Gene Wolfe Quotes

Time turns our lies into truths.

1653

Hope is a psychological mechanism unaffected by external realities.

1829

There is no magic. There is only knowledge, more or less hidden.

1126

You believe me wise because I taught you once, but I have not been north, as you have. You have seen (what) I have never seen...You flatter me by asking my opinion.

3044

The would-be sorcerer alone has faith in the efficacy of pure knowledge; rational people know that things act of themselves or not at all.

4622

...the progress of science depends much less upon either theoretical considerations or systematic investigation than is commonly believed, but rather on the transmittal of reliable information, gained by chance or insight, from one set of men to their successors.

1997

It was earliest morning, when even small trees cast long shadows and scarlet foxes trot denward through the dew like flecks of fire.

4607

Weak people believe what is forced on them. Strong people what they wish to believe, forcing that to be real.

3617

We believe that we invent symbols. The truth is that they invent us; we are their creatures, shaped by their hard, defining edges.

4327

Reality is a crutch for people who can't handle science fiction.

4211

People don't want other people to be people.

2829

It seems to me that you can almost define civilization by saying it's people who are not willing to hurt other people because the other people are different.

4390

My definition of good literature is that which can be read by an educated reader, and reread with increased pleasure.

1251

The castle? The monster? The man of learning? I only just thought of it. Surely you know that just as the momentous events of the past cast their shadows down the ages, so now, when the sun is drawing toward the dark,our own shadows race into the past to trouble mankind's dreams.

2749