The Past, Mr. President, is only the Present gone by, and the Present is only the Future come to pass.
Context: Professor Sylvanus, the inventor of the kinetoscope, states this to the President of the United States. It sets the philosophical foundation for his device, which allows viewers to observe past events as if they were present.
Science is, after all, only organized common sense, and the apparently impossible is only the not yet achieved.
Context: Professor Sylvanus expresses this as his guiding philosophy in 'The Kinetoscope of Time.' It underpins his belief in the limitless potential of scientific endeavor, explaining how his seemingly impossible inventions are merely logical advancements.
To be able to see all things, and to be seen of none, is a privilege which few mortals would readily relinquish.
Context: The narrator introduces the central fantasy element of 'The Twinkling of an Eye,' where the protagonist gains invisibility. This line immediately highlights the powerful and tempting nature of such a unique ability.
To become invisible at will, to be able to see without being seen, is to be at once an angel and a devil.
Context: This reflective statement by the narrator in 'The Twinkling of an Eye' emphasizes the moral dichotomy inherent in the power of invisibility. It foreshadows the protagonist's struggles with temptation and ethical choices.
We are the silent, unseen factors in every great political crisis.
Context: Theophilus Fray, a leader of a secret society in 'A Confidential Postscript,' reveals their clandestine influence to a potential recruit. This line underscores the organization's hidden power to manipulate historical events discreetly.
The art of solving a puzzle is simply the logical deduction from all the known facts.
Context: Mr. Bixby, the astute detective in 'A Battle of Wits,' articulates his methodical approach to criminal investigation. This statement highlights his reliance on reason and evidence rather than guesswork.
It is my mission to guard the purity of the public mind, sir, from all insidious suggestions of evil.
Context: Mr. Comstocker, the censor character in 'The Primer of Comstockery,' declares his self-appointed role. This line epitomizes the zealous and paternalistic attitude of those who seek to control public expression and define morality for others.
Our profession, sir, has its traditions, its etiquette, and its standards of artistic achievement.
Context: Colonel Pendexter, an experienced ghost in 'The Rival Ghosts,' says this with gravitas. It humorously reveals the pride and professionalism with which the ghosts approach their spectral haunting duties, treating it as a serious art.
He worked, not for fame, nor for money, nor for any earthly recompense, but for the pure joy of the doing.
Context: The narrator describes the protagonist in 'The Man Who Worked for Nothing.' This line encapsulates the story's central theme of intrinsic motivation, portraying a character driven solely by the satisfaction of creation itself.
The public has a right to know everything about its great men, sir, and I am here to facilitate that right.
Context: Mr. Scrupworth, the relentless interviewer in 'The Interviewer,' states this to justify his intrusive questions. It highlights the burgeoning and often aggressive nature of early journalism in seeking private details of public figures.