“Violence,” came the retort, “is the last refuge of the incompetent.”
Isaac Asimov (1920–1992) Russian-American author, polymath, biochemist
“Bridle and Saddle,” Astounding (Jun 1942)
Retitled "The Mayors" in Foundation (1951). The phrase appears multiple times in the story. See Johnson.
Quotations about:
brute force
Note not all quotations have been tagged, so Search may find additional quotes on this topic.
Our ancestors, in the ages that are gone, really believed that by force you could convince a man. You cannot change the conclusion of the brain by torture; nor by social ostracism. But I will tell you what you can do by these, and what you have done. You can make hypocrites by the million. You can make a man say that he has changed his mind; but he remains of the same opinion still. Put fetters all over him; crush his feet in iron boots; stretch him to the last gasp upon the holy rack; burn him, if you please, but his ashes will be of the same opinion still.
Robert Green Ingersoll (1833–1899) American lawyer, freethinker, orator
Lecture (1877-01-31) “The Liberty of Man, Woman, and Child,” Case Hall, Boston
(Source)
