Night Watch
Overview
'This is a test, right?'
'You're a quick study, Mister Vimes.'
'But in some other universe, believe me, I hauled off and punched you one.'
[p. 77, Vimes and Sweeper]
'Is that Narrative Causality or Historical Imperative or just plain weird?'
[p. 82, Lu-Tze]
'I'm not a criminal madman,' said Vimes. (...)
'Never mind, you'll soon fit in,' said Lawn.
[p. 92]
His [Vimes'] glare ran from face to face, causing most of the squad to do an immediate impression of the Floorboard and Ceiling Inspectros Synchronized Observation Team.
[p. 99]
'I've got four years' good conduct, I have-'
'No, that was four years' Not Found Out,' said Vimes.
[p. 101, Quirke and Vimes]
'Taxation is just a sophisticated way of demanding money with menaces.'
[p. 105, Vetinari]
Like petty criminals everywhere, the watchmen prided themselves that there were some depths to which they would not sink. There had to be some things below you, even if it was only mudworms.
[p. 116]
'It's not accepted Ankh-Morpork medical practice, but since Ankh-Morpork medical practice would consist of hitting him on the head with a mallet he's probably getting the best of the deal.'
[p. 122, Dr Lawn]
We who think we are about to die will laugh at anything.
[p. 161]
Ninety percent of most magic merely consists of knowing one extra fact.
[p. 177]
'In a world where we all move in curves he proceeds in a straight line. And going straight in a world of curves makes things happen.'
[p. 180, Madam Meserole]
'I *could* tell you.' Havelock smiled again. 'But then I would have to find someone to pay me to kill you.'
[p. 180]
'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?'
[p. 184]
'I know that you are a man after my own heart.'
Vimes considered the anatomical choices.
'That would be broadly correct, sir,' he said, 'although I would not aspire that high.'
[p. 207, Swing and Vimes]
One of the hardest lessons of young Sam's life had been finding out that the people in charge weren't in charge. It had been finding out that governments were not, on the whole, staffed by people who had a grip, and that plans were what people made instead of thinking.
[p. 224]
'Are we taking the law into our own hands again, sarge?' said Colon.
VImes stared at the entrance to Cable Street, and was aware of the weight of the cigar case in his pocket.
'Yes, Fred,' he said. 'Only this time we're going to squeeze.'
[p. 247]
When he was a boy he'd (...) looked with patriotic pride at the paintings of famous cavalry charges, last stands and glorious victories. It had come as rather a shock, when he later began to participate in some of these, to find that the painters had unaccountably left out the instestines. Perhaps they just weren't very good at them.
[p. 265]
'You an' whose army?' he said.
'Mine as a matter of fact...'
[p. 269-270, Carcer and Major Mountjoy-Standfast]
'Who sent yer?'
'I come from the city,' said the figure, drawing a thin, silvery sword.
'Who are yer?'
'Think of me as... your future.'
[p. 314, Lord Winder and Vetinari]
If Ankh-Morpork had a grid, there would have been a gridlock. Since it did not it was, in the words of Sergeant Colon, 'a case of on one being able to move because of everyone else'. Admittedly, this phrase, while accurate, did not have the same snap.
[p. 326]
'You can take our lives but you'll never take our freedom!' he [Reg] screamed.
Carcer's men looked at one another, puzzled by what sounded like most badly thought-out war cry in the history of the universe.
[p. 339]