“By and large, the answer to the question "How do large institutions survive?" is "They don't!" The vast majority of large modern-day institutions - some of them extremely vital to the functioning of our complex civilization - simply fail to exist in the first place.” FirstsAnswersFailingModernCivilizationInstitutionsMajorityComplexesModern Day Author:Eliezer Yudkowsky
“Like that's the only reason anyone would ever buy a first-aid kit? Don't take this the wrong way, Professor McGonagall, but what sort of crazy children are you used to dealing with?" "Gryffindors," spat Professor McGonagall, the word carrying a freight of bitterness and despair that fell like an eternal curse on all youthful heroism and high spirits.” WayFirstsChildrenReasonUsedSpiritCrazyDespairEternalAidsCurseBitternessProfessorsHeroismWrong WaySpatsGryffindorMcgonagallProfessor Mcgonagall Author:Eliezer Yudkowsky
“When you are older, you will learn that the first and foremost thing which any ordinary person does is nothing.” FirstsPersonsDoeOrdinaryOrdinary Person Author:Eliezer Yudkowsky
“Boys," said Hermione Granger, "should not be allowed to love girls without asking them first! This is true in a number of ways and especially when it comes to gluing people to the ceiling!” PeopleWayShouldFirstsSaidGirlNumbersBoysAskingCeilingsHermione Author:Eliezer Yudkowsky
“You couldn't changed history. But you could get it right to start with. Do something differently the FIRST time around. This whole business with seeking Slytherin's secrets... seemed an awful lot like the sort of thing where, years later, you would look back and say, 'And THAT was where it all started to go wrong.' And he would wish desperately for the ability to fall back through time and make a different choice. Wish granted. Now what?” YearsFirstsLooksDifferentWholeChoicesFallWishAbilitySecretChangedFirst TimeSeekingAwfulGrantedFall BackDifferent Choices Author:Eliezer Yudkowsky
