gerg comments on Rationality Quotes: January 2011 - Less Wrong

2 Post author: wedrifid 03 January 2011 05:24AM

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Comment author: gerg 03 January 2011 09:08:12PM 13 points [-]

It is a habit of mankind to entrust to careless hope what they long for, and to use sovereign reason to thrust aside what they do not desire.

-- Thucydides

Comment author: gwern 06 January 2011 08:54:28PM *  5 points [-]

If I may, I prefer the fuller version:

"...their judgment was based more upon blind wishing than upon any sound prevision; for it is a habit of mankind to entrust to careless hope what they long for, and to use sovereign reason to thrust aside what they do not fancy."

Also, dupe: http://lesswrong.com/lw/2ev/rationality_quotes_july_2010/28gb?c=1

Comment author: gerg 10 January 2011 10:09:01AM 0 points [-]

Ha - that post refers to Diax's Rake, which is what happened to spur me to find the Thucydides quote in the first place!

In other news, I've invented this incredible device I call a "wheel".

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