It's one thing to predict [the complete breakdown of civilization]. It's something else again to be right in the middle of it. It's a very humbling t… - Isaac Asimov

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Engraved portrait of Isaac Asimov, facing right

It's one thing to predict [the complete breakdown of civilization]. It's something else again to be right in the middle of it. It's a very humbling thing...for an academic like me to find his abstract theories turning into concrete reality... It was all just so many words to me, really, just a philosophical exercise, completely abstract.

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About Isaac Asimov

Isaac Asimov (c. 2 January 1920 – 6 April 1992) was a Russian-born American biochemist who was a prolific writer of both fiction and non-fiction, his works include the Foundation series and I, Robot.

Biography information from Wikiquote · Portrait adapted from Wikimedia Commons, Phillip Leonian [1] from New York World-Telegram & Sun.[2] (Public domain / CC0)

Also Known As

Alternative Names: Isaak Osimov Paul French Asimov Isaak Ozimov Itzhak Ozimov

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Additional quotes by Isaac Asimov

Now how I play a part, as an individual, in the foreseen course of history, I don't know. Perhaps I have no definite part, since the Plan leaves individuals to indeterminacy and free will. But I am important and they — they, you understand — may at least have calculated my probable reaction. So I distrust my impulses, my desires, my probable reactions.

Rome fell eventually, and the opium dream was over." "There are no longer barbarians to overthrow civilization." "We can be our own barbarians,

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