Robert A. Heinlein Quotes - Page 4

Quotes about:

• The hardest part of gaining any new idea is sweeping out the false idea occupying that niche.

  Robert A. Heinlein

  Ideas, Niche, Hardest

  10 Copy quote

• One of the sanest, surest, and most generous joys of life comes from being happy over the good fortune of others.

  Robert A. Heinlein

  Relationship, Thank You, Giving

  68 Copy quote

• When any government, or any church for that matter, undertakes to say to its subjects, This you may not read, this you must not see, this you are forbidden to know, the end result is tyranny and oppression no matter how holy the motives.

  Robert A. Heinlein

  Atheist, Government, Church

  Robert A. Heinlein (2007). “Glory Road”, p.318, Macmillan

  35 Copy quote

• One man's theology is another man's belly laugh.

  Robert A. Heinlein

  Clever, Men, Laughing

  Robert A. Heinlein (1987). “Time Enough for Love”, p.226, Penguin

  91 Copy quote

• Some people insist that "mediocre" is better than "best." They delight in clipping wings because they themselves can't fly. They despise brains because they have none.

  Robert A. Heinlein

  Wings, People, Brain

  "Have Space Suit - Will Travel" by Robert A. Heinlein, (Ch. 9), 1958.

  13 Copy quote

• Never appeal to a man's 'better nature.' He may not have one. Invoking his self-interest gives you more leverage.

  Robert A. Heinlein

  Nature, Men, Self

  Robert A. Heinlein (1987). “Time Enough for Love”, p.227, Penguin

  12 Copy quote

• The human race divides politically into those who want people to be controlled and those who have no such desire.

  Robert A. Heinlein

  Race, People, Desire

  "Time Enough for Love" by Robert A. Heinlein, Ace, (p. 352), August 1988.

  17 Copy quote

• Be wary of strong drink. It can make you shoot at tax collectors... and miss.

  Robert A. Heinlein

  Missing You, Strong, Drinking

  Robert A. Heinlein (1987). “Time Enough for Love”, p.325, Penguin

  54 Copy quote

• Happiness consists in getting enough sleep. Just that, nothing more.

  Robert A. Heinlein

  Sleep, Enough Sleep, Enough

  Robert A. Heinlein (1987). “Starship Troopers”, p.46, Penguin

  27 Copy quote

• Mighty little force is needed to control a man whose mind has been hoodwinked; contrariwise, no amount of force can control a free man, a man whose mind is free. No, not the rack, not fission bombs, not anything - you can't conquer a free man; the most you can do is kill him.

  Robert A. Heinlein

  Men, Mind, Bombs

  Robert A. Heinlein (2007). “Glory Road”, p.318, Macmillan

  48 Copy quote

• Stupidity cannot be cured. Stupidity is the only universal capital crime; the sentence is death. There is no appeal, and execution is carried out automatically and without pity.

  Robert A. Heinlein

  Stupid, Execution, Pity

  21 Copy quote

• Being privileged to work hard for long hours at something you think is worth doing is the best kind of play.

  Robert A. Heinlein

  Hard Work, Thinking, Play

  11 Copy quote

• Taxes are not levied for the benefit of the taxed.

  Robert A. Heinlein

  Liberty, Debt, Benefits

  Robert A. Heinlein (1987). “Time Enough for Love”, p.235, Penguin

  14 Copy quote

• My old man claimed that the more complicated the law the more opportunity for scoundrels.

  Robert A. Heinlein

  Opportunity, Men, Law

  Robert A. Heinlein (1959). “The Door Into Summer”, Roc

  10 Copy quote

• Men rarely if ever dream up a god superior to themselves. Most gods have the manners and morals of a spoiled child.

  Robert A. Heinlein

  Dream, Atheist, Children

  Robert A. Heinlein (1987). “Time Enough for Love”, p.227, Penguin

  19 Copy quote

• The Ten Commandments are for lame brains. The first five are solely for the benefit of the priests and the powers that be; the second five are half truths, neither complete nor adequate.

  Robert A. Heinlein

  Brain, Religion, Lame

  Robert A. Heinlein (1988). “To Sail Beyond the Sunset”

  18 Copy quote

• If you are part of a society that votes, then do so. There may be no candidates and no measures you want to vote for ... but there are certain to be ones you want to vote against. In case of doubt, vote against. By this rule you will rarely go wrong.

  Robert A. Heinlein

  Doubt, May, Want

  Robert A. Heinlein (1987). “Time Enough for Love”, p.321, Penguin

  17 Copy quote

• Whether the authorities be invaders or merely local tyrants, the effect of such [gun control] laws is to place the individual at the mercy of the state, unable to resist.

  Robert A. Heinlein

  Gun, Law, Tyrants

  10 Copy quote

• A woman is not property, and husbands who think otherwise are living in a dreamworld.

  Robert A. Heinlein

  Marriage, Husband, Thinking

  Robert A. Heinlein (1987). “Time Enough for Love”, p.228, Penguin

  33 Copy quote

• All societies are based on rules to protect pregnant women and young children. All else is surplusage, excrescence, adornment, luxury, or folly which can - and must - be dumped in emergency to preserve this prime function. As racial survival is the only universal morality, no other basic is possible. Attempts to formulate a "perfect society" on any foundation other than "Women and children first!" is not only witless, it is automatically genocidal. Nevertheless, starry-eyed idealists (all of them male) have tried endlessly - and no doubt will keep trying.

  Robert A. Heinlein

  Children, Luxury, Perfect

  Robert A. Heinlein (1987). “Time Enough for Love”, p.225, Penguin

  6 Copy quote

• Those who refuse to support and defend the state have no claim to protection by that state. Killing an anarchist or a pacifist should not be considered "murder" in a legalistic sense. The offense against the state, if any, should be "Using deadly weapons within city limits," or "Creating a traffic hazard," or other misdemeanor.

  Robert A. Heinlein

  Peace, War, Cities

  25 Copy quote

• In a family argument, if it turns out you are right, apologize at once.

  Robert A. Heinlein

  Apologizing, Argument, Turns

  Robert A. Heinlein (1987). “Time Enough for Love”, p.322, Penguin

  18 Copy quote

• If you would know a man, observe how he treats a cat.

  Robert A. Heinlein

  Cat, Men, Treats

  "The Door Into Summer" by Robert A. Heinlein, (Ch. 1), 1957.

  9 Copy quote

• Most people can't think, most of the remainder won't think, and the small fraction who do think mostly can't do it very well.

  Robert A. Heinlein

  Thinking, People, Fractions

  18 Copy quote

• There are hidden contradictions in the minds of people who "love Nature" while deploring the "artificialities" with which "Man has spoiled Nature.'" The obvious contradiction lies in their choice of words, which imply that Man and his artifacts are not part of "Nature" : but beavers and their dams are.

  Robert A. Heinlein

  Funny, Lying, Animal

  Time Enough for Love "Intermission" (1973)

  23 Copy quote

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