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Theodore Sturgeon Quotes

Powerful Theodore Sturgeon for Daily Growth

About Theodore Sturgeon

Theodore George Sturgeon (February 25, 1918 – June 8, 1985) was an American science fiction author and screenwriter, renowned for his imaginative storytelling and exploration of human psychology within speculative fiction. Born in Brooklyn, New York, he spent much of his childhood moving around the East Coast with his family before settling in Staten Island, where he developed a love for reading at an early age. Sturgeon's literary career began in earnest during the 1940s, selling his first story, "It", to Astounding Science Fiction in 1941 while still serving in the U.S. Navy. After his discharge, he dedicated himself full-time to writing. Influenced by authors such as Isaac Asimov, A.E. van Vogt, and Robert Heinlein, Sturgeon's early works often displayed their impact, but it was not until the mid-1950s that his unique voice truly emerged. Some of his most famous short stories include "Killdozer!", "The Man Who Lost the Sea", and "Slow Sculpture". His novel, "More Than Human" (1953), which followed a group of telepathically-linked adolescents, is often considered one of the best works in the genre. Sturgeon's writing was characterized by its deep empathy for characters and exploration of complex themes like identity, mortality, and relationships. In addition to his writing, Sturgeon made significant contributions to science fiction fandom and criticism. He coined the term "Sturgeons' Law", which states that "90% of everything is crud." Despite this self-deprecating remark, Sturgeon's own body of work remains highly regarded and influential within the genre. He passed away in 1985 at the age of 67, leaving behind a rich legacy in science fiction literature.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"If you can't be kind, at least have the decency to be vague."

Theodore Sturgeon's quote encourages consideration towards others in our communications. When one cannot express kindness directly, they should strive to avoid causing harm or offense through their words by being deliberately vague. This reflects a level of empathy and mindfulness, promoting a more harmonious social environment.

"Anything you can think of is possible except for flying cars and deathless bodies."

This quote by Theodore Sturgeon suggests that human imagination has no limits, anything we can conceive is theoretically achievable, with the notable exceptions of practical, working flying cars and immortal, deathless bodies. The statement implies a sense of wonder about the boundless potential of human ingenuity, while acknowledging the current impossibility or impracticality of these two specific innovations due to their technical challenges and the nature of life and death.

"We are all pieces of the universe, wandering around in the universe wondering, 'Who am I?'"

This quote suggests that we as individuals are not separate from the universe but are integral parts of it. Each person represents a unique piece or fragment, on a personal journey to understand our place and purpose within this vast cosmic expanse. It implies an innate curiosity to explore one's identity while recognizing the interconnectedness between ourselves and the larger universe.

"It's not enough just to exist. You have to Sanctify your Existence!"

This quote by Theodore Sturgeon encourages individuals to live with purpose and intention. "Sanctify your Existence" suggests that one should find meaning and significance in their life, rather than just existing without direction or purpose. It's a call to action for each person to create a life filled with personal growth, passion, and fulfillment, transcending mere survival towards a higher level of existence.

"To be alive at all is a kind of triumph."

This quote by Theodore Sturgeon emphasizes the inherent resilience, strength, and value of life itself. Simply existing - being alive - is a testament to our capacity to overcome adversity and thrive in the face of challenges. It's a celebration of life's enduring spirit and an affirmation that every moment of existence is precious and significant.

I sent The World Well Lost to one editor who rejected it on sight, and then wrote a letter to every other editor in the field warning them against the story, and urging them to reject it on sight without reading it.

- Theodore Sturgeon

Other, Editor, Rejected, Urging

Some major writers have a huge impact, like Ayn Rand, who to my mind is a lousy fiction writer because her writing has no compassion and virtually no humor. She has a philosophical and economical message that she is passing off as fiction, but it really isn't fiction at all.

- Theodore Sturgeon

Compassion, Some, Fiction, None

The story of my very first sale is the fact that I dreamed up a foolproof paper to cheat an insurance company out of several hundred thousand dollars.

- Theodore Sturgeon

Insurance, Very, Hundred, Foolproof

I've always written very tightly, and there's a good reason for that. There's no point in using words that you're not going to apply.

