Childhood's End

by Arthur C. Clarke

Helena Lyakhov

Helena Lyakhov

Mohan Kaleer

Mohan Kaleer

with complete lack of self-consciousness, towards the gangway and into history.

All that is required for the task are a sound knowledge of social engineering, a clear sight of the intended goal – and power.

‘All political problems,’ Karellen had once told Stormgren, ‘can be solved by the correct application of power.’

For it’s the application of the power, not its amount, that matters.

there was nothing sinful in leisure as long as it did not degenerate into mere sloth.

man’s beliefs were his own affair, so long as they did not interfere with the liberty of others.

Utopia was here at last: its novelty had not yet been assailed by the supreme enemy of all Utopias – boredom.

feel alcoholically amorous,

And the evidence is confused with mysticism – perhaps the prime aberration of the human mind.’

‘Where do we go from here?’

All the rest of his life would be spent in vain regrets – and nothing could be worse than that.

When one possessed such power and such resources, one could not be bothered with minor economies …

The planets you may one day possess. But the stars are not for man.’

‘The stars are not for man.’

nothing is more stimulating than the conflict of minds with similar interests.

But they knew in their hearts that once science had declared a thing possible, there was no escape from its eventual realization …

for the heart of any race is destroyed, and its will to survive is utterly broken, when its children are taken from it.

science was the only real religion of mankind.

and it had destroyed all other faiths.

It is my hope that humanity will go to its rest in peace, knowing that it has not lived in vain.

The great doors began to close. And in that moment Fey lifted up her muzzle and gave a low, desolate moan. She turned her beautiful, limpid eyes towards George, and he knew that she had lost her master. He had no rival now.