There’s a scene in Sir Terry Pratchett’s novel Jingo
where the high and mighty of Ankh-Morpork are seated around a table in a council of war. The Patrician, Havelock Vetinari (he calls himself a tyrant), explains Ankh-Morpork doesn’t have enough cash on hand to fund the war the council wants with Klatch (Klatchistan?).
Lords, peers, heads of various guilds are all completely surprised to hear the Ankh-Morpork is basically insolvent. As Vetinari reads a list of guilds’ annual pre-tax profits, and lords owing the most money to the state, we learn that none of the rich have paid taxes. The Guild of Accountants has this huge profit and also applied for a refund.
Hilarious. Try the unabridged audio book version read by the able and amusing Nigel Planer. Try to laugh to keep from crying.
