The most important lesson in the writing trade is that any manuscript is improved if you cut away the fat.
Robert A. HeinleinRead
Customs tell a man who he is, where he belongs, what he must do. Better illogical customs than none; men cannot live together without them.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Customs and traditions shape individuals' identities and social belonging, making life more structured.
In this quote, Robert A. Heinlein emphasizes the importance of customs and traditions in providing individuals with a sense of identity, belonging, and guidance in their actions. While customs may sometimes seem illogical, their existence is crucial for social cohesion, as they create a framework within which people can interact and coexist harmoniously.
Themes
CustomsIdentityBelongingTraditionsSociety
In practice
Example use cases
When discussing the importance of cultural heritage at a community event.
More from Robert A. Heinlein
All quotes βAn armed society is a polite society.
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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.
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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.
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Progress is made by lazy men looking for easier ways to do things.
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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.
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