Nothing is so real to me as the illusions I create with my painting. The rest is shifting sand.
— Eugène Delacroix
Grant, R. G., et al. Remarkable Diaries: The World’s Greatest Diaries, Journals, Notebooks, & Letters. United States, DK, 2020.
-
-
Near Fernando Noronha the sea gave out light in flashes. The appearance was very similar to that which might be expected from a large fish moving rapidly through a luminous fluid. To this cause the sailors attributed it; at the time, however, I entertained some doubts, on account of the frequency and rapidity of the flashes. With respect to any general observations, I have already stated that the display is very much more common in warm than in cold countries. I have sometimes imagined that a disturbed electrical condition of the atmosphere was most favourable to its production. Certainly I think the sea is most luminous after a few days of more calm weather than ordinary, during which time it has swarmed with various animals. Observing that the water charged with gelatinous particles is in an impure state, and that the luminous appearance in all common cases is produced by the agitation of the fluid in contact with the atmosphere, I have always been inclined to consider that the phosphorescence was the result of the decomposition of the organic particles, by which process (one is tempted to call it a kind of respiration) the ocean becomes purified.
– Charles DarwinThe passage reminded me of this exchange between Steve Zissou and Ned Plimpton:
Ned Plimpton: Steve what produces this effect of illumination? Is there a chemical inside the organism?
Steve Zissou: No Ned actually the reflection of the moonlight on their outer membrane…that’s a very good ad lib.
This post was inspired by this essay: Charles Darwin: The Best Scientist-Writer of All Time
Darwin, Charles. Voyage of the Beagle. United Kingdom, Penguin Publishing Group, 1989. pp 152,153
-
Cary Grant is the urban, sophisticated king of the screwball comedy.
Nancy Meyers -
He gave every young man in the world a goal. He created millions of non-slobs. Including me.
– Michael Caine -
The concept is pretty simple. First, you prepare any work you have and set it out in front of you. Also, plug your laptop in, go to the bathroom, that kind of stuff. You set a 1 hour timer on a kitchen timer or phone. For that hour, you work hard with no interruptions. And I mean no interruptions. You turn your phone off and put it in another room. You can have your computer, but you can’t have it open when your work doesn’t require it, and you can’t even open a tab if it isn’t immediately necessary to your work. No stretch breaks, no bathroom breaks, no food, no talking. I know. Brutal. If an hour of total focus seems like too much, you can always do 1/2, 1/3, or even 1/4 of a Doro. The length of the Doro doesn’t matter. All that matters is that you totally focus for the entire time. Why is this so important? Two reasons.
First of all, totally focusing and not allowing yourself any breaks shatters the thought that many people, myself included have when they procrastinate: “I have a lot of work, and I’m going to get it all done, so I’ll just watch one or two videos first.” The psychological attitude most people have is that they are going to have to get a lot of work done, so they just want a quick break first. It’s important to recognize that this often leads into complete stagnation and hours wasted. You have to set a defined time in which you have to work, and can’t take any breaks.
Secondly, working without any interruption makes you way more efficient – you go into this zone where you forget about everything outside of your work. This sounds strange, but often when I finish a Doro I almost feel sad. This is because instead of constantly waiting for it to be over, you actually lock in and stop thinking about the outside world. When it ends, you’re brought back into reality, which is a bit of a shock, because you were so productive.
– Macabee CallardIf you’re looking for a method to regain your concentration Doro’s are way to begin. Think of them like chin-ups for your focus-muscle. Don’t think about it too much, grab the nearest timer and go.
Macabee also gives another excellent tip for what to do if you finish your Doro session early:
If you finish your work, but you still have time left in the Doro, instead of ending the Doro prematurely find a way to use the extra time. Go over the reading again, check your homework answers, edit your paper for an even better final draft, or even do work that isn’t assigned for the near future, or just make something up! It’s good to complete Doros, because that mentally reinforces them as a unit of time, as opposed to just an incentive to get you working. It feels good to finish them, and also you will be able to put them on your calendar!
Helpful post. Read it in full here.
