Isaac Asimov, 1920 - 1992
Born: 2 January 1920, Petrovichi, Byelorussian SSR
Died: 6 April 1992, New York City
Born Isaak Yudovich Ozimov, Asimov was an author and professor of biochemistry, and one of the most prolific writers of all time with over 500 works. While he was best known for his science fiction, he also wrote mysteries, fantasies, and nonfiction science books in every major category of the Dewey Decimal System. He is considered one of the "Big Three" fiction writers of all time, and a master of "hard" science fiction.
Asimov's family came to the United States when he was three and he grew up in Brooklyn. He was fascinated by science fiction, and managed to persuade his father that pulp magazines like Astounding Science Fiction were educational because they had the word "science" in the title. During World War II, he worked at the Philadelphia Naval Yard's Naval Air Experimental Station before earning his doctorate at Columbia University in 1948. He joined the faculty at the Boston University School of Medicine in 1948, but quit teaching in 1958. He earned more money by writing.
Asimov was a fan of a wide range of other authors, including Arthur C. Clarke, Rex Stout, Arthur Conan Doyle, and he loved the music of Gilbert and Sullivan. He was a friend of Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry, and acted as an advisor in several Star Trek projects. He was popular at conventions, as he was an excellent speaker and very approachable.
As a writer, Asimov's style was very clear and unadorned, focused on plot rather than characterization. This endeared him especially to readers of his nonfiction works, making it easier to understand complex scientific principles and historical events. Asimov suffered a heart attack in 1977, and had triple bypass surgery in 1983. During the surgery, he was infected with HIV which led to his death.
Biography from Wikipedia and Authors' Calendar
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Isaac Asimov quotes:
Quotes found : 106 — (15 per page, this is page 1 of 8) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Next
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- A fire eater must eat fire even if he has to kindle it himself. permalink
Isaac Asimov - "Bridle and Saddle", Astounding Science-Fiction (June 1942) - A poor idea well written is more likely to be accepted than a good idea poorly written. permalink
Isaac Asimov - A subtle thought that is in error may yet give rise to fruitful inquiry that can establish truths of great value. permalink
Isaac Asimov - All evil is good become cancerous. permalink
Isaac Asimov - All sorts of computer errors are now turning up. You'd be surprised to know the number of doctors who claim they are treating pregnant men. permalink
Isaac Asimov - All the hundreds of millions of people who, in their time, believed the Earth was flat never succeeded in unrounding it by an inch. permalink
Isaac Asimov - And above all things, never think that you're not good enough yourself. A man should never think that. My belief is that in life people will take you at your own reckoning. permalink
Isaac Asimov - Anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that democracy means that 'my ignorance is just as good as your knowledge.' permalink
Isaac Asimov - Arthur Clarke says that I am first in science and second in science fiction in accordance with an agreement we have made. I say he is first in science fiction and second in science. permalink
Isaac Asimov - But suppose we were to teach creationism. What would be the content of the teaching? Merely that a creator formed the universe and all species of life ready-made? Nothing more? No details? permalink
Isaac Asimov - "The Dangerous Myth of Creationism", Penthouse (January 1982) - Creationists make it sound as though a 'theory' is something you dreamt up after being drunk all night. permalink
Isaac Asimov - Speech to the National Coalition Against Censorship (1980) - Even as a youngster, though, I could not bring myself to believe that if knowledge presented danger, the solution was ignorance. To me, it always seemed that the solution had to be wisdom. You did not refuse to look at danger, rather you learned how to handle it safely. permalink
Isaac Asimov - Every period of human development has had its own particular type of human conflict—-its own variety of problem that, apparently, could be settled only by force. And each time, frustratingly enough, force never really settled the problem. Instead, it persisted through a series of conflicts, then vanished of itself—-what's the expression—-ah, yes, 'not with a bang, but a whimper,' as the economic and social environment changed. And then, new problems, and a new series of wars. permalink
Isaac Asimov - I, Robot (1950) - Flattery is useful when dealing with youngsters. permalink
Isaac Asimov - For it is the chief characteristic of the religion of science that it works, and that such curses as that of Aporat's are really deadly. permalink
Isaac Asimov - "Bridle and Saddle", Astounding Science-Fiction (June 1942)
Quotes found : 106 — (15 per page, this is page 1 of 8) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Next
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