"The universe (according to my calculations) is 97% matter and 3% dark matter. The remaining 100% is antimatter."
This quote by Daniel H. Wilson is a humorous take on the scientific understanding of the universe's composition. In reality, the universe consists mainly of dark energy (68%) and dark matter (27%), with the remaining 5% being ordinary matter that makes up everything we can see, like stars, planets, and atoms. The humor lies in Wilson's creative interpretation, suggesting that all the unknown components of the universe make up 100%, while antimatter, which is not a significant component in the universe, is cleverly incorporated as a playful twist.
"In a world without people, there are no heroes." - Helecor (from the novel 'Robopocalypse')
This quote emphasizes that the concept of heroism is deeply rooted in human society. In a world devoid of humans, there can be no heroes because heroes are individuals who display exceptional courage or ability to aid others, a characteristic only possible among sentient beings capable of empathy and selflessness – traits typically associated with humans. The quote underscores the central role of humanity in shaping heroic narratives, reinforcing the idea that heroism is an inherently human construct and experience.
"The only way to make sense out of change is to plunge into it, move with it, and join the dance."
This quote by Daniel H. Wilson encourages embracing change instead of fearing or resisting it. The metaphor "join the dance" suggests that we should not just observe change passively, but actively engage with it and move in harmony with its rhythm. In other words, rather than being disrupted or upset by change, we should learn to adapt and find ways to thrive within it. This mindset promotes resilience, growth, and progress.
"The first rule of survival: the machine that will get you killed is the one you can't see." - Archivist (from the novel 'Robopocalypse')
This quote emphasizes that in situations of survival, particularly when dealing with technology or artificial entities, the greatest danger often comes from unseen forces or threats. It suggests we should always be vigilant about potential risks, especially those that are not immediately obvious to our senses or understanding, as they can pose a significant threat to our well-being and existence.
"You cannot teach paranoia; it comes from within." - Vincent (from the movie 'Bicentennial Man')
This quote implies that paranoia, a persistent feeling of suspicion or mistrust toward others without justification, is an inherent, personal characteristic rather than something that can be taught or learned. It suggests that one's inclination to suspect others stems from internal factors such as past experiences, personality traits, or individual perspectives, and cannot be instilled by external means.
I was writing a scene where a guy was choking another guy to death. You can go online and type 'chokeholds' and watch scenes where martial artists choke each other out. You can hear what noises they make when they go unconscious, see how their bodies flop and everything. YouTube is amazing for the more detailed stuff.
- Daniel H. Wilson
Looking ahead, future generations may learn their social skills from robots in the first place. The cute yellow Keepon robot from Carnegie Mellon University has shown the ability to facilitate social interactions with autistic children. Morphy at the University of Washington happily teaches gestures to children by demonstration.
- Daniel H. Wilson
You write about what you know. It makes everything easier, and also more truthful. In this case, I grew up in Oklahoma, and I grew up in the Cherokee Nation and I'm a member of the Cherokee Tribe. Oddly enough, I know a lot about robots and Oklahoma, and so that's what comes out in my writing.
- Daniel H. Wilson
Over the past 50 years we got versions of X-ray specs and space vacations, and even death rays. But the X-ray specs don't fit on your face - they're big things that screen your luggage for guns. Space vacations are real, but they cost $20 million. We have death rays, but you have to be a triple Ph.D. to play with them.
- Daniel H. Wilson
The poster boy for our superabled future is Oscar Pistorius, an increasingly famous South African sprinter who happens to have had both of his legs amputated below the knee. Using upside down question mark-shaped carbon fiber sprinting prosthetics, called Cheetah blades, Mr. Pistorius can challenge the fastest sprinters in the world.
- Daniel H. Wilson
In my books the technology that I choose to talk about has to serve the themes. What that means is that I end up having to cut out a lot of cool technology that would be really fun to describe and play with, but which would just confuse everybody. So in 'Amped,' I focus on neural implants.
- Daniel H. Wilson
If you're searching for quotes on a different topic, feel free to browse our Topics page or explore a diverse collection of quotes from various Authors to find inspiration.