The attack should not have happened, of course. The rice farmer had been perfectly right; the Federation could not afford to risk its own great cites to punish the villagers of Venus. He was right - from his viewpoint.
A rice farmer has one logic, the men who live by and for power have another and entirely different logic. Their lives are built on tenuous assumptions, fragile as reputation; they could not afford to ignore a challenge to their power - the Federation could not afford to not punish the insolent colonists.


Ch. 10. - Between Planets (1951)

Robert A. Heinlein Quotes

The attack should not have happened, of course. The rice farmer had been perfectly right; the Federation could not afford to risk its own great cites ...

The attack should not have happened, of course. The rice farmer had been perfectly right; the Federation could not afford to risk its own great cites ...

The attack should not have happened, of course. The rice farmer had been perfectly right; the Federation could not afford to risk its own great cites ...

The attack should not have happened, of course. The rice farmer had been perfectly right; the Federation could not afford to risk its own great cites ...