Cool Site!

Robert Heinlein's quotations website.

If you like that kind of thing.

An example:

Fortune-tellers can always be sure of repeat customers by predicting what the customer wants to hear . . . it matters not whether the prediction comes true. Contrariwise, the weatherman is often blamed for bad weather.
--Robert Anson Heinlein, Introduction to The Worlds of ~, pg 24
[reprinted in Expanded Universe, 349]

And here is one that deserves more notice:

But why would anyone want to become a naval officer?

In the present dismal state of our culture there is little prestige attached to serving your country; recent public opinion polls place military service far down the list.

It can't be the pay. No one gets rich on Navy pay. Even a 4-star admiral is paid much less than top executives in other lines. As for lower ranks the typical naval officer finds himself throughout his career just catching up from the unexpected expenses connected with the last change of duty when another change duty causes a new financial crisis. Then, when he is about fifty, he is passed over and retires...but he can't really retire because he has two kids in college and one still to go. So he has to find a job...and discovers that jobs for men his age are scarce and usually don't pay well.

Working conditions? You'll spend half your life away from your family. Your working hours? "Six days shalt thou work and do all thou art able; the seventh the same and pound on the cable." A forty hour week is standard for civilians -- but not for naval officers. You'll work that forty-hour week but that's just a starter. You'll stand a night watch as well, and duty weekends. Then with every increase in grade your hours get longer -- until at last you'll get a ship of your own and no longer stand watches. Instead you are duty twenty-four hours a day . . . and you'll sign your night order book with: "In case of doubt do not hesitate to call me."

I don't know the average week's worth for naval officer but it is closer to sixty than to forty. I'm speaking of peacetime, of course. Under war conditions it is whatever hours are necessary -- and sleep you grab when you can.

Why would anyone elect a career which is unappreciated, overworked? It can't be just to wear a pretty uniform. There has to be a better reason.
--Robert Anson Heinlein, The Pragmatics Of Patriotism, From his James Forrestal Memorial Lecture, 05 April 1973, reprinted in Expanded Universe, pg 461/462

As my father likes to say, when he joined the Navy he voluntarily gave up many of the civil rights he was defending.