Mortal Engines Quotes

“Science does not concern itself with those properties of existence to which ridiculousness belongs. Science explains the world, but only Art can reconcile us to it. What do we really know about the origin of the Universe? A blank so wide can be filled with myths and legends. I wished, in my mythologizing, to reach the limits of improbability, and I believe that I came close. You know this already, therefore what you really wanted to ask was if the Universe is indeed ludicrous. But that question each must answer for himself.”
― Stanisław Lem, Mortal Engines: Astonishing Sci-Fi Tales About Artificial Intelligence and the Surprising Humanity of Sentient Machines

“And then, with a sound not heard but sensed, a tenuous string snapped within me and I, a she now, felt the rush of gender so violent, that her head spun and I shut my eyes. And as I stood thus, with eyes closed, words came to me from every side, for along with gender she had received language.”
― Stanisław Lem, Mortal Engines: Astonishing Sci-Fi Tales About Artificial Intelligence and the Surprising Humanity of Sentient Machines

“True, the imperfection of biological evolution’, I began, but he didn’t let me finish. ‘Imperfection?!’ he snorted. ‘Droppings! Trash! An outright botch-job! If you can’t do something right, you shouldn’t do it at all!’ ‘Not that I want to make excuses’, I said quickly, ‘but Nature, don’t forget, worked with what it had at hand. In the primordial sea …’ ‘Garbage floated!!’ he roared so loud, I winced. ‘Isn’t that right? A star exploded, planets formed, and from the dregs, which couldn’t be used for anything, from those gobbets and scraps life arose! Enough, no more! No more of these pudgy suns, inane galaxies, this mucilage that has a soul – enough!”
― Stanisław Lem, Mortal Engines

“Nosotros contamos la verdad por cuanto en los cuentos siempre triunfa la verdad.”
― Stanisław Lem, Mortal Engines: Astonishing Sci-Fi Tales About Artificial Intelligence and the Surprising Humanity of Sentient Machines

“Among the maniacs things were more cheerful, a group of them sat by iron beds, playing on the springs like harps and singing in chorus; “We ain’t got no ma or pa, ’cause we is au-tom-a-ta,” also “Ro, ro, ro your bot, gently down the stream,” and so forth.”
― Stanisław Lem, Mortal Engines

“El cosmos es infinito y sin fronteras, y tampoco tiene límites su odio, y cada día, cada hora, puede alcanzarnos”
― Stanisław Lem , Mortal Engines: Astonishing Sci-Fi Tales About Artificial Intelligence and the Surprising Humanity of Sentient Machines