The Garden of Rama Quotes

“[T]hese leaders must not believe they are actually being watched, for their behavior in no way reflects the possible existence of a set of values or ethical laws that supersedes their own dominion.”
― Arthur C. Clarke, The Garden of Rama

“Jealousy is a terrible thing. “It doth mock the meat it feeds upon” is an understatement. Jealousy is completely consuming, totally irrational, and absolutely debilitating. The most wonderful people in the world are nothing but raging animals when trapped in the throes of jealousy.”
― Arthur C. Clarke, The Garden of Rama

“But the characteristic that is truly special about our species...[is] our ability to model our world and understand both it and where we fit into its overall scheme....”
― Arthur C. Clarke, The Garden of Rama

“We wanted you to have a feel for the size of your habitat, in case you needed that to be more comfortable with the design process.”
― Arthur C. Clarke, The Garden of Rama

“The human habitat continues to be dominated by individuals with characteristics decidedly different from the human contingent observed inside Rama II and at the Node.”
― Arthur C. Clarke, The Garden of Rama

“But you must remember you’re dealing with human beings. You can transport them to another world and give them a paradise, but they still come equipped with their fears and insecurities and cultural predilections.”
― Arthur C. Clarke, The Garden of Rama

“You see,” Nicole added, “the mythological Eden was a beginning, the start of what we might call our modern Western culture.”
― Arthur C. Clarke, The Garden of Rama

“Oh, joy of joys! We have found Richard! He is still alive! Just barely, for he is in a deep coma and has a high fever, but he is nevertheless alive.”
― Arthur C. Clarke, The Garden of Rama

“Why should I be? Nothing I have seen here in New Eden or on Earth suggests to me that humanity is capable of achieving harmony in its relationship with itself, much less with any other living creatures. Occasionally there is an individual, or even a group, that is able to transcend the basic genetic and environmental drawbacks of the species . . . But these people are miracles, certainly not the norm.”
― Arthur C. Clarke, The Garden of Rama

“The cause of suffering is desire,”
― Arthur C. Clarke, The Garden of Rama

“Speaking of whores,” Max said with a twinkle, “where’s all those convict women I saw on television? Whoo-eee, some of them were mighty fine. Damn sight better looking than my chickens and pigs.”
― Arthur C. Clarke, The Garden of Rama

“The most wonderful people in the world are nothing but raging animals when trapped in the throes of jealousy.”
― Arthur C. Clarke, The Garden of Rama

“Nothing I have seen here in New Eden or on Earth suggests to me that humanity is capable of achieving harmony in its relationship with itself, much less with any other living creatures.”
― Arthur C. Clarke, The Garden of Rama

“Please move forward,” the voice had interrupted.”
― Arthur C. Clarke, The Garden of Rama

“Take f(N) = N2—N + 41,” he continued, “where N is any integer from 0 through 40. That function will generate your entire sequence”
― Arthur C. Clarke, The Garden of Rama

“(Isn’t that human nature? Most of the time we want it to be better. When it’s as good as it can be, we want it to last forever),”
― Arthur C. Clarke, The Garden of Rama

“throughout the flight, but there”
― Arthur C. Clarke, The Garden of Rama