Science Fictionisms, 11...

"I have spent too much of my life opening doors for cats - I once calculated that, since the dawn of civilization, nine hundred and seventy-eight man-centuries have been used up that way. I could show you the figures.
While still a kitten, all fluff and buzzes, Pete had worked out a simple philosophy. I was in charge of quarters, rations, and weather; he was in charge of everything else. But he held me especially responsible for the weather. Connecticut winters are good only for Christmas cards; regularly that winter Pete would check his own door, refuse to go outside because of that unpleasant white stuff beyond it (he was no fool), then badger me to open a people door.
He had a fixed conviction that at least one of them must lead into summer weather. Each time this meant that I had to go around with him to each of the eleven doors, hold it open while he satisfied himself that it was winter out that way, too, then go on to the next door, while his criticisms of my mismanagement of the weather grew more bitter with each disappointment.
...But he never gave up his search for the Door into Summer."

"If you are part of a society that votes, then do so. There may be no candidates and no measures you want to vote for ... but there are certain to be ones you want to vote against. In case of doubt, vote against. By this rule you will rarely go wrong."

"Do not handicap your children by making their lives easy."

"Democracy is based on the assumption that a million men are wiser than one man. How's that again? I missed something."
"Autocracy is based on the assumption that one man is wiser than a million men. Let's play that over again, too. Who decides?"

"You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on having both at once."

"Never appeal to a man's 'better nature.' He may not have one. Invoking his self-interest gives you more leverage."

"Be wary of strong spirits. It can make you shoot at tax collectors ... and miss."

"Morality is your agreement with yourself to abide by your own rules."
Robert A. Heinlein (all)