-
In this period of my father’s life there are two things which it is impossible not to be struck with: one of them unfortunately a very common circumstance, the other a most uncommon one. The first is, that in his position, with no resource but the precarious one of writing in periodicals, he married and had a large family; conduct than which nothing could be more opposed, both as a matter of good sense and of duty, to the opinions which, at least at a later period of life, he strenuously upheld. The other circumstance, is the extraordinary energy which was required to lead the life he led, with the disadvantages under which he labored from the first, and with those which he brought upon himself by his marriage. It would have been no small thing, had he done no more than to support himself and his family during so many years by writing, without ever being in debt, or in any pecuniary difficulty; holding, as he did, opinions, both in politics and in religion, which were more odius to all persons of influence, and to the common run of prosperous Englishmen, in that generation than either before or since; and being not only a man whom nothing would have induced to write against his convictions, but one who invariably threw into everything he wrote, as much of his convictions as he thought the circumstances would in any way permit: being, it must also be said, one who never did anything negligently; never undertook any task, literary or other, on which he did not conscientiously bestow all the labor necessary for performing it adequately.
The Greek and Arithmetic lessons weren’t the only disciplines James taught John Stuart, it was the energy, the willing to take on more responsibility, and personal discipline that he modeled.
Mill, John Stuart. Autobiography. United Kingdom, Penguin Publishing Group, 1989.
-
I prompted Tyler Cowen’s new book GOAT to give me second half career advice from Adam Smith and Tyler Cowen. Below is what it served up:
Sure, thinking about the second half of one’s career through the lens of Adam Smith’s principles and Tyler Cowen’s interpretation, here are three valuable lessons:1. Embrace the Division of Labor and Specialization:
According to Adam Smith, the division of labor and subsequent specialization are the key to increased productivity and success. As you progress into the second half of your career, it’s important to further hone your skills and knowledge in your specific area of expertise. The market rewards depth of expertise, and by becoming the go-to person in a particular niche, you potentially increase your value. Tyler would likely nod to Smith’s emphasis on the division of labor to suggest focusing more intently on what you do best and where you can contribute the most value (reflecting on the “Wealth of Nations”).
2. Invest in Human Capital:
Smith recognized the importance of education and the formation of human capital. As you get deeper into your career, continuous learning and adaptation become even more crucial. The economic landscape, technologies, and best practices evolve, and it’s wise to stay intellectually curious and invest time in learning new skills that complement your experience. Tyler has often discussed the importance of human capital, both in his blog and his books, and he would agree it’s a critical component to thrive in the latter stages of a career.
3. Understand Market Dynamics and Change:
Adam Smith introduced the concept of the invisible hand, the idea that an individual’s pursuit of their own interests can benefit society as a whole. In the context of a career, it would mean looking for opportunities where your interests align with what the market needs. Tyler, being an advocate of understanding changes in market structures, might suggest being adaptive to market signals and adjusting your career strategies accordingly. Whether it’s a shift in industry demand, technological disruption, or changes in global economic patterns, being responsive and flexible can offer a competitive edge.These lessons are universal enough to be found implicitly in Smith’s writings, particularly in the “Wealth of Nations,” and they’re principles that Tyler Cowen would likely endorse, given his extensive work on economics and public choice theory. It’s about leveraging your accumulated experience while staying nimble and responsive to the world’s economic shifts—an interplay between Smith’s foundational ideas and Tyler’s contemporary economic analysis.
-
You have to know what history is relevant. You have to know what history to extract.
– Henry KissingerA polarizing, complex, historical figure.
Someone worth studying.
Ferguson, Niall. Kissinger: 1923-1968: The Idealist. United Kingdom, Penguin Publishing Group, 2016. pp835
-
Every faculty in one man is the measure by which he judges of the the like faculty in another. I judge of your sight by my sight, of your ear by my ear, of your reason by my reason, of your resentment by my resentment, of your love by my love. I neither have, nor can have, any other way of judging about them.
– Adam SmithSmith, Adam. The Theory of Moral Sentiments. United Kingdom, Penguin Publishing Group, 2010.
-
Sympathy, however, enlivens joy and alleviates grief. It enlivens joy by presenting another source of satisfaction; and it alleviates grief by insinuating into the heart almost the only agreeable sensation which it is at the time capable of receiving.
– Adam SmithSmith, Adam. The Theory of Moral Sentiments. United Kingdom, Penguin Publishing Group, 2010. pp19
Floodlights and Goalposts 