---
title: "5 Long run Quotes By Robert A. Heinlein"
description: "5 Long run quotes by Robert A. Heinlein. Plus more from Robert A. Heinlein and more Long run sayings from other authors."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/637/robert-a-heinlein-209_citizens_when-the-citizens-of-a-nation-will-no-lo_141859.jpg"
---

> [When the citizens of a nation will no longer volunteer to defend it, then it is probably not worth saving. No nation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/when-the-citizens-of-a-nation-will-no-longer-volunteer-to-defend-it/)

[Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/637/robert-a-heinlein-209_citizens_when-the-citizens-of-a-nation-will-no-lo_141859.jpg)

> [“Most people can't think, most of the remainder won't think, the small fraction who do think mostly can't do it very well.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/most-people-can-t-think-most-of-the-remainder-won-t-think-the-small/)

[Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/87a/robert-a-heinlein-209_long-run_most-people-can-t-think-most-of-the-rema_2607942.jpg)

> [Anything free costs twice as much in the long run or turns out worthless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/anything-free-costs-twice-as-much-in-the-long-run-or-turns-out/)

[Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2bb/robert-a-heinlein-209_cost_anything-free-costs-twice-as-much-in-the_2928479.jpg)

> [The extremely tiny fraction who think regularly, accurately, creatively, and without self-delusion - in the long run, these are the only people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/the-extremely-tiny-fraction-who-think-regularly-accurately-creatively/)

[Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/814/robert-a-heinlein-209_delusion_the-extremely-tiny-fraction-who-think-re_2943884.jpg)

> [“Oh, "Tanstaafl." Means "There ain't no such thing as a free lunch." And isn't,' I added, pointing to a FREE LUNCH sign…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/oh-tanstaafl-means-there-ain-t-no-such-thing-as-a-free-lunch-and-isn/)

[Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c25/robert-a-heinlein-209_food_oh-tanstaafl-means-there-ain-t-no-such-t_3220930.jpg)

## Other authors on Long run

## More by Robert A. Heinlein

> [Social responsibility above the level of family, or at most of tribe, requires imagination-- devotion, loyalty, all the higher virtues -- which a man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/social-responsibility-above-the-level-of-family-or-at-most-of-tribe/)

[Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/)

> [My folks tried to make a preacher of me and missed by a narrow margin… I would have made a good one if I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/my-folks-tried-to-make-a-preacher-of-me-and-missed-by-a-narrow-margin/)

[Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/)

> [Ninety percent of all human wisdom is the ability to mind your own business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/ninety-percent-of-all-human-wisdom-is-the-ability-to-mind-your-own/)

[Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/)

> [If we blow ourselves up we will do it by misapplication of science; if we manage to keep from blowing ourselves up, it will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/if-we-blow-ourselves-up-we-will-do-it-by-misapplication-of-science-if/)

[Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/)

> [Nor would anybody suspect. If was one thing all people took for granted, was conviction that if you feed honest figures into a computer,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/nor-would-anybody-suspect-if-was-one-thing-all-people-took-for/)

[Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/)

> [Women will forgive anything. Otherwise, the race would have died out long ago.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/women-will-forgive-anything-otherwise-the-race-would-have-died-out/)

[Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/)

> [Most neuroses and some psychoses can be traced to the unnecessary and unhealthy habit of daily wallowing in the troubles and sins of five…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/most-neuroses-and-some-psychoses-can-be-traced-to-the-unnecessary-and/)

[Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/)

> [No statement should be believed because it is made by an authority.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/no-statement-should-be-believed-because-it-is-made-by-an-authority/)

[Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/)

> [“Some people are ants by nature; they have to work, even when it’s useless. Few people have a talent for constructive laziness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/some-people-are-ants-by-nature-they-have-to-work-even-when-it-s/)

[Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/)

