Isaac Asimov

 The young specialist in English Lit, ...lectured me severely on the fact that in every century people have thought they understood the Universe at last, and in every century they were proved to be wrong. It follows that the one thing we can say about our modern "knowledge" is that it is wrong. ... My answer to him was, "... when people thought the Earth was flat, they were wrong. When people thought the Earth was spherical they were wrong. But if you think that thinking the Earth is spherical is just as wrong as thinking the Earth is flat, then your view is wronger than both of them put together."

Najbardziej ekscytująca fraza w nauce, ta, która oznajmia nowe odkrycia, to nie „Eureka” (znalazłem), ale „to śmieszne”.

The most exciting phrase to hear in science, the one that heralds new discoveries, is not "Eureka!" (I found it!) but "That's funny ..."

I do not fear computers. I fear the lack of them.

United Nations, New York, December 25. The peace and joy of the Christmas season was marred by a proclamation of a general strike of all the military forces of the world. Panic reigns in the hearts of all the patriots of every persuasion. low over the world.

Siła to ostateczność, do której uciekają się tylko nieudolni.

Violence is the last refuge of the incompetent.

Kłamstwo jest tym lepsze, im bliższe prawdy. A sama prawda, jeśli można ja zastosować, jest najlepszym kłamstwem.

Otwartość popłaca. Szczególnie, jeśli mają cię za krętacza.

To rebel against a powerful political, economic, religious, or social estab- lishment is very dangerous and very few people do it, except, perhaps, as part of a mob. To rebel against the "scientific" establishment, however, is the easiest thing in the world, and anyone can do it and feel enormously brave, without risking as much as a hangnail. Thus, the vast majority, who believe in astrology and think that the planets have nothing better to do than form a code that will tell them whether tomorrow is a good day to close a business deal or not, become all the more excited and enthusiastic about the bilge when a group of astronomers denounces it.

Self-education is, I firmly believe, the only kind of education there is.

When the lay public rallies round to an idea that is denounced by distinguised but elderly scientists and supports the idea with great fervour and emotion, the distinguised but elderly scientists are then, after all, right.

From my close observation of writers...they fall into two groups: 1) those who bleed copiously and visibly at any bad review, and 2) those who bleed copiously and secretly at any bad review.

University President: "Why is it that you physicists always require so much expensive equipment? Now the Department of Mathematics requires nothing but money for paper, pencils, and erasers...and the Department of Philosophy is better still. It doesn't even ask for erasers."

I'm not a speed reader. I'm a speed understander.

A subtle thought that is in error may yet give rise to fruitful inquiry that can establish truths of great value.

No sensible decision can be made any longer without taking into account not only the world as it is, but the world as it will be. . .

It pays to be obvious, especially if you have a reputation for subtlety.

If my doctor told me I had only six minutes to live, I wouldn't brood. I'd type a little faster.

Suppose that we are wise enough to learn and know and yet not wise enough to control our learning and knowledge, so that we use it to destroy ourselves?" "Even if that is so, knowledge remains better than ignorance. It is better to know even if the knowledge endures only for the moment that comes before destruction than to gain eternal life at the price of a dull and swinish lack of comprehension of a universe that swirls unseen before us in all its wonder. That was the choice of Achilles, and it is mine, too.

Self-education is I firmly believe, the only kind of education there is.