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1. When a distinguished but elderly scientist states that something is possible, he is almost certainly right. When he states that something is impossible, he is very probably wrong.2. The only way of discovering the limits of the possible is to venture a little way past them into the impossible.3. Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.

1. When a distinguished but elderly scientist states that something is possible, he is almost certainly right. When he states that something is impossible, he is very probably wrong.2. The only way of discovering the limits of the possible is to venture a little way past them into the impossible.3. Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.

Approximate historical placement: c. 1962 AD · modern

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Attribution & collection notes
Author or tradition
Arthur C. Clarke
Attribution: attributed
Country attributed
Not established
A country attribution does not establish the earliest origin.
Historical period
Approximate historical placement: c. 1962 AD · modern
Approximate author-period anchor from life dates 1917 to 2008; Wikidata Q47087, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q47087 (accessed 2026-10-08). Not a quotation composition date.
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Recorded source
Contributor-provided quotation collection

Supplied reference C; CSV row 61391; supplied attribution, independently unverified

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