11 quotes
He managed to lie by implication while speaking words that were the literal truth, a skill he had grown good at, if not proud of.
The Postman (1985)
All legends must be based on lies, Gordon realized. We exaggerate, and even come to believe the tales, after a while.
The Postman (1985)
He tried again, but their sullen, rural obstinacy was impervious to logic.
The Postman (1985)
“They accepted warriors...” he emphasized, “...That divinely mad type that’s so valuable when needed, and such a problem when it’s not.”
The Postman (1985)
How can we set up a system which encourages individuals to strive and excel, and yet which shows some compassion to the weak, and weeds out madmen and tyrants?
The Postman (1985)
Freedom was wonderful beyond relief. But with it came that bitch, Duty.
The Postman (1985)
Survivalists. Gordon felt a wave of revulsion.
The Postman (1985)
Apparently, the Fates were not so unsubtle as to deal him another blow just yet. He knew they didn’t operate that way. They always let you hope for a while longer, then strung it out before they really let you have it.
The Postman (1985)
Of course we can establish constitutional checks and balances, but those won’t mean a thing unless citizens make sure the safeguards are taken seriously. The greedy and the power-hungry will always look for ways to break the rules, or twist them to their advantage.
The Postman (1985)
It’s said that “power corrupts,” but actually it’s more true that power attracts the corruptible. The sane are usually attracted by other things than power. When they do act, they think of it as service, which has limits. The tyrant, though, seeks mastery, for which he is insatiable, implacable.
The Postman (1985)
We are having extreme difficulty with local gangs of “Survivalists.” Fortunately, these infestations of egotists are mostly too paranoid to band together. They’re as much trouble to each other as to us, I suppose. Still, they are becoming a real problem.
The Postman (1985)