--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Good science fiction is intelligent. It…" description: "\"Good science fiction is intelligent. It asks big questions that are on people's minds. It's not impossible. It has some sort of root in the abstract.\" ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/36d/nicolas-cage-1199_abstract_good-science-fiction-is-intelligent-it-a_1344998.jpg" --- # Good science fiction is intelligent. It asks big questions… ![“Good science fiction is intelligent. It asks big questions that are on people's minds. It's not impossible. It has some sort of root in the abstract.” quote by Nicolas Cage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/36d/nicolas-cage-1199_abstract_good-science-fiction-is-intelligent-it-a_1344998.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/36d/nicolas-cage-1199_abstract_good-science-fiction-is-intelligent-it-a_1344998.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/36d/nicolas-cage-1199_abstract_good-science-fiction-is-intelligent-it-a_1344998.jpg) > “Good science fiction is intelligent. It asks big questions that are on people's minds. It's not impossible. It has some sort of root in the abstract.” [Nicolas Cage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-cage/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Science fiction should probe deep, relevant questions while remaining grounded in imaginative concepts. **In simple terms:** Smart sci‑fi explores big ideas and stays relatable. Key Takeaway Seek stories that challenge and inspire. Themes imagination philosophy culture Mood thoughtful inspired Type literary educational When to use this quote - reading sci‑fi novels - watching thoughtful movies - discussing future tech - teaching creative writing Key Concepts speculative fiction human curiosity societal critique Questions to Reflect On - What big question does your favorite sci‑fi address? - How can abstract ideas be made relatable? A Different Perspective May become too abstract, losing emotional connection. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Abstract](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abstract/) [Big questions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/big-questions/) [Fiction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fiction/) [Good science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-science/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Roots](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/roots/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Science fiction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science-fiction/) ## Related quotes > [Well, good science fiction is intelligent. It asks big questions that are on people's minds. It's not impossible. It has some sort of root…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-cage/well-good-science-fiction-is-intelligent-it-asks-big-questions-that/) [Nicolas Cage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-cage/) > [In really, really good science fiction, the line between the science and the fiction is blurry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damon-lindelof/in-really-really-good-science-fiction-the-line-between-the-science/) [Damon Lindelof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damon-lindelof/) > [The novels that get praised in the NY Review of Books aren't worth reading. Ninety-seven percent of science fiction is adolescent rubbish, but good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-anton-wilson/the-novels-that-get-praised-in-the-ny-review-of-books-aren-t-worth/) [Robert Anton Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-anton-wilson/) > [I like fantasy. I like horror, science fiction because I can get avant-garde with those performances in those movies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-cage/i-like-fantasy-i-like-horror-science-fiction-because-i-can-get-avant/) [Nicolas Cage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-cage/) > [Good science is all about following the data as it shows up and letting yourself be proven wrong, and letting everything change while you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-skloot/good-science-is-all-about-following-the-data-as-it-shows-up-and/) [Rebecca Skloot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-skloot/) > [Debunking bad science should be constant obligation of the science community, even if it takes time away from serious research or seems to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-gardner/debunking-bad-science-should-be-constant-obligation-of-the-science/) [Martin Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-gardner/) > [I do agree that the science is not settled on this. The idea we would put Americans' economy in jeopardy based on scientific theory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-perry/i-do-agree-that-the-science-is-not-settled-on-this-the-idea-we-would/) [Rick Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-perry/) > [Receiving the National Medal of Science is the thrill of a lifetime, but good science does not happen in isolation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-faber/receiving-the-national-medal-of-science-is-the-thrill-of-a-lifetime/) [Sandra Faber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-faber/) > [I do agree that the science is not settled on this. The idea that we would put American's economy at jeopardy based on scientific…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-perry/i-do-agree-that-the-science-is-not-settled-on-this-the-idea-that-we/) [Rick Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-perry/) > [Every month, the US is spending more on the Iraqi war than it took to