The most important lesson in the writing trade is that any manuscript is improved if you cut away the fat.
Robert A. HeinleinRead
Sin is cruelty and injustice, all else is peccadillo. Oh, a sense of sin comes from violating the customs of your tribe. But breaking custom is not sin even when it feels so; sin is wronging another person.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Sin is primarily about causing harm to others, not simply breaking societal customs.
In this quote, Robert A. Heinlein articulates a profound perspective on the nature of sin, suggesting that true sin arises from acts of cruelty and injustice that wrong others, rather than merely violating societal norms or customs. He highlights that the feeling of sin can often be tied to cultural expectations, but emphasizes that moral wrongness is inherently linked to the impact one's actions have on other people, rather than adherence to tradition.
Themes
SinCrueltyInjusticeCustomsMorality
In practice
Example use cases
During a lecture on ethics, one might use this quote to discuss the true nature of morality.
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