“A sonic stunner was a surer bet than a hypothetical, undependable psi power. It was real, cold and hard in his hand.”

— Larry Niven

Source: A Gift From Earth (1968), Ch. 12 : The Slowboat
Context: He was sick of having to be afraid. It was a situation to drive a man right out of his skull. If he stopped being afraid, even for an instant, he could be killed! But now, at least for the moment, he could stop listening for footsteps, stop trying to look in all directions at once. A sonic stunner was a surer bet than a hypothetical, undependable psi power. It was real, cold and hard in his hand.

Adopted from Wikiquote. Last update June 3, 2021. History

Help us to complete the source, original and additional information

Do you have more details about the quote "A sonic stunner was a surer bet than a hypothetical, undependable psi power. It was real, cold and hard in his hand." by Larry Niven?

Larry Niven 138

American writer 1938

Related quotes

“5) Psi and/or magical powers, if real, are nearly useless.”

Larry Niven (1938) American writer

Niven's Laws

“I am of those who believe that gentleness is a greater, surer power than force, and that sympathy is a safer power by far than is intellect.”

Louis Sullivan (1856–1924) American architect

Education (1902)
Context: I am not of those who believe in lackadaisical methods. On the contrary, I advocate a vigorous, thorough, exact mental training which shall fit the mind to expand upon and grasp large things and yet properly to perceive in their just relation the significance of small ones to discriminate accurately as to quantity and quality and thus to develop individual judgment, capacity and independence.
But at the same time I am of those who believe that gentleness is a greater, surer power than force, and that sympathy is a safer power by far than is intellect. Therefore would I train the individual sympathies as carefully in all their delicate warmth and tenuity as I would develop the mind in alertness, poise and security.
Nor am I of those who despise dreamers. For the world would be at the level of zero were it not for its dreamers gone and of today. He who dreamed of democracy, far back in a world of absolutism, was indeed heroic, and we of today awaken to the wonder of his dream.