Hogfather by Terry Pratchett:
„
right," said Susan. “I’m not stupid. You’re saying humans need… fantasies to make life bearable.”
REALLY? AS IF IT WAS SOME KIND OF PINK PILL? NO. HUMANS NEED FANTASY TO BE HUMAN. TO BE THE PLACE WHERE THE FALLING ANGEL MEETS THE RISING APE.
“Tooth fairies? Hogfathers? Little—”
YES. AS PRACTICE. YOU HAVE TO START OUT LEARNING TO BELIEVE THE LITTLE LIES.
“So we can believe the big ones?”
YES. JUSTICE. MERCY. DUTY. THAT SORT OF THING.
“They’re not the same at all!”
YOU THINK SO? THEN TAKE THE UNIVERSE AND GRIND IT DOWN TO THE FINEST POWDER AND SIEVE IT THROUGH THE FINEST SIEVE AND THEN SHOW ME ONE ATOM OF JUSTICE, ONE MOLECULE OF MERCY. AND YET—Death waved a hand. AND YET YOU ACT AS IF THERE IS SOME IDEAL ORDER IN THE WORLD, AS IF THERE IS SOME…SOME RIGHTNESS IN THE UNIVERSE BY WHICH IT MAY BE JUDGED.
“Yes, but people have got to believe that, or what’s the point—”
MY POINT EXACTLY
„
I’VE NEVER BEEN VERY SURE ABOUT WHAT IS RIGHT, said Bill Door. I AM NOT SURE THERE IS SUCH A THING AS RIGHT. OR WRONG. JUST PLACES TO STAND
Reaper Man - Terry Pratchett
I actually don’t agree with this sentiment, but this is now a Discworld thread, and I can’t stop it
What is right for the spider is wrong for the fly.
Right/Wrong is subjective and entirely depends on the surrounding circumstances of those involved and how the action in question affects their interests.
“It’s not as simple as that. It’s not a black and white issue. There are so many shades of gray.”
“Nope.”
“Pardon?”
“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.”
Carpe Jugulum
At first, drowsy me read the whole thing after reading the first line as “Teri Hatcher”.
One of the better reasons for religion is that comprehending the uncaring vastness of the universe risks breaking our minds
I love the freedom of nihilism, our brain chemicals are the only thing making us happy or sad, they create morals, love, hate.
You know what, I guess in a way hormones are more human than the brain itself?
If getting what we want makes us happy
And what we want is to be sadThen are we happy or sad?
I’ve gotten about 90% of the things I’ve ever wanted and I still don’t consider myself particularly happy, so I’m not sure if that is the way to get there.
Naw, I’m sure that wanting to be sad and getting that is the way to happiness… Err… Or…
I am 14 and this is deep.
I suspect that’s where evolution comes in, as it is a strong driving force that’s pushing us in a direction continuously, so in that sense we evolved a sense of happiness or sadness.
I mean, everything is part of the universe, including our brains and the chemicals inside them that manifest experientially as happiness and sadness. You can certainly take more control over what causes those emotions in you, but you’re still part of the universe.
Being broke and hungry doesn’t make anyone happy really.
