“When it comes to privacy and accountability, people always demand the former for themselves and the latter for everyone else.”
―
David Brin
“It is said that power corrupts, but actually it's more true that power attracts the corruptible. The sane are usually attracted by other things than power.” ― David Brin
“Creative people see Prometheus in a mirror, never Pandora.” ― David Brin, Brightness Reef
“Where subtlety fails us we must simply make do with cream pies.” ― David Brin, The Uplift War
“Only people with full stomachs become environmentalists.” ― David Brin, Earth
“Prison for the crime of puberty -- that was how secondary school had seemed.” ― David Brin, Earth
“The best time to act on this was decades ago. The second best time is now.” ― David Brin
“Change is the very fabric of our time.” ― David Brin
“Only a knowledgeable, empowered and vocal citizenry can perform well in democracy.” ― david brin
“Reciprocal accountability, or criticism [is] the only known antidote to error.” ― David Brin
“Beware of self-indulgence. The romance surrounding the writing profession carries several myths: that one must suffer in order to be creative; that one must be cantankerous and objectionable in order to be bright; that ego is paramount over skill; that one can rise to a level from which one can tell the reader to go to hell. These myths, if believed, can ruin you. If you believe you can make a living as a writer, you already have enough ego.” ― David Brin
“In the end, the work of diplomats continues even while others fight. So, it's not necessarily true that everyone needs to march.” ― David Brin
“It's said that 'power corrupts,' but actually it's more true that power attracts the corruptible. The sane are usually attracted by other things than power. When they do act, they think of it as service, which has limits. The tyrant, though, seeks mastery, for which he is insatiable, implacable.” ― David Brin, The Postman
“While I have the floor, here's a question that's been bothering me for some time. Why do so few writers of heroic or epic fantasy ever deal with the fundamental quandary of their novels . . . that so many of them take place in cultures that are rigid, hierarchical, stratified, and in essence oppressive? What is so appealing about feudalism, that so many free citizens of an educated commonwealth like ours love reading about and picturing life under hereditary lords?Why should the deposed prince or princess in every clichéd tale be chosen to lead the quest against the Dark Lord? Why not elect a new leader by merit, instead of clinging to the inbred scions of a failed royal line? Why not ask the pompous, patronizing, "good" wizard for something useful, such as flush toilets, movable type, or electricity for every home in the kingdom? Given half a chance, the sons and daughters of peasants would rather not grow up to be servants. It seems bizarre for modern folk to pine for a way of life our ancestors rightfully fought desperately to escape.” ― David Brin, Glory Season
“... science demands a terrible price - that we accept what experiments tell us about the universe, whether we like it or not.” ― David Brin, Existence
“If there are still honest-smart men and women within those old and noble traditions, they should think carefully, observe and diagnose the illness. They should face the contradiction. Discuss the conflation. And then do as Warren Buffett and Bill Gates and many others have done. Choose the miracle of creative competition over an idolatry of cash.They should stand up..” ― David Brin
“Self-awareness is probably overrated. A complex, self-regulating system doesn't need it in order to be successful, or even smart.” ― David Brin, Earth
“...where were answers to the truly deep questions? Religion promised those, though always in vague terms, while retreating from one line in the sand to the next. Don't look past this boundary, they told Galileo, then Hutton, Darwin, Von Neumann, and Crick, always retreating with great dignity before the latest scientific advance, then drawing the next holy perimeter at the shadowy rim of knowledge.” ― David Brin, Kiln People
“The village is coming back, like it or not.” ― David Brin, Tomorrow Happens
“It is said that power corrupts, but actually it's more true that power attracts the corruptible. The sane are usually attracted by other things than power.” ― David Brin
“Creative people see Prometheus in a mirror, never Pandora.” ― David Brin, Brightness Reef
“Where subtlety fails us we must simply make do with cream pies.” ― David Brin, The Uplift War
“Only people with full stomachs become environmentalists.” ― David Brin, Earth
“Prison for the crime of puberty -- that was how secondary school had seemed.” ― David Brin, Earth
“The best time to act on this was decades ago. The second best time is now.” ― David Brin
“Change is the very fabric of our time.” ― David Brin
“Only a knowledgeable, empowered and vocal citizenry can perform well in democracy.” ― david brin
“Reciprocal accountability, or criticism [is] the only known antidote to error.” ― David Brin
“Beware of self-indulgence. The romance surrounding the writing profession carries several myths: that one must suffer in order to be creative; that one must be cantankerous and objectionable in order to be bright; that ego is paramount over skill; that one can rise to a level from which one can tell the reader to go to hell. These myths, if believed, can ruin you. If you believe you can make a living as a writer, you already have enough ego.” ― David Brin
“In the end, the work of diplomats continues even while others fight. So, it's not necessarily true that everyone needs to march.” ― David Brin
“It's said that 'power corrupts,' but actually it's more true that power attracts the corruptible. The sane are usually attracted by other things than power. When they do act, they think of it as service, which has limits. The tyrant, though, seeks mastery, for which he is insatiable, implacable.” ― David Brin, The Postman
“While I have the floor, here's a question that's been bothering me for some time. Why do so few writers of heroic or epic fantasy ever deal with the fundamental quandary of their novels . . . that so many of them take place in cultures that are rigid, hierarchical, stratified, and in essence oppressive? What is so appealing about feudalism, that so many free citizens of an educated commonwealth like ours love reading about and picturing life under hereditary lords?Why should the deposed prince or princess in every clichéd tale be chosen to lead the quest against the Dark Lord? Why not elect a new leader by merit, instead of clinging to the inbred scions of a failed royal line? Why not ask the pompous, patronizing, "good" wizard for something useful, such as flush toilets, movable type, or electricity for every home in the kingdom? Given half a chance, the sons and daughters of peasants would rather not grow up to be servants. It seems bizarre for modern folk to pine for a way of life our ancestors rightfully fought desperately to escape.” ― David Brin, Glory Season
“... science demands a terrible price - that we accept what experiments tell us about the universe, whether we like it or not.” ― David Brin, Existence
“If there are still honest-smart men and women within those old and noble traditions, they should think carefully, observe and diagnose the illness. They should face the contradiction. Discuss the conflation. And then do as Warren Buffett and Bill Gates and many others have done. Choose the miracle of creative competition over an idolatry of cash.They should stand up..” ― David Brin
“Self-awareness is probably overrated. A complex, self-regulating system doesn't need it in order to be successful, or even smart.” ― David Brin, Earth
“...where were answers to the truly deep questions? Religion promised those, though always in vague terms, while retreating from one line in the sand to the next. Don't look past this boundary, they told Galileo, then Hutton, Darwin, Von Neumann, and Crick, always retreating with great dignity before the latest scientific advance, then drawing the next holy perimeter at the shadowy rim of knowledge.” ― David Brin, Kiln People
“The village is coming back, like it or not.” ― David Brin, Tomorrow Happens
