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For over 30 years, I have collect quotes. It’s a great hobby since it is easy to start or stop, the cost is minimal, and I value the message whether related to investing, retirement, or daily life.
My collection includes about 1,300 quotes from 775 people. Some of the most interesting quotes represent that person’s sole contribution, while others, such as Mark Twain, are quite prolific. The contributors include politicians, philosophers, business leaders, sport celebrities, actors, and others. Many of these people were unknown to me until I came across their quote.
Do you have a favorite quote? Here are five of my favorites:
I’ve used this before on HD. As an engineer, deploying models to predict physical responses for my entire career, I always liked this one:
“All models are wrong, but some are useful”
This is attributed to a British mathematician and statistician, George E. P. Box, but the basic message probably originated earlier and was amended over time.
Jeff, I was considering posting this one. It’s one of my favorites. Many people would benefit from considering and understanding the meaning beneath it.
Rick – I remember you commented the last time I used it. I learned about this quote many years ago and used it in training classes and customer discussions. Everyone should check, re-check, and double-check modeling assumptions – and then do a sanity check on model responses.
“Do to others what you would have them do to you” – Jesus
These are great!
Thanks to the tablet revolution I can keep my favorites as a note.
I, too, have favorites. Some I have posted here.
Tanks again, Mark, for this excellent piece.
Mark, I have a feeling this fun post is going to have a very long tail.
“Save for the future but have some fun along the way in case you don’t make it that far”. Me
“There is a reason the windshield is larger than the rear view mirror, because what is in front of you is more important than what’s behind you.”
Jelly Roll 2023 CMAs acceptance speech.
Not sure if it was an original quote.
David, here is a related quote from Jimmy Buffett;
“Yesterday is over my shoulder, so I can’t look back for too long…”
”Give the world a smile.” John Prine
John Prine as many of you know had the gift of songwriting.
“What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
“Not everything can be fixed. Some things must be endured.” – Dr. Laura Schlesinger
Hard to narrow it to one, Mark. Here are a few of my favorites:
“Life is very short and anxious for those who forget the past, neglect the present, and fear the future.” – Seneca
“Sow a thought, and you reap an act; Sow an act, and you reap a habit; Sow a habit, and you reap a character; Sow a character, and you reap a destiny.” -Samuel Smiles
“Yes, Autumn is really the best of the seasons: and I’m not sure that old age isn’t the best part of life. But of course, like Autumn, it doesn’t last.” C.S. Lewis in a letter to a friend shortly before he died.
Have to add one:
Success is not final, and failure is not fatal. – Churchill