Category: stuff

To summarize: it is a well-known fact that those people who must want to rule people are, ipso facto, those least suited to do it. To summarize the summary: anyone who is capable of getting themselves made President should on no account be allowed to do the job. To summarize the summary of the summary: people are a problem.

The Ultimate Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy — Douglas Adams

“I’m not going to ride on a magic carpet!” he hissed. “I’m afraid of grounds!” “You mean heights,” said Conina. “And stop being silly.” “I know what I mean! It’s the grounds that kill you!”

Sourcery – Terry Pratchett

A healthy product company is, confusingly, one at odds with itself. It has a healthy part that is attempting to normalize and to create predictability, but it needs another part that is tasked with building something new that is going to disrupt and eventually destroy that normality. Failure to create some form of predictability will result in chaos. Failure to create some sort of well-maintained barbaric chaos inside the company guarantees that a fast-moving, ambitious, risk-taking, and ruthless someone else—someone outside the company—will invade, because they know what you forgot: hacking is important.

Managing Humans – Michael Lopp

If you read one book about management in your life, let it be this one.

I could not bring myself to believe that if knowledge presented danger, the solution was ignorance. To me, it always seemed that the solution had to be wisdom. You did not refuse to look at danger, rather you learned how to handle it safely.

The Naked Sun – Isaac Asimov

What’s a philosopher? said Brutha. “Someone who’s bright enough to find a job with no heavy lifting,” said a voice in his head.

Small Gods – Terry Pratchett

Being in charge isn’t about doing anything—it’s about making certain that other people do what they’re supposed to! Delegation, my friend. Without it, we would have to bake our own bread and dig our own latrines!

The Hero of Ages – Brandon Sanderson

If you’re always on time, it implies that you never have anything better you should be doing.

The Final Empire – Brandon Sanderson

Half the evil in this world occurs while decent people stand by and do nothing wrong. It’s not enough to refrain from evil, Trell. People have to attempt to do right, even if they believe they cannot succeed.

Mad Ship – Robin Hobb

Tomorrow owes you the sum of your yesterdays. No more than that.” Amber looked out to sea again. “And no less. Sometimes folk wish tomorrow did not pay them off so completely.

Mad Ship – Robin Hobb

I THINK PERHAPS YOU DO NOT UNDERSTAND. PEOPLE’S WHOLE LIVES DO PASS IN FRONT OF THEIR EYES BEFORE THEY DIE. THE PROCESS IS CALLED “LIVING.”

The Last Continent — Terry Pratchett