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Quote by Orson Scott Card

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Ender’s Game

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Orson Scott Card
Orson Scott Card

Orson Scott Card, born on August 24, 1951, is a renowned science fiction novelist from the United States. His works are known for their profound philosophical insights and rich imagination, with 'Ender's Game' series being particularly famous and influential in the science fiction genre. more

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“Как-то летел над синим морем в теплые края белый Лебедь. Утомился, больше нет сил махать крыльями. Видит — плывет в небе розовое Облачко. — Спаси меня, Облачко, — говорит Лебедь. — Нет у меня больше сил лететь. Я очень устал. — Ложись на мои розовые крылья, — сказало Облачко. — Вместе поплывем. Лег Лебедь, отдыхает. Долго летело Облачко. Вдруг почувствовал Лебедь: чего-то испугалось Облачко. — Лети скорее, Лебедь, — говорит Облачко. — Догоняет нас огненная молния. Разобъет она меня. — Нет, — говорит Лебедь. — Ты меня спасло, и я тебя спасу, хоть и сам погибну. Закрыл Лебедь своими крыльями Облачко. Ударила молния и убила Лебедя. Упал Лебедь в море и говорит: — Прощай, любимое розовое Облачко. Поплыло в синем небе Облачко красивое, но грустное. Очень жалко ему белокрылого Лебедя. Красота только потому и есть на свете, что есть верность.”

“Because, just then, death had come and rested its head on the foot of the cot and he could smell its breath. "Never believe any of that about a scythe and a skull," he told her. "It can be two bicycle policemen as easily, or be a bird. Or it can have a wide snout like a hyena." It had moved up on him now, but it had no shape any more. It simply occupied space. "Tell it to go away." It did not go away but moved a little closer. "You've got a hell of a breath," he told it. "You stinking bastard.”

“We might not return from this voyage. None of us. We might all lay down our lives when we reach the end, and not ever know whether our sacrifice changed anything for the better.” “It will be for the better,” Magiano replies. “We cannot just die, not without trying. Not without fighting.” “Do you really believe that?” I ask. “Why are we doing this, anyway? To preserve my own life, and yours—but what has the world ever done for us in order to deserve our sacrifice?” Magiano’s brows furrow for a moment, then he leans in closer. “We exist because this world exists. It’s a responsibility of ours, whether or not anyone will remember it.” He nods at me. “And they will. Because we will return and make sure of it.”

“Once upon a time there was a child who had a golden brain. His parents only discovered this by chance when he injured his head and gold instead of blood flowed out. They then began to look after him carefully and would not let him play with other children for fear of being robbed. When the boy was grown up and wanted to go out into the world, his mother said: “We have done so much for you,we ought to be able to share your wealth.” Then her son took a large piece of gold out of his brain and gave it to his mother. He lived in great style with a friend who, however, robbed him one night and ran away. After that the man resolved to guard his secret and to go out to work, because his reserves were visibly dwindling. One day he fell in love with a beautiful girl who loved him too, but no more than the beautiful clothes he gave her so lavishly. He married her and was very happy, but after two years she died and he spent the rest of his wealth on her funeral, which had to be splendid. Once, as he was creeping through the streets,weak,poor, and unhappy, he saw a beautiful little pair of boots that would have been perfect for his wife. He forgot that she was dead- perhaps because his emptied brain no longer worked- and entered the shop to buy the boots. But in that very moment he fell, and the shopkeeper saw a dead man lying on the ground. This story sounds as though it were invented, but it is true from beginning to end. There are people who have to pay for the smallest things in life with their very substance and their spinal cord. That is a constantly recurring pain, and then when they are tired of suffering… Does not mother love belong to the ‘smallest’, but also indispensable, things in life, for which many people paradoxically have to pay by giving up their living selves?”

“Civilians enjoy their time because soldiers sacrifice their time.”