How we cite our quotes: (Part.Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
[Gaal] said, "about 85%?"
"Not bad," said Seldon, thrusting out a lower lip, "but not good. The actual figure is 92.5%." (I.4.37-38)
When you're thinking about Fate and free will, remember that Seldon's Plan is based on mathematical probability. This isn't a crystal ball type scenario here. Even at 92.5%, that still means there's a 7.5% chance that Seldon will be wrong. We're not saying we'd take those odds or anything—but it's still better than 0%, especially if you're talking about a 30K-year Dark Age.
Quote #3
"Because, my boy, in a plan such as ours, the actions of others are bent to our needs. Have I not said to you already that Chen's temperamental makeup has been subjected to greater scrutiny than that of any other single man in history." (I.8.21)
Seldon has studied his rival Chen to the point that Seldon can plan around his free will, as if it were fate. Is it just us, or does this make Seldon seem a little creepy?
Quote #4
"Why put [the Foundation] out here at all if he could see in advance the break in communication lines, our isolation from the Galaxy, the threat of our neighbors—and our helplessness because of the lack of metals on Terminus?" (II.5.67)
What the people of Foundation don't understand—at first—is that Seldon did foresee those problems. In fact, he was counting on those issues to force the Foundation to fit into his plan. Does that make Seldon a jerk? Maybe. But also, no one likes a Debbie Downer.
Quote #5
"From now on, and into the centuries, the path you must take is inevitable. You will be faced with a series of crises, as you are now faced with the first, and in each case your freedom of action will become similarly circumscribed so that you will be forced along one, and only one, path." (II.7.18)
We get it: it isn't so much that Seldon predicts the future, he just makes sure that the free will of future generations is minimized as much as possible. Okay, we're really starting to get creeped out now.
Quote #6
Hardin frowned. "Force the issue, now? Before the crisis comes? It's the one thing I mustn't do. There's Hari Seldon and the Plan, you know." (III.2.60)
Seldon's plan has another consequence. Hardin willingly sets his free will aside, assuming Seldon's Plan will come through for him. Or is Hardin putting his free will aside merely him exercising his free will? Head hurting…paradox….
Quote #7
"No! Hari Seldon said in the Time Vault, that at each crisis our freedom of action would become circumscribed to the point where only one course of action was possible." (III.2.68)
Hardin understands Seldon's Plan, so he knows eventually he'll be limited to one choice and one choice only. That's the time to act. If only Seldon's Plan could solve the dreaded soup or salad dilemma.
Quote #8
"Now the first crisis came fifty years after the establishment of the Foundation, and the second, thirty years later than that. Almost seventy-five years have gone since. It's time, Manlio, it's time." (V.2.15)
Prophecy becomes a slot machine. After a few jackpots hit, everybody thinks the machine is hot and wait for another jackpot to hit. Well, we hate to break it to you—but random is still random.
Quote #9
"If ever a poor woman was sacrificed for policy to an unsavory marriage, it was myself. I could have picked a more proper man from the alleys and mudheaps of my native world." (V.6.8)
Seldon's Plan isn't the only thing trying to force people into pre-determined actions. Take the Commodora here, forced into a marriage determined before her birth. So, if you can stomach forcing someone into marriage, you can be a prophet too. Or just a really big jerk.
Quote #10
But Mallow's answer was incisive. "When I'm boss of this Foundation, I'm going to do nothing. One hundred percent of nothing, and that is the secret of this crisis." (V.15.19)
Mallow's answer sets the trend for future generations of leaders, since they're also going to believe that Seldon's Plan will see them through. (How do we know? We've read the next book.) But will it work out for them?