A slogan I like is that failure is OK, so long as you don't stop trying to avoid it.

While reading this post, a connection with Beware of Other-Optimizing clicked in my mind. Different aspiring rationalists are (more) susceptible to different failure modes. From Eliezer's previous writings it had generally seemed like he was more worried about the problem of standards (for oneself) that are too low -- that is, not being afraid enough of failure -- than about the opposite error, standards that are too high. But I suspect that's largely specific to him; others may need to worry more about being too afraid of failure. Hence I'm happy to see this post.