Don't ever become a pessimist... a pessimist is correct oftener than an optimist, but an optimist has more fun, and neither can stop the march of events. Robert A. Heinlein More Quotes by Robert A. Heinlein More Quotes From Robert A. Heinlein Love your country, but never trust its government. Robert A. Heinlein government love-you country Secrecy is the beginning of tyranny Robert A. Heinlein secrecy trust tyranny There are no dangerous weapons; there are only dangerous men. Robert A. Heinlein dangerous-man gun men Women and cats will do as they please, and men and dogs should relax and get used to the idea. Robert A. Heinlein inspirational love funny Democracy is four wolves and a sheep voting on dinner. Robert A. Heinlein freedom truth knowledge There is no such thing as luck; there is only adequate or inadequate preparation to cope with a statistical universe. Robert A. Heinlein badass preparation luck Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity. Never underestimate the power of human stupidity. Robert A. Heinlein attributes underestimate stupidity The most ridiculous concept ever perpetrated by Homo Sapiens is that the Lord God of Creation, Shaper and Ruler of the Universes, wants the saccharine adoration of his creations, that he can be persuaded by their prayers, and becomes petulant if he does not receive this flattery. Yet this ridiculous notion, without one real shred of evidence to bolster it, has gone on to found one of the oldest, largest and least productive industries in history. Robert A. Heinlein real religious prayer What are the facts? Again and again and again – what are the facts? Shun wishful thinking, ignore divine revelation, forget what “the stars foretell,” avoid opinion, care not what the neighbors think, never mind the unguessable “verdict of history” – what are the facts, and to how many decimal places? You pilot always into an unknown future; facts are your single clue. Get the facts! Robert A. Heinlein stars truth thinking The greatest fallacy of democracy is that everyone's opinion is worth the same. Robert A. Heinlein democracy opinion freedom What is supposed to happen in a democracy is that each sovereign citizen will always vote in the public interest for the safety and welfare of all. But what does happen is that he votes his own self-interest as he sees it... which for the majority translates as 'Bread and Circuses'. Robert A. Heinlein safety democracy self 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 bombs mind men Ignorance is curable, stupid is forever. Robert A. Heinlein ignorance stupid forever Progress isn't made by early risers. It's made by lazy men trying to find easier ways to do something. Robert A. Heinlein motivational life funny The lessons of history teach us - if the lessons of history teach us anything - that nobody learns the lessons that history teaches us. Robert A. Heinlein teach lessons ifs A dying culture invariably exhibits personal rudeness. Bad manners. Lack of consideration for others in minor matters. A loss of politeness, of gentle manners, is more significant than is a riot. Robert A. Heinlein dying loss culture On two subjects the overwhelming majority of people regarded their own opinions as Absolute Truth, and sincerely believed that anyone who disagreed with them was immoral, outrageous, sinful, sacrilegious, offensive, intolerable, stupid, illogical, treasonable, actionable, against the public interest, ridiculous, and obscene. The two subjects were (of course) sex and religion. Robert A. Heinlein stupid two sex 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 want may Never attempt to teach a pig to sing; it wastes your time and annoys the pig. Robert A. Heinlein leadership inspirational funny Anyone who clings to the historically untrue-and thoroughly immoral-doctrine that, 'violence never settles anything' I would advise to conjure the ghosts of Napoleon Bonaparte and the Duke of Wellington and let them debate it. The ghost of Hitler could referee, and the jury might well be the Dodo, the Great Auk and the Passenger Pigeon. Violence, naked force, has settled more issues in history than has any other factor, and the contrary opinion is wishful thinking at its worst. Breeds that forget this basic truth have always paid for it with their lives and freedom. Robert A. Heinlein never-settle issues thinking
