Update: a commenter made some strong criticism of the Coolidge quote, and I think i agree with the criticism, and that the Coolidge quote isn’t right. But I leave this post up for the sake of posterity and for reminding myself of how I can be wrong! 
Someone made a John Galt Speaking youtube series. He stopped in the middle and is going back to do it again. This is the last video from the first series.
Also, I came across this quote today and really liked it:
Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence.
Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent.
Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb.
Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts.
Persistence and determination are omnipotent.
The slogan “press on” has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race.
–Calvin Coolidge
2 Comments
But unsuccessful persistence is also common. Cranks are famously persistent: think of Holocaust deniers and their inability to give up in the face of overwhelming evidence. Unrewarded persistence: likewise common. Persistent derelicts: ditto. So persistence and determination are not ‘omnipotent’ at getting results either; not even slightly. Nothing is.
So I’m not convinced. If you press on and keep repeating the claim often enough, do you think that will change?
Good point. I had presumed a rationally-based persistence (i.e. Edison trying out X number of filaments before hitting on the right one). Clearly, the persistence cannot be based on a delusion.
Post a Comment