When all hopes are lost, only then does reality acquire that sharp focus that defines who we are and what we have become.

But to fight something, you really have to try to understand its motivations—particularly when the something you’re fighting holds most of the cards, the deck is stacked against you, and the whole gambling hall is on fire and filled with thugs.

Having one's eyes opened doesn't make one grateful.

It's kind of a misnomer about science fiction that science fiction is about anything other than people. It's about people doing stuff, sometimes doing extraordinary stuff.

When all hopes are lost, only then does reality acquire that sharp focus that defines who we are and what we have become.

There is nothing finer in the world than the telling of tales. Split atoms if you wish, but splitting an infinitive-and getting away with it-is far nobler. Lance boils if you wish, but pricking pretensions is often cleaner and always more fun.

All things will be ambiguous, for this is the curse of wisdom.