The sidesaddle was designed to protect a maiden's virginity, while risking the maiden's neck. Rather much for rather little, I thought.

Nothing limits intelligence more than ignorance; nothing fosters ignorance more than one's own opinions; nothing strengthens opinions more than refusing to look at reality.

What do I have to say to the universe? A soul ought to have something to say to the universe if it's going to be immortal.

To me, fantasy has always been the genre of escape, science fiction the genre of ideas. So if you can escape and have a little idea as well, maybe you have some kind of a cross-breed between the two.

The expression of divinity is in variety.

Science fiction still is an idea genre.

The only people who have the long view are some scientists and some science fiction writers.

All around the Mediterranean you'll find cultures that believe men can't control themselves and shouldn't have to try.

Other people's risks are statistical. When it's your risk, your own child, it isn't statistical anymore.

I'm not sure a world run by women would be any better. They're human beings!

The practice of diplomacy, I have found, is sometimes like eating soup with a fork: much activity yielding little nourishment.

He who is flexible masters the day.

Something about the cultural tradition of Jews is way, way more sympathetic to science and learning and intellectual pursuits than Islam.

Great photography is always on the edge of failure.

A woman is an occasional pleasure but a cigar is always a smoke.

The TV licence people just can't believe we don't have a television. I'm a bolshie git. I shout at them things like, 'I don't need TV, I'm an intellectual.'

Do you believe this is simply trickle-down Machiavellianism in much the same way that Communism trickled down as an aberration of its original intent?

As long as you have more cash flowing in than flowing out, your investment is a good investment.

Christ is the foundation of all our hopes for time and for eternity. Oh, build on this divine foundation! All other foundations are sinking sand.

Women are cursed, and men are the proof.

A man can be a parent without knowing it: a woman cannot.