David Brin Quotes

A collection of quotes by David Brin.

David Brin is an acclaimed American science fiction writer, scientist, and futurist, known for his thought-provoking novels and short stories. Born on October 6, 1950, in Glendale, California, Brin developed a passion for storytelling and science from an early age. He earned a bachelor's degree in astrophysics from the California Institute of Technology and later completed a Ph.D. in space physics from the University of California, San Diego.

Brin's writing career took off with the publication of his debut novel "Sundiver" in 1980, which introduced readers to the Uplift Universe, a complex universe where humans uplift other species to sentience. This theme of uplift became a recurring theme in much of his work. He gained widespread recognition for his most famous novel, "The Postman," published in 1985, which was adapted into a motion picture starring Kevin Costner.

Known for his distinctive blend of hard science fiction and socio-political themes, Brin has been lauded for his ability to infuse his stories with provocative ideas and meticulous scientific accuracy. His works often explore themes such as transparency, privacy, and the impact of technology on society. His notable works include the "Uplift" series, the "Startide Rising" trilogy, and the award-winning "Earth."

In addition to his writing, Brin has also been actively involved in scientific research, focusing on space exploration, interstellar flight, and SETI (Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence). He has contributed numerous articles and essays to popular publications, sharing his insights on a wide range of topics including artificial intelligence, climate change, and the role of science fiction in shaping the future.

Overall, David Brin's contributions to science fiction and his dedication to blending science and fiction have made him a highly respected figure within the genre, earning him multiple Hugo, Nebula, and Locus awards over his career. His works continue to captivate readers and encourage thought-provoking conversations about our future.

If there are still honest-smart men and women within those o

If there are still honest-smart men and women within those old and noble traditions, they should think carefully, observe and diagnose the illness. They should face the contradiction. Discuss the conflation. And then do as Warren Buffett and Bill Gates and many others have done. Choose the miracle of creative competition over an idolatry of cash.They should stand up..

David Brin

Science Competition Economics Free Market

I hate the whole ubermensch, superman temptation that pervad

I hate the whole ubermensch, superman temptation that pervades science fiction. I believe no protagonist should be so competent, so awe-inspiring, that a committee of 20 really hard-working, intelligent people couldn't do the same thing.

David Brin

Science People

Creative people see Prometheus in a mirror, never Pandora.

Creative people see Prometheus in a mirror, never Pandora.

David Brin

Science

...where were answers to the truly deep questions? Religion

...where were answers to the truly deep questions? Religion promised those, though always in vague terms, while retreating from one line in the sand to the next. Don't look past this boundary, they told Galileo, then Hutton, Darwin, Von Neumann, and Crick, always retreating with great dignity before the latest scientific advance, then drawing the next holy perimeter at the shadowy rim of knowledge.

David Brin

Religion Science Knowledge Questions Scientists

My education and background thoroughly inform my writing.

My education and background thoroughly inform my writing.

David Brin

Education

Predicting has a spotty record in science fiction. I've had

Predicting has a spotty record in science fiction. I've had some failures. On the other hand, I also predicted the fall of the Berlin Wall and the rise of fundamentalist Islam... and I'm not happy to be right in all of those cases.

David Brin

Science

There's no doubt that scientific training helps many authors

There's no doubt that scientific training helps many authors to write better science fiction. And yet, several of the very best were English majors who could not parse a differential equation to save their lives.

David Brin

Science

But honestly, if you do a rigorous survey of my work, I'll b

But honestly, if you do a rigorous survey of my work, I'll bet you'll find that biology is a theme far more often than physical science.

David Brin

Science

Change is the principal feature of our age and literature sh

Change is the principal feature of our age and literature should explore how people deal with it. The best science fiction does that, head-on.

David Brin

Science

The worst mistake of first contact, made throughout history

The worst mistake of first contact, made throughout history by individuals on both sides of every new encounter, has been the unfortunate habit of making assumptions. It often proved fatal.

David Brin

History

It is said that power corrupts, but actually it's more true

It is said that power corrupts, but actually it's more true that power attracts the corruptible. The sane are usually attracted by other things than power.

David Brin

Power