John Barnes quotes - page 2

It is characteristic of information that it can be stolen an all but unlimited number of times. (John Barnes)
Too bad about all those people, but as Hassan says, compassion speaks well of its holder but does little for its recipient. View quote
John Barnes
He's stunned numb when she takes his hand and says, "Let's give it a try. I've been thinking maybe I don't bend enough or try to see anyone else's point of view.”. View quote
John Barnes
I know I pretend to be the apolitical businessman a lot, but the reality is that like anybody who's interested in getting people together with the things they need and want, I have an agenda. I want people to get what they want, and I want them ideally to get it fro me, but most of all I want them to be free to want it and to make offers to get it. Those poor stupid fanatics have ben sold on the idea that what they want is the ability to give themselves a little priggish congratulations over having done the right thing. They'd rather be right than happy. More importantly, they'd rather that I be right than happy and they're not about to leave the choice up to me. I say, let ‘em die, and I hope it's slow and it hurts. View quote
John Barnes
Work does not cause money; getting paid causes money. View quote
John Barnes
With diligent effort he has established that there is no statistical basis for Murphy's Law. He has also established that he believes in it anyway. View quote
John Barnes
Shan had always said that in any multiple choice about human motivation, the real answer was always "all of the above." View quote
John Barnes
Once I'm dead, I can afford to be patient. View quote
John Barnes
The only thing Carla has ever learned to like about dealing with power is how easy it is to embarrass people who have it. View quote
John Barnes
Human beings always say they prefer peace, but it takes a saint to talk us into not assaulting our neighbors. View quote
John Barnes
Philosophic clarity has been a key to his life in business, and he doesn't fall for facile or self-flattering descriptions-not even, usually, for the self-flattery of thinking he is immune to self-flattery. (John Barnes)
They're so dedicated to logic and reason that common sense hasn't got much to do with it. View quote
John Barnes
Other people say that their parents are the same way whenever there's bad news from whatever patch of dirt they came from, but being common still doesn't mean it makes any sense. After all, it was twenty years ago, and if the adults were going to get so upset about having everything smashed up, they shouldn't have had a war or tolerated AIDS for so long that they gave it the chance to turn into mutAIDS, or allowed the climate disequilibration to get so far out of hand. Honestly, they remind me of the three-year-olds in the nursery, smashing things to bits and then crying because they're broken. I certainly hope I'm not that kind of a moron when I'm that old. View quote
John Barnes
Papa always says there's room for everyone, but some people certainly take theirs up without making it interesting. View quote
John Barnes
Finally I asked, "Um, Tom-are the uh, Alien Artifacts really art, or did you just say that to hassle Mother?” "They have to be art. Remember the First Law of Anthropology: if they're doing something you don't understand, it's either an isolated lunatic, a religious ritual, or art.”. View quote
John Barnes
There's just no fight left in her; that's what happens when you really believe in something, and find out that it was never true. View quote
John Barnes
Don't get mad, and don't waste time getting even. View quote
John Barnes