1957 novel by Eric Frank Russell
Eric Frank Russell (January 6, 1905 – February 28, 1978) was a British author best known for his science fiction novels and short stories.
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Anyway, one soon loses appreciation of the value of something gained for nothing, one becomes bored by getting it for the mere asking."
"I don't," assured Zalumar. "I like it, I love it."
"Every day I see windows full of gold watches," said Lakin. "They tire me. I have a gold watch which I obtained by demanding it. I don't want fifty gold watches. I don't even want two of them. So what use are all the others to me?
I was thinking," Harrison explained.
"I approve of that," put in His Excellency. He lugged a couple of huge tomes our of the wall-shelves, began to thumb rapidly through them. "Do plenty of thinking whenever you've the chance and it will become a habit. It will get easier and easier as time rolls on. In fact, a day may come when it can be done without pain.
It's your right to refuse to believe. That's freedom, isn't it?
"Up to a point. A man has duties. He's no right to refuse those."
"No?" She raised tantalizing eyebrows, delicately curved. "Who defines those duties—himself, or somebody else?"
"His superiors, most times."
"No man is superior to another. No man has the right to define another man's duties." She paused, eyeing him speculatively. "If anyone on Terra exercises such idiotic power, it is only because idiots permit him. They fear freedom. They prefer to be told. They like being ordered around. What men!"