Tuesday, June 28, 2005

TAANSTAAFL, etc.

[via Glenn Reynolds]
The above list is far too short to really encompass Heinlein's greatest quotations: really, it's just the Lazarus Long edition. I mean, he left off the Kiplingesque "Green Hills of Earth" (which, combined with Tolkien's verses, is pretty much responsible for "filk" music) which concludes
The arching sky is calling
Spacemen back to their trade.
ALL HANDS! STAND BY! FREE FALLING!
And the lights below us fade.

Out ride the sons of Terra,
Far drives the thundering jet,
Up leaps a race of Earthmen,
Out, far, and onward yet ---

We pray for one last landing
On the globe that gave us birth;
Let us rest our eyes on the friendly skies
And the cool, green hills of Earth.
Petrie's entire quotation collection, though, is big, and decidedly tilted toward libertarian atheism.

(the index of other lyrics and poetry I've posted is here)

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