David Gerrold Quotes

Powerful David Gerrold for Daily Growth

About David Gerrold

David Gerrold (born August 24, 1954), an American science fiction author, scriptwriter, and editor, is renowned for his significant contributions to the genre. Born in New York City, he grew up in the Bronx, developing a love for storytelling and science fiction from an early age. His passion was ignited by works of notable authors such as Isaac Asimov, Robert A. Heinlein, and Ray Bradbury. Gerrold's professional career began in 1967 when his short story "A Life for the Stars" won a science fiction writing contest conducted by World's Fair U.S.A. at New York City's World's Fair. This marked his first published work. In 1973, Gerrold penned "The Trouble with Tribbles," a Star Trek episode that has become one of the most beloved in the series. Throughout the 1970s and '80s, Gerrold wrote numerous novels, short stories, and scripts for various science fiction projects, including the Time Scape series, The Man-Who-Fell-to-Earth, Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, and Land of the Lost. One of his most notable works is "The Martian Time-Slip" (1964), a novel that explores themes of humanity, environmentalism, and time travel. The book received the Hugo Award for Best Novel in 1965, making Gerrold one of the youngest authors to ever win this prestigious science fiction honor at age 10. In addition to his writing career, Gerrold has been active as a speaker, teacher, and editor, helping to shape the landscape of science fiction literature for future generations. Today, he remains an influential figure in the world of science fiction, continuing to create engaging stories that inspire readers across the globe.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"The ultimate tragedy is not the struggle, but its silence."

This quote by David Gerrold suggests that the greatest sorrow isn't enduring hardships or facing challenges, but rather the failure to express those struggles. It underscores the importance of communication, openness, and resistance against suppressing one's feelings and experiences – as this silence can lead to isolation, stagnation, and unresolved issues. By acknowledging and voicing our struggles, we not only validate our own emotions but also create opportunities for support, empathy, and growth within ourselves and our communities.


"Life is like a novel. The first chapter is about learning how to read."

This quote suggests that life, much like a novel, is a journey with different stages. The first part or "chapter" of our lives is dedicated to acquiring the skills necessary to navigate it effectively – in this case, the skill of reading life itself. It implies that as we grow and experience the world, we learn how to interpret and understand its complexities, making us better equipped to face whatever challenges and opportunities come our way.


"A problem well-defined is a problem half-solved."

This quote by David Gerrold emphasizes that understanding the essence and nature of a problem accurately is vital in solving it effectively. By clearly defining a problem, one gains a better perspective on its complexity, potential solutions, and the resources needed to solve it. This clarity serves as a stepping stone towards devising and implementing an efficient solution strategy. In essence, a well-defined problem enables us to approach it with greater confidence, focus, and ultimately, success.


"The essential difference between emotion and reason is that emotion leads to action while reason leads to conclusions."

This quote suggests that while both emotions and reason guide our thoughts and decisions, emotions tend to instigate actions, often impulsively or instinctually, whereas reasoning results in conclusions based on logical analysis. In other words, emotions drive us to do things, and reasoning helps us to decide what those things are.


"I have never known any distress that an hour's reading did not relieve."

This quote by David Gerrold highlights the therapeutic power of reading, suggesting that it has a unique ability to alleviate various forms of distress or emotional turmoil. By immersing oneself in a book, one can temporarily escape from real-life problems and stressors, allowing for a momentary respite. This quote emphasizes the importance of literature as a source of solace and relaxation, offering comfort and relief during challenging times.


In the 20th century, we had a century where at the beginning of the century, most of the world was agricultural and industry was very primitive. At the end of that century, we had men in orbit, we had been to the moon, we had people with cell phones and colour televisions and the Internet and amazing medical technology of all kinds.

- David Gerrold

Medical, Been, Very, Colour

Life is hard. Then you die. Then they throw dirt in your face. Then the worms eat you. Be grateful it happens in that order.

- David Gerrold

Death, Grateful, Die, Worms

What I wish is that people would look beyond the tribbles and see I've written some other books that I really would like people to notice. There's 'The Man Who Folded Himself,' there's 'The Martian Child,' which is about my son and the adoption. There's 'The War Against The Chtorr,' which is my magnum opus, my great epic story.

- David Gerrold

Some, Other, Against, Epic

What's interesting about the shift from an industrial age to a technological age is that we keep inventing new media: movies, records, radio, television, the Internet, and now ebooks - and one of the things that's most interesting about the invention of a new medium is watching it reinvent itself as it penetrates the culture.

- David Gerrold

Reinvent, Records, Shift, Medium

'Star Trek' is the McDonald's of science fiction; it's fast food storytelling. Every problem is like every other problem. They all get solved in an hour. Nobody ever gets hurt, and nobody needs to care. You give up an hour of your time, and you don't really have to get involved. It's all plastic.

- David Gerrold

Storytelling, Other, Fiction, McDonald

When I was a kid, my favorite movies were the George Pal version of 'War Of The Worlds,' 'Them,' and 'Invasion of the Body Snatchers.' Those movies were scary! They haunted my nightmares for years, so when I started writing, I wanted to write a story that was just as big and just as scary.

