The most important lesson in the writing trade is that any manuscript is improved if you cut away the fat.
Robert A. HeinleinRead
I also think there are prices too high to pay to save the United States. Conscription is one of them. Conscription is slavery, and I don't think that any people or nation has a right to save itself at the price of slavery for anyone, no matter what name it is called. We have had the draft for twenty years now; I think this is shameful. If a country can't save itself through the volunteer service of its own free people, then I say: Let the damned thing go down the drain!
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote suggests that forcing individuals into service is unacceptable, likening it to slavery, and questions the morality of such actions for national survival.
In this quote, Robert A. Heinlein highlights the moral implications of conscription, equating it to slavery. He argues that a nation should not resort to involuntary service to ensure its survival, as it undermines the freedom and autonomy of individuals. Heinlein believes that if a country cannot rely on the voluntary commitment of its citizens, it is better for it to fail than to impose such a burden on them. His strong stance reflects a deep commitment to individual rights and highlights the ethical considerations of governance and national defense.
Themes
ConscriptionSlaveryFreedomNationVoluntary Service
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used in a debate about military conscription policies in schools.
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