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What would happen is that people like Geroge and Alyx would grow old and die chasing a dream. Although there were probably worse things to do with one’s life.
Jack McDevitt -
But, come to think of it, there was no need to wait. Time travelers don’t have to wait for anybody.
Jack McDevitt
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The Peacekeepers had a tradition that every problem had a solution. It was a nice slogan. Wasn’t true, but it sounded good.
Jack McDevitt -
An optimist is somebody who thinks our various political and social systems, schools and churches, support groups and Boy Scout troops, jury trials and congressional committees, are on the up-and-up. That they are intended for the benefit of the members. The reality is that they are designed to keep everyone in line.
Jack McDevitt -
If you want data to survive, carve it in rock.
Jack McDevitt -
'One should always be skeptical. That’s always been our problem. We have too many believers.''Believers in what?''In everything.'
Jack McDevitt -
Faith is conviction without evidence, and sometimes even in the face of contrary evidence. In some quarters, this quality is perceived as a virtue.
Jack McDevitt -
'Most of my business comes from picking up the pieces when people get things wrong.' She grinned. 'I’ll never lack for work.'
Jack McDevitt
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Most government and corporate leaders would have trouble getting people to follow them out of a burning building. One way you can tell the worst of them is that they talk about leadership a lot. I doubt Winston Churchill ever used the word. Or, for that matter, Attila the Hun.
Jack McDevitt -
Faith has its price. When misfortune strikes the true believer, he assumes he has done something to deserve punishment, but isn’t quite certain what. The realist, recognizing that he lives in a Darwinian universe, is simply grateful to have made it to another sunset.
Jack McDevitt -
If you're right, and nobody really cares what’s out there, I wonder whether we’re even worth saving.
Jack McDevitt -
Idiots are not responsible for what they do. The real guilt falls on rational people who sit on their hands while the morons run wild. You can opt out if you want to. Play it safe. But if you do, don’t complain when the roof comes down.
Jack McDevitt -
Defend your opinion only if it can be shown to be true, not because it is your opinion.
Jack McDevitt -
Gambini was addicted to asking the sort of ultimate questions about which one could speculate endlessly with no fear of ever arriving at a solution.
Jack McDevitt
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He objected on principle to the powerful.
Jack McDevitt -
Put the money into schools. Rational ones that train young minds to think, to demand that persons in authority show the evidence for the ideas they push. Do that, and we won’t need to provide a world for the Sacred Brethren who, given the opportunity, would run everyone else off the planet.
Jack McDevitt -
Politicians always seemed to be willing to sacrifice the general welfare to win votes.
Jack McDevitt -
Her experience had taught her that people who insisted on having others recognize their outstanding qualities usually didn’t have any.
Jack McDevitt -
The man was either foolish or fearless. Assuming there was a difference.
Jack McDevitt -
It is not faith per se that creates the problem; it is conviction, the notion that one cannot be wrong, that opposing views are necessarily invalid and may even be intolerable.
Jack McDevitt
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He took particular delight in neutralizing those who desperately needed to be neutralized, those overblown, self-important, arrogant half-wits who were always running about dictating behavior, morals, and theology to everyone else. And he never looked back.
Jack McDevitt -
In the larger scale of things, his opinions didn’t count anyhow. The politicians made the decisions, and the voters paid no attention.
Jack McDevitt -
Don't assume that a species is intelligent because it produces intelligent individuals.
Jack McDevitt -
So long as you believe in some truth you do not believe in yourself. You are a servant. A man of faith.
Jack McDevitt