# Quote — Robert A. Heinlein, Starship Troopers

> "You! I've just awarded you the prize for the hundred-meter dash. Does it make you happy? […] No dodging, please. You have the prize — here, I'll write it out: 'Grand prize for the championship, one hundred-meter sprint.'" He had actually come back to my seat and pinned it on my chest. "There! Are you happy? You value it — or don't you?" Mr. Dubois had looked surprised. "It doesn't make you happy?"
>
> "You know darn well I placed fourth!"
>
> "Exactly! The prize for first place is worthless to you . . . because you haven't earned it. But you enjoy a modest satisfaction in placing fourth; you earned it."

- Author: [Robert A. Heinlein](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robert-a-heinlein.md)
- Book: [Starship Troopers](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robert-a-heinlein/starship-troopers.md)
- Page: 93
- Source: [Wikiquote](https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Starship_Troopers#Chapter_6) ([CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/))
- Quote page: https://www.leafyquotes.com/robert-a-heinlein/starship-troopers/you-ive-just

## More from this book

> There was no god but the Lieutenant and SGT Jelal was his prophet.

p. 140 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robert-a-heinlein/starship-troopers/there-was-no-god.md)

> Basic truths cannot change and once a man of insight expresses one of them it is never necessary, no matter how much the world changes, to reformulate them. This is immutable, true everywhere, throughout all time, for all men and all nations.

[Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robert-a-heinlein/starship-troopers/basic-truths-cannot.md)

> In a mixed ship, the last thing a trooper hears before a drop (maybe the last word he ever hears) is a woman's voice, wishing him luck. If you don't think this is important, you've probably resigned from the human race.

[Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robert-a-heinlein/starship-troopers/in-a-mixed.md)