Being a victim is more palatable than having to recognize the intrinsic contradictions of one's own governing philosophy.

Christ, how did you ever get this screwed up! his mind demanded of him. He knew the answer, but even that was not a full explanation. Different segments of the organism called John Terrance Kelly knew different parts of the whole story, but somehow they'd never all come together, leaving the separate fragments of what had ...once been a tough, smart, decisive and to blunder about in confusion - and despair! There was a happy thought.

Ice hockey is the closest thing to religion permitted by the Soviet Union.

Every novel begins with the speculative question, What if "X" happened? That's how you start.

Privacy and loneliness were the traditional luxuries accorded to a skipper.

People live longer today than they ever have. They live happier lives, have more knowledge, more information. All this is the result of communications technology. How is any of that bad?

I understand why we do that now. It’s a help, not a threat. It’s something to remind you how important words are. Ideas are important. Principles are important. Words are important. Your word is the most important of all. Your word is who you are.