Fantasy Authors

"Justice, a human invention, is as protean as the race itself, and varies from canton to canton. The traveler must be wary lest he contravene some unfamiliar local ordinance."

"Never neglect the wonder of conscious existence, which too soon comes to an end!"

"“I have not been tamed,” said Finnerack. “I have only been enslaved.”"

"It is foolish to be outraged by a fact of nature."

"Events rush together. History occurs."

"My point is this: no outsider can effectively organize a group of experts; they must organize themselves."

"I don’t care a fig whether or not you are offended."

"Ifness pursed his lips judiciously. “All folk, mercantilists as well as tavern-keepers and musicians, try to relate their work to abstract universals. We mercantilists are highly sensitive to theft, which stabs at our very essence. To steal is to acquire goods by a simple, informal, and inexpensive process. To buy identical goods is tedious, irksome, and costly. Is it any wonder that larceny is popular? Nonetheless it voids the mercantilist’s reasons for being alive; we regard thieves with the same abhorrence that musicians might feel for a fanatic gang which beat bells and gongs whenever musicians played.” Frolitz stifled an ejaculation. Ifness tasted the mug of green cider which Loy had set before him. “To repeat: when a thief steals property he steals life. For a mercantilist I am tolerant of human weakness, and I would not react vigorously to the theft of a day. I would resent the theft of a week; I would kill the thief who stole a year of my life.”"

"“The burglar suffered a harsh fate,” Frolitz told Etzwane.” The lesson to be learned is this: Never commit an unlawful act. Especially, never steal; when you take a man’s property, your life becomes forfeit, as has just been demonstrated.” Loy rubbed his chin with uneasy fingers. “In a sense, the penalty seems extreme. The burglar took goods but lost his life. These are the laws of Elphine which the Faceless Man correctly enforced—but should a bagful of goods and a man’s life weigh so evenly on the balance?” The white-haired stranger offered his opinion. “Why should it be otherwise? You ignore a crucial factor in the situation. Property and life are not incommensurable, when property is measured in terms of human toil. Essentially property is life; it is that proportion of life which an individual has expended to gain the property. When a thief steals property, he steals life. Each act of pillage therefore becomes a small murder.”"

"The cantons of Shant were alike only in their mutual distrust. Each regarded as Universal Principles its own customs, costumes, jargon, and mannerisms and considered all else eccentricity."

"Are musicians unlike other men? Beget and forget, that’s how it goes."

"“It goes to demonstrate,” said Reith, “that you can’t judge a man by the table he sets.” Cauch asked shrewdly, “How then can a man judge his fellows? For example, what is the basis of your calculation?” “Only one thing I know for certain,” said Reith. “First thoughts are always wrong.”"

"Surveillance portended unpleasant events: this on Tschai was an axiom of existence."

"“Do you deny the charges?” “I neither confirm nor deny them; they are ridiculous.”"

"Evidently you do not trust me. This does not predispose me to trust you."

"There is no reason why the project should not go easily and smoothly except for the innate perversity of circumstances."

"They consider garrulity a crime against nature."

"Where cowards never venture, heroes find splendor."

"“Adam Reith, you have made a serious mistake.” Reith nodded grimly. “Instead of an honest man I hired you.”"

"A person who calls facts absurdities will often be surprised."

"This is an insane society, constrained by punctilio as a rotten egg is held by its shell."

"“The problems are large,” Reith agreed. “Still, assuming that your premise is correct—” “‘Assume’? ‘Premise’?” demanded the fat woman in a shocked voice. ‘Revelation,’ rather.” “Possibly so. But mysticism is not a practical approach to space travel.”"

"Vengeance is not the most noble activity, but submissiveness is worse."

"There is a dark side to humanity, which is like a stone pressed into the mold. The upper side, exposed to sun and air, is clean; tilt it and look below, at the muck and scurrying insects…"

"Your analyses at times border upon the mordant."

"“I admit to what may be an obtrusive curiosity.” “The quality signifies an active mind,” said Reith."

"“Well then, what of Adam Reith the erudite ethnologist? What theosophical insights can he contribute?” “None,” said Reith. “Very few, at any rate. It occurs to me that the man and his religion are one and the same thing. The unknown exists. Each man projects on the blankness the shape of his own particular world-view. He endows his creation with his personal volitions and attitudes. The religious man stating his case is in essence explaining himself. When a fanatic is contradicted he feels a threat to his own existence; he reacts violently.” “Interesting!” declared the fat merchant. “And the atheist?” “He projects no image upon the blank whatever. The cosmic mysteries he accepts as things in themselves; he feels no need to hang a more or less human mask upon them. Otherwise, the correlation between a man and the shape into which he molds the unknown for greater ease of manipulation is exact.”"

