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Civilization is to groups what intelligence is to individuals. It is a means of combining the intelligence of many to achieve ongoing group adaptation.

Octavia Butler

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Octavia Butler
Means
Ongoing
Many
Individuals
Mean
Group
Intelligence
Civilization
Groups
Achieve
Combining
Individual
Adaptation

More quotes by Octavia Butler

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But my problem with fantasy, and horror, and related genres, is that sometimes the problems are illogical.
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No... a novel is a long business. I'm a slow writer, even when I'm doing very well I write slowly.
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Beware At war Or at peace, More people die Of unenlightened self-interest Than of any other disease
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There is no end To what a living world Will demand of you.
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Humans persecute their different ones, yet they need them to give themselves definition and status.
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Science fiction let me do both. It let me look into science and stick my nose in everywhere.
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First forget inspiration. Habit is more dependable. Habit will sustain you whether you're inspired or not. Habit will help you finish and polish your stories. Inspiration won't. Habit is persistence in practice.
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Slavery was a long slow process of dulling.
Octavia Butler
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A tree Cannot grow In its parents' shadows.
Octavia Butler
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I have a huge and savage conscience that won't let me get away with things.
Octavia Butler
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I just knew there were stories I wanted to tell.
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You are horror and beauty in rare combination.
Octavia Butler
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I wanted to write a novel that would make others feel the history: the pain and fear that black people have had to live through in order to endure.
Octavia Butler
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You don't start out writing good stuff. You start out writing crap and thinking it's good stuff, and then gradually you get better at it. That's why I say one of the most valuable traits is persistence.
Octavia Butler
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All religions are ultimately cargo cults. Adherents perform required rituals, follow specific rules, and expect to be supernaturally gifted with desired rewards long life, honor, wisdom, children, good health, wealth, victory over opponents, immortality after death, any desired rewards.
Octavia Butler
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He was like me - a kindred spirit crazy enough to keep on trying.
Octavia Butler
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Drowning people Sometimes die Fighting their rescuers.
Octavia Butler
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Belief initiates and guides action - or it does nothing.
Octavia Butler
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Be who you are and not who someone else thinks you ought to be.
Octavia Butler
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A victim of God may, Through learning adaption, Become a partner of God, A victim of God may, Through forethought and planning, Become a shaper of God. Or a victim of God may, Through shortsightedness and fear, Remain God's victim, God's plaything, God's prey.
Octavia Butler