Gadsden County Public Library

Robert A. Heinlein qoute worth noting

In the book "Friday", Dr. Baldwin asks 'Friday' (yes, that is her name) to research "What are the marks of a sick culture?"

Friday came up with a list of things:

*when the people of a country stop identifying themselves with the country and start identifying with a group. A racial group. Or a religion. Or a language. Anything, as long as it isn't the whole population.
*Particularism.
*(people) loose faith in both the police and the courts.
*High taxation
*inflation
*the ratio of the productive to those on the public payroll.
*Violence.
*Terrorism
*Riots

After listening to Friday present her list, Dr. Baldwin makes his point:

I think you have missed the most alarming symptom of all. ... Sick cultures show a complex of symptoms as you have named... But a dying culture invariably exhibits personal rudeness. Bad manners. Lack of consideration for others in minor matters. A loss of politeness, of gentle manners, is more significant than a riot. This symptom is especially serious in that an individual displaying it never thinks of it as a sign of ill health but as proof of his/her strength.

--Heinlein, Robert A., Friday, Del Rey Books, New York, 1983, p. 296(?) (emphasis added)

Therefore valued patron, be NICE to one another, "Practice random acts of kindness and senseless acts of beauty". Keep reading for pleasure and for self-improvement. Smile more often and speak kindly to people who try your patience. And pass it on! Society is depending on YOU!

Have a nice day!

posted by GCPLStaff @ 12:59 PM