What were we doing here? Traveling hundreds or thousands of light-years, to break our hearts?

My old English buddy, John Rackham, wrote and told me what made science fiction different from all other kinds of literature - science fiction is written according to the science fiction method.

People as me how I do research for my science fiction. The answer is, I never do any research.

My first thought was always a cigarette. It still is, but I haven't cheated.

In terms of stories I would buy for a science fiction magazine, if they take place in the future, that might do it.

I was thinking of writing a little foreword saying that history is, after all, based on people's recollections, which change with time.

What were we doing here? Traveling hundreds or thousands of light-years, to break our hearts?