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Robert A. Heinlein Quotes - Page 10

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For me, politeness is a sine qua non of civilization.

For me, politeness is a sine qua non of civilization.

Robert A. Heinlein
Civilization, Atheism, Polite
Robert A. Heinlein (1960). “Beyond This Horizon”, Roc

Pacifism is a shifty doctrine under which a man accepts the benefits of the social group without being willing to pay; and claims a halo for his dishonesty.

Robert A. Heinlein
Men, Groups, Halos
Robert A. Heinlein (2013). “Double Star”, p.100, Hachette UK

Working because you want to is the best sort of play.

Robert A. Heinlein
Play, Want

Anything free is worth what you pay for it.

Robert A. Heinlein
Sacrifice, Pay, Jolly
Robert A. Heinlein (1987). “Time Enough for Love”, p.330, Penguin

The early worm deserves the bird.

Robert A. Heinlein
Bird, Moral, Manners

I never do anything I don't want to do. Nor does anyone, but in my case I am always aware of it.

Robert A. Heinlein
Doe, Want, Stranger In A Strange Land
"Stranger in a Strange Land". Book by Robert A. Heinlein, June 1, 1961.

An armed society is a polite society.

Robert A. Heinlein
Atheist, Gun, Society
Robert A. Heinlein (1960). “Beyond This Horizon”, Roc

History does not record anywhere or at any time a religion that has any rational basis.

Robert A. Heinlein
Atheism, Doe, Records
Robert A. Heinlein (1987). “Time Enough for Love”, p.224, Penguin

The most important lesson in the writing trade is that any manuscript is improved if you cut away the fat.

Robert A. Heinlein
Writing, Cutting, Important

The most noble fate a man can endure is to place his own mortal body between his loved home and the war's desolation.

Robert A. Heinlein
War, Home, Fate
"Starship Troopers". Book by Robert A. Heinlein, 1959.

I scrolled on down to the obituaries. I usually read the obituaries first as there is always the happy chance that one of them will make my day.

Robert A. Heinlein
Firsts, Chance, Obituary

The moral difference between a soldier and a civilian is that the soldier accepts personal responsibility for the safety of the body politic of which he is a member. The civilian does not.

Robert A. Heinlein
Responsibility, Differences, Safety

Most women are damn fools and children. But they've got more range than we've got. The brave ones are braver, the good ones are better - and the vile ones are viler, for that matter.

Robert A. Heinlein
Children, Brave, Matter
Robert A. Heinlein (2009). “The Puppet Masters”, p.107, Baen Publishing Enterprises

Money is a powerful aphrodisiac but flowers work almost as well.

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

There is no conclusive evidence of life after death, but there is no evidence of any sort against it. Soon enough you will know, so why fret about it?

Robert A. Heinlein
Soon Enough, Life After Death, Evidence
Robert A. Heinlein (1987). “Time Enough for Love”, p.222, Penguin

The hardest part about gaining any new idea is sweeping out the false idea occupying that niche. As long as that niche is occupied, evidence and proof and logical demonstration get nowhere. But once the niche is emptied of the wrong idea that has been filling it:; once you can honestly say, "I don't know", then it becomes possible to get at the truth.

Robert A. Heinlein
Ideas, Long, Niche
"The Cat Who Walks Through Walls". Book by Robert A. Heinlein, chapter 18, p. 230, 1985.

when faced with a problem you do not understand, do any part of it you do understand, then look at it again.

Robert A. Heinlein
Mistress, Looks, Problem
Robert A. Heinlein (2014). “The Moon is a Harsh Mistress”, p.329, Hachette UK

The less respect an older person deserves the more certain he is to demand it from anyone younger.

Robert A. Heinlein
Demand, Certain, Persons
Robert A. Heinlein (2005). “Have Space Suit, Will Travel”, p.208, Simon and Schuster

"I've found out why people laugh. They laugh because it hurts so much... because it's the only thing that'll make it stop hurting" ... "But that's not all people laugh at." "Isn't it? Perhaps I don't grok all its fullness yet. But find me something that really makes you laugh sweetheart... a joke, or anything else- but something that gave you a a real belly laugh, not a smile. Then we'll see if there isn't a wrongness wasn't there." He thought. "I grok when apes learn to laugh, they'll be people."

Robert A. Heinlein
Hurt, Real, People
"Stranger in a Strange Land". Book by Robert A. Heinlein, 1961.

Ability is a wonderful thing, but its value is greatly enhanced by dependability. Ability implies repeatability and accountability.

Robert A. Heinlein
Accountability, Wonderful, Dependability

I believe that almost all politicians are honest. For every bribed alderman there are hundreds of politicians, low paid or not paid at all, doing their level best without thanks or glory to make our system work. If this were not true, we would never have gotten past the thirteen colonies.

Robert A. Heinlein
Believe, Past, Levels
"This I Believe", 1952.

The country and culture commonly known as "America" had had a badly split personality all through its history. Its overt laws were almost always puritanical for a people whose covert behavior tended to be Rabelaisian; its major religions were all Apollonian in varying degrees---its religious revivals were often hysterical in a fashion almost Dionysian.

Robert A. Heinlein
Country, Fashion, Religious

Take sex away from people. Make it forbidden, evil. Limit it to ritualistic breeding. Force it to back up into suppressed sadism. Then hand the people a scapegoat to hate. Let them kill a scapegoat occasionally for cathartic release. The mechanism is ages old. Tyrants used it centuries before the word "psychology" was ever invented. It works, too.

Robert A. Heinlein
Sex, Hate, Hands
"Revolt in 2100". Book by Robert A. Heinlein, 1953.

It was better to live with disappointment and frustration than to live without hope.

Robert A. Heinlein
Hope, Disappointment, Ambition
Robert A. Heinlein (2014). “Waldo & Magic, Inc.”, p.107, Baen Publishing Enterprises

A prude is a person who thinks that his own rules of propriety are natural laws.

Robert A. Heinlein
Thinking, Law, Prudes
"Stranger in a Strange Land". Book by Robert A. Heinlein, June 1, 1961.

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