It's a man's business to be what he is, and to be it in style. Robert A. Heinlein More Quotes by Robert A. Heinlein More Quotes From Robert A. Heinlein Cheops' Law: Nothing ever gets built on schedule or within budget. Robert A. Heinlein built schedules law Avoid making irrevocable decisions while tired or hungry. Robert A. Heinlein hungry tired decision Writing is not necessarily something to be ashamed of, but do it in private and wash your hands afterwards. Robert A. Heinlein ashamed writing hands I came, I saw, she conquered." The original Latin seems to have been garbled. Robert A. Heinlein saws seems latin It is impossible for anyone to be responsible for another person's behavior. The most you or any leader can do is to encourage each one to be responsible for himself. Robert A. Heinlein following-your-own-path leader teaching By cultivating the beautiful we scatter the seeds of heavenly flowers, as by doing good we cultivate those that belong to humanity. Robert A. Heinlein uplifting beautiful beauty It may be better to be a live jackal than a dead lion, but it is better still to be a live lion. And usually easier. Robert A. Heinlein easier lions may They didn't want it good, they wanted it Wednesday. Robert A. Heinlein wednesday want wanted Most people who sneer at technology would starve to death if the engineering infrastructure were removed. Robert A. Heinlein engineering technology people A friend who offers help without asking for explanations is a treasure beyond price Robert A. Heinlein cute-friendship life-is-short asking My vocal cords lived their own life, wild and free. Robert A. Heinlein wild-and-free vocal-cords vocal Straining at gnats and swallowing camels is a required course in law schools. Robert A. Heinlein gnats law school Never appeal to a man's 'better nature.' He may not have one. Invoking his self-interest gives you more leverage. Robert A. Heinlein nature self men Don't appeal to mercy to God the Father up in the sky, little man, because he's not at home and never was at home, and couldn't care less. What you do with yourself, whether you are happy or unhappy- live or die- is strictly your business and the universe doesn't care. In fact you may be the universe and the only cause of all your troubles. But, at best, the most you can hope for is comradeship with comrades no more divine (or just as divine) as you are. So quit sniveling and face up to it- 'Thou art God!' Robert A. Heinlein home father art Man can be chained, but he cannot be domesticated. Robert A. Heinlein chained society men A fake fortuneteller can be tolerated. But an authentic soothsayer should be shot on sight. Cassandra did not get half the kicking around she deserved. Robert A. Heinlein kicking fake sight Nursing does not diminish the beauty of a woman's breasts; it enhances their charm by making them look lived in and happy. Robert A. Heinlein breastfeeding nursing doe 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 future men war Love is that condition in which the happiness of another person is essential to your own... Jealousy is a disease, love is a healthy condition. The immature mind often mistakes one for the other, or assumes that the greater the love, the greater the jealousy. Robert A. Heinlein jealousy mistake love Men are expendable; women and children are not. A tribe or a nation can lose a high percentage of its men and still pick up the pieces and go on ... as long as the women and children are saved. Robert A. Heinlein men long children