The internet brought many laudable things, but prosperity, stability, accountability and honest politics were not four of them.

The ruins of the unsustainable are the 21st century’s frontier.

My dream appliance circa 2050 has one big dial on it, and when I twist it to the right, my IQ goes up to 450.

I do have two data identities. I have my name, Bruce Sterling, which is my public name under which I write novels. I also have my other name, which is my legal name under which I own property and vote.

I don't think there's much distinction between surveillance and media in general. Better media means better surveillance. Cams are everywhere.

I've been asked to explain why I don't worry much about the topics of privacy threat...One reason is that these scenarios seem to assume that there will be large, monolithic bureaucracies...that are capable of harnessing computers for one-way surveillance of an unsuspecting populace. I've come to feel that computation just doesn't work that way. Being afraid of monolithic organizations especially when they have computers, is like being afraid of really big gorillas especially when they are on fire.

Anything that can be done to a rat can be done to a human being. And we can do most anything to rats. This is a hard thing to think about, but it's the truth. It won't go away because we cover our eyes. THAT is cyberpunk.