“The reason the Greeks don't pay taxes is they don't trust where their taxes are going, because they know these other Greeks are taking money from the state for doing nothing. So it's - it's an essentially corrupt society.” KnowsStatesReasonPayTaxesGreekDoing NothingDon't TrustCorrupt Society Author:Michael Lewis
“People were paid lots of money to make stupid decisions, people in big banks, and when people are paid to be stupid they'll be stupid. The question was, did they know they were being stupid or were they just stupid? I think you need to take it on a case by case basis. There was some sinister activity, but I think by and by it was people being incentivised to do the wrong thing.” PeopleThinkingKnowsNeedsBigsDecisionCasesStupidActivityBasesPaidLots Of MoneyWrong ThingsSinisterBeing StupidStupid Decision Author:Michael Lewis
“The idea that it's smart to allow Wall Street firms, with this "too big to fail" imprimatur, to become hedge funds again - it's unconscionable. You're essentially saying we're going to take some elites in our society and let them roll the bones in the marketplace, and if it works out they get rich, and if it doesn't work out the taxpayer comes in again. That seems absolutely crazy to me. That seems to be where they're headed. I mean, maybe they're not and I'm wrong. Maybe they'll do sensible things. It's hard to know! There doesn't seem to be a plan.” IfsKnowsMeanIdeasHardBigsSeemsRichPlansFailingCrazyStreetsWallSmartWork OutBonesFirmOur SocietyFundSensibleElitesTaxpayersMarketplaceGet RichHedge Fund Author:Michael Lewis
“Those who know don't tell and those who tell don't know.” KnowsKnowledgeZen Proverb Author:Michael Lewis
“The pleasure of rooting for Goliath is that you can expect to win. The pleasure of rooting for David is that, while you don’t know what to expect, you stand at least a chance of being inspired.” KnowsWinningChancePleasureBibleRootsInspiredExpectingGoliathMost Inspiring Author:Michael Lewis
“Some coaches believed they could judge a player's performance simply by watching it. In this they were deeply mistaken. The naked eye was an inadequate tool for learning what you needed to know to evaluate baseball players and baseball games. Think about it. One absolutely cannot tell, by watching, the difference between a .300 hitter and a .275 hitter. The difference is one hit every two weeks. The difference between a good hitter and an average hitter is simply not visible-it is a matter of record” ThinkingKnowsTwoMatterEyeGamesDifferencesRecordsPlayerWeekJudgingNeededToolsPerformancesBaseballAverageCoachesNakedVisibleMistakenTwo WeeksInadequateEvaluateVolleyballBaseball PlayerBaseball GamesNaked Eyes Author:Michael Lewis
“People who think they know what they are talking about when they talk about baseball include the announcers and all of the sports press - no matter how much evidence you present them to the contrary they will continue to think that what they think is right.” PeopleThinkingKnowsMatterSportsTalkingEvidenceBaseballPressesContraryAnnouncers Author:Michael Lewis
