6 Robert A. Heinlein Quotes on Evolution

Robert A. Heinlein quotes on evolution

28. Morals - all correct moral laws - derive from the instinct to survive. Moral behavior is survival behavior above the individual level.

53. A zygote is a gamete's way of producing more gametes. This may be the purpose of the universe.

154. Patriotism is not sentimental nonsense. Nor something dreamed up by demagogues. Patriotism is as necessary a part of man's evolutionary equipment as are his eyes, as useful to the race as eyes are to the individual.

155. I now define 'moral behavior' as 'behavior that tends toward survival.' I won't argue with philosophers or theologians who choose to use the word 'moral' to mean something else, but I do not think anyone can define 'behavior that tends toward extinction' as being 'moral' without stretching the word 'moral' all out of shape.

158. Evolution is a process that never stops. Baboons who fail to exhibit moral behavior do not survive; they wind up as meat for leopards.

174. Women seem to have almost unlimited capacity for forgiveness. (Since it is usually a man who needs forgiveness, this must be a racial survival trait.)