Charles Sheffield Quotes

1935–2002 England

Charles Sheffield (25 June 1935 – 2 November 2002) was an English-born mathematician, physicist and science fiction writer who served as a President of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America and of the American Astronautical Society.

England
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Random Charles Sheffield quote

161 quotes

Some of the Argos Group records are awful strange. If I had to guess, I’d say there’s fiddlin’ going on that don’t sound like violins.

Starfire (1999)

It is not clear to me whether the insouciance of youth will be the doom of humanity or its salvation. I prefer to think the latter, but I have my doubts.

Starfire (1999)

Never get involved in a venture with a man who inherited his money and didn’t earn any himself. He’ll assume he’s smarter than you are, just because he’s rich and you’re not, and he’ll expect you to bow down to his greatness because for all his life people have.

The Spheres of Heaven (2001)

“We’re all here,” said Louis Nenda’s voice.
“Where’s here? Can you see?”
“Not a thing. Black as a politician’s heart.”

Transcendence (1992)

Violence is never the only solution.

The Spheres of Heaven (2001)

Are we perhaps guilty of temporal chauvinism, believing that our own time is uniquely important, as all generation tend to think that their time is of unique importance?

Convergence (1997)

Birdie cringed. If there was one thing worse than being a coward, it was being mistaken for a hero.

Divergence (1991)

“D’you know what homeostasis is?”
“I used to, before I rotted my brain with politics.”

Starfire (1999)

The important question wasn’t whether or not you thought you were the right one to lead. It was whether others believed you were.

Aftermath (1998)

Maddy was not consumed by the immediate pressures of the here and now. She had been provided with a fatal indulgence: time to think.

Starfire (1999)

When you had little or no information, it was unreasonable to have any expectations. But somehow you did, even if they were often wrong.

Resurgence (2002)

Old habits did not just die hard. They refused to die at all.

Transcendence (1992)

“I think I’ll have a sign made for that far wall,” said Bey at last.
“Indeed?”
“Yes. It will say, ‘If you have nothing to do, please don’t do it here’.”

Proteus Unbound (1989)

He had written the man off completely, and now here came common sense and a talent for improvisation. Maybe you didn’t have to be an idiot just because you were rich.

The Spheres of Heaven (2001)

Don’t confuse caution with cowardice.

Divergence (1991)

It had been designed for “peacekeeping,” which meant that it had been fitted out from stem to stern with the most hideous weapons of war that the human mind could conceive.

The Spheres of Heaven (2001)

Kallik’s explanation was neat, logical, and complete. Like most such explanations, it was, in Hans Rebka’s view, almost certainly wrong. That was not the way the real world operated.

Transcendence (1992)

“Professor Lang’s important work, with all due respect, does not answer that question.”
The knife, sliding in hidden behind the compliment. “With all due respect” meant “with no respect at all.”

Convergence (1997)

And there you had it. Most people hate to learn that they are wrong. Not McAndrew. When he’s proved wrong, he’s ecstatic. It means he’s learned something new, and that’s his main reason for existence.

The Compleat McAndrew (2000)

TIG. Trust In Government. An old political principle, to give your organization a name that’s the opposite of what you mean.

Starfire (1999)

Attribution

Quotes and notes from Wikiquote: Charles Sheffield (page history), available under CC BY-SA 4.0.