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Quotes from Tales of Known Space — Larry Niven

born 1938 United States

← All quotes by Larry Niven

10 quotes

In a universe the size of ours almost anything that can happen, will.

Tales of Known Space (1975)

Anyone who says human nature can’t be changed is out of his head. To make it stick, he’s got to define human nature—and he can’t.

Tales of Known Space (1975)

Peace isn’t a stable condition, not for us. Maybe not for anything that lives.

Tales of Known Space (1975)

A reaction drive's efficiency as a weapon is in direct proportion to its efficiency as a drive.

Tales of Known Space (1975)

The morning was blacker than the inside of a smoker’s lungs.

Tales of Known Space (1975)

“Do you play games of chance?”
“Emphatically yes. The process of living is a game of chance. To avoid chance is insanity.”

Tales of Known Space (1975)

“That’s impossible. Isn’t it? Carlos?”
Carlos’ mouth twisted. “Not if it’s being done.”

Tales of Known Space (1975)

I asked him, “Do you know the difference between nude and naked?”
He shook his head.
“Nude is artistic. Naked is defenseless.”

Tales of Known Space (1975)

Gambling was safer than war. More fun, too. Best of all, it gave him better odds.

Tales of Known Space (1975)

There was this about him: he knew who I was, but he hadn’t remembered my name. Ron Cole had better things to think about than what name belonged with whom. A name was only a tag and a conversational gambit.

Tales of Known Space (1975)

Attribution

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