James Blish: Doing

James Blish was American author. Explore interesting quotes on doing.

James Blish: 60 quotes 0 likes

“I suppose you burned the library—barbarians always do.”

James Blish

Source: Short fiction, A Style in Treason (1970), Chapter 9 (p. 154)

““Your concept is a tremendous network of inconsistencies.”
“In what way?” the countess said, not very much interested.
“It seems to be based on reverence for the young, and an extremely patient and protective attitude toward their physical and mental welfare. Yet you make them live in these huge caves, utterly out of contact with the natural world, and you teach them to be afraid of death—which of course makes them a little insane, because there is nothing anybody can do about death. It is like teaching them to be afraid of the second law of thermodynamics, just because living matter sets that law aside for a very brief period.”

James Blish book A Case of Conscience

Source: A Case of Conscience (1958), Chapter 12 (pp. 149-150)

Death , World , Law , Way

“The tribesmen understand this very well, although they would not describe it in the same terms I have. It is simply a working part of their lives. Do you think they would continue to consult me if they found that the advice that I gave them did not work? They are uncivilized, but they are not insane.”

James Blish

Source: Short fiction, Midsummer Century (1972), Chapter 3 (p. 21)

Understanding , Thinking , Parting