The most important lesson in the writing trade is that any manuscript is improved if you cut away the fat.
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.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Democracy has its flaws, but it is still better than any other governance system tried by humanity.
In this quote, Heinlein expresses a critical yet realistic perspective on democracy. While he acknowledges the imperfections and shortcomings of democratic systems, he emphasizes that, compared to all other forms of governance throughout history, democracy stands out as the least flawed option, highlighting its relative superiority in promoting human freedom and choice.
Themes
DemocracyGovernmentPoliticsHuman RightsFreedom
In practice
Example use cases
In a political speech emphasizing the value of democratic institutions.
More from Robert A. Heinlein
All quotes →An armed society is a polite society.
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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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A competent and self-confident person is incapable of jealousy in anything. Jealousy is invariably a symptom of neurotic insecurity.
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I didn't think of myself as an outsider because of my race because... where I grew up I was the same race as almost everyone else... It is true that I noticed things that no one else seemed to notice. And I think only people who are outsiders do this.
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The people cannot be all, and always, well informed. The part which is wrong will be discontented, in proportion to the importance of the facts they misconceive. If they remain quiet under such misconceptions, it is lethargy, the forerunner of death to the public liberty. And what country can preserve its liberties, if its rulers are not warned from time to time, that this people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms.
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The countenances of children, like those of animals, are masks, not faces, for they have not yet developed a significant profile of their own.
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At my funeral, if one said, 'Nick was a generous person,' trust me I won't be doing cartwheels in my coffin. Recognition from people is never and never will be a goal. Some people strive for that respect or honor. Living a life to just reach for the position and status is vanity and sin.
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