“He should have known better because, early in his learnings under his brother Mahmoud, he had discovered that long human words (the longer the better) were easy, unmistakable, and rarely changed their meanings, but short words were slippery, unpredictable changing their meanings without any pattern. Or so he seemed to grok. Short human words were never like a short Martian word - such as grok which forever meant exactly the same thing. Short human words were like trying to lift water with a knife. And this had been a very short word.” ShouldTryingHumansLongReligionEasyWaterKnownForeverChangedBrotherShould HavePatternsLiftsKnivesUnpredictableSlipperyMartiansShould Have KnownShort WordsShould Have Known Better Author:Robert A. Heinlein
“Even if someone is competent, it's so damned easy to crucify him as long as he's only working on his father's account. So at the beginning I certainly wanted to prove myself to my father and the rest of society. That quickly turned into a greater challenge. My lifestyle hasn't changed as a result.” IfsLongWantedFatherEasyChallengesResultsGreaterChangedProveAccountsLifestyleCompetentProve Myself Author:Stelios Haji-Ioannou
“Think about the difference between how your local gas station and congressman respond to a spike in oil prices. One has the price placard outside changed to reflect the reality of the market within hours. The other sends out a press release, tries to organize a hearing, and at the end of amount accomplishes nothing. Meanwhile, the gas station has already made at least thirty additional adjustments to the realities of the market while your politico fails to get anything more than easy media.” ThinkingTryingMadeEndsRealityEasyHoursDifferencesFailingMediaChangedAmountPressesHearingAccomplishOilLocalsReleaseThirtyGasStationsOrganizeAdjustmentCongressmanGas StationsAccomplish NothingOil PricePress Release Author:Joel Miller