Alfred Lanning

"A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow him to come to harm."

"How nicely put," sneered Calvin. "But what kind of harm?"

"Why—any kind."

"Exactly! Any kind! But what about hurt feelings? What about deflation of one's ego? What about the blasting of one's hopes? Is that injury?"

Lanning frowned, "What would a robot know about—" And then he caught himself with a gasp.

"You've caught on, have you? This robot reads minds. Do you suppose it doesn't know everything about mental injury? Do you supposed that if asked a question, it wouldn't give exactly that answer that one wants to hear? Wouldn't any other answer hurt us, and wouldn't Herbie know that?"

• I, Robot
  • p. 131 (Bantam Books, 2004)

Actions such as [Byerley's] could come only from a robot, or from a very honorable an decent human being. But you see, you just can't differentiate between a robot and the very best of humans.

• I, Robot
  • p. 223 (Bantam Books, 2004)