Perseverance Quotes in The Color of Magic

How we cite our quotes: (Story.Chapter.Paragraph)

Quote #1

The dark interior of the Drum was a broil of fighting men, quite a number of them—a third and longer glance confirmed—in bits. Rincewind swayed back as a wildly thrown stool sailed past and smashed on the far side of the street. Then he dived in. (1.8.3)

Rincewind's desire to preserve his life from the Patrician's justice means he'll put his life in jeopardy by leaping into the fray. Wait… is that productive or counterproductive?

Quote #2

Even if [Rincewind] managed to get to a horse, he had a nasty suspicion that [Luggage] would follow him at its own pace. Endlessly. Swimming rivers and oceans. Gaining slowly every night, while he had to stop to sleep. And then one day, in some exotic city and years hence, he'd hear the sound of hundreds of tiny feet accelerating down the road behind him… (1.15.22)

Luggage is the very incarnation of perseverance. In this scene, Rincewind is simply imagining what the Luggage would do to find him—and in reality, Luggage will move heaven and earth to reach his goal. Literally.

Quote #3

Rincewind backed away, hands spread protectively in front of him. The dried fish salesman on a nearby stall watched this madman with interest. "Not a chance!" I COULD LEND YOU A VERY FAST HORSE. "No!" (1.18.14-17)

Oddly enough, perhaps the only person Rincewind can stand up to is Death. That takes a hefty amount of perseverance.