Home / Authors / Vernor Vinge

Vernor Vinge Quotes

Computer Scientist

Vernor Vinge is an American computer scientist known for his contributions to both science fiction literature and computer science. His works often explore the impact of technological advancements on human society, with his most famous novel being 'Rainbow's End'.

Filter quotes by topic

All Humans Singularity Natural Sometimes World Years Fiction Happens Ifs Mind People Problem Technological Technology Understanding Ability Cases Chance Evil Expensive

Famous Vernor Vinge Quotes

“How will the approach of the Singularity spread across the human world view?”

World Humans Views Approach Spread World View Singularity

Author:Vernor Vinge

“The physical extinction of the human race is one possibility.”

Humans Race Possibility Human Race Extinction

Author:Vernor Vinge

“Poor humans; they will all die.""Poor us; we will not.”

Humans Dies Poor

Book:The Tor sf sampler: featuring excerpts from the 1993 Nebula and Hugo nominees : A fire upon the deep by Vernor Vinge and China mountain Zhang by Maureen F. McHugh

Source: The Tor sf sampler: featuring excerpts from the 1993 Nebula and Hugo nominees : A fire upon the deep by Vernor Vinge and China mountain Zhang by Maureen F. McHugh

“Hexapodia as the key insight...I haven't had a chance to see the famous video from Straumli Realm, except as an evocation. (My only gateway onto the Net is very expensive.) Is it true that humans have six legs?”

Humans Chance Havens Keys Six Legs Insight Video Realms Expensive Gateways

Author:Vernor Vinge

“We’re long on high principles and short on simple human understanding.”

Humans Long Understanding Simple Principles

Book:A Deepness in the Sky

Source: A Deepness in the Sky

“We will soon create intelligences greater than our own ... When this happens, human history will have reached a kind of singularity, an intellectual transition as impenetrable as the knotted space-time at the center of a black hole, and the world will pass far beyond our understanding.”

World Humans Kind Happens Understanding Black Space Greater Intellectual Holes Transition Human History Singularity Black Hole Space Time

Author:Vernor Vinge

“Within thirty years, we will have the technological means to create superhuman intelligence. Shortly after, the human era will be ended.”

Years Humans Mean Eras Thirty Technological Thirty Years Singularity Superhuman Human Intelligence

Author:Vernor Vinge

“Here I had tried a straightforward extrapolation of technology, and found myself precipitated over an abyss. It's a problem we face every time we consider the creation of intelligences greater than our own. When this happens, human history will have reached a kind of singularity - a place where extrapolation breaks down and new models must be applied - and the world will pass beyond our understanding.”

Source: The Collected Stories of Vernor Vinge

“We humans have millions of years of evolutionary baggage that makes us regard competition in a deadly light.”

Years Humans Light Millions Regard Competition Baggage

Author:Vernor Vinge

“I argue in this paper that we are on the edge of change comparable to the rise of human life on Earth.”

Humans Earth Change Paper Edges Arguing Human Life

Author:Vernor Vinge

“I have argued above that we cannot prevent the Singularity, that its coming is an inevitable consequence of the humans natural competitiveness and the possibilities inherent in technology.”

Humans Natural Technology Possibility Consequence Inevitable Inherent Singularity Competitiveness

Author:Vernor Vinge

About the Author

Born: October 2, 1944
Known for: Computer Scientist
Quotes: 66

Books & Sources

A Fire Upon The DeepRelated source material

A Deepness in the SkyRelated source material

The Children of the SkyRelated source material

The Tor sf sampler: featuring excerpts from the 1993 Nebula and Hugo nominees : A fire upon the deep by Vernor Vinge and China mountain Zhang by Maureen F. McHughRelated source material

The Zones of Thought Series: (A Fire Upon the Deep, The Children of the Sky, A Deepness in the Sky)Related source material

Zones of Thought: A Fire Upon the Deep, A Deepness in the SkyRelated source material

Rainbow's EndRelated source material

The Collected Stories of Vernor VingeRelated source material

The Peace WarRelated source material

Similar Authors

Ray KurzweilBrowse related quotes
Stuart J. RussellBrowse related quotes
Ron Currie Jr.Browse related quotes
OrlanBrowse related quotes
Antonio NegriBrowse related quotes
Mark SykesBrowse related quotes
Kip ThorneBrowse related quotes
E. O. WilsonBrowse related quotes
Jaron LanierBrowse related quotes
Nicolas BourriaudBrowse related quotes