> [“The instinct to survive is human nature itself, and every aspect of our personalities derives from it. Anything that conflicts with the survival instinct…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/the-instinct-to-survive-is-human-nature-itself-and-every-aspect-of/)

[Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/)

> [“I tried to dig out of the computer a call directory for Luna. But it was still sulking. I could not get it to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/i-tried-to-dig-out-of-the-computer-a-call-directory-for-luna-but-it/)

[Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/)

> [“this has more aspects than a cat has hair.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/this-has-more-aspects-than-a-cat-has-hair/)

[Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/)

> [Never own more than you can carry in both hands at a dead run.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/never-own-more-than-you-can-carry-in-both-hands-at-a-dead-run/)

[Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/)

> [“In Wilson's scale of evaluations breakfast rated just after life itself and ahead of the chance of immortality." ~ By His Bootstraps / Robert A. Heinlein”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/in-wilson-s-scale-of-evaluations-breakfast-rated-just-after-life/)

[Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/)

> [Ignorance is curable, stupid is forever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/ignorance-is-curable-stupid-is-forever/)

[Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "ItemList",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long-run/robert-a-heinlein/#itemlist",
            "name": "5 Long run Quotes By Robert A. Heinlein",
            "numberOfItems": 5,
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "item": {
                        "@type": "Quotation",
                        "text": "When the citizens of a nation will no longer volunteer to defend it, then it is probably not worth saving. No nation has the right to survive with conscript troops, and in the long run, no nation ever has.",
                        "creator": {
                            "@type": "Person",
                            "name": "Robert A. Heinlein"
                        },
                        "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/when-the-citizens-of-a-nation-will-no-longer-volunteer-to-defend-it/",
                        "image": {
                            "@type": "ImageObject",
                            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/637/robert-a-heinlein-209_citizens_when-the-citizens-of-a-nation-will-no-lo_141859.jpg",
                            "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/637/robert-a-heinlein-209_citizens_when-the-citizens-of-a-nation-will-no-lo_141859.jpg",
                            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/637/robert-a-heinlein-209_citizens_when-the-citizens-of-a-nation-will-no-lo_141859.jpg",
                            "width": 1080,
                            "height": 1080,
                            "caption": "“When the citizens of a nation will no longer volunteer to defend it, then it is probably not worth saving…” — Robert A. Heinlein",
                            "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                            "creator": {
                                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                            }
                        }
                    }
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "item": {
                        "@type": "Quotation",
                        "text": "“Most people can't think, most of the remainder won't think, the small fraction who do think mostly can't do it very well. The extremely tiny fraction who think regularly, accurately, creatively, and without self-delusion, in the long run these are the only people who count.”",
                        "creator": {
                            "@type": "Person",
                            "name": "Robert A. Heinlein"
                        },
                        "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/most-people-can-t-think-most-of-the-remainder-won-t-think-the-small/",
                        "image": {
                            "@type": "ImageObject",
                            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/87a/robert-a-heinlein-209_long-run_most-people-can-t-think-most-of-the-rema_2607942.jpg",
                            "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/87a/robert-a-heinlein-209_long-run_most-people-can-t-think-most-of-the-rema_2607942.jpg",
                            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/87a/robert-a-heinlein-209_long-run_most-people-can-t-think-most-of-the-rema_2607942.jpg",
                            "width": 1080,
                            "height": 1080,
                            "caption": "“Most people can't think, most of the remainder won't think, the small fraction who do think mostly can't do…” — Robert A. Heinlein",
                            "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                            "creator": {
                                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                            }
                        }
                    }
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "item": {
                        "@type": "Quotation",
                        "text": "Anything free costs twice as much in the long run or turns out worthless.",
                        "creator": {
                            "@type": "Person",
                            "name": "Robert A. Heinlein"
                        },
                        "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/anything-free-costs-twice-as-much-in-the-long-run-or-turns-out/",
                        "image": {
                            "@type": "ImageObject",