- David Gerrold

Kid, Big, Worlds, Haunted

When television began, it modeled itself after radio. Many early television programs were radio programs first. 'My Favorite Wife,' 'The Jack Benny Show,' 'Burns and Allen,' 'Alfred Hitchcock Presents.'

- David Gerrold

Show, Benny, Allen, None

The first science fiction show on television was 'Tales Of Tomorrow' using scripts from the radio show 'X-1' which used stories from 'Galaxy Magazine' as its source material.

- David Gerrold

Stories, Which, Using, Scripts

In the past, a great library was the result of librarians functioning as guardians of culture, tending and caring, selecting and recommending works that maintained and nurtured a cultural heritage.

- David Gerrold

Past, In The Past, Works, Guardians

'Who are we?' And to me that's the essential question that's always been in science fiction. A lot of science fiction stories are - at their very best - evocations of that question. When we look up at the night sky and wonder, 'Is there anyone else out there?' we're also asking who we are we in relation to them.

- David Gerrold

Fiction, Been, Very, Science Fiction

My approach to 'Star Trek' was, 'I know science fiction, and I know screen writing.' That was very arrogant of me, but you really need to be a little bit arrogant to think that what you have to say is good enough to justify the expense of hundreds of thousands - now millions of dollars - to make an episode of the TV show.

- David Gerrold

Fiction, Very, TV, Science Fiction

Science fiction is a unique literature. Science fiction is the first literature that says, 'Tomorrow is going to be different than yesterday, it's going to be a lot different.'

- David Gerrold

Tomorrow, Fiction, Going, Science Fiction

I'm frustrated with Hollywood and television and the movies because they see science fiction as an excuse for eye candy, for lots of great special effects.

- David Gerrold

Hollywood, Special Effects, Science Fiction

There's two tiers of science fiction: the McDonalds sci-fi like Star Trek, where they have an adventure and solve it before the last commercial, and there are books that once you've read, you never look at the world the same way again.

- David Gerrold

Fiction, Commercial, Before, Science Fiction

I had always been fascinated by the whole idea that Australia was this different ecology and that when rabbits and prickly pears and other things from Europe were introduced into Australia, they ran amok.

- David Gerrold

Always, Other, Been, Pears

Doesn't anybody ever want to talk about anything else besides 'Star Trek?' There were 79 episodes of the series; there were 55 different writers. I was only one of them.

- David Gerrold

Star, Want, Anybody, Episodes

If you were a kid in 1955, you would pick up a copy of 'Popular Science' and it would say, 'This is the kind of car you're going to be driving in five years or in 20 years you'll be able to take a jet plane from New York to London in four hours,' or something like that. We actually got used to the idea that the future's going to be different.

- David Gerrold

London, Idea, Plane, Jet

Just as movies, radio, and television evolved into new forms over time, the ebook will also become something more than just a way to read books. It will become its own specific and unique way of creating and sharing experience.

- David Gerrold

Experience, Own, Evolved, Forms

When the Internet came along, at first it was just a medium for moving text around - books first, then pictures, finally video. Each time the bandwidth expanded, so did the capabilities of the medium, and each time it happened, the Internet cannibalized preexisting formats. And each time, those formats had to adapt. Or die.

- David Gerrold

Die, Formats, Each Time, Preexisting

In the entire history of the human species, every tool we've invented has been to expand muscle power. All except one. The integrated circuit, the computer. That lets us use our brain power.

- David Gerrold

Been, Use, Circuit, Tool

'The Next Generation' was a lot of fun for a while, and then it wasn't a lot of fun. The reason it wasn't a lot of fun was that this one was going to be a guaranteed hit. The original 'Star Trek' was never a guaranteed hit.

- David Gerrold

Generation, Reason, Next, Trek

When we look up at the night sky and wonder, 'Is there anyone else out there?' we're also asking who we are in relation to them.

- David Gerrold

Sky, Night, Asking, Wonder

The problem with the gene pool is that there's no lifeguard.

- David Gerrold

Pool, Problem, Gene, The Problem With

Understanding the laws of nature does not mean that we are immune to their operations.

- David Gerrold

Nature, Laws, Immune, Operations

I won't even try to predict the specifics, but I think the ebook - as a medium - could be a game-changer.

- David Gerrold

Think, I Think, Even, Medium

I think we built the right future. If it's a choice between the flying car or the Internet, tablets and smartphones, I'll take what we've got.

- David Gerrold

Think, I Think, Built, Flying

I have memories - but only a fool stores his past in the future.

- David Gerrold

Fool, Stores, His, Memories

Of course life is bizarre, the more bizarre it gets, the more interesting it is. The only way to approach it is to make yourself some popcorn and enjoy the show.

- David Gerrold

Some, Popcorn, Bizarre, Gets

You have a billion people who know 'Tribbles' and only half a million who know my novel 'The Man Who Folded Himself,' which is one of my better-known books.

- David Gerrold

People, Which, Half, Billion

Study what you love, and you'll never have to work a day in your life. It'll be one great adventure.

- David Gerrold

Love, Work, Your, Study

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.