It’s not going to do any good to land on Mars if we’re stupid.

— Ray Bradbury. [full interview here]

It’s lack that gives us inspiration. It’s not fullness. Not ever having driven, I can write better about automobiles than the people who drive them. I have a distance here. … Space travel is another good example. I’m never going to go to Mars but I’ve helped inspire, thank goodness, the people who built the rockets and sent our photographic equipment off to Mars. So it’s always a lack that causes you to write that type of story.

— Ray Bradbury.

If we listened to our intellect we’d never have a love affair. We’d never have a friendship. We’d never go in business because we’d be cynical: “It’s gonna go wrong.” Or “She’s going to hurt me.” Or, “I’ve had a couple of bad love affairs, so therefore …” Well, that’s nonsense. You’re going to miss life. You’ve got to jump off the cliff all the time and build your wings on the way down.

— Ray Bradbury [Bradbury on Fresh Air]

Ray Bradbury on Fresh Air in 1988.

$9.80

— That’s how much it cost for Ray Bradbury to write Fahrenheit 451.