"What made it possible for me to exercise freedom of choice also made it impossible to know the future. Conversely, now that I know the future, I would never act contrary to that future. Those who've read the Book of Ages never admit to it."
React to this quote
More by Ted Chiang
See allResonant Thoughts
"I tell you, in my opinion, the cornerstone of democracy is free press — that's the cornerstone. I'm convinced if the press... it was not possible, of course, but if the free press existed through this…"
"The study of relations rather than "entities" with an emphasis on process and transition probabilities as the basis of a flexible structure of many degrees of freedom."
Explore Further
Related Quotes
"In America we have not suffered the destruction of our homes, our towns, and our cities. We have not been e…"
— George C. Marshall"In this moment of opportunity, a common danger is erasing old rivalries. America is working with Russia and…"
— George W. Bush"If there's no place in the universe for a man to resist the thieves of freedom and still be called a good m…"
— Orson Scott Card"many free images of paintings and drawings by W. Nuijen, in the Rijksstudio of the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam"
— Wijnand Nuijen"Patronage is the sword and cannon by which war may be made on the liberty of the human race."
— John Tyler"Freedom is not a natural disposition, but God's precious gift to man. Those in whom viciousness becomes sec…"
— Abraham Joshua Heschel