Quotes from Jack Campbell

Can something that does not exist be able to break? It is an interesting question." "More like the sort of question that drives an engineer crazy.

Why am I helping to force other people to live in a way I couldn't stand to live?" The Mage didn't answer, seeming to be sunk in thought, but she didn't know what the answer was, either, and was horrified at having said such a thing.

Doubt about your wisdom can be the clearest sign of wisdom

ALLIANCE FLEET ISSUE, TAPE, DUCT, MULTIPURPOSE, TWENTY COUNT (NOT FOR USE ON DUCTS).

how little we know even today about the most fundamental things.

Feel free to aim for perfection. I like that in a commander and much prefer it to superiors who aim for perfection in their subordinates.

Not making a decision was making a decision not to move. A decision to fail.

If you don't exercise a talent, you get rusty

Do not hate," her father spoke firmly. "I have told you. Hate no one, hate nothing. Oppose those who do wrong, but do not hate.

hate harms no one so much as the one who hates. Do not grant even the worst person such a victory over you.

Real love is hard. Forgetting yourself for another. Love is like fighting uphill against all of your worst instincts.

Beware of people who are certain they are right, Admiral. That certainty allows them to justify almost any act in pursuit of their

An external enemy is a wonderful thing for politicians to have," Rione said dryly. "They can excuse and justify a great many things by pointing to that enemy. But that doesn't mean external enemies are never real. What is that old saying? Just because you are paranoid doesn't mean someone isn't really out to get you.

You could try being funny more often," she added, releasing her grip on his shirt. "If you do, I think I might someday be able to tolerate you, if I don't kill you first." Jason grinned. "That's the nicest thing any girl ever said to me.

Every person is special," Kira insisted. "Every person deserves dignity and respect, and being thought of as something that matters.

Mother, they think Jason's a demon! A demon that you summoned from Urth to be my boyfriend." "Why would you need a demon boyfriend?" "Because no normal guy could survive being my boyfriend

Why is spending on equipment an investment and spending on people a cost? I've always thought that personnel expenses should be considered investments as well, not costs," Geary said. "Calling them costs creates the image that it is just money being thrown away because we have no choice. But that money is an investment in the people who make all of the difference in effectiveness and efficiency and everything else.

Can you giggle?" he asked. "I don't giggle, Jason. I can…chuckle.

The leaders have to be worthy, have to avoid the temptations of power, have to be honest even when the people don't want honesty.

What if they're waiting for us out there?" Jason asked, his voice echoing oddly in the tunnel. "Then you and I are going to go through them like a stampede through a weak fence," Kira said. "What happened to the Kira who didn't think she could do anything much?" "Kira doesn't have the luxury of self-doubt at the moment.

Data that conflicts with beliefs is often ignored," the doctor said. "It has been a serious problem in every field, including in medicine, even among those who should know better.

The measure of who you are," Mari had told her, "is how well you treat people you don't have to treat well.

didn't just die. In a very real sense, they were murdered by willful ignorance." "That is too harsh, Admiral. They meant well, as did we. The difference is that we formed our intentions based on our ideals and what we saw. They formed their intentions based on their ideals and what they wanted to see.

It's quiet." "Too quiet," Jason said, then laughed. "That's an ancient joke on Earth." "The more I hear about Urth the stranger it gets.