121 quotes
“Where there is mind, there is always solution,” Keneenk taught. All problems contained the elements of their answer.
Startide Rising (1983)
One more piece for the Great Jigsaw puzzle.
Knowledge isn’t restrained by the limits of Malthus. Information doesn’t need topsoil to grow in, only freedom. Given eager minds and experimentation, it feeds itself like a chain reaction.
Earth (1990)
Nation states are archaic leftovers from when each man feared the tribe over the hill, an attitude we can’t afford anymore.
Earth (1990)
The variety of inventive ideas—and ideologies—that people can come up with never ceases to amaze me, especially when they’re stoked by the ultimate drug, self-righteousness.
Kiln People (2002)
In all of history, we have found just one cure for error—a partial antidote against making and repeating grand, foolish mistakes, a remedy against self-deception. That antidote is criticism.
The Transparent Society (1998)
Anyone who tries to predict the future is inevitably a fool. Present company included. A prophet without a sense of humor is just stupid.
Earth (1990)
Alas, criticism has always been what human beings, especially leaders, most hate to hear.
The Transparent Society (1998)
Doing some thing you’re good at—what else can make you feel more genuinely human?
Kiln People (2002)
I hate the whole übermensch, superman temptation that pervades science fiction. I believe no protagonist should be so competent, so awe-inspiring, that a committee of 20 really hard-working, intelligent people couldn't do the same thing.
Moralists can always justify going outside the law when it suits their sense of righteous timing.
Kiln People (2002)
The worst mistake of first contact, made throughout history by individuals on both sides of every new encounter, has been the unfortunate habit of making assumptions. It often proved fatal.
He claims to have reasons. And yet, don’t all fanatics?
Kiln People (2002)
It’s hard to feel completely hopeless during that special moment when you first catch sight of dawn.
Kiln People (2002)
A neurosis defends itself by coming up with rationalizations to explain away bizarre behavior.
The Uplift War (1987)
A hallmark of sanity, Alex, is the courage to face even unpleasant points of view.
Earth (1990)
Fortunately, there is a famous inverse relation between fanaticism and competence.
Kiln People (2002)
A sane being wished for peace and serenity, not to be the mortar in which the ingredients of destiny are finely ground.
The Uplift War (1987)
Secrets are like snowflakes, nowadays—rare and hard to keep for very long.
Kiln People (2002)
Can you sniff/sense/feel/grok the very thing you covet‥and secretly fear?
Heaven's Reach (1998)