We humans are the victims of an asymmetry in the perception of random events. We attribute our successes to our skills, and our failures to external … - Nassim Nicholas Taleb

We humans are the victims of an asymmetry in the perception of random events. We attribute our successes to our skills, and our failures to external events outside our control, namely to randomness.

People who are usually private and reserved, even with their friends, end up sharing all manner of personal details on a long flight with a stranger they will never meet again.

In an antique city-state, or a modern municipality, shame is the penalty for the violation of ethics — making things more symmetric. Banishment and exile, or, worse, ostracism were severe penalties — people did not move around voluntarily and considered uprooting a horrible calamity. In larger organisms like the mega holy nation-state, with a smaller role for face-to-face encounters, and social roots, shame ceases to fulfill its duty of disciplinarian.

Wind extinguishes a candle and energizes fire.