--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: At least once every human should have to…" description: "\"At least once every human should have to run for his life, to teach him that milk does not come from supermarkets, that safety does not come from polic..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f59/robert-a-heinlein-209_agility_at-least-once-every-human-should-have-to_761215.jpg" --- # At least once every human should have to run for his life… ![“At least once every human should have to run for his life, to teach him that milk does not come from supermarkets, that safety does not come from policemen, that 'news' is not something that happens to other people. He might learn how his ancestors lived and that he himself is no different--in the…” quote by Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f59/robert-a-heinlein-209_agility_at-least-once-every-human-should-have-to_761215.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f59/robert-a-heinlein-209_agility_at-least-once-every-human-should-have-to_761215.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f59/robert-a-heinlein-209_agility_at-least-once-every-human-should-have-to_761215.jpg) > “At least once every human should have to run for his life, to teach him that milk does not come from supermarkets, that safety does not come from policemen, that 'news' is not something that happens to other people. He might learn how his ancestors lived and that he himself is no different--in the crunch his life depends on his agility, alertness, and personal resourcefulness.” [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Experiencing hardship teaches self‑reliance, alertness, and the value of personal effort over institutional safety nets. **In simple terms:** Hardship builds self‑reliance. Key Takeaway Embrace challenges to grow. Themes self‑reliance survival awareness Mood reflective cautionary Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - outdoor survival training - emergency drills - historical reenactments - personal fitness challenges Key Concepts resourcefulness agility personal responsibility Questions to Reflect On - What personal skill would you develop through adversity? - How can society balance safety with personal resilience? A Different Perspective May cause trauma if not supported. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Agility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/agility/) [Ancestor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ancestor/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [News](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/news/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Policemen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/policemen/) [Resourcefulness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/resourcefulness/) [Running](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/running/) [Safety](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/safety/) ## Related quotes > [“Integrity, resourcefulness, and agility”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-rancic/integrity-resourcefulness-and-agility/) [Bill Rancic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-rancic/) > [“Life will teach or beat you all you need to know. My advice; take the compassionate class and peaceful path”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rasheed-ogunlaru/life-will-teach-or-beat-you-all-you-need-to-know-my-advice-take-the/) [Rasheed Ogunlaru](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rasheed-ogunlaru/) > [People come into your life for a reason, and come out of your life to teach you a lesson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/people-come-into-your-life-for-a-reason-and-come-out-of-your-life-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The experiences of life teach truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-klemp/the-experiences-of-life-teach-truth/) [Harold Klemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-klemp/) > [I wish to learn what life has to teach, and not, when I come to die, discover that I have not truly lived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/i-wish-to-learn-what-life-has-to-teach-and-not-when-i-come-to-die/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [“Don't ever get to the point where you feel like you know it all. Life still has so much more to teach you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germany-kent/don-t-ever-get-to-the-point-where-you-feel-like-you-know-it-all-life/) [Germany Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germany-kent/) > [When we don't learn lessons at the right time, life will teach us the same lessons at the wrong time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-we-don-t-learn-lessons-at-the-right-time-life-will-teach-us-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [One of the greatest tasks of my life has been to teach the colored man he can be anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-micheaux/one-of-the-greatest-tasks-of-my-life-has-been-to-teach-the-colored/) [Oscar Micheaux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-micheaux/) > [“Life will throw a lot at you, so you can count on learning something new every day. I have learned to open my heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-lynn-steele/life-will-throw-a-lot-at-you-so-you-can-count-on-learning-something/) [Amy Lynn Steele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-lynn-steele/) > [And know that every struggle in life is there to teach you a lesson It's times like this that make you](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/macklemore/and-know-that-every-struggle-in-life-is-there-to-teach-you-a-lesson/) [Macklemore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/macklemore/) > [“How wonderful it would be to live an entire life with such freedom to try new things, experience the unknown, and face our fears.