Quotes from Robert A. Heinlein

Even Lot might have been mistaken. But that's what he promised 'em – his virgin daughters, young and tender and scared – urged this street gang to rape them as much as they wished in any way that they liked...if only they would leave him in peace!" Jubal snorted in disgust. "And the Bible cites this sort of scum as being a righteous man.

Science fiction means different things to different people. When I make a word do a lot of work like that, said Humpty Dumpty, I always pay it extra—in which case the term science fiction has piled up a lot of expensive overtime.

The practical reason for continuing our system is the same as the practical reason for continuing anything: It works satisfactorily.

Both for practical reasons and for mathematically verifiable moral reasons, authority and responsibility must be equal—else a balancing takes place as surely as current flows between points of unequal potential. To permit irresponsible authority is to sow disaster; to hold a man responsible for anything he does not control is to behave with blind idiocy.

Since sovereign franchise is the ultimate in human authority, we insure that all who wield it accept the ultimate in social responsibility—we require each person who wishes to exert control over the state to wager his own life—and lose it, if need be—to save the life of the state. The maximum responsibility a human can accept is thus equated to the ultimate authority a human can exert.

An apostate scientist, a kidnapped scientist, a dull peasant, a two-headed monster, an apple-brained moron -- five knives, counting Joe-Jim as one; five brains, counting Joe-Jim as two and Bobo as none -- five brains and five knives to overthrow an entire culture.

Some people insist that 'mediocre' is better than 'best.' They delight in clipping wings because they themselves can't fly. They despise brains because they have none. Pfah!

Acting per se, like all art, is a process of abstracting, of retaining only significant detail. But in impersonation any detail can be significant.

Give the future enough thought to be ready for it—but don't worry about it. Live each day as if you were to die next sunrise. Then face each sunrise as a fresh creation and live for it, joyously. And never think about the past. No regrets, ever.

Math is hard work and it occupies your mind—and it doesn't hurt to learn all you can of it, no matter what rank you are; everything of any importance is founded on mathematics.

Anywhere is home to the man with a fat bank account—the cops leave him alone.

When there's nothing else you can do, breathe slower. There's no way it can hurt, and it might help.

Congratulations! A desire not to butt into other people's business is eighty percent of all human wisdom." "You

Just a man, with a face-shaped face

If you do not believe that a man will commit murder for one can of tomatoes, then you have never been hungry.

There was one field in which man was unsurpassed; he showed unlimited ingenuity in devising bigger and more efficient ways to kill off, enslave, harass, and in all ways make an unbearable nuisance of himself to himself. Man was his own grimmest joke on himself.

Democracy is a poor system of government at best; the only thing that can honestly be said in its favor is that it is about eight times as good as any other method the human race has ever tried. Democracy's worst fault is that its leaders are likely to reflect the faults and virtues of their constituents—a depressingly low level, but what else can you expect?

When you read about chemistry and physics, you want to do them too.

That's what I was trying to find out when we were rushed off on this damned safari. They have unusual intestinal flora and it may have something to do with that. But I think it has to do with the fact that they never stop growing.

Mother had the social restraint of an ambassador.

The fact is I am a compulsive reader. Thirty-five cents' worth of Gold Medal Original will put me right to sleep. Or Perry Mason. But I'll read the ads in an old Paris-Match that has been used to wrap herring before I'll do without.

Eighty million steel juggernauts, operated by imperfect human beings at high speeds, are more destructive than war.

How many people have died because they would not abandon their baggage?

Mahmoud, sir. No, Doctor Mahmoud is not well. A—a slight nervous breakdown, sir." Van Tromp reflected that being dead drunk was the moral equivalent thereof.