103 Quotes by Elizabeth Moon

We do not argue that war is better than peace; we are not so stupid as that. But it is not peace when cruelty reigns, when stronger men steal from farmers and craftworkers, when the child can be enslaved or the old thrown out to starve, and no one lifts a hand. That is not peace: that is conquest, and evil.

Normal’ is a dryer setting.

But people do not always want peace as much as they want their own way.

When a person responds emotionally to intellectual things, or emotionally only to traditional emotional things – I find that an interesting break between myself and some other writers and fans.

Should I tell you the truth I know, or try to guess the untruth you want?

You don’t have to,′ I say. ‘You are normal. You have a job with tenure. You have Lucia and this house.’ I cannot say the rest that I think, that he is easy in his body, that he sees and hears and tastes and feels what others do, so his reality matches theirs.

If someone means well, but does ill, the ill is still done – and the consequences still exist. Besides, if intent forgives wrong, then any wrongdoer can claim good intent.

The books said that the problem with autism was in the brain, and that made me feel like a faulty computer, something that should be sent back or scrapped. All the interventions, all the training, were like software designed to make a bad computer work right. It never does, and neither did I.

Paks, if you’ve got a fault it’s that you’re too willing to be ruled. I know what you’ll say – you’ll say that’s how a good soldier is.