The most important lesson in the writing trade is that any manuscript is improved if you cut away the fat.
Robert A. HeinleinRead
Goodness without wisdom always accomplishes evil.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Good intentions can lead to harmful outcomes if not guided by wisdom.
This quote by Robert A. Heinlein suggests that simply having good intentions is not enough; without the guidance of wisdom, those intentions may result in negative consequences. It emphasizes the importance of pairing moral actions with thoughtful consideration and understanding of the impact they may have.
Themes
GoodnessWisdomIntentionsEvilConsequences
In practice
Example use cases
During a discussion about charity work, one could use this quote to emphasize the need for thoughtful planning.
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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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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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