Niven's laws were named after science fiction author Larry Niven, who has periodically published them as "how the Universe works" as far as he can tell. Most recently rewritten on January 29, 2002 (and published in Analog Magazine in the November 2002 issue), the rules are:
Never throw shit at an armed man.
Never stand next to someone who is throwing shit at an armed man.
to be paralleled with this quote by Robert A. Heinlein who wrote: "An armed society is a polite society. Manners are good when one may have to back up his acts with his life." --Beyond This Horizon (1942)
No technique works if it isn't used.
Not responsible for advice not taken.
Think before you make the coward's choice. Old age is not for sissies.
clipped from: en.wikipedia.org