Home / Quotes / Quote by Jack McDevitt

Quote by Jack McDevitt

“The term congressional hearing is an oxymoron. No congressional hearing is ever called to gather information. Rather, it is an exercise designed strictly for posturing, by people who have already made up their minds, looking for ammunition to support their positions.”

Quote by Jack McDevitt

Author

Jack McDevitt is an American science fiction author known for his hard science fiction works, born on April 14, 1935. His novels often feature themes such as time travel, extraterrestrial life, and cosmic exploration. McDevitt's writing career began in the 1970s, and he has published numerous works to date. more

You May Also Like

“Certain types of decisions can be safely ignored. Some issues will go away with the passage of time, others will be so slow developing that the decision-makers will depart before the results of their neglect becomes manifest. Which brings us to the environment.”

Certain Decision Results Issues Environment Type Developing Going Away Neglect Makers Manifest Passages Ignored Passage Of Time Decision Makers

Author:Jack McDevitt

“Intelligence is like pornography. I can't define it, but I know if when I see it.”

Ifs Knows I Can Pornography

Book:Odyssey (Academy - Book 5): Academy -

Source: Odyssey (Academy - Book 5): Academy -

“There's not much to be said for sightseeing. You go somewhere that has a waterfall. You have a beer, watch the water go over the edge, and move on. Tours are all the same. In the end, the only thing that matters is the beer.”

Said Ends Matter Moving Water Watches Edges Beer Things That Matter Waterfalls Over The Edge Only Thing That Matters Sightseeing

Book:Odyssey (Academy - Book 5): Academy -

Source: Odyssey (Academy - Book 5): Academy -

“Solitude is only a good idea if you have the right people along to share it.”

People Ifs Ideas Share Solitude Good Ideas

Author:Jack McDevitt

“Courage is perhaps our most admirable trait. The man, or woman, who possesses it is able to plunge ahead, despite dangers, despite warnings, despite hazards of all kinds, to attack the task at hand. Often, it is indistinguishable from stupidity.”

Men Kind Hands Able Danger He Man Tasks Stupidity Despite All Kinds Warning Traits Admirable Plunge Hazards Task At Hand

Book:Odyssey (Academy - Book 5): Academy -

Source: Odyssey (Academy - Book 5): Academy -

“Lies hold civilization together. If people ever seriously begin telling each other what they really think, there'd be no peace. Good-bye to tact. Good-bye to being polite. Good-bye to showing tolerance for other people's buffooneries. The fact that we claim to admire Truth is probably the biggest lie of all. But that's part of the charade, part of what makes us human, and we do not even think about it. In effect, we lie to ourselves. Lies are only despicable when they betray a trust.”

People Ifs Thinking Humans Facts Together Lying Effects Civilization Truth Is Claims Tolerance Admire Betray Polite Bye Good Bye Despicable Tact Being Polite Charades

Author:Jack McDevitt

“Decisions are always made with insufficient information. If you really knew what was going on, the decision would make itself.”

Ifs Made Decision Information Insufficient

Author:Jack McDevitt

“So long as men and women are free, no one is safe. People will be in danger because others can't operate vehicles responsibly or shoot straight. Because physicians are sometimes incompetent and lawyers dishonest. But most of all they will be in danger from ideas. It is the price we willingly pay to be free. Nor would we have it any other way.”

People Men Way Long Ideas Sometimes Pay Danger Safe Men And Women Lawyer Vehicle Physicians Incompetent

Author:Jack McDevitt

“The human capacity for grief. It just isn't capable of providing an adequate emotional response once the dead exceed a few dozen in number. And it doesn't just level off - it just gives up, resets itself to zero.”

Giving Humans Levels Numbers Grief Emotional Giving Up Capable Capacity Response Zero Dozen Providing Adequate Exceed Reset Just Give Up Human Capacity Emotional Response

Book:Revelation Space

Source: Revelation Space

“The measure of a civilization is in the courage, not of its soldiers, but of its bystanders.”

Civilization Soldier Bystanders

Book:A Talent For War

Source: A Talent For War