“You really don’t understand. We don’t worry about What counts is that many millions of people have the knowledge that they can go to a weapon shop if they want to protect themselves and their families. And, even more important, the forces that would normally try to enslave them are restrained by the conviction that it is dangerous to press people too far. And so a great balance has been struck between those who govern and those who are governed.”
Cayle stared at her in bitter disappointment. “You mean that a person has to save himself? Even when you get a gun you have to nerve yourself to resist? Nobody is there to help you?”
It struck him with a pang that she must have told him this in order to show him why she couldn’t help him.
Lucy spoke again. “I can see that what I’ve told you is a great disappointment to you. But that’s the way it is. And I think you’ll realize that’s the way it has to be. When a people lose the courage to resist.” A.E. Van Vogt, in The Weapon Shops of Isher
The Editors’ Quote of the Day:
I’d forgotten about that book. I need to see if the library has it, borrow it, read it, and see if it’s worth adding to my personal library.