- Theodore Sturgeon

Reason, Always, Very, Tightly

The first writing I did was short short stories for a newspaper syndicate for which I was paid five dollars a piece on publication.

- Theodore Sturgeon

Newspaper, Stories, Which, Publication

I wrote the very first stories in science fiction which dealt with homosexuality, The World Well Lost and Affair With a Green Monkey.

- Theodore Sturgeon

Homosexuality, Very, Which, Science Fiction

Science fiction, outside of poetry, is the only literary field which has no limits, no parameters whatsoever.

- Theodore Sturgeon

Field, Which, Whatsoever, Science Fiction

As far as hypnosis is concerned, I had a very serious problem when I was in my twenties. I encountered a man who later became the president of the American Society of Medical Hypnosis. He couldn't hypnotize me.

- Theodore Sturgeon

Medical, Very, Became, Hypnosis

In science fiction, you can also test out your own realities.

- Theodore Sturgeon

Science, Test, Fiction, Science Fiction

Once I had all the facts in, I found I didn't have the immoral courage to pull the caper. So I wrote it as a story. As a teenager, I didn't have any skills for writing as such, so it came out in 1500 words.

- Theodore Sturgeon

Words, Had, Wrote, Teenager

You write a story about loneliness, and you grab them all because everybody's an expert on that one.

- Theodore Sturgeon

Expert, Everybody, About, Grab

When you combine something to say with the skill to say it properly, then you've got a good writer.

- Theodore Sturgeon

Skill, Good Writer, Properly, Combine

You don't sit up in a cave and write the Great American Novel and know it is utterly superb, and then throw it page by page into the fire. You just don't do that. You send it out. You have to send it out.

- Theodore Sturgeon

American, Cave, Superb, Send

I teach writing courses and first of all, I teach my students what prosody is.

- Theodore Sturgeon

Writing, Teach, Courses, First Of All

It should consist of short, sharply focused sentences, each of which is a whole scene in itself.

- Theodore Sturgeon

Which, Itself, Sharply, Consist

I quit my job, and went ashore to become a writer.

- Theodore Sturgeon

Quit, Writer, Ashore, I Quit

As far as I'm concerned, I didn't dream - ever.

- Theodore Sturgeon

Dream, Concerned, Ever, As Far As

I write a story as if it were a letter to someone and essentially, that's what you do.

- Theodore Sturgeon

Someone, I Write, Were, Letter

There are people who have tremendously important things to say, but they say it so poorly that nobody would ever want to read it.

- Theodore Sturgeon

Want, Poorly, Read, They Say

There are a lot of people who write very intensely about things they do not and cannot do.

- Theodore Sturgeon

Very, About, Lot, Intensely

You must write to the people's expertise.

- Theodore Sturgeon

People, Write, Must, Expertise

Ninety percent of everything is crap.

- Theodore Sturgeon

Everything, Crap, Ninety, Ninety Percent

For years, I thought I simply didn't dream. I felt left out. Everybody else had a thing I didn't have.

- Theodore Sturgeon

Thought, Everybody, Felt, Everybody Else

The movers and shakers have always been obsessive nuts.

- Theodore Sturgeon

Nuts, Always, Been, Obsessive

I learned how to live on five and sometimes ten dollars a week.

- Theodore Sturgeon

Week, How, Learned, Ten

Inner space is so much more interesting, because outer space is so empty.

- Theodore Sturgeon

Interesting, More, Outer, Inner

Here's the point to be made - there are no synonyms. There are no two words that mean exactly the same thing.

- Theodore Sturgeon

Here, Made, Same Thing, Exactly The Same

There was so much that you could do, instead of looking for things that you couldn't do.

- Theodore Sturgeon

Looking, Could, Things, Instead

Create a world in which these things do or do not exist, or in which they are extended in some way. Test reality against this fiction. The reader will recognize the world that you're talking about, even though it may be another one altogether.

- Theodore Sturgeon

Some, Fiction, Against, Recognize

I feel angry that I can't be hypnotized. I'm not putting it down, and I'm not saying that it doesn't exist. I have talked to a great many people who are very good at it, but so far nobody has ever been able to hypnotize me.

- Theodore Sturgeon

Been, Very, Putting, Talked

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