The single most important lesson of effective communication is this: Focus on clarity. Concentrate on precisions. Don’t worry about constructing beautiful sentences. Beauty comes from meaning, not language. Accuracy is the most effective style of all.

David Gerrold

Categorized in : Beautiful Writing Communication

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

David Gerrold

dream love memories

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

technology moon men

To say that a writer's hold on reality is tenuous is an understatement-it's like saying the Titanic had a rough crossing. Writer's build their own realities, move into them and occasionally send letters home. The only difference between a writer and a crazy person is that a writer gets paid for it.

David Gerrold

crazy home moving

Christianity has held back any further advances in human consciousness for the past thousand years. And for the past century it's been in direct conflict with its illegitimate offspring, Communism (again with a capital C). Both ask the individual to sacrifice his self-interest to the higher goals of the organization. (Which is okay by me as long as it's voluntary; but as soon as either becomes too big - and takes on that damned capital C - they stop asking for cooperation and start demanding it.)

David Gerrold

sacrifice self past

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-stories sky night

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

grateful life order

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

David Gerrold

great-adventure study adventure

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

David Gerrold

mean-girls understanding law

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

loving-life acceptance interesting

The computer has evolved into a partner, a tool, and an environment--not just in science fiction, but in the public consciousness as well. Computers are no longer malevolent iron brains that manufacture tyrannical and oppressive answers; they are not a way to think, they are a place from which to think. The computer is an environment in which answers can be sought, created, manipulated and developed.

David Gerrold

iron brain thinking

I'm all in favor of keeping dangerous weapons out of the hands of fools. Let's start with typewriters.

David Gerrold

sarcastic witty funny

Contentment is the continuing act of accepting the process of your own life.

David Gerrold

aging contentment success

True genius can be identified by the fact that its expression changes the world into something it has never been before.

David Gerrold

assessment intelligence expression

Adolescence is that time in your life when you discover your ability to be depressed.

David Gerrold

adolescence ability over-you

If you're passing the buck, don't ask for change.

David Gerrold

bucks passing asks

The jingling of a fat purse always commands the world.

David Gerrold

purses money world

You will find it easiest to ride the avalanche in the direction it already travels.

David Gerrold

avalanches

The human race never solves any of its problems, it only outlives them.

David Gerrold

modern-life problem race

The avalanche of time sweeps everything before it. Every individual instant hurtles into oblivion, drowning out the obliteration of the instant immediately preceding it, and then it too disappears under the onslaught of the next and the next and the next. When the avalanche has shuddered past for a long enough time, the perception of the past evolves. Distant events grow beyond mere history and take on the weight of legend.

David Gerrold

time long past

The secret of the universe is this: The universe doesn't care. That part of the job is yours.

David Gerrold

secret success jobs