[Disestablishmentarian]

Cruel are The Sons of the Bird.

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Heinlein reference? I'm suddenly feeling less erudite.

Which story, please?

[Publius]

The Unpleasant Profession of Jonathan Hoag

[KittenClaws]

Heinlein reference? I’m suddenly feeling less erudite.

Which story, please?

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Grok, what Piece of Heinlein’s fiction did the phrase “cruel is the bird, cruel are the sons of the bird” come from?

The phrase appears to be a slight misremembering of a line from Robert A.
Heinlein’s 1942 novella The Unpleasant Profession of Jonathan Hoag. The actual quote is: “In the beginning was The Bird. Wise and cruel was The Bird, and wise and cruel were The Sons of the Bird...” leatherboundtreasure.com

[Melian]

I believe that quote is from “The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress.”