Editors From The United States

"“It's a good, professional outline,” he said at last. “I am not qualified to offer subjective artistic opinions,” said Cupid. “Take my word for it. It's got songs, it's got romance, it's got laughs, it's got a happy ending, and I guarantee the audience won't have to think.” He shrugged. “It may be silly as hell, but it'll make a hundred million credits.” He paused, then shook his head sadly. “You’d think an audience would have better taste.”"

"“This is a grim business. There’s nothing romantic about harassing an overwhelming power with no hope of winning.” “If he knows he can’t win, why does he do it?” “To avoid losing.” “That sounds profound, but it doesn’t make a hell of a lot of sense,” said Cain."

"“Sue me, but I just don't see any need to be this artsy-fartsy.” “I’m trying to create a work of art, damn it!” said Page, exasperated. “Works of art appeal to the masses, Nate; they don't hold them in contempt or try to drive them away.”"

"True representations are for libraries. Happy, exciting stories are for audiences."

"“Does might make right?” she asked. Cain shrugged. “No. But it makes it pretty difficult for anyone to tell you you’re wrong.”"

"“You’ve got quite a library. I don’t think I’ve ever seen so many books in one place before.” “I like the heft and feel of a book,” replied Santiago. “Computer libraries are filled with electrical impulses. Books are filled with words.”"

"He opened a desk drawer and withdrew two gaily wrapped packages. Then, standing up, he carried one over to Flint and handed the other to Tojo. “What’s this all about?” asked Flint. “I realize that we haven’t celebrated any of your holidays since leaving Earth,” explained the blue man, “but according to my calendar, today is the last Thursday in November.” “So?” “Happy Thanksgiving! said Mr. Ahasuerus, contorting his lips to form a smile. There was a momentary silence. “I’m afraid you’ve got it all wrong,” said Flint. On Thanksgiving we slaughter innocent birds and forget to abuse Indians. Christmas is when we defoliate forests and exchange gifts.”"

"“It wouldn't work,” said Page. “Why?” “Because you're a machine. You're simply reporting facts, and facts have very little to do with truth.” “That is contradictory, Nate.” “Only to a machine,” replied Page."

"“Have you ever done anything, even once, with no thought of a return?” he asked. “Yes.” “How old were you? Six?” “Younger. And I immediately decided that there was no percentage in it.”"

"“You’re going to find this hard to believe, but I don’t give a damn about the money,” answered Flint. “‘Hard’ is an understatement,” said Mr. Ahasuerus. “I find it impossible to believe.”"

"The introduction and establishment of the institution of private property completely changed the status of woman in society."

"“Christina, you shouldn't say that about your brother,” said Gold. “He happens to be the most righteous man I've ever been privileged to know.” “That's just the kind of man who will commit any crime without compunction if he's convinced he's right,” said Christina."

"“That's a very small comfort, to me or to him,” said Christina bitterly. “I’m a scientist,” answered Robert apologetically. “I’m better at analyzing problems than finding comforting things to say about them.”"

"“You're almost an hour late!” continued Murray Carnegie harshly. “I’d prefer to think that everyone else was an hour early,” said Page."

"“He's got to have a weakness somewhere.” “Most men do,” said Fiona, commanding the doors to open. “Even a moral man like Thomas Gold.” “I like moral men the best.” “Oh?” she said, stepping into the elevator. “Why is that?” Constantine smiled. “They always make the loudest crash when they fall.”"

"The one thing Vainmill has in common with all governments and major corporations is that it abhors scandals."

"“He was a very dangerous man.” “He was a very brilliant man.” “I know. That’s what made him so dangerous.”"

"“He talked to me about my place in the organization.” “And?” “As long as I ask his permission every time I feel like inhaling or exhaling, I'm sure we'll get along just fine.”"

"And, predictably, he has taken every such gesture as a sign of weakness. You can't reach an accommodation with a man like this; you have to fight him."

"He had been to casinos on Deluros and a handful of other worlds, and had usually been disappointed in them. Romantic fictions and cinemas had always portrayed them as playgrounds for the very rich, whereas his experience was that the typical casino gambler had no more knowledge of taste or culture than he had of odds."

"“You didn’t really think it was funny, did you?” “I laughed, didn’t I?” responded Crane. “Insincerely.” “Well, you can’t have everything.” “No,” admitted the comedian. “But you can want everything.”"

"“Have I mentioned before that you’re a very interesting person, Mr. Crane?” “No—but I fully concur.”"

"“I don’t like ultimatums,” said the Black Pearl. “Then you shouldn’t force me to deliver them.”"

"At any rate, she is what one might call a voyeur with delusions of literacy."

"I don’t know how to tell you this gently, Mr. Bello, but you’re yesterday’s news."

"She smiled. “Well, you wanted to be a scriptwriter.” “Not really,” he replied wryly. “I just wanted to be rich and famous.”"

