An ordinary mistake is one that leads to a dead end, while a profound mistake is one that leads to progress. Anyone can make an ordinary mistake, but it takes a genius to make a profound mistake.
Frank WilczekRead
If you don't make mistakes, you're not working on hard enough problems. And that's a big mistake.
Interpretation
Making mistakes is a sign of tackling challenging problems.
This quote emphasizes the importance of embracing mistakes as a part of the learning process. Frank Wilczek suggests that if you are not making mistakes, you may not be pushing yourself to confront significant challenges, which can hinder your growth and creativity.
In practice
During a workshop on innovation, I shared this quote to encourage participants to take risks.
An ordinary mistake is one that leads to a dead end, while a profound mistake is one that leads to progress. Anyone can make an ordinary mistake, but it takes a genius to make a profound mistake.
In physics, your solution should convince a reasonable person. In math, you have to convince a person who's trying to make trouble. Ultimately, in physics, you're hoping to convince Nature. And I've found Nature to be pretty reasonable.
Why is there something rather than nothing?
Do not say things. What you are stands over you the while, and thunders, so that I cannot hear what you say to the contrary.
If you want to be wisely selfish, care for others
After all, the past is our only real guide to the future, and historical analogies are instruments for distilling and organizing the past and converting it to a map by which we can navigate.
Christians have forgotten that the ministry of listening has been committed to them by Him who is Himself the great listener and whose work they should share. We should listen with the ears of God that we may speak the Word of God.
When you sing that this country was founded on freedom, don't forget the duet of shackles dragging against the ground my entire life.
Only create associations with positive affinities. Make this a rule of life and you will benefit more than from all the therapy in the world.
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