91
" Thank you,' Foyle said.
'My pleasure, sir,' the robot replied and awaited its next cue.
'Nice day,' Foyle remarked.
'Always a lovely day somewhere, sir,' the robot beamed.
'Awful day,' Foyle said.
'Always a lovely day somewhere, sir,' the robot responded.
'Day,' Foyle said.
'Always a lovely day somewhere, sir,' the robot said.
Foyle turned to the others. 'That's me,' he said, motioning to the robot. 'That's all of us. We prattle about free will, but we're nothing but response . . . mechanical reaction in prescribed grooves. So . . . here I am, here I am, waiting to respond. Press the buttons and I'll jump. "
― Alfred Bester , The Stars My Destination
93
" There's got to be more to life than just living,' Foyle said to the robot.
'Then find it for yourself, sir. Don't ask the world to stop moving because you have doubts'
'Why can't we all move forward together?'
'Because you're all different. You're not lemmings. Some must lead, and hope that the rest will follow.'
'Who leads?'
'The men who must . . . driven men, compelled men.'
'Freak men.'
'You're all freaks, sir. But you always have been freaks. Life is a freak. That's its hope and glory.'
'Thank you very much.'
'My pleasure, sir.'
'You've saved the day.'
'Always a lovely day somewhere, sir,' the robot beamed. Then it fizzed, jangled and collapsed. "
― Alfred Bester , The Stars My Destination