reach Saturn and Titan. Mass murder is expensive, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caitl-n-r-kiernan/every-month-the-us-is-spending-more-on-the-iraqi-war-than-it-took-to/) [Caitlín R. Kiernan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caitl-n-r-kiernan/) > [Those who do good science do so because they choose problems that are suited to them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-smolin/those-who-do-good-science-do-so-because-they-choose-problems-that-are/) [Lee Smolin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-smolin/) > [“It is not “scientism” to concede the objectivity and precision of good science, any more than it is history worship to concede that Napoleon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-c-dennett/it-is-not-scientism-to-concede-the-objectivity-and-precision-of-good/) [Daniel C. Dennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-c-dennett/) > [The hallmark of good science is the testing of a plausible hypothesis that is then either supported or rejected by the evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willie-soon/the-hallmark-of-good-science-is-the-testing-of-a-plausible-hypothesis/) [Willie Soon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willie-soon/) > [To do good science, you've got to work really, really hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-sapolsky/to-do-good-science-you-ve-got-to-work-really-really-hard/) [Robert Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-sapolsky/) > [Science surrounds you. It's not something that you can step aside, step over or push out of your way because you were never good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/science-surrounds-you-it-s-not-something-that-you-can-step-aside-step/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) ## More by Nicolas Cage > [The end of the world is on people's minds. We have the power to destroy or save ourselves, but the question is what do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-cage/the-end-of-the-world-is-on-people-s-minds-we-have-the-power-to/) [Nicolas Cage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-cage/) > [People often say that you should never work with child actors. I think that's all wrong. Children have not had the imagination kicked out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-cage/people-often-say-that-you-should-never-work-with-child-actors-i-think/) [Nicolas Cage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-cage/) > [First of all the criteria that I have that goes into any career decision is whether or not I have the life experience, emotional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-cage/first-of-all-the-criteria-that-i-have-that-goes-into-any-career/) [Nicolas Cage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-cage/) > [The only reason why I tend to pass on a movie is either I don't think I'm right for the material and can't play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-cage/the-only-reason-why-i-tend-to-pass-on-a-movie-is-either-i-don-t-think/) [Nicolas Cage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-cage/) > [I've always had a soft spot for comic books. I learned to read from them. The words in them were so interesting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-cage/i-ve-always-had-a-soft-spot-for-comic-books-i-learned-to-read-from/) [Nicolas Cage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-cage/) > [I love all animals. I have a fascination with fish, birds, whales - sentient life - insects, reptiles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-cage/i-love-all-animals-i-have-a-fascination-with-fish-birds-whales/) [Nicolas Cage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-cage/) > [I definitely went through my magic phase. I think all little boys do at some point or another - they get fascinated by magic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-cage/i-definitely-went-through-my-magic-phase-i-think-all-little-boys-do/) [Nicolas Cage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-cage/) > [One day, one of my dreams is to someday get to do Nemo in '20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-cage/one-day-one-of-my-dreams-is-to-someday-get-to-do-nemo-in-20-000/) [Nicolas Cage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-cage/) > [I'm very impressed with 'Drive.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-cage/i-m-very-impressed-with-drive/) [Nicolas Cage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-cage/) > [I think I jump around more when I'm alone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-cage/i-think-i-jump-around-more-when-i-m-alone/) [Nicolas Cage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-cage/) > [I love it all. I don't want to go through my career with one hand tied behind my back. I love making kids happy.