Authors: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

22 Notable Quotes By A. E. Van Vogt For Sci-Fi Scribblers

Famous As: One of the Most Popular and Influential Practitioners of Science Fiction Writers in the Mid-20th Century
Born On: April 26, 1912
Died On: January 26, 2000
Born In: Gretna, Canada
Died At Age: 87
A. E. van Vogt was a distinguished Canadian science fiction author. He is considered as one of the most ingenious writers of his genre in the Golden Age. He started his writing career with pulp magazine taking up true-confession style writing. However, after few years he shifted to writing science fiction which he enjoyed writing more. In 1941, he quit his job at the Canadian Department of National Defence and became a full-time writer. With a career spreading over six decades the prolific writer wrote around 39 novels and a number of short-stories. Some of his popular novels include ‘The Universe Maker’, ‘Slan’, ‘Empire Of The Atom’, ‘The Voyage Of The Space Beagle’ and ‘Black Destroyer’ amongst others. His thoughts, writings, works and stories revolved around temporal conundrum theme. Read through the corpus of quotes and sayings by A. E. van Vogt which have been extricated from his books, writings, novels, short stories, work and life.
Listed In:
Resistance, however, is useless. (1939)

Resistance, however, is useless. (1939)

A. E. van Vogt
My theory was that what I had to do was make a study of human behavior.

My theory was that what I had to do was make a study of human behavior.

A. E. van Vogt
Recruiting Station was a story that came as the result of many anxious awakenings during many nights.

Recruiting Station was a story that came as the result of many anxious awakenings during many nights.

A. E. van Vogt
I don't recall having any self-awareness about the intricacy of my stories.

I don't recall having any self-awareness about the intricacy of my stories.

A. E. van Vogt
It's difficult for me to feel that a solid page without the breakups of paragraphs can be interesting. I break mine up perhaps sooner than I should in terms of the usage of the English language.

It's difficult for me to feel that a solid page without the breakups of paragraphs can be interesting. I break mine up perhaps sooner than I should in terms of the usage of the English language.

A. E. van Vogt
If I believe the same things today I did yesterday I've learned nothing.

If I believe the same things today I did yesterday I've learned nothing.

A. E. van Vogt
It came about as follows: over the years when I was involved in dianetics, I wrote the beginnings of many stories. I would get an idea, and then write the beginning, and then never touch it again.

It came about as follows: over the years when I was involved in dianetics, I wrote the beginnings of many stories. I would get an idea, and then write the beginning, and then never touch it again.

A. E. van Vogt
Chum was a British boy's weekly which, at the end of the year was bound into a single huge book; and the following Christmas parents bought it as Christmas presents for male children.

Chum was a British boy's weekly which, at the end of the year was bound into a single huge book; and the following Christmas parents bought it as Christmas presents for male children.

A. E. van Vogt
The encouragement I got from Campbell was a quick check and praise. Once the Space Beagle was launched on its mission, it seemed natural for it to breed additional thoughts.

The encouragement I got from Campbell was a quick check and praise. Once the Space Beagle was launched on its mission, it seemed natural for it to breed additional thoughts.

A. E. van Vogt
The right to buy weapons is the right to be free.

The right to buy weapons is the right to be free.

A. E. van Vogt

You have to remember that I was a bright but simple fellow from Canada who seldom, if ever, met another writer, and then only a so-called literary type that occasionally sold a story and meanwhile worked in an office for a living.

A. E. van Vogt
In a sense, there's a great truth to that, but, also I was a great reader.

In a sense, there's a great truth to that, but, also I was a great reader.

A. E. van Vogt
Well, first of all, going off with dianetics was based upon a thought of mine.

Well, first of all, going off with dianetics was based upon a thought of mine.

A. E. van Vogt
I figure that that has a ten year cycle. At the end of that ten years, I began to get worried that I would run into what is known as the writer's block, the feeling of not being able to do these things.

I figure that that has a ten year cycle. At the end of that ten years, I began to get worried that I would run into what is known as the writer's block, the feeling of not being able to do these things.

A. E. van Vogt
But, somewhere in there, I did have the thought that this really fits in with my thinking about what I wanted to do; with what has to be done by a writer in order to stay alive as a writer.

But, somewhere in there, I did have the thought that this really fits in with my thinking about what I wanted to do; with what has to be done by a writer in order to stay alive as a writer.

A. E. van Vogt
I first read science fiction in the old British Chum annual when I was about 12 years old.

I first read science fiction in the old British Chum annual when I was about 12 years old.

A. E. van Vogt
In those days I was new to covers; merely felt pleased that a story of mine had been honored. I later met Rogers who did some of my early covers and I was impressed with him.

In those days I was new to covers; merely felt pleased that a story of mine had been honored. I later met Rogers who did some of my early covers and I was impressed with him.

A. E. van Vogt
Science fiction is a field of writing where, month after month, every printed word implies to hundreds of thousands of people: 'There is change. Look, today's fantastic story is tomorrow's fact.

Science fiction is a field of writing where, month after month, every printed word implies to hundreds of thousands of people: 'There is change. Look, today's fantastic story is tomorrow's fact.

A. E. van Vogt
I had casually rented an apartment that cost $75 a month because I expected my writing to pay my way.

I had casually rented an apartment that cost $75 a month because I expected my writing to pay my way.

A. E. van Vogt
When a people lose the courage to resist encroachment on their rights, then they can’t be saved by an outside force. Our belief is that people always have the kind of government they want

When a people lose the courage to resist encroachment on their rights, then they can’t be saved by an outside force. Our belief is that people always have the kind of government they want

A. E. van Vogt
People always have the kind of government they want. When they want change, they must change it.

People always have the kind of government they want. When they want change, they must change it.

A. E. van Vogt
[He] had the hard eyes of the disciplinarian and the smile of a man who must be tactful and pleasant to many people.

[He] had the hard eyes of the disciplinarian and the smile of a man who must be tactful and pleasant to many people.

A. E. van Vogt