One of the greatests minds EVER. Here are a few of my favorite thoughts of his. They help me out a LOT when the world is depressing me:
“I am free because I know that I alone am morally responsible for everything I do. I am free, no matter what rules surround me. If I find them tolerable, I tolerate them; if I find them too obnoxious, I break them. I am free because I know that I alone am morally responsible for everything I do.” ~ Robert A. Heinlein
“An armed society is a polite society. Manners are good when one may have to back up his acts with his life.”
“Political tags - such as royalist, communist, democrat, populist, fascist, liberal, conservative, and so forth - are never basic criteria. The human race divides politically into those who want people to be controlled and those who have no such desire.”
AMEN, Brother! AMEN!
“A man held a makework political job, polishing the cannon in front of the county courthouse. It kept him fed and let him put a little money aside, but he wasn’t getting ahead in the world. So one day he withdrew his life’s savings, bought a brass cannon —and went into business for himself.” — Robert A. Heinlein, The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress
When in doubt, quote Heinlein, and you’ll rarely (if ever) go wrong.
The critics do have a bit of a point regarding Heinlein’s adolescent bent.
I can remember as a teenager, being absolutely enthralled by Heinlein’s “women.” Only later did I learn his “women” bear as much resemblance to real women as do porn actresses.
Hmmm...that format sounds vaguely familiar...
"It is by will alone I set my mind in motion. It is by the juice of sapho that thoughts acquire speed, the lips acquire stains, the stains become a warning. It is by will alone I set my mind in motion."
- - Piter DeVries, Mentat - Dune