“What kind of programmer is so divorced from reality that she thinks she'll get complex software right the first time?”
― James Alan Gardner, Ascending

“I do not care about the greatest good for the greatest number . . . Most people are poop-heads I do not care about them at all.”
― James Alan Gardner, Ascending

“I like people thinking I'm an asshole. Being an asshole is my life's vocation; I'm a goddamned asshole professional.”
― James Alan Gardner, Ascending

“The council is a place where everyone schemes against everyone else, and people talk incessantly about Power with a capital "Pow".”
― James Alan Gardner, Ascending

“Fate does not invite ugly boring people to save the world; and if you do try to save the world (without being beautiful, strong, clever, or wise), you will soon die pointlessly and how much adventure is there in that?”
― James Alan Gardner, Ascending

“Don't be such a party-pooper, missy --when you're well and truly screwed, either you just sit pissing yourself or you invent some reason to hope.”
― James Alan Gardner, Ascending

“That must be the chief reason to become sergeant; so you can assign yourself to monitor the most beautiful security risk.”
― James Alan Gardner, Ascending

“That is the nature of Science—it is often confusing and terrible, but you must pretend you are not troubled or else Science People will call you names.”
― James Alan Gardner, Ascending

“However, Science People like to believe in laws, even when such laws can be circumvented by their own Science. They become most displeased if you suggest it would be more accurate to speak of the Generally Good Idea Of Gravity or the Three Useful Guidelines Of Thermodynamics.”
― James Alan Gardner, Ascending