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Everyone recognized that only five percent of all the people born ever amount to anything at all. Everyone humbly thanked his providential stars that through his own personal efforts and merit he had become one of the superior five percent. Everyone looked with pity and contempt upon the ninety-five percent who did not share his grace.

— Mark Clifton They'd Rather Be Right (1954)

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More quotes by Mark Clifton

People will tie in with a fanatic if for no other reason than to break the monotony of their lives.

They'd Rather Be Right (1954)

Perhaps, in spite of her brilliance, she’s too young to realize the hostility of the world toward intelligence.

Somehow I got the impression that instead of looking into a crystal ball, they would be more inclined to look out of one.

Sense From Thought Divide (1955)

Instant acceptance of an idea is as self-defeating as instant rejection.

They'd Rather Be Right (1954)

It (objection to a machine that could think) was the hook used by the rabble rousers, whose monopoly of moral interpretation might be challenged.

They'd Rather Be Right (1954)

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Attribution

Quote text and notes from Wikiquote: Mark Clifton (page history), available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source quality and labels are our own summary of what Wikiquote records.