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Isaac Asimov

United States writer (born in Russia) noted for his science fiction (1920-1992)

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Famous quotes by Isaac Asimov:Sort:PopularA - Z

A subtle thought that is in error may yet give rise to fruitful inquiry that can establish truths of great value.
Dalton's records, carefully preserved for a century, were destroyed during the World War II bombing of Manchester. It is not only the living who are killed in war.
From my close observation of writers...they fall into two groups 1) those who bleed copiously and visibly at any bad review, and 2) those who bleed copiously and secretly at any bad review.
I do not fear computers. I fear lack of them.
I do not fear computers. I fear the lack of them.
I don't believe in an afterlife, so I don't have to spend my whole life fearing hell, or fearing heaven even more. For whatever the tortures of hell, I think the boredom of heaven would be even worse.
I'm not a speed reader. I'm a speed understander.
If knowledge can create problems, it is not through ignorance that we can solve them.
If my doctor told me I had only six minutes to live, I wouldn't brood. I'd type a little faster.
It pays to be obvious, especially if you have a reputation for subtlety.
Jokes of the proper kind, properly told, can do more to enlighten questions of politics, philosophy, and literature than any number of dull arguments.
Life is pleasant. Death is peaceful. It's the transition that's troublesome.
Never let your sense of morals get in the way of doing what's right.
No sensible decision can be made any longer without taking into account not only the world as it is, but the world as it will be. . .
No sensible decision can be made any longer without taking into account not only the world as it is, but the world as it will be. . ..
One, a robot may not injure a human being, or through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm Two, a robot must obey the orders given it by human beings except where such orders would conflict with the First Law Three, a robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Laws.
Part of the inhumanity of the computer is that, once it is competently programmed and working smoothly, it is completely honest.
Science can be introduced to children well or poorly. If poorly, children can be turned away from science; they can develop a lifelong antipathy; they will be in a far worse condition than if they had never been introduced to science at all.
Science is a mechanism, a way of trying to improve your knowledge of nature. It's a system for testing your thoughts against the universe, and seeing whether they match.
The most exciting phrase to hear in science, the one that heralds new discoveries, is not 'Eureka' (I found it) but 'That's funny ...'
The three fundamental Rules of Robotics...One: a robot may not injure a human being, or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm...Two:..a robot must obey the orders given it by human beings except where such orders would conflict with the First Law...Three: a robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First and Second Laws.
There is a single light of science, and to brighten it anywhere is to brighten it everywhere.
To surrender to ignorance and call it God has always been premature, and it remains premature today.
University President Why is it that you physicists always require so much expensive equipment Now the Department of Mathematics requires nothing but money for paper, pencils, and erasers...and the Department of Philosophy is better still. It doesn't even ask for erasers.
Violence is the last refuge of the incompetent.
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.

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