Quotessence
Home / Quotes / Quote by Vernor Vinge

Quote by Vernor Vinge

Work

The Children of the Sky

Browse quotes and source details for this work. more

Author

Vernor Vinge
Vernor Vinge

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'. more

You May Also Like

“Why do you bear Merripen such ill will? Is it his charming disposition, or the fact that he’s a Roma? Or is it because he was taken in by your parents and raised as one of you?” “None of that. I despise Merripen because he refused the only thing I ever asked of him.” “Which was?” “To let me die.” Cam pondered that. “You must mean when he nursed you through the scarlet fever.” “Yes.” “You blame him for saving your life?” “Yes.” “If it makes you feel any better,” Cam said dryly, settling back in his seat, “I’m sure he’s had second thoughts about it.”

“So, I will just share it here, because I truly believe that the only universal “body” is our breath, because breath is the only thing that all human bodies experience and as such, it is something we all must share, not just with each other, but, in one way or another, with all living things on earth. To this day, I still can’t think of a better way of truly breaking us free from the visual rut that the canon of Western art has left us languishing in, than the breath of an Indigenous Australian woman.”

“And when we go to sleep, we ought to greet the bed completely out of breath from the day. We must have tree sap on our hands from climbing. Sand in our pockets and not know how. There must be some fresh wound on our body somewhere—a cut on the ankle, a bruised eye, or a chipped tooth. Our lips are to be kissed by anyone happy, our fingernails dirty, and we might have brought a bug or two home with us. On our wrist should be two bracelets: one from the hospital and another from the concert that got us there. We should have freed the heart in a streak of spoken desire, kind attempts to hold another hand, and by missing a thousand former lovers that you wish the best. We must find a way to revel in the dissatisfaction of a weary heart.”

“Entrepreneurship is risk with responsibility. If you’re not ready to be blamed, you’re not ready to lead.”