1956 Quote by Alfred Bester

““We prattle about free will, but we're nothing but response . . . mechanical reaction in prescribed grooves.””

Alfred Bester

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More by Alfred Bester

I'm a great believer in people and their untapped potential.

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“There's got to be more to life than just living," Foyle said to the robot. "Then find it yourself, sir. Don't ask the world…

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I've handed life and death back to the people who do the living and the dying.

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“The acid of fury ran through him, eating away the brute patience and sluggishness that had made a cipher of Gully Foyle, precipitating a…

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The mind is the reality. You are what you think.

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I'm not much interested in extrapolating science and technology; I merely use extrapolation as a means of putting people into new quandaries which produce…

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“no matter how we defend ourselves against the outside we're always licked by something from the inside. There's no defense against betrayal, and we…

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Be grateful that you only see the outward man. Be grateful that you never see the passions, the hatreds, the jealousies, the malice, the…

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Millions for nonsense, but not one cent for entropy.

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If a man's got talent and guts to buck society, he's obviously above average. You want to hold on to him. You straighten him…

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One of the things that everybody knows about space travel but never mentions is its aphrodisiac quality.

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There's got to be more to life than just living," Foyle said to the robot. Then find it for yourself, sir. Don't ask the…

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Explore all 54 Alfred Bester quotes

More 1956 quotes

“Most people are not even aware of their need to conform. They live under the illusion that they follow their own ideas and inclinations,…

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“Mrs. May winced. She thought the word Jesus should be kept inside the church building like other words inside the bedroom.”

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“Love is not primarily a relationship to a specific person; it is an attitude, an orientation of character which determines the relatedness of a…

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“What does one person give to another? He gives of himself, of the most precious he has, he gives of his life. This does…

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“Cellar Christians!" Foyle exclaimed. He and Robin peered through the window. Thirty worshipers of assorted faiths were celebrating the New Year with a combined…

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“ Hitler reacted primarily in a sadistic fashion toward people, but masochistically toward fate, history, the “higher power” of nature.”

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“You pigs, you. You rut like pigs, is all. You got the most in you, and you use the least. You hear me, you?…

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“Wesley, the younger child, had had rheumatic fever when he was seven and Mrs. May thought this was what had caused him to be…

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“Make it a human war,' she said fiercely. 'You're the first not to be deceived by my looks. Oh God! The boredom of the…

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“Love is possible only if two persons communicate with each other from the center of their existence, hence if each one of them experiences…

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“No," Foyle roared. "Let them hear this. Let them hear everything." "You're insane, man. You've handed a loaded gun to children." "Stop treating them…

Alfred Bester