                            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2bb/robert-a-heinlein-209_cost_anything-free-costs-twice-as-much-in-the_2928479.jpg",
                            "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2bb/robert-a-heinlein-209_cost_anything-free-costs-twice-as-much-in-the_2928479.jpg",
                            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2bb/robert-a-heinlein-209_cost_anything-free-costs-twice-as-much-in-the_2928479.jpg",
                            "width": 1080,
                            "height": 1080,
                            "caption": "“Anything free costs twice as much in the long run or turns out worthless.” — Robert A. Heinlein",
                            "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                            "creator": {
                                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                            }
                        }
                    }
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "item": {
                        "@type": "Quotation",
                        "text": "The extremely tiny fraction who think regularly, accurately, creatively, and without self-delusion - in the long run, these are the only people who count.",
                        "creator": {
                            "@type": "Person",
                            "name": "Robert A. Heinlein"
                        },
                        "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/the-extremely-tiny-fraction-who-think-regularly-accurately-creatively/",
                        "image": {
                            "@type": "ImageObject",
                            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/814/robert-a-heinlein-209_delusion_the-extremely-tiny-fraction-who-think-re_2943884.jpg",
                            "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/814/robert-a-heinlein-209_delusion_the-extremely-tiny-fraction-who-think-re_2943884.jpg",
                            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/814/robert-a-heinlein-209_delusion_the-extremely-tiny-fraction-who-think-re_2943884.jpg",
                            "width": 1080,
                            "height": 1080,
                            "caption": "“The extremely tiny fraction who think regularly, accurately, creatively, and without self-delusion - in the…” — Robert A. Heinlein",
                            "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                            "creator": {
                                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                            }
                        }
                    }
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 5,
                    "item": {
                        "@type": "Quotation",
                        "text": "“Oh, \"Tanstaafl.\" Means \"There ain't no such thing as a free lunch.\" And isn't,' I added, pointing to a FREE LUNCH sign across room, 'or these drinks would cost half as much. Was reminding her that anything free costs twice as much in long run or turns out worthless.”",
                        "creator": {
                            "@type": "Person",
                            "name": "Robert A. Heinlein"
                        },
                        "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/oh-tanstaafl-means-there-ain-t-no-such-thing-as-a-free-lunch-and-isn/",
                        "image": {
                            "@type": "ImageObject",
                            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c25/robert-a-heinlein-209_food_oh-tanstaafl-means-there-ain-t-no-such-t_3220930.jpg",
                            "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c25/robert-a-heinlein-209_food_oh-tanstaafl-means-there-ain-t-no-such-t_3220930.jpg",
                            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c25/robert-a-heinlein-209_food_oh-tanstaafl-means-there-ain-t-no-such-t_3220930.jpg",
                            "width": 1080,
                            "height": 1080,
                            "caption": "“Oh, \"Tanstaafl.\" Means \"There ain't no such thing as a free lunch.\" And isn't,' I added, pointing to a FREE…” — Robert A. Heinlein",
                            "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                            "creator": {
                                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                            }
                        }
                    }
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "@type": "CollectionPage",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long-run/robert-a-heinlein/#webpage",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long-run/robert-a-heinlein/",
            "name": "Long run Quotes by Robert A. Heinlein",
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "mainEntity": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long-run/robert-a-heinlein/#itemlist"
            },
            "primaryImageOfPage": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/637/robert-a-heinlein-209_citizens_when-the-citizens-of-a-nation-will-no-lo_141859.jpg"
            },
            "description": "5 Long run quotes by Robert A. Heinlein. Plus more from Robert A. Heinlein and more Long run sayings from other authors.",
            "breadcrumb": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long-run/robert-a-heinlein/#breadcrumb"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long-run/robert-a-heinlein/#breadcrumb",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Topics",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/categories/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Long Run",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long-run/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 5,
                    "name": "Robert A. Heinlein",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long-run/robert-a-heinlein/"
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
