Quotes from The Fountains of Paradise

Arthur C. Clarke ·  352 pages

Rating: (22.7K votes)


“Because politics is the science of the possible, it only appeals to second-rate minds. The first raters only interested in the impossible”
― Arthur C. Clarke, quote from The Fountains of Paradise


“Instantly, there had been cries of protest from the industrial archaeologists, outraged at such vandalism, and from the naturalists, who pointed out that the penguins simply loved the abandoned pipeline.”
― Arthur C. Clarke, quote from The Fountains of Paradise


“Belief in God is apparently a psychological arti-fact of mammalian reproduction.”
― Arthur C. Clarke, quote from The Fountains of Paradise


“Tranquillity was not a state of mind that could be sustained for long.”
― Arthur C. Clarke, quote from The Fountains of Paradise


“But there was no substitute for reality; one should beware of imitations.”
― Arthur C. Clarke, quote from The Fountains of Paradise



“Though he had a devoted coterie of fans who subscribed to his information service—in an earlier age, he would have been called a pop scientist—he had an even larger circle of critics. The kinder ones considered that he had been educated beyond his intelligence. The others labeled him a self-employed idiot. It”
― Arthur C. Clarke, quote from The Fountains of Paradise


“And as for you, Paul, I assured him that you could keep a secret for up to six days without apoplexy.”
― Arthur C. Clarke, quote from The Fountains of Paradise


“The hypothesis you refer to as God, though not disprovable by logic alone, is unnecessary for the following reason. “If you assume that the universe can be quote explained unquote as the creation of an entity known as God, he must obviously be of a higher degree of organization than his product. Thus you have more than doubled the size of the original problem, and have taken the first step on a diverging infinite regress.”
― Arthur C. Clarke, quote from The Fountains of Paradise


About the author

Arthur C. Clarke
Born place: in Minehead, Somerset, England, The United Kingdom
Born date December 16, 1917
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Popular quotes

“As if summoned by magic, Val strode through the door, his expression bleak, his gaze riveted on the decanter. “There’s good news and bad news,” Dev said as he slid his drink into Val’s hand. “The good news is we are going to be uncles again, God willing. The bad news is that so far, Westhaven’s firstborn will be taking after me rather than the legitimate side of the family.” “And this is bad news, how?” Val asked. Dev grinned. “Is he not the best of little brothers?” “The very best,” the earl agreed, pouring them all another round.”
― Grace Burrowes, quote from The Heir


“No matter what, expect the unexpected. And whenever possible BE the unexpected.”
― Lynda Barry, quote from Cruddy


“Did you know the guy?” Lopez asked. “Who was he?” “Harry Creek,” Creek said. “I knew him.” “Where is he now?” Lopez asked. “He became a shepherd,” Creek said. Gracie laughed. “You’re not serious,” he said. “Actually, I am,” Creek said. “And is he any good at it?” Gracie asked. “I don’t know,” Creek said, and glanced over at Robin. “You’d have to ask the sheep.”
― John Scalzi, quote from The Android's Dream


“The world of most men is given to them by their culture..”
― Richard Wright, quote from The Outsider


“Must I accept the barren Gift?
-learn death, and lose my Mastery?
Then let them know whose blood and breath
will take the Gift and set them free:
whose is the voice and whose the mind
to set at naught the well-sung Game-
when finned Finality arrives
and calls me by my secret Name.

Not old enough to love as yet,
but old enough to die, indeed-
-the death-fear bites my throat and heart,
fanged cousin to the Pale One's breed.
But past the fear lies life for all-
perhaps for me: and, past my dread,
past loss of Mastery and life,
the Sea shall yet give up Her dead!

Lone Power, I accept your Gift!
Freely I make death a part of me;
By my accept it is bound
into the lives of all the Sea-

yet what I do now binds to it
a gift I feel of equal worth:
I take Death with me, out of Time,
and make of it a path, a birth!

Let the teeth come! As they tear me,
they tear Your ancient hate for aye-
-so rage, proud Power! Fail again,
and see my blood teach Death to die!”
― Diane Duane, quote from Deep Wizardry


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