Since ancient times, the philosophers' secret has always been this: we know that God does not exist, or, at least, if he does, he's utterly indifferent to our individual affairs--but we can't let the rabble know that; it's the fear of God, the threat of divine punishment and the promise of divine reward, that keeps in line those too unsophisticated to work out questions of morality on their own.

A science fiction writer should try to combine the intimately human with the grandly cosmic.

The right things to do are those that keep our violence in abeyance; the wrong things are those that bring it to the fore.

It is either coincidence piled on top of coincidence," said Hollus, "or it is deliberate design.

Secrecy was the problem; transparency the obvious cure.

Honor does not have to be defended.

If theft is advantageous to everyone who succeeds at it, and adultery is a good strategy, at least for males, for increasing presence in the gene pool, why do we feel they are wrong? Shouldn't the only morality that evolution produces be the kind Bill Clinton had - being sorry you got caught?