Nassim Nicholas Taleb Quotes
History is opaque. You see what comes out, not the script that produces events, ... The generator of historical events is different from the events themselves, much as the minds of the gods cannot be read just by witnessing their deeds.
Quotes to Explore
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The difference between eccentricity and originality in historical studies is often difficult to detect at first encounter. When a radically new interpretation of a large segment of history makes its appearance, time is needed to sift the evidence.
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I don't need to be motivated by anybody. Never have.
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The reason a poet is a poet is to write poems, not to advertise himself as a poet.
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Always farm fresh eggs, never store bought.
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The idea of going on tour for the rest of my life with old works is not that exciting. As an artist I definitely think the work in future is going to be better than the work in the past, otherwise why do it?
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Every project has to stand on its own. It's a different identity within each project, and I feel like that's the way it should be.
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The shoe that fits one person pinches another; there is no recipe for living that suits all cases.
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I was handed a chocolate bar and an M-1 rifle and told to go kill Hitler.
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Most mainstream male fiction is littered with heroines, and female characters are basically so great, you want to fall in love with them.
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Most people are unable to write because they are unable to think, and they are unable to think because they congenitally lack the equipment to do so, just as they congenitally lack the equipment to fly over the moon.
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Most Americans are more concerned about the economy and job creation. And they can't understand why the Obama administration or the Democrat majority in Congress wants to pass a bill like the cap-and-trade tax that will cost us jobs, that will hurt our economy, that will drive up costs for families, as well as for small businesses.
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In Shakespeare, unique individuals repudiate the stereotypes demanded by the structure of the play: Shylock commands our sympathy, Barnardine refuses to be hanged. Individuals trump the category.
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Don't depend on other people to be responsible for you. Don't make yourself stressed out over nonsensical things like material things.
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People like music when they're in love, but they don't need it as much. You need music when you're missing someone or you're pining for someone or you're forgetting someone or you're trying to process what just happened.
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I've done the Rolling Stones eating each other.
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Well yes so far, I was recently in Germany and they had me do six book signings a day and that was too much so I had them cut it down to about three. It becomes taxing at times but its a lot of fun and you meet a lot of nice people.
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Perhaps no place in any community is so totally democratic as the town library. The only entrance requirement is interest.
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My motivation and aspiration is the same, being number one or being number five. So that's the truth. And my goal is the same - it's to always be happy playing, it's to enjoy the game and improve always.
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Democracy is like a totalitarian.
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Like a hawk about to devour its prey, the wings of public opinion hover above the head of the judge. All the Court’s decisions are disguised and indirect forms of pleading at the bar of public opinion.
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But I believe that engagement is a more powerful force than isolation, and the changes we are making can help improve the lives of the Cuban people.
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I've seen 'Legend'. I like a different kind of cinema, but when done with conviction, anything looks good.
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Focusing purely on extremism, whether in the Arab-Islamic world or the West, will not alleviate the root causes of tensions between members of different cultures. It will only alienate those who do not recognise themselves in those stereotypes, and generate fear and misunderstanding.
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History is opaque. You see what comes out, not the script that produces events, ... The generator of historical events is different from the events themselves, much as the minds of the gods cannot be read just by witnessing their deeds.
