rabino Loew de la Praga del siglo XVI. Se supone que formó un ser humano artificial — un robot — partiendo del barro, de la misma forma que Dios form… - Isaac Asimov

la caída de un imperio es un suceso colosal, y no se combate con facilidad. Viene dictada por el crecimiento de la burocracia, la asfixia de la iniciativa, la esclerosis del sistema de castas, la condena de toda curiosidad...

In the first place, we started in the early days of science fiction — not only the Big Three, but others of importance such as Lester del Rey, Poul Anderson, Fred Pohl, Clifford Simak, Ray Bradbury, and even some who died young: Stanley Weinbaum, Henry Kuttner, and Cyril Kornbluth, for instance. In those early days, the magazines paid only one cent a word or less, and there were only magazines. There were no hardcover science fiction publishers, no paperbacks, no Hollywood to speak of.

Now the Empire is stronger than we; it always has been. But this is the first time we are in danger of its direct attack, so that strength becomes terribly menacing. Then if it can be beaten, it must be once again as in all past crises by a method other than pure force. We must find the weak side of its enemy and attack it there.