Zitate von Iain Banks

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Iain Banks

Geburtstag: 16. Februar 1954
Todesdatum: 9. Juni 2013

Iain Menzies Banks war ein britischer Schriftsteller.

Seine Romane veröffentlichte er unter dem Namen Iain Banks beziehungsweise, wenn es sich um Science-Fiction handelte, als Iain M. Banks. Die „New York Times“ nannte Banks den „bedeutendsten Science-Fiction-Autor der Gegenwart“; die britische „The Times“ setzte ihn im Jahr 2008 auf die Liste der „größten britischen Schriftsteller seit 1945.“

Zitate Iain Banks

„Blame Lewis.“

— Iain Banks
The Crow Road

„A guilty system recognizes no innocents.“

— Iain Banks
Context: A guilty system recognizes no innocents. As with any power apparatus which thinks everybody’s either for it or against it, we’re against it. You would be too, if you thought about it. The very way you think places you among its enemies. This might not be your fault, because every society imposes some of its values on those raised within it, but the point is that some societies try to maximize that effect, and some try to minimize it. You come from one of the latter and you’re being asked to explain yourself to one of the former. Prevarication will be more difficult than you imagine; neutrality is probably impossible. You cannot choose not to have the politics you do; they are not some separate set of entities somehow detachable from the rest of your being; they are a function of your existence. I know that and they know that; you had better accept it. Chapter 2 “Imperium” (p. 215).

„You need to read more science fiction. Nobody who reads science fiction comes out with this crap about the end of history“

— Iain Banks

„Fuck every cause that ends in murder and children crying.“

— Iain Banks, Against a Dark Background

„Empathize with stupidity and you’re halfway to thinking like an idiot.“

— Iain Banks
Chapter 2 “The Hand of God 137” (p. 27).

„I just think people overvalue argument because they like to hear themselves talk.“

— Iain Banks, Use of Weapons
Context: He shrugged. “Whatever.” “Aw, Darac, come on; argue, dammit.” “I don’t believe in argument,” he said, looking out into the darkness (and saw a towering ship, a capital ship, ringed with its layers and levels of armament and armor, dark against the dusk light, but not dead). “You don’t?” Erens said, genuinely surprised. “Shit, and I thought I was the cynical one.” “It’s not cynicism,” he said flatly. “I just think people overvalue argument because they like to hear themselves talk.” “Oh well, thank you.” “It’s comforting, I suppose.” He watched the stars wheel, like absurdly slow shells seen at night: rising, peaking, falling...(And reminded himself that the stars too would explode, perhaps, one day.) “Most people are not prepared to have their minds changed,” he said. “And I think they know in their hearts that other people are just the same, and one of the reasons people become angry when they argue is that they realize just that, as they trot out their excuses.” “Excuses, eh? Well, if this ain’t cynicism, what is?” Erens snorted. “Yes, excuses,” he said, with what Erens thought might just have been a trace of bitterness. “I strongly suspect the things people believe in are usually just what they instinctively feel is right; the excuses, the justifications, the things you’re supposed to argue about, come later. They’re the least important part of the belief. That’s why you can destroy them, win an argument, prove the other person wrong, and still they believe what they did in the first place.” He looked at Erens. “You’ve attacked the wrong thing.” Chapter II (p. 417).