Robert J. Sawyer Quotes

“Still, you must know that the fear of death is irrational; death comes to everyone.”

Source: Flashforward

“There is no indisputable proof for the big bang," said Hollus. "And there is none for evolution. And yet you accept those. Why hold the question of whether there is a creator to a higher standard?”

Source: Calculating God (2000), Chapter 25 (p. 235)

“Learning to ignore things is one of the great paths to inner peace.”

Source: Calculating God

“I guess what it means is this: to be human is to be fragile. We are easily hurt, and not just physically. We are easily hurt emotionally, too. So, as you move through life, my son, try not to hurt others.”

Source: Calculating God (2000), Chapter 14 (p. 137)

“I believe the creator may have a specific reason for wanting a universe that has life in it, and, indeed, as you say, for wanting multiple sentiences to emerge simultaneously. But it seems clear beyond dispute that the creator takes no interest in specific individuals.”

Source: Calculating God (2000), Chapter 21 (p. 204)

“…but there, because there is no grace of God, go I.”

Source: Calculating God (2000), Chapter 17 (p. 170)

Robert J. Sawyer Quotes about God

“Must God be defined in a way that places him or her beyond the scope of science?
I’d always believed that there was nothing beyond the scope of science.
And I still believe that.
Where do you draw the line?
Right here. For me, the answer was right here.
How do you define God?
Like this. A God I could understand, at least potentially, was infinitely more interesting and relevant than one that defied comprehension.”

Source: Frameshift (1997), Chapter 25 (p. 179)

“Sagan may not have believed in the God of the Bible, but he at least allowed the possibility of a creator.
Or did he? Carl was no more obliged to believe what he wrote in his sole work of fiction than George Lucas was required to believe in the Force.”

Source: Calculating God (2000), Chapter 34 (p. 326)

“The Lord works in mysterious ways. Mrs. Lansbury had always said that. Everything happens for a purpose.
Such bull. Such unmitigated crap. I felt my stomach knotting. Cancer didn’t happen for any purpose. It tore people apart; if a god did create life, then he’s a shoddy workman, churning out flawed, self-destructing products.”

Source: Calculating God (2000), Chapter 24 (p. 227)

“Free will is an illusion. It is synonymous with incomplete perception.”

Source: Calculating God (2000), Chapter 24 (pp. 230-231)

Robert J. Sawyer Quotes

“‘Justice,’” he said, his breath coming out raggedly as he quoted another Nobel laureate—at that precise moment, he couldn’t remember which one—“‘is always delayed and finally done only by mistake.’”

Source: Flashforward (1999), Chapter 12 epigram (p. 123; quoting Walter Kubilius)

“Not wanting to die was another universal constant, it seemed.”

Source: Frameshift (1997), Chapter 41 (p. 326; apparently quoting George Bernard Shaw)

“He who foresees calamities suffers them twice over.”

Source: Calculating God (2000), Chapter 6 (p. 70)

“He cursed himself for thinking anything this complex would end up not being a source of problems.”

Source: Flashforward (1999), Chapter 1 epigram (p. 9; quoting Beilby Porteus)

“I do remember her favorite expression: the Lord works in mysterious ways.
Perhaps so. But I found it hard to believe he would work in shoddy, haphazard ones.”

Source: Frameshift (1997), Chapter 26 (p. 184)

“You’re right to be skeptical—the world would be a better place if we were all a little less credulous.”

Source: Calculating God (2000), Chapter 17 (p. 165)

“You humans seem to have a profound capacity for ignoring obvious evidence.”

Source: Flashforward (1999), Chapter 13 (p. 137)

“As one of my Jewish friends has been known to observe, the Jews who survived World War II were either now atheists or hadn’t been paying attention.”

Source: Calculating God (2000), Chapter 2 (p. 23)

“There was a small crucifix above the door to his room; it had been there since he’d been a little boy. He stared up at the tiny Jesus—but there was no point in praying. The die was cast; what was done was done.”

Source: Calculating God (2000), Chapter 14 (p. 140)

“There may be oodles of possible humans, but it is a finite number.”

Source: Frameshift (1997), Chapter 3 (p. 30)

“I did learn one valuable lesson, though.
I learned that you can’t choose the ways in which you’ll be tested.”

Source: Flashforward (1999), Chapter 16 (p. 167)

“And of me you ask which choice you should make?” said the translator’s voice.
“Yes,” I said.
There was the sound of rocks grinding, followed by a brief silence, and then: “The moral choice is obvious,” said the Wreed. “It always is.”
“And?” I said. “What is the moral choice?”
More sounds of rocks, then: “Morality cannot be handed down from an external source.” … “It must come from within.”
“You’re not going to tell me, are you?”

Source: Calculating God (2000), Chapter 7 (p. 77)

“And Canadians didn’t like guns, either—they had no Second Amendment, or whatever damned thing it was that made Americans think they could go around armed.”

The Wreed wavered and vanished.
Source: Calculating God (2000), Chapter 32 (p. 309; ellipsis represents a minor elision of description)