Ray Douglas Bradbury (August 22, 1920 — June 5, 2012)
Once again another favorite childhood author has passed away.
Fahrenheit 451
A book is a loaded gun in the house next door. Burn it. Take the shot from the weapon. Breach man’s mind. Who knows who might be the target of the well-read man? Me? I won’t stomach them for a minute.
If you don’t want a man unhappy politically, don’t give him two sides to a question to worry him; give him one. Better yet, give him none. Let him forget there is such a thing as war.
The books are to remind us what asses and fools we are. They’re Caesar’s praetorian guard, whispering as the parade roars down the avenue, ‘Remember, Caesar, thou art mortal.’ Most of us can’t rush around, talk to everyone, know all the cities of the world, we haven’t time, money or that many friends. The things you’re looking for, Montag, are in the world, but the only way the average chap will ever see ninety-nine per cent of them is in a book. Don’t ask for guarantees. And don’t look to be saved in any one thing, person, machine, or library. Do your own bit of saving, and if you drown, at least die knowing you were headed for shore
Thanks Ray!
Say what? DANG! It’s been a rough week or so. Lots of interesting, dynamic, historic people passing. Very sad. Thanks for posting. This is the first I’d heard of this. Bummer. RIP Mr. Bradbury.
I stated reading his books when I was just a kid, he was one of the greats!
Damn Gravatar ~ they suck!