The most important lesson in the writing trade is that any manuscript is improved if you cut away the fat.
Robert A. HeinleinRead
The Earth is just too small and fragile a basket for the human race to keep all its eggs in.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote emphasizes the vulnerability of Earth and the need for humanity to diversify its existence beyond this planet.
Robert A. Heinlein's quote highlights the fragility of Earth and suggests that relying solely on one planet for human survival poses significant risks. By comparing the planet to a small basket, he stresses the importance of exploring other options for the future of humanity, implying that diversifying our endeavors, whether through space exploration or other means, is essential to avoid potential catastrophic failures.
Themes
EarthFragilityHuman RaceExplorationSustainability
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about climate change, one might quote this to emphasize the importance of protecting our planet.
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.
Robert A. HeinleinRead
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.
Robert A. HeinleinRead
Progress is made by lazy men looking for easier ways to do things.
Robert A. HeinleinRead
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.
Robert A. HeinleinRead
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I thank you God for this most amazing day, for the leaping greenly spirits of trees, and for the blue dream of sky and for everything which is natural, which is infinite, which is yes.
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