Isaac Asimov

“A great many things are possible.” And to himself he added: But not practical.

Violence," came the retort, "is the last refuge of the incompetent.

Lije, those three days were hell.”
“On account of the glasses?”
“And other things, too. I’m getting to that.”

And now he had to stand in the middle of a growing riot and beat down men and women who, after all, only feared declassification for themselves and those they loved, as he himself did.

“As little as possible, as much as necessary.”

When the lesser is incompatible with the greater, the lesser must give way.”

Unimaginative enough to face danger without fear

It was a frightening thought. Baley still feared the open. But he no longer feared the fear! It was not something to run from, that fear, but something to fight.

"You can prove anything you want by coldly logical reason – if you pick the proper postulates. We have ours and Cutie has his."

Powell sighed wearily. "That's where everything falls down. Postulates are based on assumption and adhered to by faith. Nothing in the Universe can shake them. I'm going to bed."