“A planet full of people meant nothing against the dictates of economic necessity!”
Isaac Asimov book The Currents of Space
The Currents of Space (1952)
General sources

The Currents of Space is a science fiction novel by the American writer Isaac Asimov, published in 1952. It is the second of three books labeled the Galactic Empire series, but it was the last of the three to be written. Each occurs after humans have settled many worlds in the galaxy, after the second wave of colonization that went beyond the Spacer worlds, and before the era of decline that was the setting for the original Foundation series.
“A planet full of people meant nothing against the dictates of economic necessity!”
Isaac Asimov book The Currents of Space
The Currents of Space (1952)
General sources
“Economics is on the side of humanity now.”
Isaac Asimov book The Currents of Space
The Currents of Space (1952)
General sources
“Then why did you run? A man who runs needs no other accusation.”
Isaac Asimov book The Currents of Space
“Is that so? Really?” cried Steen. “Well, I would run out of a burning building even if I had not set the fire myself.”
Source: Empire novels (1950–1952), The Currents of Space (1952), Chapter 16 “The Accused” (p. 163)
“You make interstellar politics sound a very dirty game.”
Isaac Asimov book The Currents of Space
“It is, but disapproving of dirt doesn’t remove it.”
Source: Empire novels (1950–1952), The Currents of Space (1952), Chapter 14 “The Renegade” (p. 141)
“No one is so modest as not to believe himself a competent amateur sleuth.”
Isaac Asimov book The Currents of Space
Source: Empire novels (1950–1952), The Currents of Space (1952), Chapter 11 “The Captain” (p. 114)
“Truth is a discredited commodity among diplomats.”
Isaac Asimov book The Currents of Space
Source: Empire novels (1950–1952), The Currents of Space (1952), Chapter 6 “The Ambassador” (p. 64)