# Dinosaur Beach

- Author: [Keith Laumer](https://www.leafyquotes.com/keith-laumer.md)
- Quotes: 13
- Book page: https://www.leafyquotes.com/keith-laumer/dinosaur-beach

## Quotes

> The human mind is a pattern, nothing more. The first dim flicker of awareness in the evolving forebrain of Australopithecus carried that pattern in embryo; and down through all the ages, as the human neural engine increased in power and complexity, gained control of its environment in geometrically expanding increments, the pattern never varied.
>
> Man clings to his self-orientation as the psychological center of the Universe. He can face any challenge within that framework, suffer any loss, endure any hardship—so long as the structure remains intact.
>
> Without it he’s a mind adrift in a trackless infinity—lacking any scale against which to measure his aspirations, his losses, his victories.
>
> Even when the light of his intellect shows him that the structure is itself a product of his brain; that infinity knows no scale, and eternity no duration—still he clings to his self-non-self concept, as a philosopher clings to a life he knows must end, to ideals he knows are ephemeral, to causes he knows will be forgotten.

p. 192

> Rules had been made, and even enforced from time to time. When the first absolute prohibition of time meddling came along, it was already far too late.

p. 19

> Don’t go female on me now. We don’t have time for nonsense.

p. 71

> “Impossible!” he said, as if he believed it—or as if he wanted awfully badly to believe it.

p. 183

> Less than total control is no control at all. You will obey my instructions, Mr. Ravel. In every detail. Or I will scrap the project.

p. 124

> “Are you all right?” Mellia said.
>
> “It’s nothing a month in the intensive care unit wouldn’t clear up.”

p. 93

> It was a nasty little village, poverty-stricken, ugly, hostile, much like little towns in all times and climes.

p. 131

> The Karg looked at her with the interested expression of a coroner who sees his customer twitch.

p. 142

> Too late, I realized how I had trapped myself. I had let sleep in as a guest, and death had slipped through the door.

p. 156

> Sure—that’s the concept. It wouldn’t be the first concept that had to be modified in the face of experience.

p. 96

> An idea was beginning to get through, and he wasn’t liking it very well.

p. 191

> One nice thing about working with a piece of machinery: you don’t waste time trying to justify your actions.

p. 123

> “Take it easy, girl,” I said, and patted her shoulder; I knew my touching her would chill her down again. Not a nice thing to know, but useful.

p. 71