The father of science fiction definitely knew a thing or two about life. His novels, while often focused on futuristic worlds and complicated characters, can be incredibly relatable. What better way is there to celebrate his writing than by highlighting some of his best quotes? They’re relevant, useful, and, best of all, have a sprinkling of shrewd humor!
The Time Machine
The Time Machine is arguably one of the greatest science fiction novels out there. Like many of us, the protagonist longed to be able to travel in time. He achieves his dream and is finally able to explore the past and the future, learning a lot in the process. His friends might not believe him, but that’s to be expected!
“Very simple was my explanation, and plausible enough — as most wrong theories are!”
– The Time Machine by H. G. Wells
Sometimes, we don’t even realize how wrong we are. As with the protagonist in The Time Machine, we often think we know the answer and couldn’t be further from the truth. Granted, our ideas and theories aren’t focused on the space-time continuum, but still!
The Invisible Man
The basic premise of The Invisible Man is the ultimate power fantasy. The protagonist, Griffin, is a scientist who manages to turn himself invisible. His plan is to use his power to do all sorts of unspeakable things. It’s definitely a great superpower to have. Griffin, however, quickly realizes that being invisible has its disadvantages as well as its advantages.
“I felt amazingly confident, – it’s not particularly pleasant recalling that I was an ass.”
– The Invisible Man by H. G. Wells
“… The voice was indisputable. It continued to swear with that breath and variety that distinguishes the swearing of a cultivated man.”
– The Invisible Man by H. G. Wells
I’m thrilled to know that cultured swearing can be recognized so easily!
Ann Veronica
Ann Veronica is probably one of H. G Wells’ lesser-known novels. But who could say no to a novel about a rebellious young girl with feminist undertones? Ann Veronica is my kind of girl. She knows what she wants and is not afraid to get it. Even if it means disappointing her family in the process, in her case, she is desperate to attend a fancy ball in London. With it being Edwardian England, her independence is extremely limited. But Ann Veronica decides to move to London to study biology and falls in love. Reality hits her hard after getting arrested during a protest for the suffragette movement. Still, she remains a strong, independent woman, which definitely pays off.
“The art of ignoring is one of the accomplishments of every well-bred girl, so carefully instilled that at last she can even ignore her own thoughts and her own knowledge.”
– Ann Veronica by H. G. Wells
This is one of the most relatable quotes I have heard in a while. Well-bred girls, like Ann Veronica, were forced into a gender role that made it impossible for them to act upon their own thoughts. Or even trust their own judgment.
The Island of Dr Moreau
Shipwrecked and scared, Edward Prendick is rescued and finds himself on an island. Unfortunately, this island belongs to a mad scientist called Dr Moreau, who performs experiments on animals. The end result is animal-human hybrids that Dr Moreau is trying to teach to behave like humans. But can animals truly become humans? As expected, things go wrong. The novel itself is a thrilling read, touching upon ethics and questions of identity.
“I must confess that I lost faith in the sanity of the world.”
– The Island of Dr Moreau by H. G Wells
Haven’t we all had moments in our lives where just looking at the state of the world makes us question its sanity? I know I have.
H. G Wells is mostly known for his ability to create science fiction novels. But if we look closer, we can find some pretty relatable observations amongst the fantastical content. His shrewd wit adds another level of complexity to his novels that every reader will appreciate.
If you want to learn some more about H. G Wells, check out this article with some interesting facts about him here!
Has the world of science fiction drawn you in? Our bookshop bookshelf is full of great Sci-Fi recommendations!
