Wind extinguishes a candle and energizes fire. Likewise with randomness, uncertainty, chaos: you want to use them, not hide from them. You want to be the fire and wish for the wind.
Success is not how much time you spend doing what you love, but how little time you spend doing what you hate?
Trust none of what you hear, half of what you read, most of what you see.
Taleb
The value of time is indeterminate while the value of money is fixed.
The internet widens the gap between those who want to learn and those who want to be entertained.
The strength of a person’s spirit would then be measured by how much ‘truth’ he could tolerate, or more precisely, to what extent he needs to have it diluted, disguised, sweetened, muted, falsified.
Short and sorrowful is our life, and there is no remedy when a man comes to his end, and no one has been known to return from Hades. Because we were born by mere chance, and hereafter we shall be as though we had never been; because the breath in our nostrils is smoke, and reason is a spark kindled by the beating of our hearts. When it is extinguished, the body will turn to ashes, and the spirit will dissolve like empty air. Our name will be forgotten in time and no one will remember our works; our life will pass away like the traces of a cloud, and be scattered like mist that is chased by the rays of the sun and overcome by its heat. For our allotted time is the passing of a shadow, and there is no return from our death, because it is sealed up and no one turns back. Come, therefore, let us enjoy the good things that exist, and make use of the creation to the full as in youth. Let us take our fill of costly wine and perfumes, and let no flower of spring pass by us. Let us crown ourselves with rosebuds before they wither. Let none of us fail to share in our revelry, everywhere let us leave signs of enjoyment, because this is our portion, and this our lot. Let us oppress the righteous poor man; let us not spare the widow nor regard the gray hairs of the aged. But let our might be our law of right, for what is weak proves itself to be useless (Wisdom 2:1-11).
A leader is best when people barely know he exists, when his work is done, his aim fulfilled, they will say: we did it ourselves.
– Lao Tzu
Berkshire Hathaway has done better than average. Why?
We tried to do less. We never thought we could get really useful information on all subjects. If we worked very hard we could find a few things where we were right – and a few things is enough.
Charlie Munger
Reaching out to embrace the random. Reaching out to embrace whatever may come.
Lateralus – Tool
You have to understand, most of these people are not ready to be unplugged
Morpheus, The Matrix
If you only read the books that everyone else is reading, you can only think what everyone else is thinking.
– Haruki Murakami
1. Understand Deeply
First understand simple ideas deeply. Master the basics. Clear the clutter and expose what is really important. Be brutally honest about what you know and don’t know. Then see what’s missing, identify the gaps, and fill them in. Let go of bias, prejudice, and preconceived notions. Rock-solid understanding is the foundation for success.
2. Make mistakes
Let your errors be your guide. Intentionally get it wrong to inevitably get it even more right. Mistakes are great teachers—they highlight unforeseen opportunities and holes in your understanding. They also show you which way to turn next, and they ignite your imagination.
3. Raise questions
Constantly create questions to clarify and extend your understanding. What’s the real question?
4. Follow the flow of ideas
Look back to see where ideas came from and then look ahead to discover where those ideas may lead. Iterate.
5. Transform Yourself
Adapt and improve. Just do it.
Burger, Edward: The 5 Elements of Effective Thinking.
We are drowning in information, while starving for wisdom. The world henceforth will be run by synthesizers, people able to put together the right information at the right time, think critically about it, and make important choices wisely.
– E. O. Wilson
To be human means to undergo a perpetual identity crisis, to be a work in progress.