The most important lesson in the writing trade is that any manuscript is improved if you cut away the fat.
Robert A. HeinleinRead
I do know that the slickest way to lie is to tell the right amount of truth--then shut up.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The most effective way to deceive is by mixing truth with silence.
This quote suggests that the most cunning form of lying involves providing truthful information strategically while withholding certain essential parts of the story. By revealing just enough truth and maintaining silence on key elements, one can manipulate perceptions and create a false narrative that is convincing yet dishonest.
Themes
TruthLieDeceptionSilenceWisdom
In practice
Example use cases
In a debate about ethics, this quote could highlight the dangers of presenting misleading information.
More from Robert A. Heinlein
All quotes →An 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
Similar quotes
I never have [suffered writer’s block], although I’ve had books that didn’t work out. I had to stop writing them. I just abandoned them. It was depressing, but it wasn’t the end of the world. When it really isn’t working, and you’ve been bashing yourself against the wall, it’s kind of a relief. I mean, sometimes you bash yourself against the wall and you get through it. But sometimes the wall is just a wall. There’s nothing to be done but go somewhere else.
Margaret AtwoodRead
Who is strong? He that can conquer his bad habits.
Benjamin FranklinRead
A man does not call a line crooked unless he has some idea of a straight line.
C. S. LewisRead
Lord, grant that my work increase knowledge and help other men. Failing that, Lord, grant that it will not lead to man’s destruction. Failing that, Lord, grant that my article in Brain be published before the destruction takes place.
Walker PercyRead
You have to have a lot of ideas. First, if you want to make discoveries, it's a good thing to have good ideas. And second, you have to have a sort of sixth sense-the result of judgment and experience-which ideas are worth following up. I seem to have the first thing, a lot of ideas, and I also seem to have good judgment as to which are the bad ideas that I should just ignore, and the good ones, that I'd better follow up.
Linus PaulingRead
You can't help it but you were born without a heart. At least you tried to believe what the people with hearts believed — so you were a good man just the same.
Kurt VonnegutRead