Larry Niven: Trending quotes
Larry Niven trending quotes. Read the latest quotes in collection“7) Any damn fool can predict the past.”
Unsourced variant: Any damned fool can predict the past. And most do.
Niven's Laws
“The bleeding-heart symbol does not represent any known revolutionary organization.”
Source: A Gift From Earth (1968), Ch. 12 : The Slowboat
Context: The bleeding-heart symbol does not represent any known revolutionary organization. … Yes, the bleeding heart was something else again. A gruesome symbol on a vivarium floor. Fingers that broke without their owner noticing. An ink drawing appearing from nowhere on a dossier cover, like a signature. A signature.
“There is no cause so right that one cannot find a fool following it.”
Also in Fallen Angels (Baen Books, 1992) as: "Niven's Law: No cause is so noble that it won't attract fuggheads."
Niven's Laws
Context: 16) There is no cause so right that one cannot find a fool following it.
To prove a point, one may seek out a foolish Socialist, thirteenth century Liberal, Scientologist, High Frontier advocate, Mensa member, science fiction fan, Jim Bakker acolyte, Christian, witch, or fanatical devotee of Special Interest Lib. It doesn't really reflect on the cause itself. Ad hominem argument saves time, but it's still a fallacy.
Source: A Gift From Earth (1968), Ch. 10 : Parlette's Hand
“As if he'd been afraid for hours.”
Source: A Gift From Earth (1968), Ch. 11 : Interview with the Head
Context: Someone or something was in this room, something or someone with the power to make people forget. … He was reaching for the stunner on his desk when something caught his eye. It was the dossier for Matthew Keller, senior. A crude drawing defaced its yellow cover.
Two open arcs, joined, in black ink. Three small closed loops beneath.
The bleeding heart. It certainly hadn't been there before.
Jesus Pietro opened the folder. He could smell his own fear, and feel it, in the cool perspiration that soaked his shirt. As if he'd been afraid for hours.
“The Gods do not protect fools. Fools are protected by more capable fools.”
Source: Ringworld (1970), p. 96
As quoted by Arthur C. Clarke in "Meeting of the Minds : Buzz Aldrin Visits Arthur C. Clarke" by Andrew Chaikin (27 February 2001) http://web.archive.org/web/20010302082528/http://www.space.com/peopleinterviews/aldrin_clarke_010227.html
Larry Niven book Oath of Fealty
Oath of Fealty (1982) (co-written with Jerry Pournelle)
“A machine has no mind to read; you never know when it’s going to betray you”
Larry Niven book World of Ptavvs
Source: World of Ptavvs (1966), p. 6
“As I said, it was inevitable, and I don’t let laws of nature upset me.”
Larry Niven book The Mote in God's Eye
Source: The Mote in God's Eye (1974), Chapter 47 “Homeward Bound” (p. 445)
“We learn only to ask more questions.”
Larry Niven book The Ringworld Engineers
Source: The Ringworld Engineers (1980), p. 59
Larry Niven book The Mote in God's Eye
Source: The Mote in God's Eye (1974), Chapter 18 “The Stone Beehive” (p. 157)
Niven's Laws, Niven's Laws For Writers