Foundation's Edge (Foundation, #4)

by Isaac Asimov

‘Never let your sense of morals keep you from doing what is right.’

When one’s home has a really excellent computer capable of reaching other computers anywhere in the Galaxy, one scarcely needs to budge, you know.

“It seems to me, Golan, that the advance of civilization is nothing but an exercise in the limiting of privacy.”

All you have to do is take a close look at yourself and you will understand everyone else.

You show me someone who can’t understand people and I’ll show you someone who has built up a false image of himself—no

‘The closer to the truth, the better the lie, and the truth itself, when it can be used, is the best lie.’

you are never too old to learn more than you already know and to become able to do more than you already can.

All humanity could share a common insanity and be immersed in a common illusion while living in a common chaos.

“The robots were deeply indoctrinated with what are called the Three Laws of Robotics, which date back into prehistory. There are several versions of what those Three Laws might have been. The orthodox view has the following reading: ‘1) A robot may not harm a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm; 2) A robot must obey the orders given it by human beings, except where such orders would conflict with the First Law; 3) A robot must protect its own existence, as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law.’

“As robots grew more intelligent and versatile, they interpreted these Laws, especially the all-overriding First, more and more generously and assumed, to a greater and greater degree, the role of protector of humanity. The protection stifled people and grew unbearable.

Societies create their own history and tend to wipe out lowly beginnings, either by forgetting them or inventing totally fictitious heroic rescues.

“We abandoned the appearance of power to preserve the essence of it.”