E.E. "Doc" Smith > Quotes

“Because America, being a democracy, could not strike first, but had to wait—wait in instant readiness—until she was actually attacked.”
― E.E. "Doc" Smith, Triplanetary

“Working hypotheses, young man, must be based upon accurately determined facts; not upon mere guesses, superstitions, or figments of personal prejudices.”
― E.E. "Doc" Smith, Second Stage Lensmen

“it has been argued that sexual equality is the most important criterion of that which we know as Civilization.”
― E.E. "Doc" Smith, Second Stage Lensmen

“I know they shot first, they always do, but how does that change things?”
― E.E. "Doc" Smith, Gray Lensman

“It's much better technique to learn things among friends than enemies," Kinnison laughed.”
― E.E. "Doc" Smith, Galactic Patrol

“Something like elephantiasis, only worse, affecting both arms and both legs. Drastic amputations indicated. Eye-sockets. Burns. Multiple and compound fractures. Punctured and incised wounds. Traumatism, ecchymosis, extensive extravasations, oedema. Profound systemic shock. The prognosis, however, seems to be favorable,”
― E.E. "Doc" Smith, Gray Lensman

“Her hair was a brilliant green. So was her spectacularly filled halter.”
― E.E. "Doc" Smith, The Galaxy Primes

“DEI EX MACHINA”
― E.E. "Doc" Smith, Gray Lensman

“She looks like an angel, but take it from me, she isn’t. She’s one of the slimiest snakes that ever crawled—she’s so low she could put on a tall silk hat and walk under a duck. I know she’s beautiful. She’s a riot, a seven-section callout, a thionite dream. So what? She is also Dessa Desplaines, formerly of Aldebaran II.”
― E.E. "Doc" Smith, Gray Lensman

“The Arisian compressed upon the Eighth’s brain a searing force which sent shrieking waves of pain throughout all nearby space.”
― E.E. "Doc" Smith, Gray Lensman

“The witnesses may be excused. Truth is the only thing of importance here, and witnesses, being human and therefore frail, obstruct truth more frequently than they further its progress.”
― E.E. "Doc" Smith, Galactic Patrol

“schrecklichkeit”
― E.E. "Doc" Smith, The E. E. "Doc" Smith MEGAPACK®: 11 Classic Novels and Stories

“there is only one power which is at one and the same time illimitable and yet finite; insatiable yet satisfying; one which, while eternal, yet invariably returns to its possessor the true satisfaction of real accomplishment in exact ratio to the effort expended upon it. That power is the power of the mind.”
― E.E. "Doc" Smith, Gray Lensman

“They did not ask him why he wanted that data. They may have wondered at his temerity in daring to scout alone a fortress whose strength had kept at bay the massed Patrol forces of the sector, but if they did so they kept their thoughts well screened. For this was a Gray Lensman, and very evidently a super–powered individual, even of that select group whose weakest members were powerful indeed.”
― E.E. "Doc" Smith, Galactic Patrol

“With the restriction of government to its proper sphere and its concentration into our organization, resulting in the liberation of man-power into wealth-producing enterprise, and especially with the enormous growth of inter-world commerce, world-income increased to such a point that taxation could be reduced to a minimum; and the lower the taxes the more flourishing business became and the greater the income.”
― E.E. "Doc" Smith, Gray Lensman

“Who is to watch the watchmen?”
― E.E. "Doc" Smith, The Complete Lensman Series (Illustrated): 7 Books Including Triplanetary, First Lensman, Galactic Patrol, Gray Lensman, Second Stage Lensman, Children of the Lens & Masters of the Vortex

“thinking is an exercise to which far too few brains are accustomed”
― E.E. "Doc" Smith, First Lensman

“A man swears to keep from crying, a woman cries to keep from swearing.”
― E.E. "Doc" Smith, Gray Lensman

“not for the fractional second necessary for inertialess flight could the two win clear. Then Kinnison sent out his SOS. "A Lensman calling help! A Lensman calling help!" he broadcast with the full power of mind and Lens, and Immediately a sharp, clear voice poured into his brain. "Coming, wearer of the Lens!”
― E.E. "Doc" Smith, Galactic Patrol

“But the minions of the Law had one remaining weapon, carried expressly for this eventuality. The space–axe—a combination and sublimation of battle–axe, mace, bludgeon, and lumberman's picaroon, a massively needle–pointed implement of potentialities limited only by the physical strength and bodily agility of its wielder.”
― E.E. "Doc" Smith, Galactic Patrol

“That you can now be called adult does not mean you have achieved your full power, only that you are able to acquire other and larger powers.”
― ‎Edward Elmer Smith, Children of the Lens

“Only loose-screwed space detectives, like me, and crackpot science-fiction writers, like Wacky Williamson, have noodles vacuous enough to harbor such thin ideas.”
― E.E. "Doc" Smith, Gray Lensman

“Afraid of spies with a sense of perception—Rigellians or Posenians or such. Just killed an Ordovik on general principles, over on the next block.”
― E.E. "Doc" Smith, Gray Lensman

“Politicians only," Helen reported, after a moment's manipulation of the suddenly familiar instrument. "They need killing, of course, on general principles, but perhaps we shouldn't take time for that now. The next place to look is a few degrees east of north of here." Cleonie was not, however, in that city.”
― E.E. "Doc" Smith, Children Of The Lens

“First, there is nothing either intrinsically right or intrinsically wrong about liberty or slavery, democracy or autocracy, freedom of action or complete regimentation. It seems to us, however, that the greatest measure of happiness and of well-being for the greatest number of entities, and therefore the optimum advancement toward whatever sublime Goal it is toward which this cycle of existence is trending in the vast and unknowable Scheme of Things, is to be obtained by securing for each and every individual the greatest amount of mental and physical freedom compatible with the public welfare.”
― E.E. "Doc" Smith, The Complete Lensman Series (Illustrated): 7 Books Including Triplanetary, First Lensman, Galactic Patrol, Gray Lensman, Second Stage Lensman, Children of the Lens & Masters of the Vortex

“In the central sphere of one of the domes there sparkled several of the peculiarly radiant globes whose counterpart had given Kinnison so seriously to think, and near them there crouched or huddled or lay at ease a many-tentacled creature indescribable to man. It was not exactly like an octopus. Though spiny, it did not resemble at all closely a sea-cucumber. Nor, although it was scaly and toothy and wingy, was it, save in the vaguest possible way, similar to a lizard, a sea serpent, or a vulture. Such a description by negatives is, of course, pitifully inadequate; but, unfortunately, it is the best that can be done.”
― E. E. "Doc" Smith, The Lensman Super Pack

“if any one of you will concentrate upon one single fact, or small object, such as a pebble or the seed of a plant or other creature, for as short a period of time as one hundred of your years, you will begin to perceive its truth.”
― E.E. "Doc" Smith, Gray Lensman

“the first time in North America’s long history, a presidential election was ninety nine and ninety nine one-hundredths percent pure!”
― E.E. "Doc" Smith, The E. E. "Doc" Smith MEGAPACK®: 11 Classic Novels and Stories

“There never was no court yet that didn't take orders from the big shots who keep the fat cats fat,_and lawyers are the crookedest 'damn crooks in the universe.”
― E.E. "Doc" Smith, Children Of The Lens

“You love and worship power. Why? To any thinking mind it should be clear that such a lust intrinsically is, and forever must by its very nature be, futile. For, even if any one of you could command the entire material Universe, what good would it do him? None. What would he have? Nothing. Not even the satisfaction of accomplishment, for that lust is in fact insatiable—it would then turn upon itself and feed upon itself.”
― E.E. "Doc" Smith, Gray Lensman