Larry Niven Quotes

A sufficiently intelligent being will look about her, solve all questions, then cease activity.

I do not want all critics hanged alongside the lawyers and tax collectors. The good ones serve a purpose.

Any story that needs a critic to explain it, needs rewriting. A lucidly written, easily understood book is likely to escape critical attention.

You probably used fusion bombs against the Girls.

Those who will give up essential liberty to secure a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. - Benjamin Franklin

The medical revolution that began with the beginning of the twentieth century had warped all human society for five hundred years. America had adjusted to Eli Whitney's cotton gin in less than half that time. As with the gin, the effects would never quite die out. But already society was swinging back to what had once been normal. Slowly; but there was motion. In Brazil a small but growing alliance agitated for the removal of the death penalty for habitual traffic offenders. They would be opposed, but they would win.

It had been a long dull evening, with only the thought of leaving the party early to look forward to.

We encounter few Citizens or humans in this region. We were surprised to receive your hail. Did you have difficulty finding us?

I’ll try anything that improves my education and is fun at the time.

The wealth of the universe is all over your head. We need to take command of the solar system to gain that wealth, and to escape the sea of paper our government is becoming, and for some decent chance of stopping a Dinosaur Killer asteroid.

my fur is matted, my eyes refuse to refocus, my sthondat-begotten room is too small, my microwave heater heats all meat to the same temperature, and it is the wrong temperature, and I cannot get it fixed.

I have a kind of psychic invisibility. As long as I can stay scared, I can keep people from seeing me. That's what we have to count on.

We’re in the hands of infinite power and infinite sadism.

Talking to the Council would be like shouting obscenities at a forest fire.

19) Think before you make the coward's choice. Old age is not for sissies.