Octavia Butler quotes - page 2

In order to rise from its own ashes, a Phoenix first must burn. (Octavia Butler)
I can't do it, Joachim. I wouldn't be able to live with myself. A long leash is still a leash. And Coransee will still be at the other end of it, holding on.
Octavia Butler
In my years, I have seen that people must be their own gods and make their own good fortune. The bad will come or not come anyway.
Octavia Butler
Civilization is the way one's own people live. Savagery is the way foreigners live.
Octavia Butler
Civilization is to groups what intelligence is to individuals. It is a means of combining the intelligence of many to achieve ongoing group adaptation.
Octavia Butler
A victim of God may, Through learning adaption, Become a partner of God, A victim of God may, Through forethought and planning, Become a shaper of God. Or a victim of God may, Through shortsightedness and fear, Remain God's victim, God's plaything, God's prey.
Octavia Butler
If you don't care about my people, why should I care about yours?
Octavia Butler
There's no narcotic like exhaustion.
Octavia Butler
He thought about that for a moment, wondered what he should say. The truth or nothing. The truth.
Octavia Butler
Well, writing was what I wanted to do, it was always what I wanted to do. I had novels to write so I wrote them.
Octavia Butler
Sometimes being a friend means mastering the art of timing. There is a time for silence. A time to let go and allow people to hurl themselves into their own destiny. And a time to prepare to pick up the pieces when it's all over. (Octavia Butler)
I would never have been a good scientist - my attention span was too short for that.
Octavia Butler
Science fiction let me do both. It let me look into science and stick my nose in everywhere.
Octavia Butler
And by the way, I wanted to point out that Kindred is not science fiction. You'll note there's no science in it. It's a kind of grim fantasy.
Octavia Butler
A pet. In pets, free will was tolerated only as long as the pet owner found it amusing.
Octavia Butler
She found more gratification in teaching one willing student than a dozen resentful ones.
Octavia Butler
Yori, Human purpose isn't what you say it is or what I say it is. It's what your biology says it is-what your genes say it is.
Octavia Butler
Life was treasure. The only treasure.
Octavia Butler
We give our dead To the orchards And the groves. We give our dead To life.
Octavia Butler
Beware: Ignorance Protects itself Ignorance Promotes suspicion. Suspicion Engenders fear. Fear quails, Irrational and blind, Or fear looms, Defiant and closed. Blind, closed, Suspicious, afraid, Ignorance Protects itself, And protected, Ignorance grows.
Octavia Butler
If you hear nonsense like that often enough for long enough, you begin to believe it. (Octavia Butler)
All religions are ultimately cargo cults. Adherents perform required rituals, follow specific rules, and expect to be supernaturally gifted with desired rewards-long life, honor, wisdom, children, good health, wealth, victory over opponents, immortality after death, any desired rewards.
Octavia Butler
My ignorance wasn't just annoying. It was dangerous.
Octavia Butler
All struggles Are essentially Power struggles. Who will rule, Who will lead, Who will define, refine, confine, design, Who will dominate. All struggles Are essentially Power struggles, And most are no more intellectual than two rams knocking their heads together.
Octavia Butler
When your rage is choking you, it is best to say nothing.
Octavia Butler