Robert Sheckley - True Quotes

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You might say that, Flynn said, thus avoiding an outright lie, since anyone might say anything whether it was true or not.

Robert Sheckley
Evil, the priest said, after he had settled comfortably into Barrent's best chair, is that force within us which inspires men to acts of strength and endurance. The worship of Evil is essentially the worship of oneself, and therefore the only true worship. The self which one worships is the ideal social being; the man content in his niche in society, yet ready to grasp any opportunity for advancement; the man who meets death with dignity, who kills without the demeaning vice of pity. Evil is cruel, since it is a true reflection of the uncaring and insensate universe. Evil is eternal and unchanging, although it comes to us in the many forms of protean life.

Robert Sheckley
But Joenes then made a speech which was a beauty, and I cannot recall it word for word, but the idea was that laws are made by man and thus must partake of the evil nature of man, and that true morality lies in following the true dictates of the illuminated soul.
A Commie, huh? said the lead cop.

Robert Sheckley
Would you define Good for me, Citizen Abbot?
Certainly. Good is that force within us which inspires men to acts of conformity and subservience. The worship of Good is essentially the worship of oneself, and therefore the only true worship. The self which one worships is the ideal social being: the man content in his niche in society, yet ready to creatively advance his status. Good is gentle, since it is a true reflection of the loving and pitying universe. Good is continually changing in its aspects, although it comes to us in the... You have a strange look on your face, young man.
I'm sorry, Citizen Abbot. I believe I heard that sermon, or one very much like it.

Robert Sheckley
The only thing to think over was Me, of course. And the real problem about Me was, What was I supposed to do? Was I meant to be nothing but God? I had tried the God business and found it too limited. It was a job for a simple-minded egomaniac. There had to be something else for me to do—something more meaningful, more expressive of my true self. I'm convinced of it! That is my problem, and that is the question I ask of you: What am I to do with myself?

Robert Sheckley
The deed of dying transcends class and breeding. It is every man's patent of nobility, his summons from the king, his knightly adventure, the greatest deed of his life. And how he acquits himself in that lonely and perilous enterprise is his true measure as a man.

Robert Sheckley
I'm afraid not. According to the law, you must leave here at once.
But they'll kill me!
That's very true, Frendlyer said. Unfortunately, it can't be helped. A victim, by definition, is one who is to be killed.
I thought this was a protective organization.
It is. But we protect rights, not victims. Your rights are not being violated.

Robert Sheckley
For Polletti, experience had brought only the bitter residue of pleasure which is the true essence of disenchantment. Certain delights which in his youth had seemed unique and unobtainable had turned out, upon acquisition, to be infinitely and drearily repeatable.

Robert Sheckley