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Kindle Notes & Highlights
The reaction of one man could be forecast by no known mathematics; the reaction of a billion is something else again.
This principle of Seldon’s psychohistory is part of what makes the concept compelling (compelling as a tool in his book). He doesn’t just adopt determinism, he respects free will. He is developing a system where, somehow, free will is acknowledged but all the geeky sci-fi mathematics of determinism can still be utilized. It also allows for suspense/conflict which is naturally there between the two contradictory ideas (what one will win?).
the essential point in running a risk is that the returns justify it.
The mathematics/logic of risk in general is a topic he likes, and so do I!
“Attack now or never; with a single ship, or all the force in the Empire; by military force or economic pressure; by candid declaration of war or by treacherous ambush. Do whatever you wish in your fullest exercise of freewill. You will still lose.” “Because of Hari Seldon’s dead hand?” “Because of the dead hand of the mathematics of human behavior that can neither be stopped, swerved, nor delayed.” The two faced each other in deadlock, until the general stepped back. He said simply, “I’ll take that challenge. It’s a dead hand against a living will.”
This is the “who will win?” suspense he creates with his psychohistory. I wish the General was fleshed out more, cause this passage is worthy of a great character.
there is a difference between boldness and blindness. There is a place for a decisive gamble when you know your enemy and can calculate the risks at least roughly; but to move at all against an unknown enemy is boldness in itself. You might as well ask why the same man sprints safely across an obstacle course in the day, and falls over the furniture in his room at night.”
Another risk logic passage. This metaphor is great!
If, from a distance of seven thousand parsecs, the fall of Kalgan to the armies of the Mule had produced reverberations that had excited the curiosity of an old Trader, the apprehension of a dogged captain, and the annoyance of a meticulous mayor—to those on Kalgan itself, it produced nothing and excited no one. It is the invariable lesson to humanity that distance in time, and in space as well, lends focus. It is not recorded, incidentally, that the lesson has ever been permanently learned.
This is the “epic” writing style mention. It reminds me of how Victor Hugo writes. The principle drawn out by example, with clever/witty lines, followed up by the foot note and dig at the general state of the world.
Its ruler proved beyond doubt that he was determined to defend what was his and eager to seize what was others’.
A clever line to sum up politicians!
“Were I to use the wits the good Spirits gave me,” he said, “then I would say this lady cannot exist—for what sane man would hold a dream to be reality. Yet rather would I not be sane and lend belief to charmed, enchanted eyes.”
This is the clown, magnifico, talking in riddles. It took me a few reads to comprehend this one.
Inevitably, he said, “What is the meaning of this?” It is the precise question and the precise wording thereof that has been put to the atmosphere on such occasions by an incredible variety of men since humanity was invented. It is not recorded that it has ever been asked for any purpose other than dignified effect.
It is but a poor makeshift I have created, but my mind’s poverty precludes more. I call it ‘The Memory of Heaven.’ ”
It’s a mass psychosis, an unprintable mob panic. Ga-LAX-y, Randu, what do you expect? Here you have a whole culture brought up to a blind, blubbering belief that a folk hero of the past has everything all planned out and is taking care of every little piece of their unprintable lives. The thought-pattern evoked has religious characteristics, and you know what that means.” “Not a bit.” Mis was not enthusiastic about the necessity of explanation. He never was. So he growled, stared at the long cigar he rolled thoughtfully between his fingers, and said, “Characterized by strong faith reactions.
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The mixture of faith in “science” always can hit home I guess with parallels in today’s society. As a side note, this character saying “Ga-LAX-y” in speech, I finally settled on a Lando Calrissian vibe in my mind.
“When Seldon fails us, in other words, our prop disappears, and we’ve been leaning upon it so long, our muscles are atrophied to where we cannot stand without it.”
Secondhand thinking
Surrounded by the mechanical perfections of human efforts, encircled by the industrial marvels of mankind freed of the tyranny of environment—they returned to the land. In the huge traffic clearings, wheat and corn grew. In the shadow of the towers, sheep grazed.
I love this passage as a tribute to progress and man made technology, as opposed to the philosophy that praises natural that is prevalent today. Today, it’s more likely that the buildings are tyranny in passages like this.
