Quotes from book

Night Watch

“That's the way it was. Privilege, which just means 'private law.' Two types of people laugh at the law; those that break it and those that make it.”

“Well done,' said a voice somewhere behind him. 'Consciousness to sarcasm in five seconds!”

“The key to winning, as always, was looking as if you had every right, nay, duty to be where you were. It helped if you could also suggest in every line of your body that no one else had any rights to be doing anything, anywhere, whatsoever.”

“There was no universe, anywhere, where a Sam Vimes would give in on this, because if he did then he wouldn't be Sam Vimes anymore.”

“Taxation is just a sophisticated way of demanding money with menaces.”

“When Mister Safety Catch Is Not On, Mister Crossbow Is Not Your Friend.”

“Yeah, all right, but everyone knows they torture people," mumbled Sam.
"Do they?" said Vimes. "Then why doesn't anyone do anything about it?"
"'cos they torture people.”

“Hat = wizard, wizard = hat. Everything else is frippery.”

“Raising the flag and singing the anthem are, while somewhat suspicious, not in themselves acts of treason.”

“Truth! Freedom! Justice! And a hard-boiled egg!”

“His movements could be called cat-like, except that he did not stop to spray urine up against things.”

“Two types of people laugh at the law: those that break it and those that make it.”

“You just put that sword away, sir, please," said the voice of Lance-Constable Vimes.
"You will not shoot me, you young idiot. That would be murder," said the captain calmly.
"Not where I'm aiming, sir.”

“In the words of the philosopher Sceptum, the founder of my profession: am I going to get paid for this?”

“Ninety percent of most magic merely consists of knowing one extra fact.”

“An Assassin, a real Assassin, had to look like one - black clothes, hood, boots, and all. If they could wear any clothes, any disguise, then what could anyone do but spend all day in a small room with a loaded crossbow pointed at the door?”

“What did I tell you about Mister Safety Catch?' said Vimes weakly.
When Mister Safety Catch Is Not On, Mister Crossbow Is Not Your Friend,' recited Detritus, saluting.”

“I get it,' said the prisoner. 'Good Cop, Bad Cop, eh?'
If you like.' said Vimes. 'But we're a bit short staffed here, so if I give you a cigarette would you mind kicking yourself in the teeth?”

“But here's some advice, boy. Don't put your trust in revolutions. They always come around again. That's why they're called revolutions.”