Vernor Vinge Quotes

I am a person who is inclined to define relations between individuals based on principles.

For me, the only sources of moral values are the pursuit of understanding and the pursuit of happiness.

I think the kids today need to hear more about morals and values.

Sometimes it's more important to be human, than to have good taste.

I think with any characterization there's a point where you empathize, no matter how much of a deviance his or her actions may be from your understanding of humanity.

One of the things I believe in is a sense of human nature.

No human being or society ... ever did or ever will come to much unless their conduct was governed and guided by the love of some ethical ideal

Forgiveness is a basis for moral and ethical behavior.

Hypocrisy is an homage that vice renders to virtue.

Right and wrong as moral principles do not change. They are applicable and reliable determinants whether the situations with which we deal are simple or complicated. There is always a right and wrong to every question which requires our solution.

You don't have to compromise convictions to be compassionate.

Perhaps the most significant moral characteristic of a nation is its hypocrisy.

I've no objection to morality, except that it's obsolete.

The path of precept is long, that of example short and effectual.

I don't think there's anything to be admired in lying, cheating or philandering. But there might be something to be admired in not burning people at the stake because they have those weaknesses.

You know, there's a right and wrong way to do everything.

Live out your life in truth and justice, tolerant of those who are neither true nor just.

If you ask anyone, what is morality based on? These are the two factors that always come out: One is reciprocity, … a sense of fairness, and the other one is empathy and compassion.

What is my religion? Simple. Kindness.

Temptations make one very censorious. If you are virtuous you condemn the wicked and if you are wicked, you condemn the virtuous.

My empathy for poor people comes from having been one of them for so long, from knowing that their humanity is more complex and that the truths of their suffering have to be told honestly.

Faith can move mountains but let them happily fall down on the heads of other people. What's the point in moving mountains when it's so simple to climb over them?

Cleverness is a gift, kindness is a choice.

In some mysterious way, once one has gained an insight into human nature, that insight grows from day to day, and he to whom it has given to experience vicariously even one single form of earthly suffering acquires, by reason of this tragic lesson, an understanding of all its forms, even those most foreign to him, and apparently abnormal.

We must love stupid people better than ourselves; are they not the really unfortunate ones of this world? Do not people without taste and without ideal grow constantly weary, rejoicing in nothing, and being quite useless here below?