Some see the glass half full, some see it half empty, and some see it crawling with toxic alien parasites who want to devour your pancreas.

Having a perilous adventure is always better than comatose safety. Always, always, always, always, always.

Technology is the engine; the humanities are the steering wheel and the brakes. The humanities don't create nearly as much force for getting things done as technology does, but technology is just plain lousy at directing its energy or managing itself.

Fate does not invite ugly boring people to save the world; and if you do try to save the world (without being beautiful, strong, clever, or wise), you will soon die pointlessly and how much adventure is there in that?

That's the first rule of command; be consistent! You can be sadistic, you can be lazy, you can be stupid, but if you're consistent the crew will still let you sit in when they play dominoes.

Lawyers will always buckle under to something, whether its bribes, violence, court orders, or the weight of their own bullshit.

It must be excellent to be a prophet, if people do whatever you say. So I spent a brief time wondering ... how one became a prophet ... and if there were any negative aspects to a prophet's calling. Having a flotilla of docile adherents was all very well, but prophethood would not be so fine if one was required to practice overzealous chastity or to cut one's heart in a ritual manner at the coming of winter. On the other hand, if one simply declared, "I am prophet," and people bent themselves obsequiously to fulfill your slightest whim ... that would not be a bad profession.

Don't be a little paranoid; worry about everything, or let it all go.

When you are well and truly screwed, either you just sit pissing yourself or you invent some reason to hope.

Some writers are still blindly enamored with science and gadgetry, but I don't think it's as prevalent as it once was. Almost everybody these days pays lip service to literary value; some people talk the talk without walking the walk, but I do believe that most SF/fantasy writers are aiming above the least common denominator.

Some mysteries are too pleasing to be questioned.

It is strange how the presence of additional people can make you feel more alone.

Some men are too easy to impress. When they praise your ethereal crystalline beauty, you get the feeling they would be just as ecstatic over a glittery red pebble or a potato shaped like a fish.

I wouldn't say that society gets rid of unwanted people. What happens ... is that individuals get rid of the unwanted, and society doesn't care enough to put a stop to the practice.

Deliberate choices are the only sacred things in the universe. Everything else is just hydrogen.

Let us perform at least one great deed in our lives before we vanish forever.

Even happy endings have little tears in their eyes.