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Robert A. Heinlein Quotes about War

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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

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

It is a truism that almost any sect, cult, or religion will legislate its creed into law if it acquires the political power to do so.

Robert A. Heinlein
Inspirational, Life, War
Robert A. Heinlein (2014). “Revolt in 2100”, p.124, Hachette UK

The most expensive thing in the world is a second-best military establishment, good but not good enough to win.

Robert A. Heinlein
Military, War, Winning

But does Man have any 'right' to spread through the universe? Man is what he is, a wild animal with the will to survive, and (so far) the ability, against all competition. Unless one accepts that, anything one says about morals, war, politics, you name it, is nonsense. Correct morals arise from knowing what man is, not what do-gooders and well-meaning old Aunt Nellies would like him to be. The Universe will let us know - later - whether or not Man has any "right" to expand through it.

Robert A. Heinlein
War, Future, Men
Robert A. Heinlein (1987). “Starship Troopers”, p.144, Penguin

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.

Get a shot off fast. This upsets him long enough to let you make your second shot perfect.

Robert A. Heinlein
Peace, War, Long
Robert A. Heinlein (1987). “Time Enough for Love”, p.222, Penguin

War is not violence and killing, pure and simple; war is controlled violence, for a purpose. The purpose of war is to support your government's decisions by force. The purpose is never to kill the enemy just to be killing him but to make him do what you want him to do. Not killing... but controlled and purposeful violence.

Robert A. Heinlein
Peace, War, Simple
Robert A. Heinlein (1987). “Starship Troopers”, p.54, Penguin

Peace is an extension of war by political means. Plenty of elbow-room is pleasanter -- and much safer.

Robert A. Heinlein
Peace, War, Mean
Robert A. Heinlein (1987). “Time Enough for Love”, p.236, Penguin

High Frontier places a bullet-proof vest on our bare chest. High Frontier is as non-aggressive as a bullet-proof vest. There is no way to kill anyone with High Frontier - all that High Frontier can do is to keep others from killing us.

Robert A. Heinlein
Peace, War, Bullets

There are a dozen different ways of delivering destruction in impersonal wholesale, via ships or missiles of one sort or another, catastrophes so widespread, so unselective that the war is over because that nation or planet has ceased to exist. What we do is entirely different. We make war as personal as a punch in the nose. We can be selective, applying precisely the required amount of pressure at the specified point at a designated time. We've never been told to go down and kill or capture all left-handed redheads in a particular area, but if they tell us to, we can. We will.

Robert A. Heinlein
War, Down And, Way
"Starship Troopers". Book by Robert A. Heinlein, 1959.

"Peace" is a condition in which no civilian pays any attention to military casualties which do not achieve page-one, lead-story prominence-unless that civilian is a close relative of one of the casualties. But, if there ever was a time in history when "peace" meant that there was no fighting going on, I have been unable to find out about it.

Robert A. Heinlein
Peace, Military, War
"Starship Troopers". Book by Robert A. Heinlein, 1959.

The purpose of war is to support your government's decisions by force.

Robert A. Heinlein
War, Government, Decision
Robert A. Heinlein (1987). “Starship Troopers”, p.54, Penguin

The second best thing about space travel is that the distances involved make war very difficult, usually impractical, and almost always unnecessary. This is probably a loss for most people, since war is our race's most popular diversion, one which gives purpose and color to dull and stupid lives. But it is a great boon to the intelligent man who fights only when he must-never for sport.

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

It may take endless wars and unbearable population pressure to force-feed a technology to the point where it can cope with space. In the universe, space travel may be the normal birth pangs of an otherwise dying race. A test. Some races pass, some fail.

Robert A. Heinlein
War, Technology, Space

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