A man may truly live in his dreams, his noblest dreams, but only, only if he is worthy of those dreams.
Harlan EllisonThere is no nobler chore in the craft of writing than holding up the mirror of reality and turning it slightly, so we have a new and different perception of the commonplace, the everyday, the 'normal,' the obvious. People are reflected in the glass. The fantasy situation into which you thrust them is the mirror itself. And what we are shown should illuminate and alter our perception of the world around us. Failing that, you have failed totally.
Harlan EllisonDon't start an argument with somebody who has a microphone when you don't. They'll make you look like chopped liver.
Harlan EllisonThe more you know, the more unflinchingly you deny casual beliefs and Accepted Wisdom when it flies in the face of reality, the more carefully you observe the world and its people around you, the better chance you have of writing something meaningful and well-crafted.
Harlan EllisonPeople don't die from the old diseases any more. They die from new ones, but that's Progress, isn't it? Isn't it?
Harlan EllisonUh, excuse me, sir, I, uh, don't known how to uh, to uh, tell you this, but you were three minutes late. The schedule is a little, uh, bit off." He grinned sheepishly. "That's ridiculous!" murmured the Ticktockman behind his mask. "Check your watch." And then he went into his office, going mrmee, mrmee, mrmee, mrmee.
Harlan Ellison