A scientist is as weak and human as any man, but the pursuit of science may ennoble him even against his will. Isaac Asimov More Quotes by Isaac Asimov More Quotes From Isaac Asimov Science fiction writers foresee the inevitable, and although problems and catastrophes may be inevitable, solutions are not. Isaac Asimov writing science fiction I received the fundamentals of my education in school, but that was not enough. My real education, the superstructure, the details, the true architecture, I got out of the public library. For an impoverished child whose family could not afford to buy books, the library was the open door to wonder and achievement, and I can never be sufficiently grateful that I had the wit to charge through that door and make the most of it. Isaac Asimov educational real children Of course there are worlds. Millions of them! Every star you see has worlds, and most of those you don't see. Isaac Asimov courses stars world Even as a youngster, though, I could not bring myself to believe that if knowledge presented danger, the solution was ignorance. To me, it always seemed that the solution had to be wisdom. You did not refuse to look at danger, rather you learned how to handle it safely. Isaac Asimov ignorance believe looks I don't believe in personal immortality; the only way I expect to have some version of such a thing is through my books. Isaac Asimov believe book way The strain of anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that democracy means that "my ignorance is just as good as your knowledge." Isaac Asimov ignorance mean knowledge Aimless extension of knowledge, however, which is what I think you really mean by the term curiosity, is merely inefficiency. I am designed to avoid inefficiency.” -R. Daneel Olivaw Isaac Asimov curiosity mean thinking It's not so much what you have to learn if you accept weird theories, it's what you have to UNlearn. Isaac Asimov learning accepting theory I don’t believe in extraordinary concatenations of coincidence. Isaac Asimov dont-believe coincidence believe No sensible decision can be made any longer without taking into account not only the world as it is, but the world as it will be. Isaac Asimov continuing-on future motivational Tell me why the stars do shine, Tell me why the ivy twines, Tell me what makes skies so blue, And I'll tell you why I love you. Nuclear fusion makes stars to shine, Tropisms make the ivy twine, Raleigh scattering make skies so blue, Testicular hormones are why I love you. Isaac Asimov stars love-you blue Early in my school career, I turned out to be an incorrigible disciplinary problem. I could understand what the teacher was saying as fast as she could say it, I found time hanging heavy, so I would occasionally talk to my neighbor. That was my great crime, I talked in school. Isaac Asimov teacher science school The Earth faces environmental problems right now that threaten the imminent destruction of civilization and the end of the planet as a livable world. Humanity cannot afford to waste its financial and emotional resources on endless, meaningless quarrels between each group and all others. there must be a sense of globalism in which the world unites to solve the real problems that face all groups alike. Isaac Asimov emotional real civilization What lasts in the reader's mind is not the phrase but the effect the phrase created: laughter, tears, pain, joy. If the phrase is not affecting the reader, what's it doing there? Make it do its job or cut it without mercy or remorse. Isaac Asimov laughter pain jobs All the hundreds of millions of people who, in their time, believed the Earth was flat never succeeded in unrounding it by an inch. Isaac Asimov inches earth people Politically popular speech has always been protected: even the Jews were free to say ‘Heil Hitler.’ Isaac Asimov protected jew speech In a properly automated and educated world, then, machines may prove to be the true humanizing influence. It may be that machines will do the work that makes life possible and that human beings will do all the other things that make life pleasant and worthwhile Isaac Asimov machines may world I write for the same reason I breathe - because if I didn't, I would die. Isaac Asimov breathe writing life Working ten hour days allows you to fall behind twice as fast as you could working five hour days. Isaac Asimov tasks action fall The lucky few who can be involved in creative work of any sort will be the true elite of mankind, for they alone will do more than serve a machine. Isaac Asimov machines lucky creative
