The appeal of science fiction has always been its iconoclasm . . . But in order to be an iconoclast, an author must be more than merely aware of the idol he wishes to destroy. He must be intimate with it and understand it in all its aspects. This means that he must have devoted serious thought to it, and have beliefs of his own which will stand up in the place of the broken idol. In other words, any child can complain, but it takes an adult to clash with accepted beliefs . . . an adult with ideas.

If you can have everything at fifty that you wanted when you were fifteen, you're happy.

The damnable frustration of revenge. Revenge is for dreams...never for reality.

If a man's got talent and guts to buck society, he's obviously above average. You want to hold on to him. You straighten him out and turn him into a plus value. Why throw him away? Do that enough and all you've got left are the sheep.

Tenser, said the Tensor. Tension, apprehension, and dissension have begun.

The whole point of extravagance is to act like a fool and feel like a fool, but enjoy it.

I challenge you, me. Die or live and be great.