John Brunner

Most rich people get rich by taking what they want without paying for it. It’s the way of the world.

The theory was and always had been: this is the thing the solid citizen has no need to worry about. Important, later all-important question: what about the hollow citizen?

If there is such a phenomenon as absolute evil, it consists in treating another human being as a thing.

It's not because my mind is made up that I don't want you to confuse me with any more facts. It's because my mind isn't made up. I already have more facts than I can cope with.

“I see what Gene is driving at. To dream of changing the whole universe in accordance with a set of local preconceptions!...Oh, it’s ridiculous!”

“A missionary,” Gene repeated with a solemn nod. “By definition: a person who does without intending it more harm than good.”

One might as well claim that the tide which rubs pebbles smooth on a beach is doing the pebbles a service because being round is prettier than being jagged. It's of no concern to a pebble what shape it is. But it's very important to a person.

No faith can possibly suffice. It’s always undermined by ignorance.

If there is a hell, perhaps it consists in living up to all one’s promises.

"But I was never put on trial, never convicted!"

"You are not entitled to a trial."

"Anybody's entitled to a trial, damn you!"

"That is absolutely true. But you see you are not anybody. You are nobody.

First we had the legs race. Then we had the arms race. Now we're going to have the brain race. And, if we're lucky, the final stage will be the human race.

Get me a drink of water, please, and something to quiet my belly. It’s rumbling so much I can’t hear myself think.

“So what do you think will happen?” Sawyer asked the barman who was drawing his mid-morning pint.

“Dunno,” the man grunted. “Except one thing. I know we’ve been led by fools and rogues, but this is the first time we’ve ever been led by a criminal!”