"“For an intelligent man,” snapped Reith, “you are extremely obstinate and unimaginative. Someday I am sure you will recognize your error; until then, believe whatever you care to believe.”"

"“Anacho, my friend,” said Reith, “you have a great deal to learn. The process will come as an appalling shock to you.”"

"The Gnashters circulated through the room, collecting coins. Reith grudgingly paid a tax of nine sequins for himself, Traz and the Flower of Cath. None of the folk present seemed to find the exaction unreasonable. So pervasive was the lack of social discipline, Reith decided, that exploitation of advantage was taken for granted."

"Reith for a space could find no words. At last he stuttered, “Have you no concern for evil deeds?” “‘Evil’?” Baojian laughed sadly. “On Tschai the word has no meaning. Events exist—or they do not exist. If a person adheres to some other system of conduct he himself will swiftly cease to exist.”"

"Alice put her hands on his shoulder. “And now, what of you?” “What of me, how?” “You’re so quiet and subdued! You worry me. Are you well?” “Quite well. Deflated, perhaps. I have been deserted by my enemies. Treesong is dead. The affair is over. I am done.”"

"“Intelligence” demands the most strict of definitions, since the word is easily and often abused. Intelligence rates the quality of Gaean man’s competence at altering environment to suit his convenience, or, more generally, the solution of problems. The corollaries to the idea are several. Among them: In the absence of problems, intelligence cannot be measured. A creature with a large, complicated brain is not necessarily intelligent. Raw abstract intelligence is a meaningless concept."

"It does no good to hurry here. In fact, it may even be against the law."

"Discipline in itself is not a corrupt concept, only discipline that is imposed rather than self-calculated."

"“As always there is someone to hold a tight hand on the purse strings—usually the most affluent of the persons in authority.” “This is how they become affluent.”"

"“You were notified in regard to a recent conclave of the Dexad at Wild Isle?” “Yes. I chose not to attend. In discussions I find myself consistently a minority of one, and my presence seems unnecessary.”"

"Urbanized men and women experience not life but the abstraction of life, on ever higher levels of refinement and dislocation from reality. They become processors of ideas, and have evolved such esoteric occupations as the critic, the critic who criticizes criticism, and even the critic who criticizes criticism of criticism. It is a very sad misuse of human talent and energy."

"I often reflect upon the word “morality,” the most troublesome and confusing word of all. There is no single or supreme morality; there are many, each defining the mode by which a system of entities optimally interacts. The eminent entomologist Fabre, observing a mantis in the act of devouring its mate, exclaimed: “What an abominable custom!” The ordinary man, during a day’s time, may be obliged to act by the terms of a half dozen different moralities. Some of these acts, appropriate at one moment, may the next moment be considered obscene or opprobrious in terms of another morality. The person who, let us say, expects generosity from a bank, efficient flexibility from a government agency, open-mindedness from a religious institution will be disappointed. In each purview the notions represent immorality. The poor fool might as quickly discover love among the mantises."

"My wealth is my shelf of books!"

"My own concepts in this regard are easy and clear, and I am sure that the word “simplistic” will be used by my critics. These folk are callow and turgid of intellect; I am reassured by their howls and yelps."

"“May I inquire as to your motives?” “Why do you trouble to ask? You would believe nothing told you.”"

"The seconds marched past, traversing that mysterious boundary which separates future from past."

"“What are you doing here?” “I’m looking at you, and grateful for the opportunity.”"

"For many years my nerves were like electric wires. Then I discovered the first axiom of human accord: I accept each person on his own terms. I keep a close tongue in my head; I offer opinions only when so solicited. What a remarkable change! Dissension vanishes, novel facts emerge, digestion flows like a wide river."

"I am a legalist and a financial expert, I admit as much; but my disregard for the law goes no further."

"Remember, not all lawyers are fools!"

"If religions are diseases of the human psyche, as the philosopher Grintholde asserts, then religious wars must be reckoned the resultant sores and cankers infecting the aggregate corpus of the human race. Of all wars, these are the most detestable, since they are waged for no tangible gain, but only to impose a set of arbitrary credos upon another’s mind."

"I can tell you this at least. The most convincing disguise for legitimacy is legitimacy itself."

"The symbologist made a cryptic sign. “That remains to be seen, as the cat said who voided into the sugar bowl.”"