Terry Pratchett’s quote beautifully encapsulates the cyclical nature of innovation and societal acceptance. It is a poignant reflection on how society often reacts with fear, suspicion, or outright hostility toward new ideas or technologies when they first appear. These innovations are metaphorically described as 'monsters' – strange, perhaps frightening, and misunderstood. Yet, paradoxically, it is these very ideas that become essential to progress and the shaping of the future. The initial vilification is replaced by acceptance and even reverence once the value becomes undeniably apparent.

This phenomenon is recurrent in human history: from the arrival of the printing press to the advent of the internet, new ideas are frequently met with skepticism or fear about their impact or implications. Pratchett’s message encourages an open-minded approach to change and challenges the reader to look beyond the initial hostility or rejection to the potential benefits that new paradigms can offer. Ultimately, it is a commentary on human nature — our resistance to change, but also our resilience and adaptability.

It’s a reminder that progress demands courage, not just from the innovators, but from society at large. We must learn to embrace new ideas with curiosity rather than disdain, recognizing that what initially appears monstrous or threatening might be the very force that drives collective advancement and enriches our world.