Pain is the basic mechanism built into us by millions of years of evolution which safeguards us by warning when something threatens our survival.

Every time we killed a thousand Bugs at a cost of one M.I. it was a net victory for the Bugs. We were learning, expensively, just how efficient a total communism can be when used by a people actually adapted to it by evolution; the Bug commisars didn't care any more about expending soldiers than we cared about expending ammo. Perhaps we could have figured this out about the Bugs by noting the grief the Chinese Hegemony gave the Russo-Anglo-American Alliance; however the trouble with 'lessons from history' is that we usually read them best after falling flat on our chins.

Never trust machinery more complicated than a knife and fork.

Yes, Boss?' Dorcas, the last twenty or thirty years I've been a worthless, no-good parasite.' She yawned again. 'Everybody knows that.' Nevermind the flattery. There comes a time in every man's life when he has to stop being sensible--a time to stand up and be counted--strike a blow for liberty--smite the wicked.' Ummm...' So quit yawning, the time has come.' She glanced down. 'Maybe I had better get dressed.

Under what circumstances is it moral for a group to do that which is not moral for a member of that group to do alone?

Oh, you have to charge 'em, Jubal. The marks won't pay attention if it's free.

Waking a person unnecessarily should not be considered a capital crime. For a first offense, that is.