Larry Niven Quotes
-
Louis knew a few xenophobes, and regarded them as dolts.
-
A machine has no mind to read; you never know when it’s going to betray you-
-
3) Stories to end all stories on a given topic, don't.
-
Think of it as evolution in action.
-
Forget the infinities: Concentrate on detail.
-
Tell them the universe is too complicated a toy for a sensibly cautious being to play with.
-
We're looking as far ahead as we can, and we don't get penalized for mistakes.
-
17) No technique works if it isn't used.
-
There’s always another problem behind the one you just solved. Does that mean that you should stop solving problems?
-
The dinosaurs became extinct because they didn't have a space program.
-
In hindsight it may even seem inevitable that a socialist society will starve when it runs out of capitalists.
-
Putting a monkey wrench in machinery is often the only way to force somebody to repair, replace, or redesign the machinery. Especially legal or social machinery.
-
Jesus Pietro was worried. The Sons of Earth, if they got this far, would go straight to the vivarium to free their compatriots. But if Matthew Keller was his own agent... If the ghost of Alpha Plateau was not a rebel, but a thing with its own unpredictable purpose... Jesus Pietro worried.
-
Treat your life like something to be sculpted.
-
Species evolve to meet the environment. An intelligent species changes the environment to suit itself. As soon as a species becomes intelligent, it should stop evolving.
-
A thrint was master over every intelligent beast. This was the Powergiver’s primal decree, made before he made the stars. So said all of the twelve thrintun religions, though they fought insanely over other matters.
-
It does not destroy matter, which is reassuring. Rewriting one law of physics is worse than trying to eat one peanut.
-
2) Never fire a laser at a mirror.
-
The human species really could have faced global thermonuclear war. During seventy years of Cold War we grew used to it.
-
The Gods do not protect fools. Fools are protected by more capable fools.
-
We learn only to ask more questions.
-
6) Everybody talks first draft.
-
'You look like a girl with a secret,' Matt said. 'I think it must be the smile.' She moved closer to him, which was very close, and lowered her voice. 'Can you keep a secret?' Matt smiled with one side of his mouth to show that he knew what was coming. She said it anyway. 'So can I.'
-
It had been a long dull evening, with only the thought of leaving the party early to look forward to.