Samuel R. Delany - Mind Quotes

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Bear in mind that the novel—no matter how intimate, psychological, or subjective—is always a historical projection of its own time.

Samuel R. Delany

A lesson which history should have taught us thousands of years ago was finally driven home. No man can wield absolute power over other men and still retain his own mind. For no matter how good his intentions are when he takes up the power, his alternate reason is that freedom, the freedom of other people and ultimately his own, terrifies him. Only a man afraid of freedom would want this power, who could conceive of wielding it. And that fear of freedom will turn him into a slave of this power.

Samuel R. Delany

What are you doing here? I asked at last.
Probably the same thing you are.
What's that?
She looked serious. Why don't you tell me?
I went back to my knife. Sharpening my machete.
I'm sharpening my mind, she said. There is something to be done that will require an edge on both.

Samuel R. Delany

Good writing is clear. Talented writing is energetic. Good writing avoids errors. Talented writing makes things happen in the reader's mind—vividly, forcefully...

Samuel R. Delany