# Quote — Robert A. Heinlein, The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress

> Women are scarce; aren't enough to go around — that makes them most valuable thing in Luna, more precious than ice or air, as men without women don't care whether they stay alive or not.

- Author: [Robert A. Heinlein](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robert-a-heinlein.md)
- Book: [The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robert-a-heinlein/the-moon-is-a-harsh-mistress.md)
- Source: [Wikiquote](https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/The_Moon_Is_a_Harsh_Mistress#Quotes) ([CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/))
- Quote page: https://www.leafyquotes.com/robert-a-heinlein/the-moon-is-a-harsh-mistress/women-are-scarce

## More from this book

> Acronym created by Heinlein for "There Ain't No Such Thing As A Free Lunch"; Heinlein and Milton Friedman are sometimes credited with creating this phrase, but it existed well before either's use of it, dating to at least the 1930s.

[Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robert-a-heinlein/the-moon-is-a-harsh-mistress/acronym-created-by-heinlein.md)

> Acronym for "There Ain't No Such Thing As A Free Lunch." The origin of this phrase is often misattributed to Heinlein or Milton Friedman, but it actually dates back to at least the 1930s. Heinlein's contribution was to make the acronym for it.

[Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robert-a-heinlein/the-moon-is-a-harsh-mistress/acronym-for-there.md)

> What I fear most are affirmative actions of sober and well-intentioned men, granting to government powers to do something that appears to need doing.

[Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robert-a-heinlein/the-moon-is-a-harsh-mistress/what-i-fear.md)