Quotes from Larry Niven

I'd repair our education system or replace it with something that works.

My problem with new writers is that it takes me five or six years to memorise the right names.

Love was a delicious blend of warm and cold. There was comfort in making love. It solved no problems: but one could run away from problems.

I've got five or six unpublished stories kicking around looking for somebody to buy them.

I love superconductors.

I'm not predicting; I just love playing with superconductors.

The dinosaurs became extinct because they didn't have a space program.

We're looking as far ahead as we can, and we don't get penalized for mistakes.

Half of wisdom is learning what to unlearn.

The human species really could have faced global thermonuclear war. During seventy years of Cold War we grew used to it.

Anything beats an expensive stack of paper.

I'd visit the near future, close enough that someone might want to talk to Larry Niven and can figure out the language distant enough to get me decent medical techniques and a ticket to the Moon.

Building one space station for everyone was and is insane: we should have built a dozen.

I'd repair our education system or replace it with something that works.

The Unexpected always comes at the most awkward times.

The gods do not protect fools. Fools are protected by more capable fools.

The dinosaurs became extinct because they didn't have a space program. And if we become extinct because we don't have a space program, it'll serve us right!

Mother Nature doesn't care if you're having fun.

That's the thing about people who think they hate computers. What they really hate is lousy programmers.

1a) Never throw shit at an armed man. 1b) Never stand next to someone who is throwing shit at an armed man.

Ethics change with technology.

There is a technical, literary term for those who mistake the opinions and beliefs of characters in a novel for those of the author. The term is 'idiot'.

Humans," said the puppeteer, "should not be allowed to run loose. You will surely harm yourselves.

Exercise is wonderful," said Louis. "I could sit and watch it all day.