Quotes from David Brin

There's no doubt that scientific training helps many authors to write better science fiction. And yet, several of the very best were English majors who could not parse a differential equation to save their lives.

When I begin a book, I inevitably discover many things along the way, about the characters, their past histories and the political intrigues that surround them. This discovery process is vital, and I would not prejudice it by deciding too much in advance.

Only a knowledgeable, empowered and vocal citizenry can perform well in democracy.

Predicting has a spotty record in science fiction. I've had some failures. On the other hand, I also predicted the fall of the Berlin Wall and the rise of fundamentalist Islam... and I'm not happy to be right in all of those cases.

Secrecy is the underlying mistake that makes every innovation go wrong in Michael Crichton novels and films! If AI happens in the open, then errors and flaws may be discovered in time... perhaps by other, wary AIs!

Ideologies are too seductive anyway. It does a man good to see things from a different point of view.

Patience is fine, but I'm not going to stop asking the Universe to make sense!

The best time to act on this was decades ago. The second best time is now.

It is said that power corrupts, but actually it's more true that power attracts the corruptible. The sane are usually attracted by other things than power.

Why must conversions always come so late? Why do people always apologize to corpses?

It is said that power corrupts, but actually it's more true that power attracts the corruptible. The sane are usually attracted by other things than power.

But honestly, if you do a rigorous survey of my work, I'll bet you'll find that biology is a theme far more often than physical science.

There's no doubt that scientific training helps many authors to write better science fiction. And yet, several of the very best were English majors who could not parse a differential equation to save their lives.

Predicting has a spotty record in science fiction. I've had some failures. On the other hand, I also predicted the fall of the Berlin Wall and the rise of fundamentalist Islam... and I'm not happy to be right in all of those cases.

When it comes to privacy and accountability, people always demand the former for themselves and the latter for everyone else.

It is said that power corrupts, but actually it's more true that power attracts the corruptible. The sane are usually attracted by other things than power.

Creative people see Prometheus in a mirror, never Pandora.

Where subtlety fails us we must simply make do with cream pies.

Only people with full stomachs become environmentalists.

Prison for the crime of puberty -- that was how secondary school had seemed.

The best time to act on this was decades ago. The second best time is now.

Change is the very fabric of our time.

Only a knowledgeable, empowered and vocal citizenry can perform well in democracy.

Reciprocal accountability, or criticism [is] the only known antidote to error.