Memorable Quotes from The Three-Body Problem

We are all worms in the gutter, but someone still has to look up at the stars.
In China, any lofty and unrestrained thought will inevitably crash down; the gravity of reality is too heavy.
Your fearlessness comes from ignorance. —— From the last words of Yang Dong (Ye Wenjie's daughter) in "The Three-Body Problem I: The Earth's Past".
This is humanity's sunset…… —— Ye Wenjie (her reflection upon witnessing the sunset after the final launch at Red Coast Base)
Mom, I will become a firefly. —— From the last letter of a Kamikaze squad member seen by Taylor in "The Three-Body Problem II: The Dark Forest".
I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds. —— Quoted by American physicist Oppenheimer at the successful detonation of the first atomic bomb, from the Indian Sanskrit epic "Bhagavad Gita". —— Rediaz
Ignoring is the greatest contempt. —— Luo Ji, while issuing deterrence to the Trisolarans in "The Three-Body Problem II: The Dark Forest".
Within the light cone lies destiny.
Give time to civilization, not civilization to time. —— Inscription on the Monument of the Great Valley in "The Three-Body Problem III: Death's End". This echoes Pascal's "Give life to time, not time to life."
Fellow soldiers, do you know the greatest difference between us? You act according to possible outcomes; we must act according to duty, regardless of the outcome. This is the only chance. —— Zhang Beihai to Dongfang Yanxu during the hijacking of the "Natural Selection" in "The Three-Body Problem II: The Dark Forest".
Dark, truly fucking dark. —— Shi Qiang's instinctive reaction after hearing the "Archer and the Farmer" hypothesis in "The Three-Body Problem I: The Earth's Past".
Not having the power to save the world is not your fault, but giving hope and then crushing it is an unforgivable sin.
"The sun is about to set, and your child isn't afraid?" "Of course not, she knows the sun will rise again tomorrow."
Forward! Forward!! Advance by any means necessary!!! —— Thomas Wade's life motto in "The Three-Body Problem III: Death's End".
Those who truly enter space are no longer human. So, people, when you plan to fly into outer space never to return, be extremely cautious; the cost is far greater than you imagine.
Do not return; this is not home! —— Warning sent by the "Bronze Age" to the "Blue Space" preparing to return to Earth in "The Three-Body Problem III: Death's End".
Lose humanity, lose much; lose beastliness, lose everything. —— Thomas Wade speaking to Cheng Xin (representing Star Ring City) in "The Three-Body Problem III: Death's End".
Weakness and ignorance are not obstacles to survival; arrogance is. —— Bai Ice's conclusion after witnessing the "Water Droplet" destroy Earth's fleet in "The Three-Body Problem III: Death's End".
Carve the words into stone. —— How human civilization chose to preserve information to the last moment in "The Three-Body Problem III: Death's End"; also seen in ancient carvings discovered by Ai AA and Guan Yifan on Blue Star.
First, survival is the primary need of civilization; second, civilization grows and expands continuously, while the total matter in the universe remains constant. —— Ye Wenjie explaining the two axioms of cosmic sociology to Luo Ji in "The Three-Body Problem II: The Dark Forest".
Dynasties and eras change like fireworks; the bones thrown by ancient apes had not yet fallen when they became spaceships.
Survival is originally a kind of luck, as it was on the past Earth and as it is throughout this cold universe. Yet at some point, humans developed the illusion that survival was something easily grasped.
The universe is vast, life even more so; perhaps one day we will meet again.
Death is the only lighthouse that always shines. No matter where you sail, you will eventually turn toward its guidance. All will fade; only Death's End remains eternal.
Civilization is like a five-thousand-year sprint; constant progress drives faster progress, countless miracles give birth to even greater miracles, and humanity seems to possess god-like power……
Museums are for people; tombstones are built for oneself.
In the long night of the Orion Arm of the Milky Way, two meteors of civilization streaked across, and the universe remembered their light.
Give me a two-dimensional foil for cleaning. —— Singer requesting the dimensional strike weapon (two-dimensional foil) from the elders in "The Three-Body Problem III: Death's End".
When humanity truly drifts into space, totalitarianism needs only five minutes. —— Description of the situation change after Zhang Beihai took over "Natural Selection" in "The Three-Body Problem II: The Dark Forest".
Do not respond!! Do not respond!! Do not respond!! —— Warning sent by the Centaur Three-Star (Trisolaran world) pacifists to Earth in "The Three-Body Problem I: The Earth's Past".
