Gregory Benford

"Government doesn’t often move quickly, but when they do, it’s like an elephant stampede."

"Science is about continuity of ideas, a web of connections."

"Bureaucracy increases as a doubling function in time, given resources. At the personal level, the cause is the persistent desire of every manager to hire at least one assistant. This provides the time constant for growth. Eventually this collides with the carrying capacity of society."

"—Y’know, fact that nobody understands you doesn’t mean you’re some kinda genius."

"Ideas about existence pale, beside the fact of existence."

"I agree with the Emperor. Any technology distinguishable from magic is insufficiently advanced."

"Only senators and simpletons thought science took place in neatly drawn boxes."

"“You know, my dear, you’re wrong that suffering ennobles people.” She’d stopped to massage her hip, wincing. “It simply makes one cross.”"

"I started out with nothing and still have most of it left."

"Talkers never acted when they could talk."

"She could not understand why people feared new ideas. She was frightened by the old ones."

"Wars don’t determine who’s right, only who’s left."