We are all lucky to have lived in a time and place where Discworld came to our imaginations, from the imagination of Sir Terry Pratchett. He walked away with Death this week, but Discworld lives on. (As does the Long Earth, and of course, the prophecies of Agnes Nutter and other Good Omens.)

Some quotes from Sir Terry’s work and life that remind us of our good fortune:

“Why do you go away? So that you can come back. So that you can see the place you came from with new eyes and extra colors. And the people there see you differently, too. Coming back to where you started is not the same as never leaving.”

“In ancient times cats were worshipped as gods; they have not forgotten this.”

“It’s not worth doing something unless someone, somewhere, would much rather you weren’t doing it.”

And finally, fittingly…

“DON’T THINK OF IT AS DYING, said Death. JUST THINK OF IT AS LEAVING EARLY TO AVOID THE RUSH.”