“There’s only one rule that I know of, babies—God damn it, you’ve got to be kind.” — Kurt Vonnegut
This line from God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater comes as part of a baptismal speech the protagonist says he’s planning for his neighbor’s twins:
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 100 years here. there’s only one rule that I know of, babies–God damn it, you’ve got to be kind.
It’s an odd speech to make over a couple of infants, but it’s playful, sweet, yet keenly precise in its summation of everything a new addition to the planet should need to know. By narrowing down all his advice for the future down to a few simple words, Vonnegut emphasizes what’s most important in life. At the same time, he lets his frustration with all the people who obviously do not get it leak through just a little.
From 15 Things Kurt Vonnegut Said Better Than Anyone Else Ever Has Or Will