When all hopes are lost, only then does reality acquire that sharp focus that defines who we are and what we have become. Greg Bear More Quotes by Greg Bear More Quotes From Greg Bear All it takes to get elected in twenty-first-century America is a mob of frightened sheep and a wolf with a nice smile. Greg Bear nice sheep america Once, poets were magicians. Poets were strong, stronger than warriors or kings — stronger than old hapless gods. And they will be strong once again. Greg Bear warrior strong kings To fight an enemy properly, you have to know what they are. Ignorance is defeat. Greg Bear fighting ignorance enemy We may exist in all universes, but 'hear' only one because of our limitations, the valve of our desires, our practical, physical needs. All is vibration, with nothing vibrating across no distance whatsoever. All is music. A universe, a world, is just one long difficult song. The difference between worlds is the difference between songs. Greg Bear distance differences song Altruism is masked self-interest. Aggressive self-interest is a masked urge to self-destruction. Greg Bear aggressive destruction self It's been a great place to get in touch with what people are really thinking. And to make contact with readers and other writers. Egalitarian, wide open, like the Wild West! Greg Bear egalitarianism people thinking Apocalypse could not be repealed by the democratic process. Greg Bear apocalypse democratic process Nothing is lost. Nothing is forgotten.It was in the blood, the flesh,And now it is forever. Greg Bear flesh forever blood You deserve whoever governs you ... Everyone is responsible for the actions of their leaders. Greg Bear responsible leader action There is no war so important that to win it, we must destroy our minds. Greg Bear mind winning war Sometimes I feel like a beetle crawling through a fusion power plant. I can feel a certain amount, see a certain amount, but I sure as hell don't understand everything. Greg Bear fusion hell sometimes I sometimes think we deserve to die, we're all so goddamned stupid. Greg Bear stupid sometimes thinking But to fight something, you really have to try to understand its motivations—particularly when the something you’re fighting holds most of the cards, the deck is stacked against you, and the whole gambling hall is on fire and filled with thugs. Greg Bear thug motivation fighting Science fiction works best when it stimulates debate. Greg Bear science-fiction debate fiction Of all the planets apart from Earth in our solar system, Mars is the most hospitable. Yeah. Right. Better keep my visit short. And yet, despite the discomfort, the danger, I love it here. I love coming back for these imaginary vacations. The sights are amazing. Greg Bear love-coming-back vacation sight Man is the poet who kills, Woman the angel who eats. Greg Bear poet angel men Welcome to the truth of our world-a massive seed shot out to the stars, filled with deadly children. A seed designed to slay everything it touches. Greg Bear our-world stars children Having one's eyes opened doesn't make one grateful. Greg Bear grateful eye Grief is not productive. It simply represents an inefficiency in accepting change of status. Greg Bear inefficiency accepting grief The price of freedom—of individuality—is attention to politics, careful planning, careful organization; philosophy is no more a barrier against political disaster than it is against plague. Greg Bear political organization philosophy