The most important lesson in the writing trade is that any manuscript is improved if you cut away the fat.
Robert A. HeinleinRead
It is a truism that almost any sect, cult, or religion will legislate its creeds into law if it acquires the political power to do so, and will follow it by suppressing opposition, subverting all education to seize early the minds of the young, and by killing, locking up, or driving underground all heretics.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Religions often impose their beliefs as laws when they gain power, suppressing dissent and controlling education.
The quote by Robert A. Heinlein suggests that groups with power, particularly religious sects, will impose their beliefs on society by enacting laws that reflect their creeds. This enforcement not only includes suppressing opposing views but also aiming for early influence over the education of the youth, while using extreme measures against those who challenge their ideology. This reflects a broader commentary on the nature of power and the tendency of institutions to control thought and behavior.
Themes
ReligionPowerAuthorityEducationBeliefsSuppression
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used in a discussion about the role of religion in government during a panel on secularism.
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
It is... easy to be certain. One has only to be sufficiently vague.
Charles Sanders PeirceRead
Of course, errors are not good for a chess game, but errors are unavoidable and in any case, a game without ant errors, or as they say 'flawless game' is colorless.
Mikhail TalRead
Hate begets hate, violence engenders violence, hypocrisy is answered by hypocrisy, war generates war, and love creates love.
Pitirim SorokinRead
Misunderstandings and neglect occasion more mischief in the world than malice and wickedness.
Johann Wolfgang Von GoetheRead
No attribute of God is more dreadful to sinners than His holiness.
Matthew HenryRead
In truth, we have delayed to pass sentence on the person of our lord the king, waiting, if perhaps he may, by God's grace, repent; but we will pass it ere long unless he does repent.
Thomas BecketRead