While I have long known that I should read more science fiction, Glenn Reynolds really drives the point home with this Heinlein quote:
“Political tags — such as royalist, communist, democrat, populist, fascist, liberal, conservative, and so forth — are never basic criteria. The human race divides politically into those who want people to be controlled and those who have no such desire. The former are idealists acting from highest motives for the greatest good of the greatest number. The latter are surly curmudgeons, suspicious and lacking in altruism. But they are more comfortable neighbors than the other sort.”
I can attest to the latter part, and I select my neighbors accordingly. The last thing I would want would be to live next door to an idealist acting from the highest motives who looks for the greatest good. I like neighbors who believe in leaving others alone unless the others mess with them or ask for help. As opposed to, you know, the type of neighbor ostensibly concerned with launching inquisitions based on purported concerns about The Other.
It’s a paradox, but the latter (those who will not leave others alone — especially if the targets of their attention want to leave others alone) are in fact more otherphobic than the former. To them loving the other means messing with the other regardless of his wishes. To the former, loving the other means leaving him alone unless he asks for help or starts trouble.
To me this is common sense, but I’m glad to see it in science fiction.
Comments
4 responses to “Leave others alone, as you would have others leave you alone”
There are a LOT of insightful heinlein quotes. Expanded universe is a good read for a blend of fiction and non fiction by him. Starship troopers- spending decades on the marine corps commandants reading list for officers and now various other services reading lists- us an in depth look at society, survival, responsibility, and why we fight, with relatively litte action.
Common sense is actually the rarest commodity known to humanity. All politicians are required to have any remnant common sense surgically removed, and the few who manage to disguise possession of common sense for a time are inevitably pilloried for it as soon as they display any evidence of possession.
I’m actually surprised that possession of common sense isn’t a Federal crime. Just about everything else is.
I’m not sure about more Science Fiction, but you should CERTAINLY read more Heinlein! Just ask one of your co-bloggers if you want a second opinion on that.
“There is no worse tyranny than to force a man to pay for what he does not want merely because you think it would be good for him.”
— Robert A. Heinlein (The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress)
@Kate: Too true. I do know one ex-politician* who has common sense. Note the “ex” there. He’s on the ‘vote ALL the incumbents out and start again’ road’ – that has it’s points.
*Local level, and claims to have been unpaid throughout his long career in town council – I believe him. (He’s retired from his real job and moved to FL so I can’t easily check his record. What little I can find – public minutes, etc. does at least back my ‘has common sense’ opinion.)