The most important lesson in the writing trade is that any manuscript is improved if you cut away the fat.
Robert A. HeinleinRead
An armed society is a polite society. Manners are good when one may have to back up his acts with his life.
Interpretation
What this quote means
A society where individuals are armed tends to exhibit greater politeness due to the potential consequences of actions.
The quote suggests that in a society where people have the means to defend themselves, there is a greater emphasis on politeness and respect. This implies that the awareness of possible consequences to one's actions fosters a more civil atmosphere, as individuals are cautious in their interactions, knowing that altercations could escalate dangerously.
Themes
Armed SocietyPolitenessMannersRespectConsequences
In practice
Example use cases
In a debate about self-defense laws, this quote can illustrate the importance of personal responsibility.
More from Robert A. Heinlein
All quotes βAn armed society is a polite society.
Robert A. HeinleinRead
Democracy is a poor system of government at best; the only thing that can honestly be said in its favor is that it is eight times as good as any other method the human race has ever tried.
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Long human words (the longer the better) were easy, unmistakable, and rarely changed their meanings . . . but short words were slippery, unpredictable, changing their meanings without any pattern.
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Progress is made by lazy men looking for easier ways to do things.
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When a place gets crowded enough to require ID's, social collapse is not far away. It is time to go elsewhere. The best thing about space travel is that it made it possible to go elsewhere.
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