels when you're a tortoise. I mean, all you could do is give them a meaningful look.
Any fool could be a witch with a runic knife, but it took skill to be one with an apple corer.
People look down on stuff like geography and meteorology, and not only because they're standing on one and being soaked by the other. They don't look quite like real science. But geography is only physics slowed down and with a few trees stuck on it, and meteorology is full of excitingly fashionable chaos and complexity. And summer isn't a time. It's a place as well. Summer is a moving creature and likes to go south for the winter.
I'm not cruel, sir, I won't shoot you in the guts, but I will make you realize how much you took your toes for granted.
Great and good are seldom the same man.
What we call real estate - the solid ground to build a house on - is the broad foundation on which nearly all the guilt of this world rests.
Capitalism has been called a system of greed—yet it is the system that raised the standard of living of its poorest citizens to heights no collectivist system has ever begun to equal, and no tribal gang can conceive of.
Sweet Memory! wafted by thy gentle gale, Oft up the stream of Time I turn my sail.
If desire did not dim the brain, nobody would ever get married, drunk, or fat. ~Val
Freedom is just another word: It seems to get truer the older I get.
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