Iain Banks quotes - page 6
Iain Banks was a Scottish author known for his remarkable works in both mainstream fiction and science fiction under the name Iain M. Banks. His novels are celebrated for their imaginative plots, dark humor, and philosophical depth. He left a lasting legacy in modern literature with influential books such as "The Wasp Factory" and the Culture series. Here are 188 of his quotes:
And coincidence convinces the credulous. Two things happen at the same time, or one after another, and we assume there must be a link; well, we sacrificed a virgin last year, and there was a good harvest. Of course the ceremony to raise the sun works-it comes up every morning, doesn't it? I say my prayers each night and the world hasn't ended yet...
Dung beetle thinking. Life is too complicated for there not to be continual coincidences, and we just have to come to terms with the fact that they merely happen and aren't ordained, that some things occur for no real reason whatsoever, and that this is not a punishment and that is not a reward. Good grief; the most copper-bottomed, platinum-card proof of divine intervention, of some holy masterplan, would be if there were no coincidences at all! That really would look suspicious.
Iain Banks
It was just like some ancient electricity-powered computer; it didn't matter how fast, error-free, and tireless it was, it didn't matter how great a labor-saving boon it was, it didn't matter what it could do or how many different ways it could amaze; if you pulled its plug out, or just hit the off button, all it became was a lump of matter; all its programs became just settings, dead instructions, and all its computations vanished as quickly as they'd moved.
It was, also, like the dependency of the human-basic brain on the human-basic body; no matter how intelligent, perceptive and gifted you were, no matter how entirely you lived for the ascetic rewards of the intellect and eschewed the material world and the ignobility of the flesh, if your heart just gave out...
That was the Dependency Principle; that you could never forget where your off switches were located, even if it was somewhere tiresome.
Iain Banks
Tell me, suit, don't you wonder if it's all worth it?'
"If what's all worth what?” it says, and I can hear that condescending tone in its voice again.
"You know; living. Is it worth all the... bother?”
"No.”
"No?”
"No, I don't ever wonder about it.”
"Why not?” I'm keeping my questions short as we walk, conserving energy and breath.
"I don't need to wonder about that. It's not important.
Iain Banks
They spend time. That's just it. They spend time traveling. The time weighs heavily on them because they lack any context, any valid framework for their lives. They persist in hoping that something they think they'll find in the place they're heading for will somehow provide them with a fulfilment they feel certain they deserve and yet have never come close to experiencing.
Iain Banks
Iain Banks
Photo:
TimDuncan,
CC BY-SA 3.0
Occupation: Scottish Writer
Born: February 16, 1954
Died: June 9, 2013
Quotes count: 188
Wikipedia: Iain Banks
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