Home > Author > Poul Anderson

Poul Anderson QUOTES

Poul Anderson QUOTES

81 " Once you’ve mastered your thoughts, you’ll be glad of this power,” he said gently.
“I wish they would bring back the old world,” she said.
“It was a cruel world,” he answered. “We’re well off without it. "

― Poul Anderson , Brain Wave

82 " »Sí, hijo mío —rió con fatiga—. He conocido el cambio. He sentido que el tiempo corría como un río caudaloso, arrastrando en su torrente esperanzas naufragadas. "

― Poul Anderson , The Boat of a Million Years

83 " Sometime in 1959 my father walked downstairs from his attic office at our house on Grove Street in Berkeley with the completed manuscript for The High Crusade. It’s not called Grove Street anymore and he and the house are both gone now, but the book remains. This rollicking romp of medieval mayhem first appeared in Analog magazine as a serial, as many SF novels did in those days. The issue with the first installment (July, 1960) had a cover by Richard Van Dongen, showing knights in chain mail standing in front of a space ship, the blurring of SF/history boundaries mimicking the blurring of the magazine’s logo as the blue letters saying Astounding receded and the bold red letters saying Analog moved forward. "

― Poul Anderson , The High Crusade

84 " Did a spirit of swirling cloaks and clashing steel float over Berkeley for six years, conjured by The High Crusade, with its imaginative juxtaposition of well-grounded history and high-flying imagination? Although not a direct inspiration (that was the “Last Tournament,” an event which took place in Scotland in 1839) surely the novel’s idea of having a sense of fun with history while remaining true to basic facts influenced the shape of the SCA. And my father was an early and enthusiastic member, earning a knighthood for his fighting and additional awards for his poetry, and spent many happy hours in what is called the Current Middle Ages. "

― Poul Anderson , The High Crusade

85 " If there is one thing worse than the modern weakening of major morals it is the modern strengthening of minor morals, "

― Poul Anderson , The Boat of a Million Years

86 " In celebration of this new edition, and of fifty years of grand adventure, I suggest we all pick up the book, turn to the first page, read until we laugh, then stick in a bookmark and go to the refrigerator for a beer. Preferably a Carlsberg, one of Poul’s favorite brews. Don’t drink a beer for every laugh. That would be excessive. But a swig per chuckle, and you’re on your way to a fine evening spent in the company of a great writer, a man whose highest calling was to thoughtfully entertain. "

― Poul Anderson , The High Crusade

87 " se veut On s’enlace On s’en lasse On s’en veut. "

― Poul Anderson , The Boat of a Million Years

88 " Sure, war is degrading. But there are worse degradations. Sure, peace is wonderful. But you can't always have peace, except in death, and you most definitely can't have a peace that isn't founded on hard common interest, that doesn't pay off for everybody concerned. Sure, the Empire is sick. But she's ours. She's all we've got. Son, the height of irresponsibility is to spread your love and loyalty so thin that you haven't got enough left for the few beings and the few institutions which rate it from you. "

― Poul Anderson , Young Flandry

89 " Hard to imagine, but . . . well, we have so many bureaucrats, so many people in high places like Lord Hauksberg who insists the enemy doesn't really mean harm "

― Poul Anderson , Young Flandry

90 " Recordó que siempre había deseado que Aníbal ganase. Había algo repelente en la avaricia fría y falta de imaginación de Roma. Y allí estaba, intentando salvar una ciudad. La vida resultaba una extraña ocupación. "

― Poul Anderson

91 " I won't lie down and die gracefully. I'm far too cowardly for that. "

― Poul Anderson , Young Flandry

92 " I hope we do feel and reason enough alike that I can play tricks on you. "

― Poul Anderson , Young Flandry

93 " You'll either be killed, young man, or you'll do something that will force us to step on you, or you'll go far indeed. "

― Poul Anderson , Young Flandry

94 " he claimed to be one of the last true conservatives—only, to conserve, you had to prune and graft and adjust. "

― Poul Anderson , Brain Wave

95 " Robotics is never yet got to where live brains can be altogether replaced, except in bureaucrats. "

― Poul Anderson , The Van Rijn Method (Technic Civilization Saga, #1)

96 " But if people are smarter,” began Sheila, “they’ll know enough to—”
“Sorry, no.” Mandelbaum shook his head. “Basic personality does not change, right? And intelligent people have always done some pretty stupid or evil things from time to time, just like everybody else. A man might be a brilliant scientist, let’s say, but that doesn’t stop him from neglecting his health or from driving recklessly or patronizing spiritualists or—”
“Or voting Democrat,” nodded Lewis, grinning. “That’s correct, Felix. Eventually, no doubt, increased intelligence would affect the total personality, but right now you’re not removing anyone’s weaknesses, ignorances, prejudices, blind spots, or ambitions; you’re just giving him more power, of energy and intelligence, to indulge them—which is one reason why civilization is cracking up. "

― Poul Anderson , Brain Wave

97 " Root'—radix—you radicals are all alike," Flandry said. "You think everything springs from one or two unique causes, and if only you can get at them, everything will automatically become paradisical. History doesn't go that way. Read some and see what the result of every resort to violence by reformists has been. "

― Poul Anderson , Young Flandry

98 " Survivor—under what conditions?”
“Any conditions. Adaptability, toughness, quickness—those are the things that count most.”
“I think kindness means a lot,” said Sheila timidly.
“It’s a luxury, I’m afraid, though of course it’s such luxuries that make us human,” said Mandelbaum. “Kindness to whom? Sometimes you just have to cut loose and get violent. Some wars are necessary. "

― Poul Anderson , Brain Wave

99 " No matter what one’s side in any strife, some allies would make better enemies. "

― Poul Anderson , A Midsummer Tempest

100 " We chatter thus, while miracles go on. Perhaps the saints can pass eternity enrapt in solemn bliss; but we are mortal. "

― Poul Anderson , A Midsummer Tempest