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To get anywhere, or even to live a long time, a man has to guess, and guess right, over and over again, without enough data for a logical answer.
Robert A. Heinlein
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Interpretation

What this quote means

Success depends on our ability to make informed choices with limited information.

This quote highlights the importance of intuition and decision-making in navigating life's uncertainties. It suggests that to achieve our goals or simply to survive, we often rely on our ability to make educated guesses repeatedly, especially when faced with incomplete data.

Themes

Decision MakingIntuitionUncertaintyLifeChoices

In practice

Example use cases

In a graduation speech about the uncertainties of the future.

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The most important lesson in the writing trade is that any manuscript is improved if you cut away the fat.
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