Every general prohibition creates its bootleggers. Robert A. Heinlein More Quotes by Robert A. Heinlein More Quotes From Robert A. Heinlein 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 luxuryperfectchildren Anyone who cannot cope with mathematics is not fully human. At best, he is a tolerable subhuman who has learned to wear his shoes, bathe, and not make messes in the house. Robert A. Heinlein shoeslearningmath Death is an old friend; I know him well. I lived with him, ate with him, slept with him; to meet him again does not frighten me death is as necessary as birth, as happy in its own way. Robert A. Heinlein old-friendsdoeway To stay young requires unceasing cultivation of the ability to unlearn old falsehoods. Robert A. Heinlein libertarianlearningyoung Whores perform the same function as priests, but far more thoroughly. Robert A. Heinlein functionpriestsreligion The Bible is such a gargantuan collection of conflicting values that anyone can prove anything from it. Robert A. Heinlein humourcollectionsprove Never tease an old dog; he might have one bite left. Robert A. Heinlein teasedogmight Each generation thinks it invented sex; each generation is totally mistaken. Anything along that line today was commonplace both in Pompeii and in Victorian England; the differences lie only in the degree of coverup - if any. Robert A. Heinlein lyingsexthinking God split himself into a myriad parts that he might have friends. This may not be true, but it sounds good, and is no sillier than any other theology. Robert A. Heinlein splitssoundreligion A skunk is better company than a person who prides himself on being 'frank'. Robert A. Heinlein one-linerprideclever No statement should be believed because it is made by an authority. Robert A. Heinlein childhoodfarewellauthority In a family argument, if it turns out you are right, apologize at once. Robert A. Heinlein apologizingargumentturns 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 has-beensfightingifs Delusions are often functional. A mother's opinions about her children's beauty, intelligence, goodness, et cetera ad nauseam, keep her from drowning them at birth. Robert A. Heinlein opinionmotherchildren At least once every human should have to run for his life, to teach him that milk does not come from supermarkets, that safety does not come from policemen, that 'news' is not something that happens to other people. He might learn how his ancestors lived and that he himself is no different--in the crunch his life depends on his agility, alertness, and personal resourcefulness. Robert A. Heinlein should-haverunningpeople The capacity of the human mind for swallowing nonsense and spewing it forth in violent and repressive action has never yet been plumbed. Robert A. Heinlein swallowingmindaction Between being 'right' and being kind, I know which way I vote. Robert A. Heinlein be-kindvoteway The right to figure things out for yourself is the only true freedom everyone shares. Go use it. Robert A. Heinlein figuresuseshare A committee is the only known form of life with a hundred bellies and no brain. Robert A. Heinlein hundredformbrain Your enemy is never a villain in his own eyes. Robert A. Heinlein villaineyeenemy
