God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater Quotes
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Source: God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater
Author: Kurt Vonnegut
"There’s only one rule that I know of, babies—God damn it, you’ve got to be kind."
Hello babies. Welcome to Earth. It’s hot in the summer and cold in the winter. It’s round and wet and crowded. At the outside, babies, you’ve got a hundred years here. There’s only one rule that I know of, babies—God damn it, you’ve got to be kind.
Context
Eliot is talking to Sylvia about how he has to baptize the twins of a friend even though he's not a religious person. Sylvia, of course, it surprised; she asks him what he'll say, and this is his playful response.
Where you've heard it
Vonnegut is famous for turning out some great quotes, so you've probably heard a few of 'em floating around.
This one's simple, funny, and thought provoking. The last line is the real kicker—and way more compelling than "be nice."
We wouldn’t recommend actually quoting it at a baptism, though. Taking the Lord’s name in vain at a religious ceremony isn't usually advisable.
Pretentious Factor
If you were to drop this quote at a dinner party, would you get an in-unison "awww" or would everyone roll their eyes and never invite you back? Here it is, on a scale of 1-10.
Sure, it's Vonnegut, but since when has telling someone to be kind sounded pretentious?