Gems

“Know all the theories, master all the techniques, but as you touch a human soul be just another human soul.” – Carl Jung

“Be guided by beauty. You might think ‘building a company that’s trading bonds, what’s so aesthetic about that?’ What’s aesthetic about it is doing it right. Getting the right kind of people, approaching the problem, and doing it right…it’s a beautiful thing to do something right.” – Jim Simons 

“As you become an adult, you realize that things around you weren't just always there; people made them happen. But only recently have I started to internalize how much tenacity everything requires. That hotel, that park, that railway. The world is a museum of passion projects.” – John Collison

“Whoever gives nothing, has nothing.” – Albert Camus

“Avoid crazy at all costs” – Charlie Munger

“The safest way to try to get what you want is to try to deserve what you want. It’s such a simple idea. It’s the golden rule.” - Charlie Munger

“If at all feasible, you want to manoeuvre yourself into doing something in which you have an intense interest alongside people whose company you enjoy.” - Charlie Munger

“Once upon a time there was a Chinese farmer whose horse ran away. That evening, all of his neighbors came around to commiserate. They said, “We are so sorry to hear your horse has run away. This is most unfortunate.” The farmer said, “Maybe.” The next day the horse came back bringing seven wild horses with it, and in the evening everybody came back and said, “Oh, isn’t that lucky. What a great turn of events. You now have eight horses!” The farmer again said, “Maybe.” The following day his son tried to tame one of the horses, and while riding it, he was thrown and broke his leg. The neighbors then said, “Oh dear, that’s too bad,” and the farmer responded, “Maybe.” The next day the conscription officers came around to conscript people into the army, and they rejected his son because he had a broken leg. Again all the neighbors came around and said, “Isn’t that great!” Again, he said, “Maybe.” The whole process of nature is an integrated process of immense complexity, and it’s really impossible to tell whether anything that happens in it is good or bad — because you never know what will be the consequence of the misfortune; or, you never know what will be the consequences of good fortune.” – Alan Watts