Quotes From "Foundation" By Isaac Asimov

Never let your sense of morals prevent you from doing what is right. Isaac Asimov

And just how did you arrive at that remarkable conclusion, Mr. Mayor?""In a rather simple way. It merely required the use of that much-neglected commodity -- common sense. You see, there is a branch of human knowledge known as symbolic logic, which can be used to prune away all sorts of clogging deadwood that clutters up human language."" What about it?" said Fulham."I applied it. Among other things, I applied it to this document here. I didn't really need to for myself because I knew what it was all about, but I think I can explain it more easily to five physical scientists by symbols rather than by words." Hardin removed a few sheets of paper from the pad under his arm and spread them out. "I didn't do this myself, by the way, " he said. "Muller Holk of the Division of Logic has his name signed to the analyses, as you can see." Pirenne leaned over the table to get a better view and Hardin continued: "The message from Anacreon was a simple problem, naturally, for the men who wrote it were men of action rather than men of words. It boils down easily and straightforwardly to the unqualified statement, when in symbols is what you see, and which in words, roughly translated is, 'You give us what we want in a week, or we take it by force.'" There was silence as the five members of the Board ran down the line of symbols, and then Pirenne sat down and coughed uneasily. Hardin said, "No loophole, is there, Dr. Pirenne?""Doesn't seem to be. Isaac Asimov

I shall not be alive a half decade hence, ” said Seldon, “and yet it is of overpowering concern to me. Call it idealism. Call it an identification of myself with that mystical generalization to which we refer by the term, ‘man. Isaac Asimov

Past glories are poor feeding. Isaac Asimov

In the empty expanses of space, the wandering traders need men like myself to care for the spiritual side of a life so given over to commerce, and worldly pursuits. Isaac Asimov

Weak emperors mean strong viceroys. Isaac Asimov

Violence is the last refuge of the incompetent. Isaac Asimov

Courtiers don't take wagers against the king's skill. There is a deadly danger of winning Isaac Asimov

Somewhere on the world was the Emperor's palace, set amid one hundred square miles of natural soil, rainbowed with flowers. Isaac Asimov

Not to wish too hard for a shift in circumstances since it never happens as you imagine. Ann Aguirre