Share Some Cool Quotes
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Horus Lupercal
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Nah, he genuinely means it. And yes, you don't see many airline pilots running nuclear reactors but that's because they're polar opposite trades. He doesn't mean become a jack of all trades at the expense of mastering a thing. He means that man shouldn't confine themselves to doing just one thing.
Even if you can't do all the things on the list (like there's 2 or 3 on there I'd not be able to do right this moment) but ticking off more than one is better than just being able to use a computer or just being able to program a computer.
That's the main problem with Heinlein. It's not what he writes, it's how people interpret him that gets his work into trouble.
Even if you can't do all the things on the list (like there's 2 or 3 on there I'd not be able to do right this moment) but ticking off more than one is better than just being able to use a computer or just being able to program a computer.
That's the main problem with Heinlein. It's not what he writes, it's how people interpret him that gets his work into trouble.
Heinlein was also from several generations ago when that particular list made more sense, some of those things are a bit silly to expect every man to know but they could easily be replaced by modern need...
Plumbing for instance, Heinlein must have used an outhouse all his life or that surely would make the list
Plumbing for instance, Heinlein must have used an outhouse all his life or that surely would make the list
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Again, you're not getting what he's saying. It's not an exhaustive list. Otherwise he'd add things like 'dig a trench' or 'operate a weapon', 'stop a bleed', 'deliver a baby', 'make a fire' etc etc. There's an absolute shit ton of things he's missed off the list that would be relevant and important to a former USMC in the '50s.
He's also not saying you need to know everything on the list.
The list and it's contents aren't important.
The quote is about broadening your skill base to become a better and more productive person. This list is an example, not the defining principle.
Being good at one thing means you're only useful under one scenario, like an insect. You take that singular attribute away from the insect, its one specialisation, and it will die as it can not adapt to do anything else before it starves.
Mankind should be more than that and should strive to be better than the insects we claim to be superior to.
He's also not saying you need to know everything on the list.
The list and it's contents aren't important.
The quote is about broadening your skill base to become a better and more productive person. This list is an example, not the defining principle.
Being good at one thing means you're only useful under one scenario, like an insect. You take that singular attribute away from the insect, its one specialisation, and it will die as it can not adapt to do anything else before it starves.
Mankind should be more than that and should strive to be better than the insects we claim to be superior to.
Uh, yeah, that’s what I meant
Even human morons have a wider variety of skills than insects, I think Trump ties his own shoes...well, I’m not sure about that exactly
We think on our feet and often do reasonably well at things we never even thought of trying before
But I digress from his real point of there are things a man just ought to know how to do for himself, his family, country and all mankind
My only point was that there are different regular skill sets depending on where an individual resides, perhaps everyone should know how to skin a hog and knock a fool on his ass as was much more common in Heinlein’s time, but times are more complicated now for better and worse
We don’t all come from the farm, get drafted into the Great War and come home to stake our claim in industry as seemed to be proper way in hindsight if not in fact; that dream was a bit narrow in its own way I’d say
Then again there are specialists who can’t do shit according to Heinlein’s diddy, and often fail miserably for it but we get some of the most amazing achievements this way; not to criticize Heinlein, maybe Einstein and James Dean should have spent more time in the barn
Even human morons have a wider variety of skills than insects, I think Trump ties his own shoes...well, I’m not sure about that exactly
We think on our feet and often do reasonably well at things we never even thought of trying before
But I digress from his real point of there are things a man just ought to know how to do for himself, his family, country and all mankind
My only point was that there are different regular skill sets depending on where an individual resides, perhaps everyone should know how to skin a hog and knock a fool on his ass as was much more common in Heinlein’s time, but times are more complicated now for better and worse
We don’t all come from the farm, get drafted into the Great War and come home to stake our claim in industry as seemed to be proper way in hindsight if not in fact; that dream was a bit narrow in its own way I’d say
Then again there are specialists who can’t do shit according to Heinlein’s diddy, and often fail miserably for it but we get some of the most amazing achievements this way; not to criticize Heinlein, maybe Einstein and James Dean should have spent more time in the barn
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Uh, yeah, you say that, and then you make exactly the same mistake again.
So, I'll repeat it.
The contents of the list do not matter.
So you saying this:
Isn't saying that. You're changing the contents of the list to suit 2020, when the contents of the list does not matter.
Again. The list does not matter. He is saying that men should broaden their horizons and gives examples. Not an exhaustive list that will suit you 50-60 years later.
Hell, a list you make now, would've be irrelevant 10 years ago and will be irrelevant in 10 years.
Yes, he's the father of sci-fi, but not even he could imagine the kind of world we live in today (possibly because he'd be so, soo disappointed with it).
