What does one do when a madman suggests an appealing course of action? One worries—but probably goes along with it. - Charles Sheffield

The same thing happens to every President. People tell a chief executive what they think he wants to hear. Rosy economic reports, high popularity figures, promising international changes, you name it. There’s a competition to be the first with good news. Anyone who tells bad news tends to get weeded out—even if all the real news is bad.

He had achieved his objective, but his little inside voice would not keep quiet. Too easy, it said, much too easy. When a difficult goal is achieved with no effort, it’s time to be suspicious.

I sometimes think that the only thing in life that I find truly irresistible is the challenge to finagle something that everyone else says can’t be done.