The most important lesson in the writing trade is that any manuscript is improved if you cut away the fat.
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.
Interpretation
Democracy has its flaws, but it is still better than any other governance system tried by humanity.
In this quote, Heinlein expresses a critical yet realistic perspective on democracy. While he acknowledges the imperfections and shortcomings of democratic systems, he emphasizes that, compared to all other forms of governance throughout history, democracy stands out as the least flawed option, highlighting its relative superiority in promoting human freedom and choice.
In practice
In a political speech emphasizing the value of democratic institutions.
The most important lesson in the writing trade is that any manuscript is improved if you cut away the fat.
An armed society is a polite society.
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.
Progress is made by lazy men looking for easier ways to do things.
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.
A competent and self-confident person is incapable of jealousy in anything. Jealousy is invariably a symptom of neurotic insecurity.
Christ exposed Himself not only to the unbridled hostility of angry men, but, more significantly, to the unmitigated wrath of God.
Defend our liberties and fashion into one united people the multitudes brought hither out of many kindred and tongues.
One day, it was suddenly revealed to me that everything is pure spirit.
Don't let people tell you to do it this way. You are on the verge of figuring out hybrid models -- with companies and nonprofits, markets, government, crowd-sourced philanthropy. The capitalist system as we know it is not working.
I wanted to invent myself as a fictional character. And I did, and it has caused a great deal of confusion.
God uses lust to impel men to marry, ambition to office, avarice to earning, and fear to faith. God led me like an old blind goat.
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.