Michael Swanwick quotes - page 4

Did you experience hallucinations or illusions?” "What's the difference?” "An illusion is a misreading of actual sensory data, while a hallucination is seeing something that isn't there. (Michael Swanwick)
People will believe in just about any kind of superstitious crap nowadays. View quote
Michael Swanwick
That is the true measure of love, you see, the evil one will stoop to for its sake... View quote
Michael Swanwick
Paid off? Do you mean bribery?” "That is, umm, not an entirely pleasant word for it.” Dreschler's doughy face took on a pained expression. "It is more in the nature of an advance payment to ensure the labor force will be satisfied with the negotiated wage schedules. View quote
Michael Swanwick
"Machines!” Wyeth snorted. "Machines are the easiest things in the universe to outwit because they're predictable-that's their function, to be predictable, to do exactly what they're designed for, time after time. View quote
Michael Swanwick
It was a scream straight from the toad buried at the base of the brain, that ancient reptile that wants everything at once, delivered to its feet and set ablaze. View quote
Michael Swanwick
"Look,” Jane said. "Exactly what must I say to get rid of you? View quote
Michael Swanwick
You will study bioscience control, that ought to be useful-it will teach you the folly of thinking you can go against your genetic inheritance, for one thing. View quote
Michael Swanwick
The secret of a good scam is not to get greedy. View quote
Michael Swanwick
Indeed, what is magic but impossible science? View quote
Michael Swanwick
It was not possible for her to rejoin the unthinking world, becoming as she had been before, sleepily and smugly ignorant of consequences. There were thoughts that once thought, could not be unthought. (Michael Swanwick)
All human beings have their price, and quite often it is surprisingly small. The trick consists of knowing exactly what that price is, when they themselves do not. View quote
Michael Swanwick
Paid off? Do you mean bribery? View quote
Michael Swanwick
Good men are dying at this very moment to protect you, your factories, your possessions, and all civilization. View quote
Michael Swanwick
Out of doors on a moonless night? View quote
Michael Swanwick
Now here is a treasure, Averroës Commentaries on Aristotle in a tolerable translation from the Arabic by Gerard of Cremona. View quote
Michael Swanwick
Can you really kill the Goddess? View quote
Michael Swanwick
Your collection is not a woman. That's only a metaphor-an abstraction! You'll be dying for nothing, for a principle that nobody else can even comprehend. View quote
Michael Swanwick
The oracle-glass was maddeningly literal, capable of answering only the question one asked, rather than that which one wanted answered. View quote
Michael Swanwick