War is not violence and killing, pure and simple; war is controlled violence, for a purpose. The purpose of war is to support your government’s decisions by force. The purpose is never to kill the enemy just to be killing him…but to make him do what you want to do. Not killing…but controlled and purposeful violence. – Starship Troopers

There are no dangerous weapons; there are only dangerous men. – Starship Troopers


My Take – 


The bomb, the gun, the rocket, the sword, the club, the rock – all are tools.  They are not in and of themselves dangerous, no matter what the bed-wetting set wants to think.  The weapon is between your ears.

“My mother said violence never solves anything.” “So?” Mr. Dubois looked at her bleakly. “I’m sure the city fathers of Carthage would be glad to know that.” – Starship Troopers


My Take – 


Violence should be our last problem solving tool, if we can help it.  And we have to recognize that, like all solutions to problems, there are unintended consequences to using violence, a lot of which are less than optimal.  But violence, if properly applied at the correct place, at the correct time, and in the correct amount is a valid tool to solve problems.

Premenstrual Syndrome: Just before their periods women behave the way men do all the time. – The Cat Who Walks Through Walls

Evolution is a process that never stops. Baboons who fail to exhibit moral behavior do not survive; they wind up as meat for leopards. –  The Pragmatics of Patriotism

You live and learn. Or you don’t live long. — Time Enough For Love


My Take –


We all make mistakes, and the ones we make collectively are going to be legendary as history and myth. The survivors are the ones that are honest about those mistakes, figure out what they did, and learn to not commit them again.  Everyone else?  Well, they tend to be grease spots on the walls of the cave.

You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don’t ever count on having both at once. — Time Enough For Love


My Take – 


We spend billions of dollars every year on military defense in this country, and Lord knows how much more for law enforcement.  Add to that the millions spent by private citizens on personal defense.  Why do we do it?  I think that it’s because we know that a weakly defended country, population, or person invites attack and repression.  We can hope that someday the lion lays down with the lamb and I look forward to beating swords into plowshares as much as anyone, but until that day comes, I’ll trust John Moses Browning and George Patton more than I will those that believe that disarming and thinking good thoughts will keep politicians honest and barbarians out of civilization.

Roman matrons used to say to their sons: “Come back with your shield, or on it.” Later on, this custom declined. So did Rome. – Time Enough For Love

Never underestimate the power of human stupidity. – Time Enough For Love

Uncle BadTouch provided by Robb Allen

Little girls, like butterflies, need no excuse. – Time Enough For Love