The Ringworld Engineers Quotes

“How much intelligence does it take to sneak up on a leaf?”
― Larry Niven, The Ringworld Engineers

“I need exercise and solitude. This time of confinement has threatened my sanity!”
― Larry Niven, The Ringworld Engineers

“He understood when the kzin kitten looked up at its parent and asked, "Is it good to eat?" The adult's eyes met Louis's eyes. Louis let his smile widen to show the teeth. The adult said, "No." In the confidence of four Man-Kzin wars plus some "incidents"—all centuries in the past, but all won by men—Louis grinned and nodded. You tell him, Daddy! Its safer to eat white arsenic than human meat!”
― Larry Niven, The Ringworld Engineers

“You will find superconducting wire and fabric stored aboard the lander. It is not the same superconductor the Ringworld used. The bacterium will not touch it. I thought we might need trade goods.”
― Larry Niven, The Ringworld Engineers

“Louis's excitement was growing unbearable. Was this really what he had needed all along? Not the droud and wire, but the risk of his life to prove its value! Louis adjusted his flying belt and dropped over the railing.”
― Larry Niven, The Ringworld Engineers

“Halrloprillalar's tale of the bacterium that eats superconductor is in our records," the Hindmost said.”
― Larry Niven, The Ringworld Engineers

“I'll have to get over this sooner or later, Louis thought. Why not now? A friend had taught him this cantrip, this bit of magic for recovering from shock or grief. Sometimes it worked.”
― Larry Niven, The Ringworld Engineers

“Why hadn't they built a lot of little Ringworlds instead?”
― Larry Niven, The Ringworld Engineers

“If you can find a way to stabilize this structure, do so." "Sure, your people could use the room." "If you should stabilize the Ringworld with help from my equipment, I want credit. I may want to ask a reward." Valavirgillin snarled and choked off a reply. Louis said quickly, "You'll get the credit you deserve.”
― Larry Niven, The Ringworld Engineers

“The empire purchased mines (by forced sale?), mined its own ore,”
― Larry Niven, The Ringworld Engineers

“Yes. No risk is insane now, given the position your insanity has put us in." Louis burst out laughing (a puppeteer teaching courage to Louis Wu?) and sobered as suddenly.”
― Larry Niven, The Ringworld Engineers

“Hindmost?" A head turned back. "Sometimes there's no point in giving up.”
― Larry Niven, The Ringworld Engineers

“Nothing lasts. You can't do any one thing for two hundred years. A marriage, a career, a hobby—they're good for twenty years, and maybe you go through a phase more than once. I did some experimental medicine. I wrote a big chunk of that documentary on the Trinoc culture that won a—”
― Larry Niven, The Ringworld Engineers

“Current addiction is the youngest of mankind's sins. At some time in their histories, most of the cultures of human space have seen the habit as a major scourge. It takes users from the labor market and leaves them to die of self-neglect.”
― Larry Niven, The Ringworld Engineers

“have precious little free will," he was saying. "We're too intelligent not to see the right answers.”
― Larry Niven, The Ringworld Engineers