Just saw one of the greatest comments ever, posted at the Wall Street Journal by one Charles Aulbach (don’t know if that’s a real name or not). I know nothing about the person. I don’t even know if this was published somewhere else first, or any original sources that may exist for particular turns of phrase. But as a group it’s a damned fine collection. Here goes:
- You cannot change history by hiding it.
- The more positive you are that you are right, the more likely it is that you are wrong.
- The wise man celebrates his mistakes as much as his successes. That’s why we erect statues and monuments. They are memorials to both.
- If you can’t face the past clearly and objectively, it will crush you.
- The randomness of individual activity is the source of humanity’s achievements.
- Ignorance is not bliss. Ignorance is self-destruction. Learn everything that you can.
- Groupthink isn’t thinking. It’s going along to get along. It produces low-level mediocrity.
- Do-gooders eventually become you-do-as-I-sayers.
- Shut up and listen, or leave.
I love this list.