The most important lesson in the writing trade is that any manuscript is improved if you cut away the fat.
Robert A. HeinleinRead
Unarmed hand-to-hand fighting does not change through the ages; only the name changes, and it has only one rule: do it first, do it fast, do it dirtiest.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The essence of hand-to-hand combat remains constant despite changes in terminology; the key is to act quickly and effectively, often without regard to conventional rules.
This quote emphasizes the timeless nature of hand-to-hand combat, which, while it may evolve in terms of names and techniques, fundamentally relies on the same principles of swiftness and aggression. Heinlein suggests that in combat, and perhaps in broader contexts, one must prioritize decisive action over strict adherence to rules, highlighting the necessity of being proactive and ruthless in achieving one's goals.
Themes
CombatActionAggressionTimingStrategy
In practice
Example use cases
In a self-defense class, you might quote this to emphasize the importance of quick reactions.
More from Robert A. Heinlein
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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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