At every period of history, people have believed things that were just ridiculous, and believed them so strongly that you risked ostracism or even vi… - Paul Graham

There are plenty of other ways to get money, including chance, speculation, marriage, inheritance, theft, extortion, fraud, monopoly, graft, lobbying, counterfeiting, and prospecting. Most of the greatest fortunes have probably involved several of these.

It seems so much more civilized when you arrive in America from Europe, and bottle caps just come right off. That regulation was a big mistake. It's as if the bureaucrats were seeking out something with a high ratio of annoyance to impact.

In reality, wealth is measured by what one delivers, not how much effort it costs. If I paint someone’s house, the owner shouldn’t pay me extra for doing it with a toothbrush.