Isaac Asimov - Quodid

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Picture of Isaac Asimov

Isaac Asimov ( AZ-im-ov; c. January 2, 1920 – April 6, 1992) was an American writer and professor of biochemistry at Boston University. During his lifetime, Asimov was considered one of the "Big Three" science fiction writers, along with Robert A. Heinlein and Arthur C. Clarke. He wrote or edited more than 500 books and an estimated 90,000 letters and postcards. Best known for his hard science fiction, Asimov also wrote mysteries and fantasy, as well as popular science and other non-fiction. His work spans nine out of the ten categories of the Dewey decimal system.

Quotes from Isaac Asimov

If knowledge can create problems, it is not through ignorance that we can solve them.

—Isaac Asimov

ignorance knowledge problems

I do not fear computers. I fear the lack of them.

—Isaac Asimov

technology fear computers

Never let your sense of morals get in the way of doing what's right.

—Isaac Asimov

right ethics morality

I do not fear computers. I fear the lack of them.

—Isaac Asimov

Violence is the last refuge of the incompetent.

—Isaac Asimov

violence competence

A couple of months ago I had a dream, which I remember with the utmost clarity. (I don't usually remember my dreams.) I dreamed I had died and gone to Heaven. I looked about and knew where I was—green fields, fleecy clouds, perfumed air, and the distant, ravishing sound of the heavenly choir. And there was the recording angel smiling broadly at me in greeting. I said in wonder, "Is this Heaven?" The recording angel said, "It is." I said (and on waking and remembering, I was proud of my integrity), "But there must be a mistake. I don't belong here. I'm an atheist." "No mistake," said the recording angel. "But as an atheist how can I qualify?" The recording angel said sternly, "We decide who qualifies. Not you." "I see," I said. I looked about, pondered for a moment, then turned to the recording angel and asked, "Is there a typewriter here that I can use?" The significance of the dream was clear to me. I felt Heaven to be the act of writing, and I have been in Heaven for over half a century, and I have always known this.

—Isaac Asimov

integrity writing dreams atheism heaven

I do not fear computers. I fear the lack of them.

—Isaac Asimov

The most exciting phrase to hear in science, the one that heralds new discoveries, is not 'Eureka!' (I found it!) but 'That's funny…

—Isaac Asimov

It pays to be obvious, especially if you have a reputation for subtlety.

—Isaac Asimov

Part of the inhumanity of the computer is that, once it is competently programmed and working smoothly, it is completely honest.

—Isaac Asimov

I am not dying, not anymore than any of us are at any moment. We run, hopefully as fast as we can, and then everyone must stop. We can only choose how we handle the race.

—Isaac Asimov

We have an opportunity for everyone in the world to have access to all the world's information. This has never before been possible. Why is ubiquitous information so profound? It's a tremendous equalizer. Information is power.

—Isaac Asimov

Life is just one damned thing after another.

—Isaac Asimov

You must keep sending work out; you must never let a manuscript do nothing but eat its head off in a drawer. You send that work out again and again, while you're working on another one. If you have talent, you will receive some measure of success—but only if you persist.

—Isaac Asimov

There is a single light of science, and to brighten it anywhere is to brighten it everywhere.

—Isaac Asimov

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