When managers began trying to come up with scientific studies of the most time- and energy-efficient ways to deploy human labor, they never applied those same techniques to themselves—or if they did, the effect appears to have been the opposite of what they intended. As a result, the same period that saw the most ruthless application of speed-ups and downsizing in the blue-collar sector also brought a rapid multiplication of meaningless managerial and administrative posts in almost all large firms.

— David Graeber, Bullshit Jobs

Great leaders leverage influence and relationships over title and position.

— Clay Scroggins, How to Lead When You’re Not in Charge

In Modern Orthodox Judaism I have not heard much emphasis of the virtues of blind faith. You’re allowed to doubt. You’re just not allowed to successfully doubt.

— Eliezer Yudkowsky, How to Actually Change Your Mind

A stupid idea that works is not a stupid idea.

— Robert C. Martin, Clean Craftsmanship

…if I had lived before on the moon or on Mars and there had committed the most disgraceful and dishonourable action and had there been put to such shame and ignominy as one can only conceive and realise in dreams, in nightmares, and if, finding myself afterwards on earth, I were able to retain the memory of what I had done on the other planet and at the same time knew that I should never, under any circumstances, return there, then looking from the earth to the moon — should I care or not?

— Fyodor Mikhailovich Dostoyevsky, The Dream of a Ridiculous Man