A Quote from Robert Heinlein

I love this quote! Robert Heinlein was, in my view, a fabulous science fiction writer, responsible for titles such as Glory Road, Stranger in a Strange Land and Starship Trooper, the last being a warning against the evils of totalitarian regimes and thoughtless followership. I can still recall the sheer excitement when reading his books as a teenager. But his scope was broad and his themes ran deep and touched on many of the the political and social problems and mores of his day. This quote encapsulates some of what could be termed his philosophy. Odd to think that 1960s counter-culture groups actually established communes and religious sects based on his work although, unlike L. Ron Hubbard and his Church of Scientology [involuntary shiver], he was embarrassed about this development- it was his desire to get people to think about the risks of fundamentalism not develop cults!

"A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for Insects."