dajbelshaw’s Tagged Quotes

Every fundamental law has exceptions. But you still need the law or else all you have is observations that don’t make sense. And that’s not science. That’s just taking notes.

Theory scales precisely because it is abstract. But abstraction comes at a price: a lack of precision. And in a lot of things, precision matters. Theory doesn’t apply, except at the grossest levels.

If you want to know the taste of a pear, you must change the pear by eating it yourself. If you want to know the theory and methods of revolution, you must take part in revolution. All genuine knowledge originates in direct experience.

Experience without theory is blind, but theory without experience is mere intellectual play.

The theory that can absorb the greatest number of facts, and persist in doing so, generation after generation, through all changes of opinion and detail, is the one that must rule all observation.

He who loves practice without theory is like the sailor who boards ship without a rudder and compass and never knows where he may cast.

Creativity is inventing, experimenting, growing, taking risks, breaking rules, making mistakes, and having fun.

The people who matter will recognise who you are.

In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act.

The greatest motivational act one can do for another is to listen.

Only the guy who isn't rowing has time to rock the boat.

Leap and the net will appear.

The way to succeed is to double your failure rate.

Success or failure is caused more by mental attitude than by mental capacity.

I would challenge you to a battle of wits, but I see you are unarmed.

Things which matter most must never be at the mercy of things which matter least.

When one realises one is asleep, at that moment one is already half-awake.

If you wish to know the mind of a man, listen to his words.

Strength is a matter of a made up mind.

A life spent making mistakes is not only more honourable, but more useful than a life spent doing nothing.