(...but it's worth reading again)
Human Arm and Bicep Movements from da Vinci's journal
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 - Robert Heinlein
12 comments:
Well, I don't know what 'conn a ship' means, and I've never butchered a hog or written a sonnet, but the rest I've got covered., and hey, if I was hungry enough I totally know I could butcher that hog!
I guess I don;t know about dying gallantly either yet....
Merry Christmas to all, and a Happy New Year, may you enjoy the best of health, happiness and prosperity throughout the coming year.
Conning a ship roughly means to be the officer in command of the bridge, as in, "Mr. Worf, you have the conn." See, Star Trek has educational value!
I can't butcher a whole hog, but I can split a whole chicken into parts. And yeah, if I'm starving and that hog is my only food, I'm pretty sure I could figure it out.
Specialization IS for insects. Here's to you, Heinlein!
great quote-i'll be stealing it.
I didn't see "give a mean wedgie" in that list. What gives?
All kidding aside, Rhod, I see you have been wading into the deep waters of individualism and its centrality to liberty.
In the end, what your quote reveals is that man is not an animal -- he is made in God's image. This means unique and free.
Today's postmodern left really does view man as some sort of glorified insect.
DC, progressivism has always been primarily about management of everything by elites, by specialists, by techno-weenies.
You're abolutely correct.
How about Con a Country, seems that's what's been going on for quite some time now...
Heinlein. Only the greats quote Heinlein. And nicely summarized, D.C.
, may you enjoy the best of health, happiness and prosperity throughout the coming year.
Work from home India
In CHRIST, we are all (way!!!) better than those contestants in "Survivor" -- for we are overcomers by the SPIRIT of GOD alive in us...meaning we can even overcome squeamishness in butchering our own pet pig, if that was all we had to eat on a deserted island.
And what does it mean to die "gallantly"? Like one of the Three Musketeers?
True gallantry is dying like one of the martyrs for CHRIST (by having your limbs pulled off, or burned at the stake, or crucified on a cross like JESUS) -- with unflinching courage and nobility.
This quote may be the acid test for GOD's promise in His Word -- "i can do all things through CHRIST Who strengthens me."
It's nice not to be an insect. :P
A bit of RAH never fails to cheer me up!
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