1,085 Quotes by Robert A. Heinlein

There is no such thing as luck. There is only adequate or inadequate preparation to cope with a statistical universe.

Its very variety, subtlety, and utterly irrational, idiomatic complexity makes it possible to say things in English which simply cannot be said in any other language.

Do you speak English?" "Certainly. And I understand American.

Democracy is a poor system; the only thing that can be said for it is that it's eight times as good as any other method.

The best things in life are beyond money; their price is agony and sweat and devotion ... and the price demanded for the most precious of all things in life is life itself - ultimate cost for perfect value.

Support for the arts -- merde! A government-supported artist is an incompetent whore!

…the greatest danger to man in space was man himself.

But how, from the viewpoint of a Martian, did man differ from other animals? Would a race that could levitate and god knows what else be impressed by engineering? If so would the Aswan Dam or a thousand miles of coral reef win first prize? Man's self awareness, sheer conceit. There was no way to prove that sperm whales and sequoias were not philosophers and poets exceeding any human merit?

Is this Paradise?''I can guarantee you that it isn't,' Jubal assured him. 'My taxes are due this week.