Perspectives; Robert Heinlein

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Robert Anson Heinlein (1907 – 1988) was an American science-fiction author, aeronautical engineer, and retired Naval officer. Sometimes called the “dean of science fiction writers”, he was among the first to emphasize scientific accuracy in his fiction, and was thus a pioneer of the sub genre of hard science fiction. His published works, both fiction and non-fiction, express admiration for competence and emphasize the value of critical thinking. His work continues to have an influence on the science-fiction genre, and on modern culture more generally.
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“Women and cats will do as they please, and men and dogs should relax and get used to the idea.”

“Anybody can look at a pretty girl and see a pretty girl. An artist can look at a pretty girl and see the old woman she will become. A better artist can look at an old woman and see the pretty girl that she used to be. But a great artist-a master-and that is what Auguste Rodin was-can look at an old woman, portray her exactly as she is…and force the viewer to see the pretty girl she used to be…and more than that, he can make anyone with the sensitivity of an armadillo, or even you, see that this lovely young girl is still alive, not old and ugly at all, but simply imprisoned inside her ruined body. He can make you feel the quiet, endless tragedy that there was never a girl born who ever grew older than eighteen in her heart…no matter what the merciless hours have done to her."

“A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects.”

“Don’t handicap your children by making their lives easy.”

“Jealousy is a disease, love is a healthy condition. The immature mind often mistakes one for the other, or assumes that the greater the love, the greater the jealousy - in fact, they are almost incompatible; one emotion hardly leaves room for the other.”

“Progress isn’t made by early risers. It’s made by lazy men trying to find easier ways to do something.”

“A dying culture invariably exhibits personal rudeness. Bad manners. Lack of consideration for others in minor matters. A loss of politeness, of gentle manners, is more significant than is a riot.”
 
I have been a Heinlein fan since my early teens which was almost 50 yrs ago. I loved his stuff and particularly as his writing altered from being aimed at a teen market to a more adult sphere. Surprisingly, the book I least liked was “Stranger in a strange land”. which earned distinction in being a censored sci fiction story back in the day. His exploration into the human condition certainly did not fit with moral norms then. However, this did not distract me from his yarns. His juvenile book “Star Cadet” ( I think) intrigued me with his main character having a mobile phone…how neat was that I thought!!! My very best two are “The Moon is a harsh Mistress”, and the lesser book “Glory Road”, but I have all his books and read them periodically usually starting with “Time Enough for Love”.
 
Heinlein fan here.

According to Isaac Asimov, he was one of the many liberals who switched over to conservative after 1945. But he doesn’t fit really into a category.

He was definitely on the side of the individual and liberty, against any kind of groupthink, be it political, religious, corporate, he was anti-hive. But he thought everyone had an obligation to defend liberty.

So he was closest to libertarian?

He was one of the last right wing atheists (if Wikipedia is right calling him atheist).
Today atheists, agnostics, or similar are almost all on the Left. But I bet he admired St JP2’s push for human rights.
 
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