Alter the list to suit whatever era you live in if you wish. But his point still remains. Broaden your skill base. Specialising is for insects, not humans.
No, we didn't. And he's not saying you should only aim to work land or a factory. You're assuming that because of the items on the list. Again, the list does not matter. He's saying that to become a well rounded member of society, widen your skill base. He never moved into industry, he became a writer. A skill set that he left off his list. Why? To reduce competition for his books.
Nah, I'm kidding.
Because the list does not matter.
Your examples prove his point. Although I am wondering the achievements of James Dean beyond being famous for an early death, you've pointed out inherently flawed men. Specialised, flawed individuals. He didn't say that insects aren't amazing at a certain thing. He pointed out that outside of that singular amazing thing, insects are absolutely useless.
Einstein is an excellent example of this. Same with Freddie Mercury. Outside of their immense talent, they were pretty much fucked. Einstein would be utterly useless with a flat tyre. Had they been more rounded individuals, maybe things wouldn't have gone so wrong for them.
And i don't mean more rounded by learning to butcher a pig or captain a ship. Because the examples on the list do not matter.
Also, this:
Isn't what he meant by 'fight efficiently'. The ability to fight efficiently means more than being good at punching people in the face. There's more ways than one to fight, and more important things to fight than fools.
That's the problem with Heinlein. It's not what he writes, it's how people interpret him that gets him into trouble.
And finally
Sigh
So, I'll repeat it.
The contents of the list do not matter.
So you saying this:
Isn't saying that. You're changing the contents of the list to suit 2020, when the contents of the list does not matter.
Again. The list does not matter. He is saying that men should broaden their horizons and gives examples. Not an exhaustive list that will suit you 50-60 years later.
Hell, a list you make now, would've be irrelevant 10 years ago and will be irrelevant in 10 years.
Yes, he's the father of sci-fi, but not even he could imagine the kind of world we live in today (possibly because he'd be so, soo disappointed with it).
Alter the list to suit whatever era you live in if you wish. But his point still remains. Broaden your skill base. Specialising is for insects, not humans.
No, we didn't. And he's not saying you should only aim to work land or a factory. You're assuming that because of the items on the list. Again, the list does not matter. He's saying that to become a well rounded member of society, widen your skill base. He never moved into industry, he became a writer. A skill set that he left off his list. Why? To reduce competition for his books.
Nah, I'm kidding.
Because the list does not matter.
Your examples prove his point. Although I am wondering the achievements of James Dean beyond being famous for an early death, you've pointed out inherently flawed men. Specialised, flawed individuals. He didn't say that insects aren't amazing at a certain thing. He pointed out that outside of that singular amazing thing, insects are absolutely useless.
Einstein is an excellent example of this. Same with Freddie Mercury. Outside of their immense talent, they were pretty much fucked. Einstein would be utterly useless with a flat tyre. Had they been more rounded individuals, maybe things wouldn't have gone so wrong for them.
And i don't mean more rounded by learning to butcher a pig or captain a ship. Because the examples on the list do not matter.
Also, this:
Isn't what he meant by 'fight efficiently'. The ability to fight efficiently means more than being good at punching people in the face. There's more ways than one to fight, and more important things to fight than fools.
That's the problem with Heinlein. It's not what he writes, it's how people interpret him that gets him into trouble.
And finally
Sigh
Lol, we shall disagree to agree then
yes James dean was a completely useless specialist, and Einstein was was a very useful one...
The items on the list are Heinlein’s personal view of manliness, but his point is merely to suggest that a diversified skill set is generally a good idea and the core strength of humanity
yes James dean was a completely useless specialist, and Einstein was was a very useful one...
The items on the list are Heinlein’s personal view of manliness, but his point is merely to suggest that a diversified skill set is generally a good idea and the core strength of humanity
Horus Lupercal
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A position taken by corruption shall be lost to corruption, there are no exceptions;
This is the true meaning of the word “Machination” from the name of Niccolo Machiavelli, so wrongly slandered by the cynics
-things I write at 3am
Finding a proper Machiavelli quote on the google is pure rubbish, but there’s this guy:
Anyone given to the notion that political science is anything less than a perfectly measurable, predictable and enjoyable field as any other science is in need of such enlightenment; indeed no science is more lacking in quality students nor steeped so deep in charlatans, what better place to settle than such an open field?
This is the true meaning of the word “Machination” from the name of Niccolo Machiavelli, so wrongly slandered by the cynics
-things I write at 3am
Finding a proper Machiavelli quote on the google is pure rubbish, but there’s this guy:
Flexilis Anatis
Eater of Waterfowl
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Horus Lupercal
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