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Robert A. Heinlein Quotes - Page 25

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The bugs are not like us. The Pseudo-Arachnids aren’t even like spiders. They are arthropods who happen to look like a madman’s conception of a giant intelligent spider, but their organization, psychological and

The bugs are not like us. The Pseudo-Arachnids aren’t even like spiders. They are arthropods who happen to look like a madman’s conception of a giant intelligent spider, but their organization, psychological and economic, is more like that of ants or termites; they are communal entities, the ultimate dictatorship of the hive.

Robert A. Heinlein
Intelligent, Organization, Giants

By the laws of statistics we could probably approximate just how unlikely it is that it would happen. But people forget especially those who ought to know better, such as yourself that while the laws of statistics tell you how unlikely a particular coincidence is, they state just as firmly that coincidences do happen.

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

If tempted by something that feels 'altruistic,' examine your motives and root out that self-deception. Then, if you still want to do it, wallow in it!

Robert A. Heinlein
Roots, Self, Deception
Robert A. Heinlein (1987). “Time Enough for Love”, p.233, Penguin

No matter what I said they insisted on thinking of God as something outside themselves. Something that yearns to take every indolent moron to His breast and comfort him. The notion that the effort has to be their own . . . and that the trouble they are in is all their own doing . . . is one that they can't or won't entertain.

Robert A. Heinlein
Thinking, Effort, Comfort
Robert A. Heinlein (1987). “Stranger in a Strange Land”, p.394, Penguin

All normal human beings have soi-disant mixed-up glands. The race is divided into two parts: those who know this and those who do not.

Robert A. Heinlein
Race, Two, Normal
Robert A. Heinlein (1982). “Friday”

Abstract knowledge is always useful, sooner or later.

Robert A. Heinlein
Abstract, Sooner Or Later

There ought not to be anything in the whole universe that man can't poke his nose into-that's the way we're built and I assume that there's some reason for that.

Robert A. Heinlein
Science, Men, Noses

There will always be survivors.

Robert A. Heinlein
Survivor

I have never been impressed by the formal schools of ethics.

Robert A. Heinlein
School, Ethics, Formal
"Double Star". Book by Robert A. Heinlein, 1956.

Are you trying to tell all of us we have a bad signal-to-noise ratio?

Robert A. Heinlein
Funny, Crazy, Silly

Once a man gets a reputation as a liar, he might as well be struck dumb, for people do not listen to the wind.

Robert A. Heinlein
Liars, Men, Wind
Robert A. Heinlein (2005). “Citizen of the Galaxy”, p.22, Simon and Schuster

A zest for living must include a willingness to die.

Robert A. Heinlein
Zest, Motorcycle, Bikers

Must be yearning deep in human heart to stop other people from doing as they please.

Robert A. Heinlein
Heart, People, Mistress
Robert A Heinlein (1966). “Moon Is Harsh Mistres”, Berkley

Death isn't funny." "Then why are there so many jokes about death? Jill, with us — us humans — death is so sad that we must laugh at it.

Robert A. Heinlein
Laughing, So Sad, Humans
Robert A. Heinlein (1983). “Stranger in a Strange Land”, Berkley

Never cast pearls before swine.

Robert A. Heinlein
Pearls, Swine, Casts

There is solemn satisfaction in doing the best you can for eight billion people. Perhaps their lives have no cosmic significance, but they have feelings. They can hurt.

Robert A. Heinlein
Hurt, Eight, People
"Double Star". Book by Robert A. Heinlein, 1956.

With eternity to draw on there could be no reason for hurrying - 'hurry' was not a concept in Martian.

Robert A. Heinlein
Life Changing, Eternity, Reason
Robert A. Heinlein (1987). “Stranger in a Strange Land”, p.126, Penguin

Some logics get nervous breakdowns. Overloaded phone system behaves like frightened child. Mike did not have upsets, acquired sense of humor instead. Low one. If he were a man, you wouldn't dare stoop over. His idea of thigh-slapper would be to dump you out of bed — or put itch powder in pressure suit.

Robert A. Heinlein
Children, Men, Phones
Robert A Heinlein (1966). “Moon Is Harsh Mistres”, Berkley

All men are created unequal.

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

Small change can often be found under seat cushions.

Robert A. Heinlein
Small Changes, Often Is, Found
Robert A. Heinlein (1987). “Time Enough for Love”, p.223, Penguin

A pacifist male is a contradiction in terms. Most self-described "pacifists" are not pacific; they simply assume false colors. When the wind changes, they hoist the Jolly Roger.

Robert A. Heinlein
Self, Color, Wind
Robert A. Heinlein (1987). “Time Enough for Love”, p.223, Penguin

Never trust machinery more complicated than a knife and fork.

Robert A. Heinlein
Knives, Complicated, Never Trust
Robert A. Heinlein (1987). “Stranger in a Strange Land”, p.151, Penguin

Specialisation is for insects!

Robert A. Heinlein
Insects

We learned not to waste ammo even on warriors except in self-protection

Robert A. Heinlein
Warrior, Self, Waste
Robert A. Heinlein (1987). “Starship Troopers”, p.120, Penguin

From the strictest humanitarian viewpoint, any attempt to stop the processes by which over crowded cities purge themselves is not a kindness.

Robert A. Heinlein
Kindness, America, Cities
Robert A. Heinlein (1982). “Friday”

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