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Quote by Robert A. Heinlein

Work

Stranger in a Strange Land

Published in 1961, this novel follows the story of Valentine Michael Smith, an Earthman raised on Mars, as he returns to Earth and navigates human society. The book combines elements of science fiction with philosophical and religious ideas, creating a unique and thought-provoking narrative. more

Author

Robert A. Heinlein
Robert A. Heinlein

Robert A. Heinlein was an American science fiction writer, hailed as a master in the field of science fiction. His works have had a profound impact on the development of science fiction literature, with classics such as 'Starship Troopers' and 'The Time Machine'. more

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“It's a disgrace that the most intelligent species on Earth is developing weapons and waging wars to kill their own kind. It's a disgrace that we do not exercise love, empathy, and other human qualities. It's a disgrace that we have allowed some evil individuals to exploit our innermost fears and reduce humanity to ashes. We must stop the proliferation of weapons by any and all countries and remain consistent in our staunch opposition to such counterproductive initiatives.”

“We all live in the past. Your parents have given you a certain conditioning. The society has given you a certain conditioning, and to live in that conditioning is to live your life in a prison. The religions have forced you to be a Christian, a Hindu, a Mohammedan or a Buddhist, which are all conditionings. Meditation is a freedom from all these conditionings that parents, the society and the religions have forced on you. Unless you are free you will never be able to hear your own authentic inner voice. Your parents will tell you "do this and don't do this." The priests will goon creating guilt and shame in you. They will not allow you to be yourself.  Nobody in the world is really interested in anybody else being given the freedom to be himself or herself. Everybody is trying to impose their ideas and ideologies on others.  That is why humanity is in such misery and chaos. We have created an ugly world, where we have not allowed children to be themselves.  We have created a prison made of ideas, theologies and ideologies. You can think that you are free, but you are not free. We have to get rid of this prison. We have to uncondition ourselves, sothat we become free. It is first when the whole sky is ours that the whole existence is ours. When one realizes this, one just wants freedom, joy, silence,  awareness, truth and love. In that inner silence and freedom,the whole heritage of humanity becomes ours. Then we know that truth is within ourselves. My first book in English, The Silent Whisperings of the Heart, is dedicated to my parents, Essy and Sven, with the dedication: "My parents, who taught me what love and freedom are.” My whole childhood was an atmosphere and climate of love and freedom. An American astrologer said in an astrology  session in the United States that my mother seemed to be a very special  woman. She was so rebellious that the boys in elementary school held herdown and shot her in the foot with an air rifle.  Once when I was in high school, I wanted to  have a little parental conflict, and said to my mother that I would never go back to school again. My mother replied: I would never do that either. This atmosphere and climate of love and freedom made me always feel that I could be who I am. It also taught me early to listen to my inner true voice, which early began to guide me in life.”

“I asked him why there isn’t really a word or phrase in the Somali language to say thank you, at least one that is used in everyday life. Somali people, he said, believe in the inherit dignity of every human being. If someone asks you for a cup of cold water, you will give it to them, no questions asked. You don’t need to be told thank you, because when you give the cup of water you are acknowledging that this person is a human, deserving of this cup of cold water. Why would you need to be told thank you? If you were thirsty, the other person would do the same for you.”

“I'm gonna be really real with you. People are a fucking mess. We love to complicate simple shit, and simplify complicated shit. Sometimes, we get so caught up in trying to follow the rules that we forget to question whether or not the rules make sense. What works for Miles and Shante won't necessarily work for you, just like what works for Mom and Dad doesn't work for me. Remember what I said about being honest.”