Alfred Bester quotes

Alfred Bester was an American science fiction author and scriptwriter, renowned for his innovative storytelling and psychological depth. His works, such as "The Demolished Man" and "The Stars My Destination," are considered milestones in the genre. He influenced generations of writers and helped shape the development of modern science fiction. Here are 25 of his quotes:

We always do what's natural, only sometimes we shouldn't do it.

Alfred Bester

That's me," he said, motioning to the robot. "That's all of us. We prattle about free will, but we're nothing but response...mechanical reaction in prescribed grooves.

Alfred Bester

Damn you!" Dagenham raged, "Don't you realize that you can't trust people? They don't know enough for their own good.” "Then let them learn or die. We're all in this together. Let's live or die together.

Alfred Bester

Millions for nonsense, but not one cent for entropy.

Alfred Bester

The man who gives his own decisions priority over society is a criminal.

Alfred Bester

The whole point of extravagance is to act like a fool and feel like a fool, but enjoy it.

Alfred Bester

Yes, 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 all betray ourselves.

Alfred Bester

Revenge is for dreams...never for reality.

Alfred Bester

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

Alfred Bester

Neither of us is very trustworthy, eh?” "Pfutz!” Reich said emphatically. "We don't play girl's rules. We play for keeps, both of us. It's the cowards and weaklings and sore-losers who hide behind rules and fair play.” "What about honor and ethics?” "We've got honor in us, but it's our own code...not the make-believe rules some frightened little man wrote for the rest of the frightened little men. Every man's got his own honor and ethics, and so long as he sticks to 'em, who's anybody else to point the finger? You may not like his ethics, but you've no right to call him unethical.

Alfred Bester

Be grateful that you only see the outward man. Be grateful that you never see the passions, the hatreds, the jealousies, the malice, the sicknesses... Be grateful you rarely see the frightening truth in people.

Alfred Bester

Most science fiction, quite frankly, is silly nonsense.

Alfred Bester

Gully Foyle is my name And Terra is my nation. Deep space is my dwelling place, The stars my destination.

Alfred Bester

Faith in faith' he answered himself. 'It isn't necessary to have something to believe in. It's only necessary to believe that somewhere there's something worthy of belief.

Alfred Bester

He awoke. He was alive. He wasted no time on prayer or thanks but continued the business of survival.

Alfred Bester

Powell repressed the wave of exasperation that rose up in him. It was not exasperation with Chooka. It was anger for the relentless force of evolution that insisted on endowing man with increased powers without removing the vestigial vices that prevented him from using them.

Alfred Bester

Now, these men weren't idiots. They were geniuses who paid a high price for their genius because the rest of their thinking was other-world. A genius is someone who travels to truth by an unexpected path. Unfortunately, unexpected paths lead to disaster in everyday life.

Alfred Bester

It's obvious we can't all be a Gully Foyle, but most of us energize at such a low level, so far short of our real capabilities, we could all be more, do more.

Alfred Bester

A genius is someone who travels to truth by an unexpected path. Unfortunately, unexpected paths lead to disaster in everyday life.

Alfred Bester

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

Alfred Bester

Don't ask the world to stop moving because you have doubts.

Alfred Bester

Wait,” Foyle commanded. He looked at the beaming grin engraved in the steel robot face. "But society can be so stupid. So confused. You've witnessed this conference.” "Yes, sir, but you must teach, not dictate. You must teach society.” "To space-jaunte? Why? Why reach out to the stars and galaxies? What for?” "Because you're alive, sir. You might as well ask: Why is life? Don't ask about it. Live it.” "Quite mad,” Dagenham muttered. "But fascinating,” Y'ang-Yeovil murmured. "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 world to stop moving because you have doubts.” "Why can't we all move forward together?” "Because you're all different. You're not lemmings. Some must lead, and hope that the rest will follow.” "Who leads?” "The men who must ... driven men, compelled men.” "Freak men.” "You're all freaks, sir. But you always have been freaks. Life is a freak. That's its hope and glory.” "Thank you very much.

Alfred Bester