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Quote by J. G. Ballard

“God was a clever idea ... The human race came up with a winner there.”

Author

J.G. Ballard was a prominent British novelist known for his unique science fiction and post-apocalyptic themes. His works often explore technology, consumerism, and human psychology, having a profound impact on subsequent literature and cinema. more

“I define Inner Space as an imaginary realm in which on the one hand the outer world of reality, and on the other the inner world of the mind meet and merge. Now, in the landscapes of the surrealist painters, for example, one sees the regions of Inner Space; and increasingly I believe that we will encounter in film and literature scenes which are neither solely realistic nor fantastic. In a sense, it will be a movement in the interzone between both spheres.”

“The residents had eliminated both past and future, and for all their activity, they existed in a civilized and eventless world.”

World Past Activity Civilized Residents

Book:Running Wild

Source: Running Wild

“Art is the principal way in which the human mind has tried to remake the world in a way that makes sense. The carefully edited, slow-motion, action replay of a rugby tackle, a car crash or a sex act has more significance than the original event. Thanks to virtual reality, we will soon be moving into a world where a heightened super-reality will consist entirely of action replays, and reality will therefore be all the more rich and meaningful.”

“For the sake of my children and grandchildren, I hope that the human talent for self-destruction can be successfully controlled, or at least channelled into productive forms, but I doubt it. I think we are moving into extremely volatile and dangerous times, as modern electronic technologies give mankind almost unlimited powers to play with its own psychopathology as a game.”

“The advanced societies of the future will not be governed by reason. They will be driven by irrationality, by competing systems of psychopathology.”

Reason Driven Competing Irrationality Psychopathology

Author:J. G. Ballard

“People, particularly over-moralistic Americans, have often seen me as a pessimist and humourless to boot, yet I think I have an almost maniacal sense of humour. The problem is that it's rather deadpan.”

People Thinking Problem Humour Boots Pessimist

Author:J. G. Ballard

“Along with our passivity, we're entering a profoundly masochistic phase everyone is a victim these days, of parents, doctors, pharmaceutical companies, even love itself. And how much we enjoy it. Our happiest moments are spent trying to think up new varieties of victimhood.”

Thinking Trying Moments Parent Enjoy Company Doctors Victim Variety These Days Phases Entering Passivity Victimhood Pharmaceutical Masochistic Pharmaceutical Companies

Author:J. G. Ballard

“Selfish men make the best lovers. They're prepared to invest in the women's pleasures so that they can collect an even bigger dividend for themselves.”

Men Funny Pleasure Lovers Humorous Bigger Prepared Investing Selfish Novelists Making Love Collecting Best Love Love Making Dividends Essayists Selfish Men

Author:J. G. Ballard

“Everywhere you look - Britain, the States, western Europe - people are sealing themselves into crime-free enclaves. That's a mistake - a certain level of crime is part of the necessary roughage of life. Total security is a disease of deprivation.”

People Looks States Certain Levels Mistake Security Crime Disease Europe Western Britain Deprivation Western Europe

Author:J. G. Ballard

“Human beings today are surrounded by huge institutions we can never penetrate: the City, the banking system, political and advertising conglomerates, vast entertainment enterprises. They've made themselves user friendly, but they define the tastes to which we conform. They're rather subtle, subservient tyrants, but no less sinister for that.”

Quote by J. G. Ballard

Author

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