691 Quotes by Neal Stephenson

There is a remarkably close parallel between the problems of the physicist and those of the cryptographer. The system on which a message is enciphered corresponds to the laws of the universe, the intercepted messages to the evidence available, the keys for a day or a message to important constants which have to be determined. The correspondence is very close, but the subject matter of cryptography is very easily dealt with by discrete machinery, physics not so easily.” – Alan Turing.

No matter how smart we get, there is always this deep irrational part that makes us potential hosts for self-replicating information.

You work harder because everything is on the line. Your name, your honor, your family, your life. Those burger flippers might have a better life expectancy – but what kind of life is it anyway, you have to ask yourself.

In Memoriam, Louis Anglesey, Earl of Upnor, finest swordsman in England, beaten to death with a stick by an Irishman.

What do you think Orolo saw, when he looked out thus?” Fraa Jad asked. “He was a great appreciator of beauty and loved to look at the mountains from the starhenge,” I said. “You think he saw beauty? That is a safe answer, since it is beautiful. But what was he thinking about? What connections did the beauty enable him to perceive?” “I couldn’t possibly answer that.” “Don’t answer it. Ask it.

Y’know, watching government regulators trying to keep up with the world is my favorite sport.

The full cosmos consists of the physical stuff and consciousness. Take away consciousness and it’s only dust; add consciousness and you get things, ideas, and time.

The sight of the bare katana inspires everyone to a practically Nipponese level of politeness.

Then he reminded himself that he was already part of the biggest adventure ever, and that, so far, it had been altogether miserable.