Isaac Asimov (1920-1992)

Quotes

• Violence is the diplomacy of the incompetent.

• Creationists make it sound as though a 'theory' is something you dreamt up after being drunk all night.

• The most hopelessly stupid man is he who is not aware that he is wise.

• People say 'It's as plain as the nose on your face.' But how much of the nose on your face can you see, unless someone holds up a mirror for you?

• I write for the same reason I breathe - because if I didn't, I would die.

• The most exciting phrase to hear in science, the one that heralds new discoveries, is not 'Eureka!' (I found it!) but 'That's funny ...'

• It pays to be obvious, especially if you have a reputation for subtlety.

• I do not fear computers. I fear the lack of them.

• Never let your sense of morals get in the way of doing what's right.

• You must keep sending work out; you must never let a manuscript do nothing but eat its head off in a drawer. You send that work out again and again, while you're working on another one. If you have talent, you will receive some measure of success - but only if you persist.

• Violence is the last refuge of the incompetent.

• No sensible decision can be made any longer without taking into account not only the world as it is, but the world as it will be. . ..

• Science can be introduced to children well or poorly. If poorly, children can be turned away from science; they can develop a lifelong antipathy; they will be in a far worse condition than if they had never been introduced to science at all.

• The most exciting phrase to hear in science, the one that heralds the most discoveries, is not 'Eureka!' (I found it!) but 'That's funny...'

• The three fundamental Rules of Robotics...One: a robot may not injure a human being, or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm...Two:..a robot must obey the orders given it by human beings except where such orders would conflict with the First Law...Three: a robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First and Second Laws.

• The most exciting phrase to hear in science, the one that heralds new discoveries, is not "Eureka!" (I found it!) but "That's funny ..."

• Part of the inhumanity of the computer is that, once it is competently programmed and working smoothly, it is completely honest.

• One, a robot may not injure a human being, or through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm;
  Two, a robot must obey the orders given it by human beings except where such orders would conflict with the First Law; Three, a robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Laws.

• Old people think young people haven't learned about love. Young people think old people have forgotten about love.

• If knowledge can create problems, it is not through ignorance that we can solve them.