Quotes from Eric Flint

Of all human vices, none is so insidious and destructive as the blind worship of ability. That way lies abomination.

This is going to be the most . . . what is that name—Goldberg? Yes, Rube Goldberg–inspired operation I have ever imagined. Are you sure that we do not need to trigger it all with a hamster on a wheel? I dunno, Jackie said. Do you have a hamster on board? Let me check the medical supplies . . .

So where you've got one pope, they've got a whole bunch of 'em?

When modes of music change, the fundamental laws of the state always change with them. —Plato

Strength grows from building other strength, not from trampling on weakness.

Strength grows from building other strength, not from trampling on weakness.

Conspiracies existed, to be sure; many of them, and many were dark indeed. But fiendish? Fiendishness required brains. Nine times out of ten, conspirators behaved like buffoons and wound up exposing themselves out of sheer, bumbling incompetence.

Good writing just isn't that common.

Only the soul matters, in the end. All else is dross. That is as true of an empire as it is of a man.

The plans and schemes of tyrants are broken by many things. They shatter against cliffs of heroic struggle. They rupture on reefs of open resistance. And they are slowly eroded, bit by little bit, on the very beaches where they measure triumph, by countless grains of sand. By the stubborn little decencies of humble little men.

Bad parent! Bad Parent! Your children will grow up to be drug addicts, derelicts, serial murderers and hedge fund managers!

Jeff watched her come, the whole time. He never noticed her mincing, hesitant steps on treacherous heels. He was simply swept up in the ancient ceremony. And discovering, as untold millions of young men had discovered before him, that there is nothing in the world as beautiful as his bride approaching.

A reputation, once developed, is as valuable as a fine sword. But don't forget that it has to be a valid reputation. Or the sword's go no edge.

A good marriage produced affection and physical desire as naturally and inevitably as trees grew. Love was simply the fruit, which they confused with the seed.

How many genetic engineers does it take to screw in a lightbulb? Eleven—one to do the work, and the other ten to figure out why it doesn't have a double helix." "What's the definition of a virgin genetic engineer? A nerd with too many pocket protectors.

Screw it. Bring on that sorry dragon! Comes down to it, I'll bet Hrundig knows a recipe for cooking the mangy beasts.

an illustration of the fallacy of Platonic thinking applied to evolutionary principles.

population thinking,' Kennesaw. A pity you never learned to apply those methods. Instead, you made the classic mistake of categorizing people into abstract types instead of recognizing their concrete variations

Author's Afterword

is a bureaucrat, first and foremost. His central concern—now and always—is going to be his position within the power structure, not the needs of the struggle. When a job goes sour, his first thought is going to be: cover my ass. And for that, ain't nothing better than a dumb young greenhorn

The map is not the territory. The man is not the file.

He knew exactly what thoughts—emotions, rather—would be filling Pakenham's breast. The same that would have been filling his own, had Ross still been in command. Doubts, hesitations, fears, second thoughts, quibbles, uncertainties—all those, Pakenham would be burning on the altar this very moment.

He shrugged. "Let's see if I can verify your guess, Dr. Glendale." "Nicholas or Nick, please. Not—" He flashed a warning glance at Helen, but too late. "—Nicky!" she interjected. "Okay

Okay, Jack—let 'er rip!" They were able to watch the operation on a screen, from sensors left on site. The fuel-cell-powered ripper hummed, and there was a sudden screeching noise audible all the way down the corridor as the lever arms inserted themselves forcibly into the narrow crack between the door valves. The humming abruptly dropped in pitch and became louder as it began to force the doors open. A.J.