Painterly red feather quill, blank parchment scroll, small crown and ornate dagger on crimson fabric.

Original artwork, not a still

Small Gods ‧ 1992

Terry Pratchett

Not a man to mince words. People, yes. But not words.

Behind the line

What it means

Our interpretation.

The joke distinguishes direct speech from physical brutality through two meanings of mince. Its praise of plain speaking is undercut by the remark about people, not a justification for harm.

Context reviewed

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