The military mind remains unparalleled as a vehicle of creative stupidity. - Isaac Asimov

as far as creativity is concerned, isolation is required....the presence of others can only inhibit this process, since creation is embarrassing. For every new good idea you have, there are a hundred...foolish ones, which you naturally do not care to display.

For what could any Entity, conscious of eternal existence, want – but an end?

Hardin laughed. 'Quantity! We haven't even got iron in quantity. Gold! Here, take a look at our currency.' He tossed a coin to the envoy. Haut Rodric bounced it and stared. 'What is it? Steel?' 'That's right.' 'I don't understand.' 'Terminus is a planet practically without metals. We import it all. Consequently, we have no gold, and nothing to pay unless you want a few thousand bushels of potatoes.' 'Well – manufactured goods.' 'Without metal? What do we make our machines out of?