Quotessence
Home / Authors / Ann Leckie Biography
Ann Leckie

Ann Leckie Biography

Author

Related Quotes

“At any rate, that being the case, why should I care if I lay under layers of rock the whole time? Why, as long as I’d been in this world already, should I care if my end came in another millennia, or a hundred of them? What sort of urgent business did I have in the world that I did not want to leave it? When I had spent my long time listening to fish, or staring at the stars? What was the point, what had ever been the point, in my constant, unconscious effort to keep that view of the stars? None except that I had wanted it. It had made things pleasant for me.”

Life And LivingMeaning Of Life
Book:The Raven Tower
Create image

“The single word that directs a person’s fate and ultimately the fates of those she comes in contact with is of course a common subject of entertainments and moralizing stories, but if everyone were to consider all the possible consequences of all one’s possible choices, no one would move a millimeter, or even dare to breathe for fear of the ultimate results.”

FateEthicsScience FictionAgencyChoiceFree WillActions
Book:Ancillary Justice
Create image

“Do you still think Mianaai controls the Radchaai through brainwashing or threats of execution? Those are there, they exist, yes, but most Radchaai, like people most places I have been, do what they’re supposed to because they believe it’s the right thing to do. No one likes killing people.” Strigan made a sardonic noise "No one?" "Not many," I amended. "Not enough to fill the Radch's warships".”

WarChoicesBrainwashing
Book:Ancillary Justice
Create image

“Captain,” I said after ten steps, without breaking stride. “I do understand that this is the Genitalia Festival. But when you say genitalia, doesn’t that usually mean genitals generally? Not just one kind?” For all the steps I’d taken, and as far down the corridor as I could see, the walls were hung with tiny penises. Bright green, hot pink, electric blue, and a particularly eye-searing orange.”

FestivalGenitaliaPenises
Book:Ancillary Sword
Create image

“Ridiculous!" scoffed Anaander. "Translatir, ships and stations are not Significant beings, they are my property. I caused them to be built." "I'm given to understand," said Translator Zeiat thoughtfully, "that most, if not all, humans are built by other humans. If that's a disqualification for Significance, then... no, I don't like that one bit." "If I am just a possession," I put in, "just a piece of equipment, how could I hold any sort of command? And yet I clearly do.”

AiArtificial IntelligenceSpace OperaSignificant Being
Book:Ancillary Mercy
Create image

“Thoughts are ephemeral, they evaporate in the moment they occur, unless they are given action and material form. Wishes and intentions, the same. Meaningless, unless they impel you to one choice or another, some deed or course of action, however insignificant. Thoughts that lead to action can be dangerous. Thoughts that do not, mean less than nothing.”

MeanMomentsActionFormChoicesCoursesGivenWishDangerousMaterialsIntentionDeedsMeaninglessInsignificantEphemeral
Author:Ann Leckie
Create image

“The Romans have provided a lot of writers with a model for various interstellar empires, of course, and no wonder. The Roman Empire is a really good example of a large empire that, in one form or another, functioned for quite a long time over a very large area. And over all that time, there was all sorts of exciting drama - civil wars and assassinations and revolts and bits breaking off and being forced back in ... But I didn't want my future - however fanciful it was - to be entirely European. The Radchaai aren't meant to be Romans in Space.”

WantLongWarFormCoursesBitsSpaceWonderExampleDramaLong TimeModelsAreasExcitingVariousCivil WarEmpiresMeant To BeMy FutureRevoltAssassinationRoman EmpireGood ExamplesInterstellar
Author:Ann Leckie
Create image