Random thoughts and quotes on unlinked subjects
“On my morning runs I savor that first physical awakening, when the limbs and joints first begin to loosen, and the material body starts to melt away. Solid to liquid. In that running moment the mind is fully clear, brilliant. I solve the problem; I reach the solution I wasn’t getting at. Faster, I tell myself. Faster!”  – It is not a quote but it is inspired by Phil Knight. Shoe Dog: A memoir by the Creator of Nike.
«When a true genius appears in the world, you may know him by this sign, that the dunces are all in confederacy against him.» – Jonathan Swift. A Confederacy of Dunces.
«(…) we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender (…)» – June 4th, 1940. Churchill. House of Commons.
“No brilliant idea was ever born in a conference room,” he assured the Dane. “But a lot of silly ideas have died there,” said Stahr. —F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Last Tycoon” ― Quoted by Phil Knight, Shoe Dog: A memoir by the Creator of Nike.
A prediction is less of a prophecy and more a way of discussing our present choices. If the discussion makes us choose differently, so that the prediction is proven wrong, all the better. Indeed, the better our forecasts, the more reactions they engender.
“Knowledge that does not change behavior is useless. But knowledge that changes behavior quickly loses its relevance.”
“The more data we have and the better we understand history, the faster history alters its course, and the faster our knowledge becomes outdated.”
“Having read this short history of the lawn, when you now come to plan your dream house you might think twice about having a lawn in the front yard. You are of course still free to do it. But you are also free to shake off the cultural cargo bequeathed to you by European dukes, capitalist moguls and the Simpsons– and imagine for yourself a Japanese rock garden, or some altogether new creation”. (Harari, Yuval Noah. Homo Deus: A Brief History of Tomorrow.)
“It follows that an increase in the profits of private entrepreneurs is the basis for the increase in collective wealth and prosperity.” (Harari, Yuval Noah. Sapiens)
“The idea behind corporations is among humanity’s most ingenious inventions.” (Harari, Yuval Noah. Sapiens)
“Consumerism and nationalism work extra hours to make us imagine that millions of strangers belong to the same community as ourselves, that we all have a common past, common interests and a common future. This isn’t a lie. It’s imagination. Like money, limited liability companies and human rights, nations and consumer tribes are inter- subjective realities. They exist only in our collective imagination, yet their power is immense.” (Harari, Yuval Noah. Sapiens)
“La irracionalidad al servicio del Estado o del poderoso me perturba, me provoca rechazo, hasta físico. La injusticia me subleva, literalmente.” – No es una cita, pero se inspira en Cayetana Álvarez de Toledo. Políticamente indeseable
“La fiscalidad contenciosa no se puede ejercer al baño María. El conflicto a veces es consustancial a la experiencia empresarial.” – No Es Una Cita, Pero Se Inspira En Cayetana Álvarez De Toledo. Políticamente Indeseable
“Las formas perfeccionan la verdad, también en el Derecho y en los Negocios.” – No Es Una Cita, Pero Se Inspira En Cayetana Álvarez De Toledo. Políticamente Indeseable
“Tax litigation is like war without bullets”
“Too early to adopt rigid conclusions and end a debate that’s hardly yet begun! Keep going…”