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... 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.

Summary

This quote, from Terry Pratchett's novel "Hogfather," challenges the notion of a just and merciful universe. It suggests that even if the entirety of existence was broken down and inspected, no trace of justice or mercy could be found. Despite this, it highlights the human tendency to believe in an inherent order or righteousness that determines the nature of the world. The quote serves as a reminder that while justice and mercy may not be naturally occurring, it is still important for humans to strive for them in their actions and beliefs.

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