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-cage/i-love-it-all-i-don-t-want-to-go-through-my-career-with-one-hand-tied/) [Nicolas Cage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-cage/) > [When I won the Oscar, I made a point of actively going against that and doing adventure films like 'Con Air' and 'Gone in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-cage/when-i-won-the-oscar-i-made-a-point-of-actively-going-against-that/) [Nicolas Cage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-cage/) > [My father was always getting excited about something. It's genetically inside me somewhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-cage/my-father-was-always-getting-excited-about-something-it-s-genetically/) [Nicolas Cage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-cage/) > [I remember once imagining what my life would be like, what I'd be like. I pictured having all these qualities, strong positive qualities that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-cage/i-remember-once-imagining-what-my-life-would-be-like-what-i-d-be-like/) [Nicolas Cage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-cage/) > [I think that if you go about making movies to win Oscars, you're really going about it the wrong way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-cage/i-think-that-if-you-go-about-making-movies-to-win-oscars-you-re/) [Nicolas Cage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-cage/) [Explore all 275 Nicolas Cage quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-cage/) ## More Abstract quotes > [Love is like that, fragile and light. No wonder it rests upon our hearts in intangible moments, bids us follow fleeting thoughts and ideas…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/love-is-like-that-fragile-and-light-no-wonder-it-rests-upon-our/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Wisdom is the abstract of the past, but beauty is the promise of the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/wisdom-is-the-abstract-of-the-past-but-beauty-is-the-promise-of-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Where human eyes have never seen, where human beings have never been, I build a world of abstract dreams, and I wait for you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-ra/where-human-eyes-have-never-seen-where-human-beings-have-never-been-i/) [Sun Ra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-ra/) > [A little too abstract, a little too wise, It is time for us to kiss the earth again, It is time to let the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robinson-jeffers/a-little-too-abstract-a-little-too-wise-it-is-time-for-us-to-kiss-the/) [Robinson Jeffers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robinson-jeffers/) > [“Happy is very abstract, you can't touch it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julius-veal/happy-is-very-abstract-you-can-t-touch-it/) [Julius Veal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julius-veal/) > [Abstract Expressionism was invented by New York drunks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joni-mitchell/abstract-expressionism-was-invented-by-new-york-drunks/) [Joni Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joni-mitchell/) > [The more horrible this world (as today, for instance), the more abstract our art, whereas a happy world brings forth an art of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-klee/the-more-horrible-this-world-as-today-for-instance-the-more-abstract/) [Paul Klee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-klee/) > [Describing comic sensibility is near impossible. It's sort of an abstract silliness, that sometimes the joke isn't the star.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-carvey/describing-comic-sensibility-is-near-impossible-it-s-sort-of-an/) [Dana Carvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-carvey/) > [For people of color - especially African Americans - the idea that racist cops might frame members of their community is no abstract notion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-wise/for-people-of-color-especially-african-americans-the-idea-that-racist/) [Tim Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-wise/) > [The word of the Lord never comes to us as an opinion, no attempt is made to support it by argument, it comes as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-w-ivins/the-word-of-the-lord-never-comes-to-us-as-an-opinion-no-attempt-is/) Anthony W. Ivins > [A mobile is an abstract sculpture made chiefly out of sheet metal, steel rods, wire and wood. Some or all of these elements move,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-calder/a-mobile-is-an-abstract-sculpture-made-chiefly-out-of-sheet-metal/) [Alexander Calder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-calder/) > [I'm this superphilosophical kind of person. Stuck in a prison of abstract ideas and overpowering emotions, I have this personality that makes it really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natsuo-kirino/i-m-this-superphilosophical-kind-of-person-stuck-in-a-prison-of/) [Natsuo Kirino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natsuo-kirino/) > [Future lawyers should be more aware that law is not a system of abstract logic, but the web of arrangements, rooted in history but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felix-frankfurter/future-lawyers-should-be-more-aware-that-law-is-not-a-system-of/) [Felix Frankfurter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felix-frankfurter/) > [The trouble is that when you read criticisms about the other films that I've made you get the impression that they're all about themes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-haneke/the-trouble-is-that-when-you-read-criticisms-about-the-other-films/) [Michael Haneke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-haneke/) > [Painting is... a richer language than words... Painting operates through signs which are not abstract and incorporeal like words. The signs of painting are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-dubuffet/painting-is-a-richer-language-than-words-painting-operates-through/) [Jean Dubuffet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-dubuffet/) [Browse all 1,403 Abstract quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abstract/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Good science fiction is intelligent. It asks big questions that are on people's minds. It's not impossible. 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