Terry Pratchett Quote

[rabid1st]

Apologies to all of my LotR or Hobbit fans. I feel that Tolkien will disagree, but this is a very old world take on the fey people.

"Elves are wonderful. They provoke wonder.
Elves are marvellous. They cause marvels.
Elves are fantastic. They create fantasies.
Elves are glamorous. They project glamour.
Elves are enchanting. They weave enchantment.
Elves are terrific. They beget terror.
The thing about words is that meanings can twist just like a snake, and if you want to find snakes look for them behind words that have changed their meaning.
No one ever said elves are nice.
Elves are bad.”

I love Pratchett because he is such a wordsmith. Once again, and always, I wish him recovered.

Comments

[audrey1nd.livejournal.com]

Have you ever heard the poem Erl Koening? (I think that's the German spelling, it translates into the Elf (Goblin) King) A little boy dies from the terror than an elf provokes. Also, I love that all these words we now use as positive actually aren't. Though I once went somewhere that was literally terrific. I was terrified but I also had a lot of fun.

Fair enough

[frodolass.livejournal.com]

Not a huge fan of elves myself, so you are forgiven. ^___^ Actually, it's quite intelligent and funny. I never thought to think on the root word of terrific being terror. The whole thing feels to me like how an average hobbit of the Shire would justify their suspicion of them outlandish Elves.

Tricksy. Me likes.

[rabid1st.livejournal.com]

Oh...and while I have you here!

Happy Belated Birthday!

Remember how I said I wouldn't be keeping up with birthdays? See? I keep meaning to do the May list. Each noon I think I should do it, but I forget each evening. Rather like I was under some kind of elfin enchantment...HEY! :grin:

Rae

[frodolass.livejournal.com]

Aw, thank you. ^__^ And don't worry. I don't really expect anyone to keep up with my birthdays as I get older, especially me. =P

[tsukara.livejournal.com]

This has always been one of my favorite quotes about elves. Because people think they're nice and pretty and flit around doing "good things", and the origins of them are so much wonderfully darker.

We're all sending good thoughts his way, yes.

[princessblue791.livejournal.com]

A brilliant writer. I wish him well.

You can paint elves any sort of way I suppose. I guess it depends on weather or not you want to find snakes.