2065 Quotations Found

Here’s the thing, however, about radical change. It is, as our more numerate readers might say, a “high-variance strategy,” meaning that the range of possible outcomes is far wider than what we might expect from more incremental, within-the-system change.

Perhaps we nail the jackpot and manage to hit upon the political choices that really can create something meaningfully better out of a broken system. But … [ Read more ]

Author: Bryan Walsh | Sources: MSN, Vox | Subjects: Change, Concepts, History, Life & Society, Politics & Public Policy

Being president is impossible. […] To “succeed” in the job, a person needs a broader range of skills than any real human being has ever possessed. Public eloquence. Private persuasive power. IQ. EQ. Stamina. Luck. A generous imagination, but also cold-bloodedness. A thousand traits more. The question is not whether any president will “fail.” It is in which particular way, and how the world will … [ Read more ]

Author: James Fallows | Source: The Atlantic | Subjects: America, International, Politics & Public Policy

Our peculiar history of racism has meant that every time it seems we are approaching equality before the law, those determined to prevent that equality have turned people against it by insisting that government protection of equality will cost tax dollars, thus amounting to a redistribution of wealth from those with property to those without. That is, if Black and Brown Americans, and poor people, … [ Read more ]

Author: Heather Cox Richardson | Subjects: America, History, International, Politics & Public Policy, Race Relations

Throughout our history, America has swung between the defense of equality outlined in the Declaration of Independence and the defense of private property outlined in the Constitution.

Author: Heather Cox Richardson | Subjects: America, History, International, Politics & Public Policy

The default setting in world history is authoritarianism. Freedom is a rare appearance on the historical map of the world, and requires extraordinary, extraordinary vigilance and effort to preserve it. And when I see leaders here or elsewhere moving toward authoritarianism, it sets off alarm bells. Because I do read history. The history of the world is strongmen lying to people, gaining power over them … [ Read more ]

Author: Mitt Romney | Source: The Atlantic | Subjects: History, Politics & Public Policy

Maybe we’re as much what we hate as what we love. In the end, we all pick a team, or a team picks you.

Author: Russell Lewis | Source: Endeavour (TV Series) | Subjects: Life & Society, Love, Personal Improvement, Psychology | Behavior

Statistics often tell us more about collection procedures than they do about the phenomenon they are supposed to reflect.

Author: Andrew Hopkins | Source: The Atlantic | Subjects: Education | Scholarship, Facts | Bias, Math & Science

Attention is the rarest and purest form of generosity.

Author: Simone Weil | Source: The Marginalian (Brain Pickings) | Subjects: Life & Society, Personal Improvement, Psychology | Behavior, Relationships

We have a great, habitual fear inside ourselves. We’re afraid of many things — of our own death, of losing our loved ones, of change, of being alone. The practice of mindfulness helps us to touch nonfear. It’s only here and now that we can experience total relief, total happiness… In the practice of Buddhism, we see that all mental formations — including compassion, love, … [ Read more ]

Author: Thich Nhat Hanh | Source: The Marginalian (Brain Pickings) | Subjects: Life & Society, Personal Improvement

Fearlessness is what love seeks. Such fearlessness exists only in the complete calm that can no longer be shaken by events expected of the future… Hence the only valid tense is the present, the Now.

Author: Hannah Arendt | Source: The Marginalian (Brain Pickings) | Subjects: Life & Society, Love, Relationships

It’s possible to care deeply without taking ourselves so seriously.

Author: Faith Hill | Source: The Atlantic | Subjects: Life & Society, Personal Improvement

Diversity is being invited to the party; inclusion is being asked to dance.

Author: Vernā Myers | Subjects: Life & Society, Race Relations

Destroy the idea that you have to be constantly working or grinding in order to be successful. Embrace the concept that rest, recovery, and reflection are essential parts of the progress towards a successful and ultimately happy life.

Author: Unknown | Subjects: Life & Society, Personal Improvement

We have to be willing to confront the world as it is, not as we want it to be if we’re going to be successful.

Author: Barry McCarthy | Subjects: Personal Improvement, Success / Failure

Criticizing is easy and fast. Creating is difficult and slow. The two hours you spent on a book or movie usually took two years to produce. Anyone can tear down someone else’s work. The true test of insight is whether you can help them improve it or build something of your own.

Author: Adam Grant | Subjects: Communication, Concepts, Creativity and Innovation, Personal Improvement

Too many people settle for dumb luck and hope for the best, when they should be orchestrating smart luck. Although success in work and life often appears to be the result of random events, in truth the lucky ones often managed the broader context better. Some people may attribute their success to a few key breaks, such as a professor who helped them or an … [ Read more ]

Author: Paul J.H. Schoemaker | Source: Management Business Review (MBR) | Subjects: Life & Society, Personal Improvement, Success / Failure

It is our choices that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.

Author: J.K. Rowling | Subjects: Life & Society, Personal Improvement, Psychology | Behavior

Mastery is the best goal because the rich can’t buy it, the impatient can’t rush it, the privileged can’t inherit it, and nobody can steal it. You can only earn it through hard work. Mastery is the ultimate status.

Author: Derek Sivers | Source: Farnam Street | Subjects: Career, Education | Scholarship, Life & Society, Personal Improvement, Success / Failure

You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending.

Author: C.S. Lewis | Source: Farnam Street | Subject: Personal Improvement

I don’t like tax increases, but I think we have to be realistic. When we have a $2 trillion deficit, the solution is probably not going to be entirely spending cuts. And we also have to understand that the recent rounds of tax cuts, they didn’t have the benefits that were promised.

And the reason they didn’t have those benefits is because our problem in our … [ Read more ]

Author: Oren Cass | Source: PBS NewsHour | Subjects: America, International, Politics & Public Policy