There are no absolute certainties in this universe. A man must try to whip order into a yelping pack of probabilities, and uniform success is impossible. Jack Vance More Quotes by Jack Vance More Quotes From Jack Vance If religions are diseases of the human psyche, as the philosopher Grintholde asserts, then religious wars must be reckoned the resultant sores and cankers infecting the aggregate corpus of the human race. Of all wars, these are the most detestable, since they are waged for no tangible gain, but only to impose a set of arbitrary credos upon another's mind. Jack Vance race religious war Freedom, privileges, options, must constantly be exercised, even at the risk of inconvenience. Jack Vance risk motivational inspirational While we are alive we should sit among colored lights and taste good wines, and discuss our adventures in far places; when we are dead, the opportunity is past. Jack Vance wine adventure past What is an evil man? The man is evil who coerces obedience to his private ends, destroys beauty, produces pain, extinguishes life. Jack Vance pain evil men A barbarian is not aware that he is a barbarian. Jack Vance barbarians The less a writer discusses his work and himself the better. The master chef slaughters no chickens in the dining room; the doctor writes prescriptions in Latin; the magician hides his hinges, mirrors, and trapdoors with the utmost care. Jack Vance doctors latin writing I understand the gist of your speculation,' said Rhialto. 'It is most likely nuncupatory. Jack Vance gist speculation said I become drunk as circumstances dictate. Jack Vance drunk circumstances I suspect that the word (art) was invented by second-rate intelligences to describe the incomprehensible activities of their betters. Jack Vance activity rate art Good music always defeats bad luck Jack Vance defeat music luck I just wrote what I felt like writing since they seemed to sell. Jack Vance sells felt writing Beauty compelled admiration and erotic yearning; such was its organic function. But never by itself could it command love. Jack Vance admiration erotic function What is peace? Balance three iron skewers tip to tip, one upon the other; at the summit, emplace and egg, so that it too poises static in mid-air, and there you have the condition of peace in this world of men. Jack Vance eggs air men What are your fees?" inquired Guyal cautiously. "I respond to three questions," stated the augur. "For twenty terces I phrase the answer in clear and actionable language; for ten I use the language of cant, which occasionally admits of ambiguity; for five, I speak a parable which you must interpret as you will; and for one terce, I babble in an unknown tongue. Jack Vance phrases use answers Nothing is more conspicuous than a farting princess. Jack Vance princess A man is like a rope: both break at a definite strain....The solution is not splicing the rope; it's lessening the tension. Jack Vance rope break men The void is a mouth crying to be filled, a blank mind aching for thought, a cavity desperate for shape. What is not implies what is. Jack Vance blank-mind shapes mouths There was a writer in the '20s called Christopher Morley, who I remember a little bit of, who had some influence on me, but I couldn't tell you what it was. Jack Vance influence littles remember Somebody else's ignorance is bliss. Jack Vance ignorance-is-bliss bliss ignorance Since we are not permitted to act, we are obliged to know. Jack Vance obliged knows
