things you should remember

Be patient toward all that is unsolved in your heart and try to love the questions themselves, like locked rooms and like books that are now written in a very foreign tongue. Do not now seek the answers, which cannot be given you because you would not be able to live them. And the point is, to live everything. Live the questions now. Perhaps you wi... See more

Philosopher Kwame Anthony Appiah on knowing what matters:

“In life the challenge is not so much to figure out how best to play the game; the challenge is to figure out what game you’re playing.”

People do make their luck by daring to follow their instincts, taking risks, and embracing every possibility

90 percent of success is not getting distracted.

The person who carefully designs their daily routine goes further than the person who negotiates with themselves every day.

Let inertia work for you.

I know that among my regrets, one of the sharpest is refusing to accept a sincere apology. Offering an olive branch takes courage. Try to reward this, even from people who you don’t believe deserve forgiveness.

I know that there are two modes of experience: appreciative, and evaluative. Concrete example: let’s say you’re listening to a piece of music. Are you sinking into it, awash in emotions? You’re in the appreciative mode. Are you the mixing engineer, listening to the snare hits to make sure they’re consistent? You’re in the evaluative mode. Much of s... See more

I know how to spot real confidence. Look for people who are fluid with status—who allow themselves to be the butt of a joke, or accept criticism, but also avoid false modesty, and inhabit the spotlight when it falls on them. One might call this a balance between dignity and humility. Pro tip: people who always cling to high status aren’t confident ... See more