David Brin

Quotes

1. “Where there is mind, there is always solution,” Keneenk taught. All problems contained the elements of their answer.

   p. 183

2. 

   A neurosis defends itself by coming up with rationalizations to explain away bizarre behavior.

   p. 221

3. 

   All legends must be based on lies, Gordon realized. We exaggerate, and even come to believe the tales, after a while.

   p. 298

4. 

   What point was there in pursuing an ever-elusive popularity?

   p. 199

5. 

   She had called in the debt that parents owe a child for bringing her, unasked, into a strange world. One should never make an offer without knowing full well what will happen if it is accepted.

   p. 480

6. 

   He managed to lie by implication while speaking words that were the literal truth, a skill he had grown good at, if not proud of.

   p. 200

7. 

   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.

   p. 266

8. 

   A sane being wished for peace and serenity, not to be the mortar in which the ingredients of destiny are finely ground.

   p. 474

9. 

   Words penetrated the tank from the outer room. They were tantalizing, like those ghosts of meaning in a great symphony—hinting that the composer had caught a glimpse of something notes could only vaguely convey and words could never even approach.

   p. 261

10. 

    He tried again, but their sullen, rural obstinacy was impervious to logic.

    p. 126

11. 

    It was better to imagine a sacrifice being for something.

    p. 269

12. 

    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?

    p. 266