“Agitation from the other side of the desk.“No—now you must take this phlegmatically. You had hoped you would qualify. You had feared you would not. Actually, both hope and fear are weaknesses. You knew you would qualify and you hesitate to admit the fact because such knowledge might stamp you as cocksure and therefore unfit. Nonsense! The most hopelessly stupid man is he who is not aware that he is wise. It is part of your qualification that you knew you would qualify.”Relaxation on the other side of the desk.“Exactly. Now you feel better and your guard is down. You are fitter to concentrate and fitter to understand. Remember, to be truly effective, it is not necessary to hold the mind under a tight, controlling barrier which to the intelligent probe is as informative as a naked mentality. Rather, one should cultivate an innocence, an awareness of self, and an unselfconsciousness of self which leaves one nothing to hide. My mind is open to you. Let this be so for both of us.”

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About Isaac Asimov

American science fiction writer and professor of biochemistry, Isaac Asimov is best known for his groundbreaking work in the science fiction genre, particularly the Foundation series and the Robot series. His prolific output also includes essays on science, popularizing complex concepts for general audiences with clarity and wit.

More from Isaac Asimov (160 quotes) →
"Agitation from the other side of the desk.“No—now you must take this…" — Isaac Asimov | Daily Quotes