-
What hope has any endeavor which is based on hate and fear?
David Brin -
What kind of man takes a live bomb across the seas in order to blow up other people? People who have mothers and lovers and children, just like him?Probably either a professional or a patriot, Alex thought. Or, worse, both.
David Brin
-
Intelligence is loose in the galaxy. Power is in our hands, for better or worse. We can modify Nature’s rules, if we dare, but we cannot ignore her lessons.
David Brin -
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.
David Brin -
History and geology show what an eyeblink it’s been since our current, comfortable culture came about. And yet that culture is using up absolutely everything at a ferocious rate.
David Brin -
She closed her eyes. And while her intellect wouldn’t let her realize her deepest fear, that all this might soon be gone forever, nevertheless she stood there for a time and worshipped the only way a person like her could worship-in silence and solitude, under the temple of the sky.
David Brin -
It was a queer, disturbing instant of recognition. We all create monsters in our minds. The only important difference may be which of us let our monsters become real.
David Brin -
Survivalists. Gordon felt a wave of revulsion.
David Brin
-
I’d rather be dead than so suspicious I can’t trust anybody.
David Brin -
Naroin stopped, shook her head. 'Take it from an experienced hand, child. It’s no good blamin’ yourself for what you couldn’t prevent. Not so long as you tried.'Maia’s lips pressed together. That was exactly what she had been telling herself. From the look in Naroin’s eyes, it didn’t get much more believable as you got older.
David Brin -
Anyone who tries to predict the future is inevitably a fool. Present company included. A prophet without a sense of humor is just stupid.
David Brin -
How far do we owe loyalty to our creators’ dream? When have we earned the right to dream for ourselves?
David Brin -
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.
David Brin -
We can’t save the world without food. Only people with full stomachs become environmentalists.
David Brin
-
There was one exception to the rule that all our foes have committed the Decadence Assumption. Ho Chi Minh never underestimated America. His avowed hero was George Washington and he remained in awe of the U.S., all his life. He remains the only enemy leader who ever defeated us at war, and then only because our hubris (not decadence) got the better of us.
David Brin -
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.
David Brin -
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?
David Brin -
Petals floating by, Drift through my woman’s hand, As she remembers me.
David Brin -
Wisdom. No match for the troublemaker Curiosity.
David Brin -
The Union will awaken. It always has. We always will.
David Brin
-
It could be worse. I can’t think how right now, but I’m sure it could be worse.
David Brin -
Ideologies are too seductive anyway. It does a man good to see things from a different point of view.
David Brin -
A hallmark of sanity, Alex, is the courage to face even unpleasant points of view.
David Brin -
The man talked, but somehow nothing he said seemed to make any sense.
David Brin