Source of quote on packing light?

April 16, 2019 10:19 AM

I'm trying to track down the source of a quote I heard once about packing light for travel, something along the lines of "Never bring more than you can carry at a flat-out run for a quarter mile." I thought it was from Mark Twain (of course), but I'm having trouble verifying that--or any source.
posted by gottabefunky to Travel & Transportation (4 answers total)

Best answer: Googling gave me “never own more than you can carry in both hands at a dead run” by Robert A. Heinlein.
posted by acidnova at 10:46 AM on April 16, 2019 [1 favorite]

It's also a quote from Christopher McCandless in Into the Wild, but he probably stole it from Heinlein.
posted by el_presidente at 1:08 PM on April 16, 2019

Actually a quote from his dad Walt: "Chris was very much of the school that you should own nothing except what you can carry on your back at a dead run". P32 in my paperback copy.
posted by el_presidente at 1:17 PM on April 16, 2019

I envy people who can run flat-out for a quarter mile.
posted by rum-soaked space hobo at 2:37 PM on April 16, 2019 [9 favorites]