Page "Sam Vimes" Paragraph 15

Vimes is a very conflicted character: An incorruptible idealist with deep beliefs in justice and an abiding love of his city, he is also a committed cynic whose knowledge of human nature constantly reminds him how far off those ideals are.

A member of the upper classes, he still has an innate dislike of hereditary wealth and a horror of social inequality.

The Patrician observes that Vimes is anti-authoritarian even though he is, himself, an authority figure, which is " practically Zen ".

The conflict within Vimes is between his virtuous nature (" the Watchman ") and what he calls " the Beast ".

In The Art of Discworld, Pratchett explains that Vimes protects himself from the Beast with the symbol of his own badge, which prevents him from becoming the criminal he despises, at least in his own mind.

Although in Guards!

Guards!

Vimes is all-but-shocked at Vetinari's disturbingly cynical ( and probably disturbingly accurate ) view of the world, he in turn has been called " the most cynical bastard that ever walked under the sun " ( in Going Postal ).

Although widely differing characters, Vimes and Vetinari can be called similar in that they both have very cynical worldviews, but fairly idealistic aims.