Shane Parrish Quotes

Best practices aren’t always the best. By definition, they’re average.

Maybe you failed a test at first, but then figured out what went wrong, and nailed it the next time.

You only think you know, as a matter of fact. And most of your actions are based on incomplete knowledge and you really don’t know what it is all about, or what the purpose of the world is, or know a great deal of other things. It is possible to live and not know.

When we ritualize a response to our biological triggers, we create the space to think clearly, and strengthen our position. Then, we identify a number of practical, actionable ways to both manage your weaknesses and build your strengths so that space is consistently created when you’re under pressure.

never say yes to something important without thinking it over for a day.

the Tranquility of the Mind, “I shall never be ashamed of citing a bad author if the line is good.

Your exemplars needn’t be alive. They can be either dead or fictional, as well. We can learn from both Atticus Finch and Warren Buffett, along with Genghis Khan and Batman. It’s up to you.

When understanding is separated from reality, we lose our powers. Understanding must constantly be tested against reality and updated accordingly.

I’m no genius. I’m smart in spots — but I stay around those spots.

The Five Whys is a method rooted in the behavior of children. Children instinctively think in first principles. Just like us, they want to understand what’s happening in the world. To do so, they intuitively break through the fog with a game some parents have come to dread, but which is exceptionally useful for identifying first principles: repeatedly asking “why?