Michael Lewis on knowledge

In the arenas of human ambition, in Hollywood or Silicon Valley, or Washington or Wall Street, there's a knowingness about people.  They don't want to seem like they don't know.  They think that if they don't know, they're going to seem stupid.  And that leads to greater stupidity.

~ Michael Lewis, "Michael Lewis on what he learned by studying the elites," Brief But Spectacular, November 4, 2024

Muhammad Ali on what makes a champion

Champions aren’t made in the gyms. Champions are made from something deep inside them – a desire, a dream, a vision.

~ Muhammad Ali

Ali knocks out Sonny Liston

Kevin Duffy on capitalism vs. socialism

capitalism: serving others while serving yourself
socialism: stealing from others while serving yourself, justified by "serving the common good"

capitalism: motivated by improving your lot in life (ambition)
socialism: motivated by bringing others down (envy)

~ Kevin Duffy

Nassim Taleb on the role of ambition in success (and failure)

Ambition accounts for 50% of success. And 100% of (big) failures.

~ Nassim Taleb, posted on Facebook, August 17, 2014

Madonna on ambition

I'm tough, I'm ambitious, and I know exactly what I want. If that makes me a bitch, okay.

~ Madonna