Category: Quotes

Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist in nature, nor do the children of men as a whole experience it. Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. Life is either a daring adventure or nothing.

Posted on by rchapin

— Helen Keller→ Continue reading “Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist in nature, nor do the children of men as a whole experience it. Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. Life is either a daring adventure or nothing.”

Social responsibility above the level of family, or at most of tribe, requires imagination – devotion, loyalty, all the higher virtues – which a man must develop himself; if he has them forced down him, he will vomit them out.

Posted on by rchapin

An interesting quote from "Starship Troopers", Robert A. Heinlein 1959.  The movie that came out in 1997 seems to have very little in common with the book; an excellent discussion of the true meaning of citizenship and the scarcity of honor and self-sacrifice among the human race.

Click the "READ MORE" link for more information and links about this book.

An exellent website that discusses the book and the 1997 movie (of the same name but with very little else → Continue reading “Social responsibility above the level of family, or at most of tribe, requires imagination – devotion, loyalty, all the higher virtues – which a man must develop himself; if he has them forced down him, he will vomit them out.”

I Believe There is No God, by Penn Jillette

Posted on by rchapin

NPR has resurrected the "This, I Believe" series of essays and today, I think I heard the best one yet.

This one is from Pen Jillette and details his belief on the absense of god and the richness of his life . . .
I believe that there is no God. I’m beyond
Atheism. Atheism is not believing in God. Not believing in God is easy
— you can’t prove a negative, so there’s no work to do. You can’t→ Continue reading “I Believe There is No God, by Penn Jillette”

Here we are in this wholly fantastic Universe with scarcely a clue as to whether our existence has any real significance. No wonder then that many people feel the need for some belief that gives them some sense of security, and no wonder that they become angry with people like me who say that this security is illusory. But I do not like the situation any better than they do.

Posted on by rchapin

Fred Hoyle – 1950→ Continue reading “Here we are in this wholly fantastic Universe with scarcely a clue as to whether our existence has any real significance. No wonder then that many people feel the need for some belief that gives them some sense of security, and no wonder that they become angry with people like me who say that this security is illusory. But I do not like the situation any better than they do.”

Naturally, the common people don’t want war, but they can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. Tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and endangering the country. It works the same in every country

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Herman Goering, at the Nuremberg trials→ Continue reading “Naturally, the common people don’t want war, but they can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. Tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and endangering the country. It works the same in every country”

“The people I distrust most are those who want to improve our lives but have only one course of action.”

Posted on by rchapin

Frank Herbert (1920 – 1986)
Frank Herbert was an incredible writer.  He wrote science fiction and his biggest claim to fame is the Dune series→ Continue reading ““The people I distrust most are those who want to improve our lives but have only one course of action.””

© 2005 Ryan Chapin