Source: A Case of Conscience (1958), Chapter 12 (pp. 149-150)
Quotes from book
A Case of Conscience
A Case of Conscience is a science fiction novel by American writer James Blish, first published in 1958. It is the story of a Jesuit who investigates an alien race that has no religion yet has a perfect, innate sense of morality, a situation which conflicts with Catholic teaching. The story was originally published as a novella in 1953, and later extended to novel-length, of which the first part is the original novella. The novel is the first part of Blish's thematic After Such Knowledge trilogy: it thus follows Doctor Mirabilis and both Black Easter and The Day After Judgment .
Source: A Case of Conscience (1958), Chapter 17 (p. 206)
Source: A Case of Conscience (1958), Chapter 13 (p. 158)
“But now the shots began—not many, but one shot is a fusillade if there have been no shots before.”
Source: A Case of Conscience (1958), Chapter 18 (p. 213)
Source: A Case of Conscience (1958), Chapter 14 (p. 171)
“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.
Source: A Case of Conscience (1958), Chapter 12 (pp. 149-150)
