Memorable Quotes and quotations from Isaac Asimov

Isaac Asimov US science fiction novelist & scholar (1920 - 1992)


Isaac Asimov -
- It pays to be obvious, especially if you have a reputation for subtlety.

Isaac Asimov -
- The three fundamental Rules of Robotics...One: a robot may not injure a human being, or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm...Two:..a robot must obey the orders given it by human beings except where such orders would conflict with the First Law...Three: a robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First and Second Laws.

Isaac Asimov - Salvor Hardin in "Foundation"
- Violence is the last refuge of the incompetent.

Isaac Asimov -
- If knowledge can create problems, it is not through ignorance that we can solve them.

Isaac Asimov -
- I do not fear computers. I fear the lack of them.

Isaac Asimov -
- Science can be introduced to children well or poorly. If poorly, children can be turned away from science; they can develop a lifelong antipathy; they will be in a far worse condition than if they had never been introduced to science at all.

Isaac Asimov -
- It pays to be obvious, especially if you have a reputation for subtlety.

Isaac Asimov - Prelude to Foundation, said by Hari Seldon
- Violence is the diplomacy of the incompetent.

Isaac Asimov -
- To surrender to ignorance and call it God has always been premature, and it remains premature today.

Isaac Asimov - Second Foundation - First Speaker
- The most hopelessly stupid man is he who is not aware that he is wise.

Isaac Asimov -
- Part of the inhumanity of the computer is that, once it is competently programmed and working smoothly, it is completely honest.

Isaac Asimov - Laws of Robotics from I. Robot, 1950
- One, a robot may not injure a human being, or through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm;
Two, a robot must obey the orders given it by human beings except where such orders would conflict with the First Law; Three, a robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Laws.

Isaac Asimov -
- No sensible decision can be made any longer without taking into account not only the world as it is, but the world as it will be. . ..

Isaac Asimov - Salvor Hardin in "Foundation"
- Violence is the last refuge of the incompetent.

Isaac Asimov -
- If knowledge can create problems, it is not through ignorance that we can solve them.