The Trisolarans, who view humans as worms, seem to forget one fact: worms have never been defeated. —— Shi Qiang encouraging Wang Miao when they observed locusts in "The Three-Body Problem I: The Earth's Past".
Wallfacer Luo Ji, I am your breaker. —— Luo Ji speaking to himself in "The Three-Body Problem II: The Dark Forest". He is his own breaker.
Destroying you, what does it have to do with you? —— Describing the cold attitude of the "Water Droplet" (Trisolaran probe) as it destroys Earth's fleet in "The Three-Body Problem II: The Dark Forest".
Only the brain. —— Thomas Wade's ruthless decision when Yun Tianming was selected for the Stairway Project in "The Three-Body Problem II: The Dark Forest".
As simple as a grave. —— Rediaz describing his wallfacing plan style in "The Three-Body Problem II: The Dark Forest".
In the future, no matter how much of a demon or monster he appears to feminized humans, people must admit that throughout the history of civilization, his victory is unmatched. —— Evaluation of Luo Ji in "The Three-Body Problem III: Death's End".
Child, look at what you have done.
She twice held a position just below God, yet twice pushed the world into the abyss in the name of love, and this time no one can save her.
Eliminate human tyranny, the world belongs to the Trisolarans! —— Motto of the Earth-Trisolaris Organization (ETO) in "The Three-Body Problem I: The Earth's Past".
Natural Selection, full speed ahead! —— Command issued by Zhang Beihai after hijacking the ship in "The Three-Body Problem II: The Dark Forest".
Genghis Khan's cavalry attacked at speeds comparable to 20th-century armored units; Northern Song's bed crossbows had a range of 1,500 meters, roughly equivalent to 20th-century sniper rifles; yet these were still ancient cavalry and crossbows, incapable of matching modern forces. Basic theory determines everything, the future historians clearly saw this. Yet you were blinded by the flicker of primitive technology, lying in the comfort of modern civilization, unprepared spiritually for the ultimate battle deciding humanity's fate.
She intended to spend a lifetime playing this game of chess, yet the opponent did not move a single piece, instead grabbing the board and smashing it over her head.
Read, nonsense!
"Your last sentence! I often comfort myself this way, always letting myself believe that in this great feast, there is always a dish that no one has touched……" —— Bai Ice dreaming, Ding Yi (ghostly presence) speaking to Bai Ice in "The Three-Body Problem III: Death's End".
Hahahahaha… there is no untouched feast, no untouched virgin. Wahahahaha…… —— Bai Ice dreaming, Ding Yi (ghostly presence) speaking to Bai Ice in "The Three-Body Problem III: Death's End".
Life is a straight flush; once washed, it is gone.
Little girl, look, I kept my promise. —— Thomas Wade speaking to Cheng Xin upon surrender in "The Three-Body Problem III: Death's End".
The monument is so small; it seems less for remembrance than for forgetting. —— Describing the tombstone preserving human civilization on Pluto in "The Three-Body Problem III: Death's End".
In the universe, no matter how fast you are, there is always something faster; no matter how slow, there is always something slower. —— Elder speaking to the Singer in "The Three-Body Problem III: Death's End".
Silly children, run! —— Professor Ding Yi issuing a final warning to the rear fleet upon realizing the terrifying nature of the "Water Droplet" in "The Three-Body Problem II: The Dark Forest".
Came, loved, gave her a star, left. —— Yun Tianming's epitaph before accepting euthanasia in "The Three-Body Problem II: The Dark Forest".
Once you know where you are, the world becomes as small as a map; when you don't know, the world feels vast. —— Initially imagined by Luo Ji as something Zhuang Yan would say, later actually said by Zhuang Yan in "The Three-Body Problem II: The Dark Forest".
This is part of the plan. —— Wallfacer Luo Ji's universal quote to counter outside doubt when his actions were incomprehensible in "The Three-Body Problem II: The Dark Forest".
True human moral consciousness is impossible, just as they cannot pull themselves off the ground by their hair. —— Ye Wenjie's reflection in "The Three-Body Problem I: The Earth's Past".
One's discernment ability is proportional to their knowledge. —— Repeated viewpoint throughout "The Three-Body Problem" series, spoken by General Chang Weisi to Wang Miao.
When something is extremely uncanny, there must be a ghost. —— Shi Qiang's classic saying to Wang Miao in "The Three-Body Problem I: The Earth's Past".
Within a small space, it is bottomless.
I, wallfacer Luo Ji, speak to the Trisolaran world!