Poul Anderson quotes - page 6

I was not speaking of minor ripples in the mainstream of history-certainly those are ruled by chance. But the broad current moves quite inexorably, I assure you. (Poul Anderson)
The best foundation that a decision is ever allowed is our fallible assessment of the probabilities. View quote
Poul Anderson
Everard was not so sure; he had seen enough human misery in all the ages. You got case-hardened after a while, but down underneath, when a peasant stared at you with sick brutalized eyes, or a soldier screamed with a pike through him, or a city went up in radioactive flame, something wept. He could understand the fanatics who had tried to change events. It was only that their work was so unlikely to make anything better... View quote
Poul Anderson
At least we can put a little sense into life.” "I don't know whether we do or whether we find what was always there,” he replied. "Nor do I care greatly. To me, the important thing is that the purpose-order, beauty, spirit, whatever you want to call it-does exist. View quote
Poul Anderson
We're mortal - which is to say, we're ignorant, stupid, and sinful - but those are only handicaps. Our pride is that nevertheless, now and then, we do our best. A few times we succeed. What more dare we ask for? View quote
Poul Anderson
I really liked that girl.” "Not loved, evidently,” I observed. "N-n-no. I supposed not. Though what is love, anyway? Doesn't it have so infinitely many kinds and degrees and mutations and quantum jumps that- Never mind. View quote
Poul Anderson
Do you actually hope to convert the whole of mankind?” "Belay that! Anyhow, if you mean, Do we hope to make everybody into copies of us? The answer is, No. Mind, I'm not in Parliament or Admiralty, but I follow debates and I read the philosophers. One trouble with the old machine culture was that, by its nature, it did force people to become more and more alike. Not only did this fail in the end-disastrously-but to the extent it succeeded, it was a worse disaster.” Lohannaso smote the rail with a mighty fist. "Damnation, Thomas! We need all the diversity, all the assorted ways of living and looking and thinking, we can get! View quote
Poul Anderson
I've heard assorted rhapsodies about humankind going to the stars, of course. Who hasn't? Each of them founders on the practical problems." "The fish that first ventured ashore had considerable practical problems. View quote
Poul Anderson
Well, I'll try to sketch it out for you, but I'll have to repeat stuff I've told you before. View quote
Poul Anderson
Your Eminence is as great a man as I have ever met. View quote
Poul Anderson
Do you actually hope to convert the whole of mankind? (Poul Anderson)
Your son was in your own tradition. View quote
Poul Anderson
You were right. We should never have created science. It brought the twilight of the race. View quote
Poul Anderson
Not that any simple principle exists, and not that I couldn't be wrong. But it seems to me-well, that which we are, our society or culture or what you want to name it, has a life and a right of its own. View quote
Poul Anderson
Aghast, Tauno exclaimed, "but this is frightful!” "Oh? Many would count it glorious good fortune.” His eye stabbed at hers. "Would you?” "Well... No.” "Locked among bleak brick walls for all her days; shorn, harshly clad, ill-fed, droning through her nose at God while letting wither that which God put between her legs; never to know love, children about her, the growth of home and kin, or even wanderings under apple trees in blossom time....” "Tauno, it is the way to eternal bliss.” "Hm. Rather would I have my bliss now, and then the dark. You, too-in your heart-not so?-whether or not you have said you mean to repent on your deathbed. Your Christian Heaven seems to me a shabby place to spend forever.”. View quote
Poul Anderson
Lord, that war was crazy!” "All wars are,” said Drummond dispassionately. "but technology advanced to the point of giving us a knife to cut our throats with. Before that, we were just beating our heads against the wall. Robinson, we can't go back to the old ways. We've got to start on a new track-a track of sanity. View quote
Poul Anderson
Don't talk, you,” he said. "It hurts my ears. Nor think; that hurts your head.' View quote
Poul Anderson
So this,” he said, "is the excitement and glory of war! I'll never believe a ballad singer again. View quote
Poul Anderson
His will grew tight again. This was no age for weaklings. You had to do whatever seemed best, without letting gods or men or the lower devils deter you. View quote
Poul Anderson
Man's duty in this life. View quote
Poul Anderson
"Not that any simple principle exists, and not that I couldn't be wrong. But it seems to me-well, that which we are, our society or culture or what you want to name it, has a life and a right of its own.” He drew breath. "Best beloved,” he said, "if communities didn't resist encroachments, they'd soon be swallowed by the biggest and greediest. Wouldn't they? In the end, dead sameness. No challenges, no inspirations from somebody else's way. What service is it to life if we let that happen? (Poul Anderson)
He did not share the widespread present-day faith in astrology. It seemed likeliest to him that sheer accident ruled the world. View quote
Poul Anderson
If you continue a liar, you are as skillful a one as I have found in a wide experience. View quote
Poul Anderson
I never set myself up as a prophet. Those crazy preachers have been the death of thousands, and the end is not yet. View quote
Poul Anderson
Is that all he wants?” McCready wondered. "Shuffling papers in an office, forever? View quote
Poul Anderson