Thursday, April 23, 2009

Universalities of Human Ability

Via TigerHawk comes this fascinating Robert Heinlein quote:

A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects.

I've bolded the tasks that I have done, but I think that, with the right training, I could do them all.

What would you add to Heinlein's list?


3 comments:

Dan Trabue said...

Play with joy with children.

RevAnne said...

Dan, old Bob would enthusiastically agree. He was also fond of the making of children, or at least practicing frequently.
John, love the list. I'd suggest grow one's own food (after Farnham's Freehold, and others) be added to the list. And perhaps, 'ware the black hats. And be kind to furred people.

John said...

Yes, to play with children should definitely be on the list. Perhaps also to raise a pet.