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Anyone unable to understand how a useful religion can be founded on lies will not understand this book either.
After the thing went off, after it was a sure thing that America could wipe out a city with just one bomb, a scientist turned to Father and said, ‘Science has now known sin.’ And do you know what Father said? He said, ‘What is sin?’
New knowledge is the most valuable commodity on earth. The more truth we have to work with, the richer we become.”
Pure research men work on what fascinates them, not on what fascinates other people.”
It was the belief of Bokonon that good societies could be built only by pitting good against evil, and by keeping the tension between the two high at all times.
“People have to talk about something just to keep their voice boxes in working order, so they’ll have good voice boxes in case there’s ever anything really meaningful to say.”
“McCabe was always sane enough to realize that without the holy man to war against, he himself would become meaningless.
Tiger got to hunt, Bird got to fly; Man got to sit and wonder, “Why, why, why?” Tiger got to sleep, Bird got to land; Man got to tell himself he understand.
“I agree with one Bokononist idea. I agree that all religions, including Bokononism, are nothing but lies.”
“What Can a Thoughtful Man Hope for Mankind on Earth, Given the Experience of the Past Million Years?” It doesn’t take long to read The Fourteenth Book. It consists of one word and a period. This is it: “Nothing.”
“Perhaps, when we remember wars, we should take off our clothes and paint ourselves blue and go on all fours all day long and grunt like pigs. That would surely be more appropriate than noble oratory and shows of flags and well-oiled guns.
“This wreath I bring is a gift from the people of one country to the people of another. Never mind which countries. Think of people…. “And children murdered in war … “And any country at all. “Think of peace. “Think of brotherly love. “Think of plenty. “Think of what a paradise this world would be if men were kind and wise.
