Robert A. Heinlein: Doing

Robert A. Heinlein was American science fiction author. Explore interesting quotes on doing.
Robert A. Heinlein: 1114   quotes 63   likes

“Women and cats will do as they please, and men and dogs should relax and get used to the idea.”

Robert A. Heinlein Time Enough for Love

Time Enough for Love (1973)

For women , Women , Men , Dogs

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

Robert A. Heinlein Time Enough for Love

Source: Time Enough for Love

“Progress is made by lazy men looking for easier ways to do things.”

Robert A. Heinlein Time Enough for Love

Time Enough for Love (1973)
Variant: Progress doesn't come from early risers — progress is made by lazy men looking for easier ways to do things.

Men , Way

“If a thing's worth doing, it's worth overdoing. (Lazarus Long)”

Robert A. Heinlein Time Enough for Love

Variant: Take big bites. Anything worth doing is worth overdoing.
Source: Time Enough for Love

“How can I possibly put a new idea into your heads, if I do not first remove your delusions?”

Robert A. Heinlein book Life-Line

Life-Line (p. 15)
Short fiction, The Past Through Tomorrow (1967)

Idea

“I will accept the rules that you feel necessary to your freedom. 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 book The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress

The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress (1966)

“If we blow ourselves up we will do it by misapplication of science; if we manage to keep from blowing ourselves up, it will be through intelligent application of science.”

Robert A. Heinlein

The Pragmatics of Patriotism (1973)
Context: In this complex world, science, the scientific method, and the consequences of the scientific method are central to everything the human race is doing and to wherever we are going. If we blow ourselves up we will do it by misapplication of science; if we manage to keep from blowing ourselves up, it will be through intelligent application of science.

Intelligence , Science

“There is solemn satisfaction in doing the best you can for eight billion people.”

Robert A. Heinlein book Double Star

Double Star (1956)
Context: There is solemn satisfaction in doing the best you can for eight billion people. Perhaps their lives have no cosmic significance, but they have feelings. They can hurt.

People

“One can judge from experiment, or one can blindly accept authority. To the scientific mind, experimental proof is all important and theory is merely a convenience in description, to be junked when it no longer fits. To the academic mind, authority is everything and facts are junked when they do not fit theory laid down by authority.”

Robert A. Heinlein book The Past Through Tomorrow

“Life-Line”, p. 24
The Past Through Tomorrow (1967)
Context: There are but two ways of forming an opinion in science. One is the scientific method; the other, the scholastic. One can judge from experiment, or one can blindly accept authority. To the scientific mind, experimental proof is all important and theory is merely a convenience in description, to be junked when it no longer fits. To the academic mind, authority is everything and facts are junked when they do not fit theory laid down by authority.

“I do not think anyone can define "behavior that tends toward extinction" as being "moral" without stretching the word "moral" all out of shape.”

Robert A. Heinlein

The Pragmatics of Patriotism (1973)
Context: I now define "moral behavior" as "behavior that tends toward survival." I won't argue with philosophers or theologians who choose to use the word "moral" to mean something else, but I do not think anyone can define "behavior that tends toward extinction" as being "moral" without stretching the word "moral" all out of shape.

Behavior , Thinking

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

Robert A. Heinlein
Religion , Law

“I never do anything I don't want to do. Nor does anyone, but in my case I am always aware of it.”

Robert A. Heinlein book Stranger in a Strange Land

Source: Stranger in a Strange Land

“My dear, I used to think I was serving humanity… and I pleasured in the thought. Then I discovered that humanity does not want to be served; on the contrary it resents any attempt to serve it. So now I do what pleases myself.”

Robert A. Heinlein book Stranger in a Strange Land

Source: Stranger in a Strange Land

Pleasure , Thinking

“Geniuses and supergeniuses always make their own rules on sex as on everything else; they do not accept the monkey customs of their lessers.”

Robert A. Heinlein book Friday

Source: Friday (1983), Ch. XXI, p. 214

Sex

“It is impossible for anyone to be responsible for another person's behavior. The most you or any leader can do is to encourage each one to be responsible for himself.”

Robert A. Heinlein
Behavior , Personality

“Do this. Don't do that. Stay back in line. Where's tax receipt? Fill out form. Let's see license. Submit six copies. Exit only. No left turn. No right turn. Queue up and pay fine. Take back and get stamped. Drop dead— but first get permit.”

Robert A. Heinlein
Dead

“If you are part of a society that votes, then do so. There may be no candidates and no measures you want to vote for… but there are certain to be ones you want to vote against. In case of doubt, vote against. By this rule you will rarely go wrong.”

Robert A. Heinlein Time Enough for Love

Source: Time Enough for Love

Parting

“Man has no moral instinct. He is not born with moral sense. You were not born with it, I was not - and a puppy has none. We acquire moral sense, when we do, through training, experience, and hard sweat of the mind.”

Robert A. Heinlein book Starship Troopers

Source: Starship Troopers

Sense , Training