There is a single light of science, and to brighten it anywhere is to brighten it everywhere.
—Isaac Asimov
Topics: Science
Never let your sense of morals get in the way of doing what’s right.
—Isaac Asimov
Topics: Integrity, Morality, Morals
The saddest aspect of life right now is that science gathers knowledge faster than society gathers wisdom.
—Isaac Asimov
An atom-blaster is a good weapon, but it can point both ways.
—Isaac Asimov
Topics: Weapon
We can make inspired guesses, but we don’t know for certain what physical and chemical properties of the planet’s crust, its ocean, and its atmosphere made it so conducive to such a sudden appearance of life …
—Isaac Asimov
Topics: Creation
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.
—Isaac Asimov
Although the time of death is approaching me, I am not afraid of dying and going to Hell or (what would be considerably worse) going to the popularized version of Heaven. I expect death to be nothingness and, for removing me from all possible fears of death, I am thankful to atheism.
—Isaac Asimov
Topics: Atheism
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.
—Isaac Asimov
Topics: Science
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.
—Isaac Asimov
Topics: Philosophy
The most exciting phrase to hear in science, the one that heralds new discoveries, is not “Eureka!” (“I’ve found it!”) but “That’s funny…”
—Isaac Asimov
Topics: Science
I am not a speed reader. I am a speed understander.
—Isaac Asimov
Topics: Reading, Books
Individual science fiction stories may seem as trivial as ever to the blinder critics and philosophers of today—but the core of science fiction, its essence has become crucial to our salvation if we are to be saved at all.
—Isaac Asimov
Topics: Science Fiction
Humanity has the stars in its future, and that future is too important to be lost under the burden of juvenile folly and ignorant superstition.
—Isaac Asimov
Topics: Stars, Humanity, Future
To surrender to ignorance and call it God has always been premature, and it remains premature today.
—Isaac Asimov
Topics: Ignorance
If my doctor told me I had only six minutes to live, I wouldn’t brood. I’d type a little faster.
—Isaac Asimov
Topics: Writers, Authors & Writing, Writing
Life is pleasant. Death is peaceful. It’s the transition that’s troublesome.
—Isaac Asimov
A subtle thought that is in error may yet give rise to fruitful inquiry that can establish truths of great value.
—Isaac Asimov
Topics: Values
If knowledge can create problems, it is not through ignorance that we can solve them.
—Isaac Asimov
Humanity is cutting down its forests, apparently oblivious to the fact that we may not be able to live without them.
—Isaac Asimov
Topics: Wilderness
Knowledge is indivisible. When people grow wise in one direction, they are sure to make it easier for themselves to grow wise in other directions as well. On the other hand, when they split up knowledge, concentrate on their own field, and scorn and ignore other fields, they grow less wise—even in their own field.
—Isaac Asimov
When I feel difficulty coming on, I switch to another book I’m writing. When I get back to the problem, my unconscious has solved it.
—Isaac Asimov
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….
—Isaac Asimov
Topics: Decision
Part of the inhumanity of the computer is that, once it is competently programmed and working smoothly, it is completely honest.
—Isaac Asimov
Topics: Computers
If I were not an atheist, I would believe in a God who would choose to save people on the basis of the totality of their lives and not the pattern of their words. I think he would prefer an honest and righteous atheist to a TV preacher whose every word is God, God, God, and whose every deed is foul, foul, foul.
—Isaac Asimov
Topics: Atheism
Science fiction writers foresee the inevitable, and although problems and catastrophes may be inevitable, solutions are not.
—Isaac Asimov
Topics: Science Fiction
The true delight is in the finding out rather than in the knowing.
—Isaac Asimov
Though science can cause problems, it is not by ignorance that we will solve them.
—Isaac Asimov
Topics: Science
Self-education is, I firmly believe, the only kind of education there is.
—Isaac Asimov
Topics: Progress, Self-improvement, Education
John 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.
—Isaac Asimov
Topics: War
Violence is the last refuge of the incompetent.
—Isaac Asimov
Wondering Whom to Read Next?
- Ursula K. Le Guin Science-fiction writer
- Robert A. Heinlein American Science Fiction Writer
- Ayn Rand Russian-born American Novelist
- Russell Hoban American Author
- Isaac Bashevis Singer Polish-born American Children’s Books Writer
- Ray Bradbury American Science-Fiction Writer
- Vladimir Nabokov Russian-born American Novelist
- Vladimir Horowitz Russian-born American Pianist
- Leo Rosten American Humorist
- Louise Erdrich American Author
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