# The Stars My Destination

- Author: [Alfred Bester](https://www.leafyquotes.com/alfred-bester.md)
- Quotes: 9
- Book page: https://www.leafyquotes.com/alfred-bester/the-stars-my-destination

## Quotes

> Yes, no matter how we defend ourselves against the outside we’re always licked by something from the inside. There’s no defense against betrayal, and we all betray ourselves.

p. 188

> We always do what’s natural, only sometimes we shouldn’t do it.

p. 98

> The man who gives his own decisions priority over society is a criminal.

p. 221

> Revenge is for dreams...never for reality.

p. 194

> Millions for defense, but not one cent for survival.

p. 253

> He awoke. He was alive. He wasted no time on prayer or thanks but continued the business of survival.

p. 19

> “Wait,” Foyle commanded. He looked at the beaming grin engraved in the steel robot face. “But society can be so stupid. So confused. You’ve witnessed this conference.”
>
> “Yes, sir, but you must teach, not dictate. You must teach society.”
>
> “To space-jaunte? Why? Why reach out to the stars and galaxies? What for?”
>
> “Because you’re alive, sir. You might as well ask: Why is life? Don’t ask about it. Live it.”
>
> “Quite mad,” Dagenham muttered.
>
> “But fascinating,” Y’ang-Yeovil murmured.
>
> “There’s got to be more to life than just living,” Foyle said to the robot.
>
> “Then find it for yourself, sir. Don’t ask the world to stop moving because you have doubts.”
>
> “Why can’t we all move forward together?”
>
> “Because you’re all different. You’re not lemmings. Some must lead, and hope that the rest will follow.”
>
> “Who leads?”
>
> “The men who must … driven men, compelled men.”
>
> “Freak men.”
>
> “You’re all freaks, sir. But you always have been freaks. Life is a freak. That’s its hope and glory.”
>
> “Thank you very much.”
>
> “My pleasure, sir.”

p. 251

> “Damn you!" Dagenham raged, “Don’t you realize that you can’t trust people? They don’t know enough for their own good.”
>
> “Then let them learn or die. We’re all in this together. Let’s live or die together.”

p. 254

> “That’s me,” he said, motioning to the robot. “That’s all of us. We prattle about free will, but we’re nothing but response...mechanical reaction in prescribed grooves.”

p. 247