Dee Hock Quotes Page 4

“The wise make great use of adversity. The foolish whine about it.”

“There is nothing at which government is more adept or diligent than relieving people of their money.”

“There is nothing that dictates behavior more than what we want others to think of us. When that happens, we become a reflection in our own mind of what we believe is reflected in the mind of another, neither of which has the slightest chance of being correct. Talk about dogs chasing tails.”

“Think about technological float: it took centuries for the wheel to gain universal acceptance. Now any microchip device can be in use around the world in weeks.”

“Throughout history, it took centuries for the habits of one culture to materially affect another. Now, that which becomes popular in one country can sweep through others within months.”

“We can never escape the tension between emotion and reason; neither should we wish to, for life is meaningless without it.”

“We enter into each moment holding hands with a future composed of infinite possibilities and a past composed of infinite realities.”

“We never fully understand what we have been told until we experience it. Learning not embedded in experience is forever crippled. Unfortunately, our present society is schooled, not educated.”

“What is a question but a moment of discontent in pursuit of understanding? What is an answer but a moment of illusion in our flight from ignorance?”

“What we call originality is no more than ignorance of antecedents.”

“What will become compellingly important is absolute clarity of shared purpose and set of principles of conduct sort of institutional genetic code that every member of the organization understands in a common way, and with deep conviction.”

“With every inhalation, I take. With every exhalation, I give. How grand it is not to buy, sell, hold, or hoard breath. Would that it were so with money. Enjoy breathing while you can, for unless something changes, it won’t be long until government awards ownership of the atmosphere to some commercial corporation to price and meter out as they please.”

“With the advent of genetic engineering the time required for the evolution of new species may literally collapse.”

“You learn nothing form your successes except to think too much of yourself. It is from failure that all growth comes, provided you can recognize it, admit it, learn from it, rise above it, and then try again.”