John Brunner quotes - page 6

John Brunner was a British science fiction author renowned for his innovative and socially critical novels. His works often explored themes such as overpopulation, environmentalism, and the impact of technology on society. He became especially famous for classic novels like "Stand on Zanzibar" and "The Sheep Look Up." Here are 156 of his quotes:

Western culture is undergoing a process of transition from guilt-oriented, with a conscience, to shame-oriented, with a morbid fear of being found out.

John Brunner

So what shape was the world in this morning? Even flatter than yesterday.

John Brunner

THIS BEACH NOT SAFE FOR SWIMMING NOT Drinking Water UNFIT FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION Now Wash Your Hands (Penalty for noncompliance $50) FILTERMASK DISPENSER Use product once only-maximum 1 hour OXYGEN 25¢.

John Brunner

One might as well claim that the tide which rubs pebbles smooth on a beach is doing the pebbles a service because being round is prettier than being jagged. It's of no concern to a pebble what shape it is. But it's very important to a person.

John Brunner

. . . and Dr. Isaiah Williams, whose body was recovered from a ravine near San Pablo. Inquiries are being hampered by what an Army spokesman termed the obstinate attitude of the local people. "They won't admit they know their left hands from their right,” he asserted. Here at home Senator Richard Howell (Rep., Col.) today launched a fierce attack on the quote chlorophyll addicts unquote who, he claims, are hamstringing American business, already staggering under the load of high unemployment and recession, by insisting that our manufacturers comply with regulations ignored by foreign competition. In Southern Italy rioting continues in many small towns formerly dependent on fishing. Meantime, dust storms in the Camargue . . .

John Brunner

HIPCRIME You committed one when you opened this book. Keep it up. It's our only hope. ::: - The Hipcrime Vocab by Chad C. Mulligan.

John Brunner

Joel groaned softly. "I-ah-I don't think I was altogether myself,” he excused. "Are you ever?” Bertrand countered. "What?” "I am always my self, even when my objurgatory circuits are cut in by some frustration-inducing outside event. But you're invariably either drunk or suffering indigestion or still half-asleep or so excited as to be manic or so downcast as to be suicidal or-” Loftily Joel broke in: "That's part of the marvel and wonder of the subjective human experience, not susceptible machine analysis.” He gulped the last of his brandy and set the glass aside. "And we are a fantastic species really, aren't we? For all our shortcomings! I mean, well-here I am talking to a machine, for pity's sake, a machine, a manufactured article! So cleverly designed, it's impossible to tell that its responses are programmed in, not the result of intelligence.”.

John Brunner

When the Everywhere couple crack a joke It's laughed at by all right-thinking folk. When the Everywhere couple adopt a pose It's the with-it view as everyone knows.

John Brunner

Whatever my country and whatever my name A gadget on the set makes me think the same.

John Brunner

Latro, California: "Terrible diarrhea, Doctor, and I feel so weak!”/”Take these pills and come back in three days if you're not better.” Parkington, Texas: "Terrible diarrhea....”/”Take these pills...” Hainesport, Louisiana: "Terrible...” "Take...” Baker Bay, Florida... Washington, DC.... Philadelphia, Pennsylvania... New York, New York... Boston, Massachusetts... Chicago, Illinois: "Doctor, I know it's Sunday, but the kid's in such a terrible state-you've got to help me!”/”Give him some junior aspirin and bring him to my office tomorrow. Goodbye.” EVERYWHERE, USA: a sudden upswing in orders for very small coffins, the right size to take a baby dead from acute infantile enteritis.

John Brunner

.. include prima facie but not ipso facto the following: (a) Homosexuality or gross indecency with another male person; (b) Possession of or trading in an illegal narcotic or other drug; (c) Living upon the earnings of prostitution; (d) Membership in the Communist Party or one of its front organizations (see schedule attached); (e) "Trainism”; (f) Advocating the violent overthrow of the government; (g) Slandering the President of the United States; (h)...

John Brunner

Special this week at your Puritan Health Supermarket! Okinawa squash, reg. $0.89 $0.75! Penguin eggs (low on DDT, PCB), reg. $6.35 doz. $6.05! Pacific potatoes (unwashed), reg. $0.89 lb. $0.69! Butter from sunny New Zealand, reg. $1.35 qrt. $1.15! YOU TOO CAN AFFORD GOOD HEALTH AT PURITAN!

John Brunner

So what do you think will happen?

John Brunner

It would have been a longer and slower job, I'm sure, and probably there would have been a high price to pay. But what is the price of freedom?

John Brunner

The whole of modern so-called civilised existence is an attempt to deny reality insofar as it exists. When did Don last look at the stars, when did Norman last get soaked in a rainstorm? The stars as far as these people are concerned are the Manhattan-pattern!

John Brunner

Rather painfully, we managed to digest Darwinian evolution so far as physical attributes were concerned within half a century of the initial controversy.

John Brunner

What are you going to do for a career?

John Brunner

And there are more idiots than suckers in the world,” Barney said with a rueful chuckle. "One every second, not one a minute, right?

John Brunner

He regarded himself as inhabiting a jungle in which behind masks of civilised behavior and conventional politeness everybody, doctor or not, was out for what he could get. No means of enhancing his reputation, status and income escaped him.

John Brunner

-If I ever get good at hospital politics, I think I shall start to hate myself.

John Brunner

I'm unattuned to happiness.

John Brunner

Rather painfully, we managed to digest Darwinian evolution so far as physical attributes were concerned within half a century of the initial controversy. (I say "we,” but if you're a Bible-thumping fundamentalist I expect you at this point to take the book by one corner at arm's length and ceremonially consign it to the place where you put most sensible ideas, along with everything else you decline to acknowledge the existence of, such as mainly shit.)

John Brunner