Robert A. Heinlein vs. Epictetus
Read 20 entries attributed to Robert A. Heinlein alongside 20 attributed to Epictetus. Compare the wording and topic labels.
This page places 20 entries attributed to Robert A. Heinlein alongside 20 attributed to Epictetus. Each selection is ordered by stored importance score. These are selections from QuoteLineage, not complete accounts of either author's work.
Topic labels present in both displayed selections: life, freedom, philosophy, human nature. Shared labels do not by themselves demonstrate agreement, disagreement, or influence between the authors.
Attributed to Robert A. Heinlein, entry #1008: "Jealousy is a disease, love is a healthy condition. The immature mind often mistakes one for the other, or assumes that the greater the love, the greater the jealousy - in fact, t…"
Attributed to Epictetus, entry #87: "Any one thing in the creation is sufficient to demonstrate a Providence to an humble and grateful mind."
Side-by-Side Comparison
Robert A. Heinlein
1907 – 1988
Robert Anson Heinlein was an American science fiction author, engineer, and naval officer. Sometimes called the "dean of science fiction writers", he was among the first to emphasize scientific accuracy in his fiction and was thus a pioneer of the subgenre of hard science fiction. His published works, both fiction and non-fiction, express admiration for competence and emphasize the value of critical thinking.
"Jealousy is a disease, love is a healthy condition. The immature mind often mistakes one for the other, or assumes that the greater the love, the greater the…"
#love"Love is that condition in which the happiness of another person is essential to your own."
#happiness"May you live as long as you wish and love as long as you live."
#life"Free will was another matter. It could not be laughed off, because it could be directly experienced—yet his own free will had worked to create the same scene…"
#freedom"I now define "moral behavior" as "behavior that tends toward survival." I won't argue with philosophers or theologians who choose to use the word "moral" to …"
#philosophy"Luck is a bonus that follows careful planning—it’s never free."
#freedom"I really am a good listener because you never can tell when you will pick up something useful—and all in the world any woman has to do to be considered “char…"
#friendship"When you haven’t data, guessing is illogical."
#philosophy"Some people insist that 'mediocre' is better than 'best.' They delight in clipping wings because they themselves can't fly. They despise brains because they …"
#life"Since when did a mathematician need any tools but his own head? Pythagoras had done well enough with a stick and a stretch of sand."
#humor"At fourteen months he began speaking in sentences, short and of his own structure, but sentences. The subjects of his conversation, or, rather, his statement…"
#writing"I've heard all the usual Sweetness and Light that kids get pushed at them—how they should always forgive, how there’s some good in the worst of us, etc. But …"
#leadership"I have never been impressed by the formal schools of ethics. I had sampled them — public libraries are a ready source of recreation for an actor short of cas…"
#family"I trust that I am honest with myself. I know that I am not very sociable and I expect to go on being so; a man capable of creative work has no time to spare …"
#truth"Don, have you been dealing with a booklegger?"
#books"Like many a man before him, he found himself forced into a lie because the truth simply would not be believed."
#truth"Apparently she believes she is safe. Evil is essentially stupid, Joe; despite her brilliance, she believes what she wishes to believe. Or it may be that she …"
#death"Sex is rearing its interesting head."
#leadership"I had taken a partner once before—but, damnation, no matter how many times you get your fingers burned, you have to trust people. Otherwise you are a hermit …"
#wisdom"As for population, every major shortcoming of our native planet could be traced to one cause: too many people, not enough planet."
#Human NatureEpictetus
50 – 138
Epictetus was a Greek Stoic philosopher. He was born into slavery at Hierapolis, Phrygia and lived in Rome until his banishment, after which he spent the rest of his life in Nicopolis in northwestern Greece.
"Any one thing in the creation is sufficient to demonstrate a Providence to an humble and grateful mind."
#Epistemology"Since it is Reason which shapes and regulates all other things, it ought not itself to be left in disorder."
#Epistemology"O slavish man! will you not bear with your own brother, who has God for his Father, as being a son from the same stock, and of the same high descent? But if …"
#Religion"In a word, neither death, nor exile, nor pain, nor anything of this kind is the real cause of our doing or not doing any action, but our inward opinions and …"
#Human Nature"No thing great is created suddenly, any more than a bunch of grapes or a fig. If you tell me that you desire a fig, I answer you that there must be time. Let…"
#Human Nature"When you close your doors, and make darkness within, remember never to say that you are alone, for you are not alone; nay, God is within, and your genius is …"
#Religion"Yet God hath not only granted these faculties, by which we may bear every event without being depressed or broken by it, but like a good prince and a true fa…"
#Religion"Reason is not measured by size or height, but by principle."
#Epistemology"Practice yourself, for heaven's sake, in little things; and thence proceed to greater."
#Philosophy"Who are those people by whom you wish to be admired? Are they not these about whom you are in the habit of saying that they are mad? What then? Do you wish t…"
#Philosophy"Only the educated are free."
#Human Nature"If the room is smoky, if only moderately, I will stay; if there is too much smoke I will go. Remember this, keep a firm hold on it, the door is always open."
#Philosophy"Let not another's disobedience to Nature become an ill to you; for you were not born to be depressed and unhappy with others, but to be happy with them. And …"
#life"When you want to hear a philosopher, do not say, 'You say nothing to me'; only show yourself worthy or fit to hear, and then you will see how you will move t…"
#language"Give me by all means the shorter and nobler life, instead of one that is longer but of less account!"
#life"If it is my interest to have a farm, it is my interest to take it away from my neighbour; if it is my interest to have a cloak, it is my interest also to ste…"
#war"Freedom is the only worthy goal in life. It is won by disregarding things that lie beyond our control."
#freedom"Even as bad actors cannot sing alone, but only in chorus: so some cannot walk alone. Man, if thou art aught, strive to walk alone and hold converse with your…"
#knowledge"What wouldst thou be found doing when overtaken by Death? If I might choose, I would be found doing some deed of true humanity, of wide import, beneficent an…"
#power"You are a little soul, carrying a corpse."
#religion