"“You’re not irritating me, Mr. Crane,” said the Black Pearl. “You’re sure?” “Absolutely,” she replied. “I’m used to dealing with prima donnas and their over-inflated egos.”"

"Gloria, the world—hell, the whole damned universe—is divided into just two groups: meat eaters and meat. It has been my experience that the former never feels sorry for the latter."

"The doctors told told me there would be some pain involved. Hah! When a surgeon suggest that you might feel a bit of mild discomfort, you can bet your bottom dollar you’re about to undergo the agony of the damned."

"“Did you not ever want to see what was beyond the next hill, what strange and unique civilizations lay beyond your own?” “Until I got there,” answered Monk."

"“Besides,” she added, “the Madonna has been very stupid.” “Oh? In what way?” “She forgot the prime axiom of a whorehouse: that there’s a difference between love and sex. Her job is dispensing sex, and instead she fell in love with the man who is rigging the Comet’s books. It was a very unprofessional thing to do.”"

"“This is survival of the fittest, Mr. Redwine.” “Or of the least moral,” he said bitterly. “It comes to the same thing in the end,” she acknowledged pleasantly."

"“You make him sound like a spiteful man,” noted Bonhomme. “No,” said Suma. “Just greedy.” “Everybody’s greedy,” replied Bonhomme. He just happens to be a little more efficient at it than most of us.”"

"Crane stared at her for a moment. “I realize that people find me abrasive and demanding…” he began. “You left out tyrannical,” she noted dryly."

"“Nothing personal,” Mr. Ahasuerus, replied Flint, “but what the hell do you know about it? Your entire experience has been with a carny crew. The next normal human you meet will be the first.”"

"“You have no moral compunctions about it?” persisted Batman. “Hell, no,” replied Monk. “As Thaddeus says, if God didn’t want them fleeced, He wouldn’t have made ’em sheep. Words to live by, once you become a carny.”"

"“Why not borrow from something more recent?” she asked. “I don't mind consciously swiping from plays that no one has ever heard of,” he replied. “But I don't want to inadvertently steal a character or a story line that might be familiar.” He smiled. “It's the difference between research and plagiarism.”"

"“Contrary to what you may think about prostitutes, Harry, none of us were brought up to screw in front of an audience. But after a couple of lives get saved because Security sees a problem developing, and after you realize that they’re not simply a batch of drooling voyeurs at the other end of the monitors, you come to accept and appreciate them, and after a while you don’t even think of them at all.” She paused. “One of the first things a prostitute learns how to do is not think of things, especially while they’re happening to her.”"

"“I still can’t see why you don’t aim your sights a little higher.” “Because I’m comfortable with you,” she replied. “There are lots of comfortable people in the galaxy,” he said. “Then aren’t you lucky that I haven’t found any of them yet?” Suddenly her face became serious. “Harry, if you haven’t figured out by now that money and looks aren’t important to me, what can I tell you? I’ve been lonely, and you make me feel less lonely. I’ve been an object, and you make me feel like a person. I’ve been asked to do a lot of kinky things, but you’re the very first man who ever asked me to talk to him when there was an empty bed in the next room. I have a farm I haven’t visited in six years, and suddenly you make me want to settle down there. What the hell else do you want me to say?”"

"“It lacks the conviction of your other lies,” she laughed. “True,” he admitted. “But you have to understand that my entire training as a liar has been directed at the tax collectors.” “I didn’t know that deceit and falsehood went to hand-in-glove with accounting.” “They go hand-in-glove with everything,” answered Redwine seriously."

"“You’re a very cynical man, Mr. Flint.” “That’s one of the reasons you’re on the road to becoming a very rich man, Mr. Ahasuerus.”"

"“Don’t worry,” said Monk. “It’ll be a cakewalk.” “Cakes don’t walk, Jupiter,” said Flint. “They fall.”"

"“There is nothing worse than a meaningless death.” Flint smiled a bittersweet smile. “I envy you for thinking so.”"

"“I take it you’ve never made love beneath a full tropical moon?” said the Madonna with a smile. “I’ve never made love beneath any moon,” he replied. “One of the drawbacks of a career in accountancy.”"

"“Is there anything else?” “Only that you have expressed dissatisfaction at not yet obtaining a supervisory position, and that your associates find you difficult and demanding to work with.” “That’s because I am difficult and demanding to work with,” he said, not without a trace of pride. “As for my associates, they’re a bunch of maladroits and incompetents.”"

"“I don’t believe you.” “What you believe is of no importance to me.”"

"“It is a world of bitter extremes of climate and a totalitarian theocracy.” “That he believes in,” said Thaddeus. “Believing in his religion makes it no less oppressive,” said Albert emotionlessly."

"Nobody reaches a position of authority without the ability to be a back-stabbing bastard when the chips are down."

"“Is it true?” “Probably. But just for the record, is what true?”"

"“Enough screaming and yelling!” he yells. “I expect you to behave with some decorum. After all, this is a bar, not City Hall.”"