{
  "type": "quote",
  "site": {
    "name": "Leafy Quotes",
    "language": "en",
    "url": "https://www.leafyquotes.com"
  },
  "formats": "Every page has two versions with the same data: JSON (the page address + .json) and markdown (the page address + .md). Append .json or .md to any `url` in this document.",
  "url": "https://www.leafyquotes.com/robert-a-heinlein/stranger-in-a-strange-land/were-not-trying",
  "json": "https://www.leafyquotes.com/robert-a-heinlein/stranger-in-a-strange-land/were-not-trying.json",
  "markdown": "https://www.leafyquotes.com/robert-a-heinlein/stranger-in-a-strange-land/were-not-trying.md",
  "id": "1fa742ac-b428-43bc-8cfb-d4733e6c0314",
  "slug": "were-not-trying",
  "text": "We're not trying to bring people to God; that's a contradiction in terms, you can't even say it in Martian. We're not trying to save souls, because souls can't be lost. We're not trying to get people to have faith, because what we offer is not faith but truth — truth they can check; we don't urge them to believe it. Truth for practical purposes, for here-and-now, truth as matter of fact as an ironing board and as useful as a loaf of bread… so practical that it can make war and hunger and violence and hate as unnecessary as…. as — well, as clothes here in the Nest. But they have to learn Martian first. That's the only hitch — finding people who are honest enough to believe what they see, and then are willing to do the hard work — it is hard work — of learning the language it can be taught in. A composer couldn't possibly write down a symphony in English… and this sort of symphony can't be stated in English any more than Beethoven's Fifth can be.",
  "language": "en",
  "author": {
    "name": "Robert A. Heinlein",
    "slug": "robert-a-heinlein",
    "url": "https://www.leafyquotes.com/robert-a-heinlein"
  },
  "book": {
    "title": "Stranger in a Strange Land",
    "slug": "stranger-in-a-strange-land",
    "url": "https://www.leafyquotes.com/robert-a-heinlein/stranger-in-a-strange-land"
  },
  "character": null,
  "chapter": null,
  "chapter_parent": null,
  "page": null,
  "verified": false,
  "original": null,
  "other_languages": [],
  "topics": [
    {
      "name": "truth",
      "slug": "truth",
      "url": "https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/truth"
    },
    {
      "name": "language",
      "slug": "language",
      "url": "https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/language"
    }
  ],
  "source": {
    "name": "Wikiquote",
    "url": "https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Stranger_in_a_Strange_Land#Part_Four_:_His_Scandalous_Career",
    "license": {
      "label": "CC BY-SA 4.0",
      "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/"
    }
  },
  "added_at": "2026-09-25T22:40:43",
  "more_from_book": [
    {
      "id": "fdd9e11a-5197-412b-a0bf-9df00453493d",
      "slug": "the-golden-sunshine",
      "url": "https://www.leafyquotes.com/robert-a-heinlein/stranger-in-a-strange-land/the-golden-sunshine",
      "text": "\"The golden sunshine of Italy congealed into tears. Here's to the alcoholic brotherhood... much more suited to the frail human soul, if any, than any other sort.\"",
      "language": "en",
      "character": null,
      "chapter": null,
      "chapter_parent": null,
      "page": null,
      "verified": false,
      "original": null,
      "other_languages": [],
      "topics": [
        {
          "name": "alcohol",
          "slug": "alcohol",
          "url": "https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/alcohol"
        }
      ],
      "source": {
        "name": "Wikiquote",
        "url": "https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Stranger_in_a_Strange_Land#Miscellaneous_quotes",
        "license": {
          "label": "CC BY-SA 4.0",
          "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/"
        }
      },
      "added_at": "2026-09-25T22:40:44"
    },
    {
      "id": "ef45c8cf-afb3-49bf-b6f4-956f26669ca0",
      "slug": "kiss-girls-all",
      "url": "https://www.leafyquotes.com/robert-a-heinlein/stranger-in-a-strange-land/kiss-girls-all",
      "text": "Kiss girls all you want to — it beats the hell out of card games.",
      "language": "en",
      "character": null,
      "chapter": null,
      "chapter_parent": null,
      "page": null,
      "verified": false,
      "original": null,
      "other_languages": [],
      "topics": [
        {
          "name": "humor",
          "slug": "humor",
          "url": "https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/humor"
        }
      ],
      "source": {
        "name": "Wikiquote",
        "url": "https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Stranger_in_a_Strange_Land#Miscellaneous_quotes",
        "license": {
          "label": "CC BY-SA 4.0",
          "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/"
        }
      },
      "added_at": "2026-09-25T22:40:44"
    },
    {
      "id": "e38495ad-2046-485a-bbcb-e10664c32498",
      "slug": "who-said-i-was",
      "url": "https://www.leafyquotes.com/robert-a-heinlein/stranger-in-a-strange-land/who-said-i-was",
      "text": "Who said I was wise? I'm a professional bad example. You can learn a lot by watching me. Or listening to me. Either one.",
      "language": "en",
      "character": null,
      "chapter": null,
      "chapter_parent": null,
      "page": null,
      "verified": false,
      "original": null,
      "other_languages": [],
      "topics": [
        {
          "name": "humor",
          "slug": "humor",
          "url": "https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/humor"
        },
        {
          "name": "wisdom",
          "slug": "wisdom",
          "url": "https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/wisdom"
        }
      ],
      "source": {
        "name": "Wikiquote",
        "url": "https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Stranger_in_a_Strange_Land#Miscellaneous_quotes",
        "license": {
          "label": "CC BY-SA 4.0",
          "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/"
        }
      },
      "added_at": "2026-09-25T22:40:44"
    }
  ]
}
