"Eminent men were called on to take command and arrange suitable measures. They immediately acted as eminent men so often do; they took action to retain their eminence. Their first instinct was caution. When a man is important enough, it does not matter if he ever does anything. It is only required of him that he do nothing wrong. Eminent figures all over the worked prepared to do nothing. They were not so concerned to do anything right."
"The Wailing Asteroid"
Murray Leinster
I give it a 5.
"The Wailing Asteroid
by Murray Leinster
3.37 of 5 stars 3.37 · rating details · 49 ratings · 8 reviews
THE PUBLIC ABRUPTLY ceased to be interested in news of the signals. Rather, it suddenly wanted to stop thinking about them. The public was scared. Throughout all human history, the most horrifying of all ideas has been the idea of something which was as intelligent as a man, but wasn't human.
