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About this quote

What does it mean?
Heinlein satirizes the Republican Party by comparing an elephant to a mouse made to strict government specs. He mocks bureaucratic standardization and lack of individuality.
In plain terms
He compares a political symbol to a mouse built exactly to government rules to mock them.
What can you take from it?
Government standardization removes natural individuality.

Where it applies

  • political commentary
  • bureaucratic systems
  • campaign discussions

Putting it to work

  • question standardization
  • value individuality
  • critique systems

Questions to consider

  • Does standardization help or hurt organizations?
  • How do you judge political symbols?

Another view

The comparison relies on partisan caricature rather than substantive analysis.

More from Robert A. Heinlein

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  2. Any government will work if authority and responsibility are equal and coordinate. This does not insure 'good' government; it simply insures that it will work.…

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  3. Always listen to experts. They'll tell you what can't be done, and why. Then do it.

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