the earth is round, but not really quite. Gravity is 10 m/s*2, but not quite, it’s the same everywhere on earth, but not really. A day is 24 hours, but not actually. A year is 365 days, except it’s not, and the leap years correct for the disparity, but not exactly. Light travels at c, but not across all distances, or through all mediums. There’s no sound in space, but there is wind, and it does sort of carry vibrations in a way that roughly is what we mean by sound Space is really really cold, but it’s not actually cold, hot/cold doesn’t measure the same way

- it’s not about lying, that’s the wrong way to say it. We explain too simply. We lie by omission…

The point of Pratchett is to make fun of how the university humbles the students, trading their self-assurance in their knowledge for actual knowledge that is dried inside its books

> Nevertheless you don't have to lie to kids in any field, science, art or otherwise.

...if and only if the kid in question has the mental capacity to take on the whole truth without confusion.

Some kids have the potential to go hog wild on multivariable calculus, and they should be given the chance to handle it all. But they shan't be the benchmark that others with differing capabilities must hit to understand a concept.