You used the word "civilization", which means a set of abstractions, symbols, conventions. Experience tends to be vicarious; emotions are predigested and electrical; ideas become more real than things. 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 racereligiouswar Freedom, privileges, options, must constantly be exercised, even at the risk of inconvenience. Jack Vance riskmotivationalinspirational 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 wineadventurepast What is an evil man? The man is evil who coerces obedience to his private ends, destroys beauty, produces pain, extinguishes life. Jack Vance painevilmen 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 doctorslatinwriting I understand the gist of your speculation,' said Rhialto. 'It is most likely nuncupatory. Jack Vance gistspeculationsaid I become drunk as circumstances dictate. Jack Vance drunkcircumstances I suspect that the word (art) was invented by second-rate intelligences to describe the incomprehensible activities of their betters. Jack Vance activityrateart Good music always defeats bad luck Jack Vance defeatmusicluck I just wrote what I felt like writing since they seemed to sell. Jack Vance sellsfeltwriting Beauty compelled admiration and erotic yearning; such was its organic function. But never by itself could it command love. Jack Vance admirationeroticfunction 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 eggsairmen 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 phrasesuseanswers 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 ropebreakmen 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-mindshapesmouths 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 influencelittlesremember Somebody else's ignorance is bliss. Jack Vance ignorance-is-blissblissignorance Since we are not permitted to act, we are obliged to know. Jack Vance obligedknows
