About Me

Always be yourself, unless you can be a unicorn, then always be a unicorn Always be yourself, unless you can be a unicorn, then always be a unicorn
Nick Rosier
Cybersecurity Consultant - Solutions Alchemist of the Undefined and Miscellany
Security, Privacy, Digital Rights and Nifty, Geeky Stuff
Sci-Fi, Fantasy, (Tabletop)Games, Running*
Nerd, Geek, Humanist
Unpigeonholeable (a big thanks to Tim Minchin for introducing me to this word)

Two eyes, one nose, and at least seven toes the last time I counted.

From Locks to Laughs: A Consultant's Tale

By day, I’m an IBM Cybersecurity Consultant and SME for one of Belgium’s largest banks, helping keep the digital doors locked and the virtual lights on. With almost two decades of experience wrangling IAM environments, herding systems, and taming hardware at Sun Microsystems, I’ve got a knack for solving problems and making things run smoothly – even when they don’t want to, or rather, want to blow up in your face (something I had plenty of experience with during my chemistry studies).

I believe in teamwork the way Terry Pratchett believed in Discworld – with plenty of humour, respect, and the understanding that we’re all just a bunch of quirky characters trying to get by. My style? "Primus inter pares", which is just a fancy way of saying, "I’m here with you, not above you."

When I’m not safeguarding systems, you can find me out on a run, chasing that perfect pace – much like keeping systems in sync, but with fewer error logs (and more sweat). Or, with my nose buried in a good book, exploring new worlds between the pages, because there's no problem a bit of reading (and maybe a cup of coffee or tea) can't solve. And, of course, I’m often quoting Pratchett, probably when it’s least expected but most needed. Because after all, “It’s not worth doing something unless someone, somewhere, would much rather you weren’t doing it.”

That said, please enjoy some of my favourite Pterry quotes.

About Sir Terry Pratchett

Sir Terry Pratchett, best known for his Discworld series, had an extraordinary ability to combine humour with profound insights. His quotes often reflect a deep understanding of human nature, society, and the absurdities of life. His unique wit makes even serious topics approachable, which is why his words resonate with so many readers, including myself.

I particularly enjoy his quotes because they blend cleverness with truth, making them not only memorable but also thought-provoking. Whether he's reflecting on human behaviour, poking fun at authority, or just sharing wisdom about life, Pratchett’s quotes stand out for their honesty and humour.

Incorporating the wisdom found in Terry Pratchett's quotes into daily life can be a wonderful way to cultivate positivity, insight, and humour.

Some of My Favourite Quotes

From *Equal Rites* (1987)

They say a little knowledge is a dangerous thing, but it’s not one half so bad as a lot of ignorance.
It is well known that a vital ingredient of success is not knowing that what you're attempting can't be done. A person ignorant of the possibility of failure can be a half-brick in the path of the bicycle of history.

From *Pyramids* (1989)

The trouble with life was that you didn’t get a chance to practice before doing it for real.
The role of listeners has never been fully appreciated. However, it is well known that most people don’t listen. They use the time when someone else is speaking to think of what they’re going to say next. True Listeners have always been revered among oral cultures, and prized for their rarity value; bards and poets are ten a cow, but a good Listener is hard to find, or at least hard to find twice.

From *Diggers* (1990)

The trouble with having an open mind, of course, is that people will insist on coming along and trying to put things in it.

From *Moving Pictures* (1990)

The whole of life is just like watching a film. Only it’s as though you always get in ten minutes after the big picture has started, and no-one will tell you the plot, so you have to work it out all yourself from the clues.

From *Witches Abroad* (1991)

People think that stories are shaped by people. In fact, it’s the other way around.
Progress just means bad things happen faster.

From *Reaper Man* (1991)

Light thinks it travels faster than anything but it is wrong. No matter how fast light travels, it finds the darkness has always got there first, and is waiting for it.
No one is actually dead until the ripples they cause in the world die away.

From *Small Gods* (1992)

You're not one of us. I don't think I'm one of them either. I'm one of mine.
Just because you can explain it doesn't mean it's not still a miracle.
Gravity is a habit that is hard to shake off.
What have I always believed? That on the whole, and by and large, if a man lived properly, not according to what any priests said, but according to what seemed decent and honest inside, then it would, at the end, more or less, turn out all right.

From *Lords and Ladies* (1992)

In the beginning, there was nothing, which exploded.

From *Soul Music* (1994)

The Patrician sat back. Si non confectus, non reficiat. That was the motto of the Vetinaris. Everything worked if you just let it happen.
Susan hated Literature. She'd much prefer to read a good book.

From *Interesting Times* (1994)

Chaos is found in greatest abundance wherever order is being sought. It always defeats order, because it is better organised.

From *Hogfather* (1996)

Real stupidity always beats artificial intelligence.
The truth may be out there, but the lies are inside your head.
The phrase 'Someone ought to do something' was not, by itself, a helpful one. People who used it never added the rider 'and that someone is me'.

From *The Truth* (2000)

In short, what people think they want is news, but what they really crave is olds.

From *Thief of Time* (2001)

Some humans would do anything to see if it was possible to do it. If you put a large switch in some cave somewhere, with a sign on it saying 'End-of-the-World Switch, PLEASE DO NOT TOUCH,' the paint wouldn’t even have time to dry.
Wen considered the nature of time and understood that the universe is, instant by instant, recreated anew. Therefore, he understood, there is, in truth, no past, only a memory of the Past. Blink your eyes, and the world you see next did not exist when you closed them. Therefore, he said, the only appropriate state of the mind is surprise. The only appropriate state of the heart is joy. The sky you see now, you have never seen before. The perfect moment is now. Be glad of it.

From *The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents* (2001)

The dog is a very special animal. It has a very special relationship with people. They have a better idea of what’s going on than people do.
A good plan isn't one where someone wins, it's where nobody thinks they've lost.

From *Monstrous Regiment* (2003)

The presence of those seeking the truth is infinitely to be preferred to the presence of those who think they’ve found it.

From *Going Postal* (2004)

Do you not know that a man is not dead while his name is still spoken?
What kind of man would put a known criminal in charge of a major branch of government? Apart from, say, the average voter.
Steal five dollars and you're a common thief. Steal thousands and you're either the government or a hero.

From *A Hat Full of Sky* (2004)

It’s still magic even if you know how it’s done.
There are times in life when people must know when not to let go. Balloons are designed to teach small children this.

From *Making Money* (2007)

You get a wonderful view from the point of no return.
I think it is just a matter of getting into the mind of the writer. In some cases, I imagine, there is a lot of room.

From *I Shall Wear Midnight* (2010)

There have been times, lately, when I dearly wished that I could change the past. Well, I can’t, but I can change the present, so that when it becomes the past it will turn out to be a past worth having.
Evil begins when you begin to treat people as things.
If you do not know where you come from, then you don't know where you are, and if you don't know where you are, then you don't know where you're going. And if you don't know where you're going, you're probably going wrong.

From *Snuff* (2011)

Goodness is about what you do. Not who you pray to.