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-clark/how-wonderful-it-would-be-to-live-an-entire-life-with-such-freedom-to/) [Ron Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-clark/) > [Life itself will teach you what life really is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anas/life-itself-will-teach-you-what-life-really-is/) [Anas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anas/) > [Life will always teach us new things. Even when we are not prepared to learn them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/life-will-always-teach-us-new-things-even-when-we-are-not-prepared-to/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [This is the great truth life has to teach us ... that gratification of our individual desires and expression of our personal preferences without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hortense-odlum/this-is-the-great-truth-life-has-to-teach-us-that-gratification-of/) [Hortense Odlum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hortense-odlum/) > [Sometimes special people come into your life only to teach you how to live alone without them. Sad but true.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sometimes-special-people-come-into-your-life-only-to-teach-you-how-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## 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/) [Explore all 888 Robert A. Heinlein quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) ## More Agility quotes > [We are organized by territories, whereas terrorists are organized into networks. States are very slow and terrorists are extremely fast. Intelligence sharing needs to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashraf-ghani/we-are-organized-by-territories-whereas-terrorists-are-organized-into/) [Ashraf Ghani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashraf-ghani/) > [“Your encounters will be more successful when you slow down, pay attention, and become more mindfully aware of the world around you. Heightening your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-c-young/your-encounters-will-be-more-successful-when-you-slow-down-pay/) [Susan C. Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-c-young/) > [Strength without agility is a mere mass.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fernando-pessoa/strength-without-agility-is-a-mere-mass/) [Fernando Pessoa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fernando-pessoa/) > [I think my gymnastic background helped a great deal with my agility when I took up football seriously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-van-basten/i-think-my-gymnastic-background-helped-a-great-deal-with-my-agility/) [Marco van Basten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-van-basten/) > [Of all animals, the outward form of the Lion is the most striking ; his look is bold and confident; his gait proud; and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-pinnock/of-all-animals-the-outward-form-of-the-lion-is-the-most-striking-his/) William Pinnock > [I've got power and agility. I don't care if I'm not the biggest keeper; I've got the power and agility to get around the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordan-pickford/i-ve-got-power-and-agility-i-don-t-care-if-i-m-not-the-biggest-keeper/) [Jordan Pickford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordan-pickford/) > ['Failing fast' is an important component of cultivating the agility needed for a development project along with continually rebalancing your innovation portfolio.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynne-doughtie/failing-fast-is-an-important-component-of-cultivating-the-agility/) [Lynne Doughtie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynne-doughtie/) > [I took obedience, agility, and shepherding with my dog.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annaleigh-ashford/i-took-obedience-agility-and-shepherding-with-my-dog/) [Annaleigh Ashford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annaleigh-ashford/) > [“agility is relative and time-based. If your software team can’t deliver software and keep pace with changes in the environment, your team is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/agility-is-relative-and-time-based-if-your-software-team-can-t/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The agility of prime, not the stability of maturity, is the ideal goal for healthy organizations.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-moore/the-agility-of-prime-not-the-stability-of-maturity-is-the-ideal-goal/) Steve Moore > [I have always had good strength in my legs from working out with weights. I have also been riding a bike of some sort…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-paul-gosselaar/i-have-always-had-good-strength-in-my-legs-from-working-out-with/) [Mark-Paul Gosselaar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-paul-gosselaar/) > [The game of business used to be like football: size mattered. Then it changed to basketball: speed and agility. Today, business is more like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrian-slywotzky/the-game-of-business-used-to-be-like-football-size-mattered-then-it/) Adrian Slywotzky > [Success today requires the agility and drive to constantly rethink, reinvigorate, react, and reinvent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/success-today-requires-the-agility-and-drive-to-constantly-rethink/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) > [We've watched film in years past where I was getting beat and it wasn't always because of the lack of agility and foot speed.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-huerter/we-ve-watched-film-in-years-past-where-i-was-getting-beat-and-it-wasn/) [Kevin Huerter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-huerter/) > [Large organizations cannot be versatile. A large organization is effective through its mass rather than through its agility. Fleas can jump many times their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-drucker/large-organizations-cannot-be-versatile-a-large-organization-is/) [Peter Drucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-drucker/) [Browse all 96 Agility quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/agility/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "At least once every human should have to run for his life, to teach him that milk does not come from supermarkets, that safety does not come from policemen, that 'news' is not something that happens to other people. He might learn how his ancestors lived and that he himself is no different--in the crunch his life depends on his agility, alertness, and personal resourcefulness.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Robert A. 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