Quotes from Robert A. Heinlein

Almost any sect, cult, or religion will legislate its creed into law if it acquires the political power to do so.

Butterflies are self propelled flowers.

Always listen to experts. They'll tell you what can't be done, and why. Then do it.

The most preposterous notion that Homo sapiens has ever dreamed up is that the Lord God of Creation, Shaper and Ruler of all the Universes, wants the saccharine adoration of His creatures, can be swayed by their prayers, and becomes petulant if He does not receive this flattery. Yet this absurd fantasy, without a shred of evidence to bolster it, pays all the expenses of the oldest, largest, and least productive industry in all history.

May you live as long as you wish and love as long as you live.

There are no dangerous weapons; there are only dangerous men.

One could write a history of science in reverse by assembling the solemn pronouncements of highest authority about what could not be done and could never happen.

A touchstone to determine the actual worth of an "intellectual" - find out how he feels about astrology.

Never own more than you can carry in both hands at a dead run.

An armed society is a polite society. Manners are good when one may have to back up his acts with his life.

Everything in excess! To enjoy the flavor of life, take big bites. Moderation is for monks.

A committee is the only known form of life with a hundred bellies and no brain.

An armed society is a polite society.

Man can be chained, but he cannot be domesticated.

In a society in which it is a moral offense to be different from your neighbor your only escape is to never let them find out.

In a mature society, 'civil servant' is semantically equal to 'civil master.'

I did the only really brave thing I have ever done in my life: I inched forward.

I've found out why people laugh. They laugh because it hurts so much . . . because it's the only thing that'll make it stop hurting.

I have never been able to see life as anything but a vast complicated practical joke, and it's better to laugh than cry.

I never learned from a man who agreed with me.

A managed democracy is a wonderful thing... for the managers... and its greatest strength is a 'free press' when 'free' is defined as 'responsible' and the managers define what is 'irresponsible'.

A committee is a life form with six or more legs and no brain.

My vocal cords lived their own life, wild and free.

Decency is not news; it is buried in the obituaries - but it is a force stronger than crime.