Ender's Game (Ender's Saga, #1)

by Orson Scott Card

The premise of Foundation seemed to be that even though you might change the props and the actors, the play of human history is always the same.

Human beings are free except when humanity needs them.

Home was merely a dull ache in the back of his memory.

It made Ender listen more carefully to what people meant, instead of what they said. It made him wise.

The world is always a democracy in times of flux, and the man with the best voice will win.

Now he knew what he hated so much. He had no control over his own life.

Perhaps it’s impossible to wear an identity without becoming what you pretend to be.

“If the other fellow can’t tell you his story, you can never be sure he isn’t trying to kill you.”

Humanity does not ask us to be happy. It merely asks us to be brilliant on its behalf. Survival first, then happiness as we can manage it.

We were so eager to grow up so we could fight in it, and it was us all the time.

“Welcome to the human race. Nobody controls his own life, Ender. The best you can do is choose to fill the roles given you by good people, by people who love you.

“I’ve lived too long with pain. I won’t know who I am without it.”