Extreme hopes are born from extreme misery. Bertrand Russell
On Building Foundations
If you have built castles in the air, your work need not be lost; that is where they should be. Now put the foundations under them. Henry David Thoreau
On Losing
Losing doesn’t make me want to quit. It makes me want to fight that much harder. Paul “Bear” Bryant
On Simplification
Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler. Albert Einstein
Sobre perspectiva
Be Water
Fear of External Opinions
Edmund Burke on Moral Duty
Two intrinsically-linked quotes from Sir Edmund Burke:
1) The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.
2) Nobody made a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could do only a little.
On Belief and Justice
On my first day of law school, my professor says two things. First was: “From this day forward, when your mother tells you she loves you – get a second opinion. If you want justice, go to a whorehouse; if you want to get fucked, go to court.” Richard Gere as Martin Vail, Primal Fear
On Civil Disobedience
Disobedience is the true foundation of liberty. The obedient must be slaves. Henry David Thoreau
On Ugly Truth
Nothing has an uglier look to us than reason, when it’s not on our side. George Savile
Sobre humildad
El Omnipotente eligió hablar por medio del asno. El hecho de que Él también habla por medio de ti sólo afirma que vales el burro. Vox
On Never Quitting
Never quit. Set a goal and don’t quit until you attain it. When you do attain it, set another goal, and don’t quit until you reach it. Never quit. Paul “Bear” Bryant
On Perception
The further back you can look, the further forward you can see. unknown
N.B. Often attributed to Winston Churchill, but never confirmed.“So Far, So Good”
On Peace and Conflict
On Blindness
So, you mock my blindness? Let me tell you this. You with your precious eyes, you’re blind to the corruption of your life, to the house you live in, those you live with—who are your parents? Do you know? All unknowing you are the scourge of your own flesh and blood… Sophocles, Oedipus Rex
When Right ≠ Legal
there have been times throughout American history where what is right is not the same as what is legal. Sometimes to do the right thing you have to break a law. Edward Snowden
On Envisioning the Future
I never thought of the possibility of failing, only of the fame and glory I was going to get when I won. I could see it. I could almost feel it. When I proclaimed that I was the greatest of all time, I believed in myself, and I still do. Mohammed Ali
Nobody Ever Wins a Fight
There is truth to be found in Facebook
On Precedent
Everything is unprecedented until it happens for the first time. Tom Hanks as Chelsey Sullenberger in Sully
Kelly Clarkson “Sober” (Sessions @ AOL 2007)
On the Difficulty of Forgiving
It is easier to forgive an enemy than to forgive a friend. William Blake
On Discovering Truth
[T]ruth is best discovered by powerful statements on both sides of the question. Sir Francis Bacon (1561-1626)
N.B. Though often attributed to Lord John Scott Eldon (1751-1838), Eldon was, in fact, quoting Bacon.On Magical Solutions
On The Price of Victory
If you believe in yourself and have dedication and pride and never quit, you’ll be a winner. The price of victory is high but so are the rewards. Paul “Bear” Bryant
On Clear Communication
I guess I should warn you, if I turn out to be particularly clear, you’ve probably misunderstood what I’ve said. Alan Greenspan
I know you think you understand what you thought I said but I’m not sure you realize that what you heard is not what I meant. Alan GreenspanOn STFU/GFY
Self-governance on the basis of imagined external opinion is self-bondage.VoxContinue Reading
On Taking Hasty Action
Haste is the enemy of Prudence. Vox
On Logic
Entia non sunt multiplicanda praeter necessitatem. William of Ockham
On Studying
Much study is a weariness of the flesh. Ecclesiastes 12:12
On Food, Drink, and Work
Even so, I have noticed one thing, at least, that is good. It is good for people to eat well, drink a good glass of wine, and enjoy their work. Ecclesiastes 5:18
On Opposing Evil
The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing. Edmund Burke [disputed]