Stranger in a Strange Land

by Robert A. Heinlein

“You might ask me again, real prettily, under other circumstances. I’m curious to see what I might do.”

“Hold it,” Harshaw said hastily. “Masculine forms do include the feminine, when you are speaking in general—but not when talking about a particular person. Dorcas is always ‘she’ or ‘her’—never ‘he’ or ‘him.’ ”

A desire not to butt into other people’s business is eighty percent of all human wisdom.”

Democracy is a poor system; the only thing that can be said for it is that it’s eight times as good as any other method. Its worst fault is that its leaders reflect their constituents—a low level, but what can you expect? So look at Douglas and ponder that, in his ignorance, stupidity, and self-seeking, he resembles his fellow Americans but is a notch or two above average. Then look at the man who will replace him if his government topples.” “There’s little difference.” “There’s always a difference! This is between ‘bad’ and ‘worse’—which is much sharper than between ‘good’ and ‘better.’ ”