Robert A. Heinlein quotes - page 20

Robert A. Heinlein was an American science fiction author, often considered one of the "Big Three" of the genre. His novels and stories explored themes of individualism, freedom, and the future of humanity. He helped shape modern science fiction and inspired generations of readers and writers. Here are 645 of his quotes:

It is impossible for anyone to be responsible for another person's behavior. I spoke of myself as ‘responsible' for this group, that was verbal shorthand. The most I can do-or you, or any leader-is to encourage each one to be responsible for himself.

Robert A. Heinlein

No government has yet been able to repeal natural laws, though they keep trying.

Robert A. Heinlein

When any government, or any church for that matter, undertakes to say to its subjects, This you may not read, this you must not see, this you are forbidden to know, the end result is tyranny and oppression no matter how holy the motives.

Robert A. Heinlein

They didn't want it good, they wanted it Wednesday.

Robert A. Heinlein

Sex without love is merely healthy exercise.

Robert A. Heinlein

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

For me, politeness is a sine qua non of civilization.

Robert A. Heinlein

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.

Robert A. Heinlein

Never insult anyone by accident.

Robert A. Heinlein

There is no way that writers can be tamed and rendered civilized or even cured. The only solution known to science is to provide the patient with an isolation room, where he can endure the acute stages in private and where food can be poked in to him with a stick.

Robert A. Heinlein

I began to sense faintly that secrecy is the keystone of all tyranny. Not force, but secrecy...censorship. When any government, or any church for that matter, undertakes to say to its subjects, "This you may not read, this you must not see, this you are forbidden to know,” the end result is tyranny and oppression, no matter how holy the motives. 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

What course of action do you favor?” "Me? Why, none. Mary, if there is any one thing I have learned in the past couple of centuries, it's this: These things pass. Wars and depressions and Prophets and Covenants-they pass. The trick is to stay alive through them.

Robert A. Heinlein

It is true that most religions which have been offered me teach immortality, but note the fashion in which they teach it. The surest way to lie convincingly is to tell the truth unconvincingly. They did not wish me to believe.

Robert A. Heinlein

Bob Wilson admitted to himself that a Ph. D. and an appointment as an instructor was not his idea of existence. Still, it beat working for a living.

Robert A. Heinlein

He posed me a question which I must answer correctly-else he will not co-operate.” "Huh? What was the question? "I'll ask you. Martha, what is the meaning of life?” "What! Why, what a stupid question!” "He did not ask it stupidly.” "It's a psychopathic question, unlimited, unanswerable, and, in all probability, sense free.

Robert A. Heinlein

The Great Egg must love human beings, he made a lot of them.” "Same argument applies to oysters, only more so.

Robert A. Heinlein

People tend to fall into three psychological types, all differently motivated. There is the type, motivated by economic factors, money...And there is the type motivated by ‘face,' or pride. This type is a spender, fighter, boaster, lover, sportsman, gambler; he has a will to power and an itch for glory. And there is the professional type, which claims to follow a code of ethics rather than simply seeking money or glory-priests and ministers, teachers, scientists, medical men, some artists and writers. The idea is that such a man believes that he is devoting his life to some purpose more important than his individual self. You follow me?

Robert A. Heinlein

Thanks, awfully,” said Thomas. "Now... uh... what do I owe you for this?” Finney's reaction made him feel as if he had uttered some indecency. "Don't mention payment, my son! Money is wrong-it's the means whereby man enslaves his brother.” "I beg your pardon, sir,” Thomas apologized sincerely. "Nevertheless, I wish there were some way for me to do something for you.” "That is another matter. Help your brother when you can, and help will come to you when you need it.

Robert A. Heinlein

Good stories are rarely true.

Robert A. Heinlein

Er, will your grandmother tell that fib for you?” "I guess so. Yes, I'm sure she will. She says people have to tell little white fibs or else people couldn't stand each other. But she says fibs were meant to be used, not abused.

Robert A. Heinlein

Ben, the ethics of sex is a thorny problem. Each of us is forced to grope for a solution he can live with - in the face of a preposterous, unworkable, and evil code of so-called "morals." Most of us know the code is wrong; almost everybody breaks it. But we pay Danegeld by feeling guilty and giving lip service. Willy-nilly, the code rides us, dead and stinking, an albatross around the neck. You, too, Ben. You fancy yourself a free soul - and break that evil code. But faced with a problem in sexual ethics new to you, you tested it against that same Judeo-Christian code... so automatically your stomach did flip-flops... and you think that proves you're right and they're wrong. Faugh! I'd as lief use trial by ordeal.

Robert A. Heinlein

Must be a yearning deep in human heart to stop other people from doing as they please. Rules, laws - always for other fellow. A murky part of us, something we had before we came down out of trees, and failed to shuck when we stood up. Because not one of those people said: Please pass this so that I won't be able to do something I know I should stop. Nyet, tovarishchee, was always something they hated to see neighbors doing. Stop them for their own good.

Robert A. Heinlein