Octavia Butler

The thing about science fiction is that it's totally wide open. But it's wide open in a conditional way.

— Octavia Butler

Life is getting better, but that won't stop a war if politicians and business people decide it's to their advantage to have…

— Octavia Butler

I talked to members of my family, and did some personal research that didn't really have anything to do with the time…

— Octavia Butler

First forget inspiration. Habit is more dependable. Habit will sustain you whether you're inspired or not. Habit will help you finish and…

— Octavia Butler

Belief initiates and guides action - or it does nothing.

— Octavia Butler

Ignorance Protects itself, And protected, Ignorance grows.

— Octavia Butler

But my problem with fantasy, and horror, and related genres, is that sometimes the problems are illogical.

— Octavia Butler

“In order to rise From its own ashes A phoenix First Must Burn. Earthseed: The Books of the Living Lauren Oya Olamina”

— Octavia Butler

I'm a fifty-three-year-old writer who can remember being a ten-year-old writer and who expects someday to be an eighty-year-old writer.

— Octavia Butler

I'm me, and I'm here, and I'm writing,

— Octavia Butler

Most of what I do is science fiction. Some of the things I do are fantasy. I don't like the labels, they're…

— Octavia Butler

The only black people you found were occasional characters or characters who were so feeble-witted that they couldn't manage anything, anyway. I…

— Octavia Butler

He was like me - a kindred spirit crazy enough to keep on trying.

— Octavia Butler

To be led by a fool is to be led by the opportunists who control the fool.

— Octavia Butler

Helpless lust and unreasoning anxiety were just part of growing up.

— Octavia Butler

Change is the one unavoidable, irresistible, ongoing reality of the universe. To us, that makes it the most powerful reality, and just…

— Octavia Butler

In order to rise From its own ashes A phoenix First Must Burn.

— Octavia Butler

Souls! When have you seen your own soul - that you're so certain you have one?

— Octavia Butler

Civilization is to groups what intelligence is to individuals. It is a means of combining the intelligence of many to achieve ongoing…

— Octavia Butler

You are horror and beauty in rare combination.

— Octavia Butler

And by the way, I wanted to point out that Kindred is not science fiction. You'll note there's no science in it.…

— Octavia Butler

Well, writing was what I wanted to do, it was always what I wanted to do. I had novels to write so…

— Octavia Butler

“She means the devil with people who say you're anything but what you are.”

— Octavia Butler

Most of us don't have to worry about being shot of we poke our noses outside. So we are comfortable, but the…

— Octavia Butler

All religions are ultimately cargo cults. Adherents perform required rituals, follow specific rules, and expect to be supernaturally gifted with desired rewards…

— Octavia Butler