Arthur C. Clarke Quotes

In accordance with the terms of the Clarke-Asimov treaty, the second-bestscience writer dedicates this book to the second-best science-fictionwriter.[dedication to Isaac Asimov from Arthur C. Clarke in his book Report on Planet Three]

~ Arthur C. Clarke

He had a suspicion of plausible answers, they were so often wrong.

~ Arthur C. Clarke

Excessive interest in pathological behavior was itself pathological

~ Arthur C. Clarke

Many of the fundamental physical constants-which as far as one could see, God could have given any value He liked-are in fact very precised adjusted, or fine-tuned, to produce the only kind of Universe that makes our existence possible.

~ Arthur C. Clarke

Never attribute to malevolence what is merely due to incompetence

~ Arthur C. Clarke

Whether we are based on carbon or on silicon makes no fundamental difference, we should each be treated with appropriate respect.

~ Arthur C. Clarke

The limits of the possible can only be defined by going beyond them into the impossible.

~ Arthur C. Clarke

The only way to discover the limits of the possible is to go beyond them into the impossible.

~ Arthur C. Clarke

Sometimes I think we're alone in the universe, and sometimes I think we're not. In either case the idea is quite staggering.

~ Arthur C. Clarke

Perhaps, as some wit remarked, the best proof that there is Intelligent Life in Outer Space is the fact it hasn't come here. Well, it can't hide forever - one day we will overhear it.

~ Arthur C. Clarke

Reading computer manuals without the hardware is as frustrating as reading sex manuals without the software.

~ Arthur C. Clarke

How inappropriate to call this planet Earth when it is quite clearly Ocean.

~ Arthur C. Clarke

Human judges can show mercy. But against the laws of nature, there is no appeal.

~ Arthur C. Clarke

If an elderly but distinguished scientist says that something is possible, he is almost certainly right; but if he says that it is impossible, he is very probably wrong.

~ Arthur C. Clarke

This is the first age that's ever paid much attention to the future, which is a little ironic since we may not have one.

~ Arthur C. Clarke

The greatest tragedy in mankind's entire history may be the hijacking of morality by religion.

~ Arthur C. Clarke

I don't believe in God but I'm very interested in her.

~ Arthur C. Clarke

New ideas pass through three periods: 1) It can't be done. 2) It probably can be done, but it's not worth doing. 3) I knew it was a good idea all along!

~ Arthur C. Clarke

I have a fantasy where Ted Turner is elected President but refuses because he doesn't want to give up power.

~ Arthur C. Clarke

It may be that our role on this planet is not to worship God - but to create him.

~ Arthur C. Clarke

I don't pretend we have all the answers. But the questions are certainly worth thinking about.

~ Arthur C. Clarke

It is not easy to see how the more extreme forms of nationalism can long survive when men have seen the Earth in its true perspective as a single small globe against the stars.

~ Arthur C. Clarke

The best measure of a man's honesty isn't his income tax return. It's the zero adjust on his bathroom scale.

~ Arthur C. Clarke

Our lifetime may be the last that will be lived out in a technological society.

~ Arthur C. Clarke