The most important lesson in the writing trade is that any manuscript is improved if you cut away the fat.
Robert A. HeinleinRead
Most people can't think, most of the remainder won't think, and the small fraction who do think mostly can't do it very well.
Interpretation
The majority of people lack critical thinking skills, and even among those who do think, many struggle to apply it effectively.
This quote by Robert A. Heinlein reflects the author's belief that critical thinking is a rare and underdeveloped skill among most individuals. He suggests that while some people are capable of thought, the effectiveness of their thinking is questionable, highlighting a potential deficiency in our ability to engage with complex ideas and make sound decisions.
In practice
In a speech about the importance of education, this quote can illustrate the need for teaching critical thinking skills.
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.
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.
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.
Prosperity tries the souls even of the wise.
Pleasure puts you to sleep and pain wakes you up. If you don't want to suffer, don't go to sleep.
It is with disease of the mind, as with those of the body; we are half dead before we understand our disorder, and half cured when we do.
If we exchange one dollar, we both have one dollar each. But if we exchange one good thought, we both have two good thoughts
I used to desire many, many things, but now I have just one desire, and that's to get rid of all my other desires.
A man can counterfeit love, he can counterfeit faith, he can counterfeit hope and all the other graces, but it is very difficult to counterfeit humility.
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