"Recoilless rifles, aren't."
— Military Proverb
"If a boy fires off a gun, whether at a fox, a landlord or a reigning sovereign, he will be rebuked according to the relative value of these objects. But if he fires off a gun for the first time it is very likely that he will not expect the recoil, or know what a heavy knock it can give him. He may go blazing away through life at these and similar objects in the landscape; but he will be less and less surprised by the recoil; that is, by the reaction. He may even dissuade his little sister of six from firing off one of the heavy rifles designed for the destruction of elephants;"
"Every reaction drive makes an equal and opposite weapon!"
— Tom Paris, Rocketship Voyager
Simon: I'm going to stand behind you and hold your shoulders.
C.J.: I don't need training wheels.
Simon: Okay.
(she fires and is knocked flat by the recoil)
Simon: Be careful, that .357's got a bit of a kick.
C.J.: That thing practically broke my arm! I've been wrong about guns, we should just hand these out to criminals!
Simon: Want to go home now?
C.J.: What do you got?
Simon: I'm sorry?
C.J.: Marksmanship-wise?
Simon: Well, I can fire a gun without falling down, if that's what you mean.
C.J.: I don't need training wheels.
Simon: Okay.
(she fires and is knocked flat by the recoil)
Simon: Be careful, that .357's got a bit of a kick.
C.J.: That thing practically broke my arm! I've been wrong about guns, we should just hand these out to criminals!
Simon: Want to go home now?
C.J.: What do you got?
Simon: I'm sorry?
C.J.: Marksmanship-wise?
Simon: Well, I can fire a gun without falling down, if that's what you mean.
