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Quote by Herbert Stein

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What I Think: Essays on Economics, Politics, and Life

This book compiles a series of essays that delve into various aspects of economics, politics, and life, offering insights and perspectives on these subjects. more

Author

Herbert Stein
Herbert Stein

Herbert Stein was a distinguished economist known for his contributions to macroeconomics and fiscal policy. He played a significant role in U.S. economic policy-making and was highly respected in the academic community. more

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“I have a subconscious list of rules for how reality should work. I did not develop these rules on purpose, and most of them don’t make sense – which is disturbing when you consider that they are an attempt to govern the behavior of reality – but they exist, and they play a large role in determining how I react to the things that happen to me. Large enough that a majority of the feelings I feel are simply a reaction to reality not complying with my arbitrary set of rules. Reality doesn’t give a shit about my rules, and this upsets me.”

“I am real. This”–he put his other hand over the first-“is real. You see me interacting with other people all day long, don’t you? I talk to people; I affect things in the world. I cause things to happen. I am real.” “But-but what if this whole place”-I had to suck in air again-“what if everything is inside my head? East Shoal and Scarlet and this bridge and you-what if you’re not real because nothing is real?” “If nothing’s real, then what does it matter?” he said. “You live here. Doesn’t that make it real enough?”