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All business proceeds on beliefs, or judgments of probabilities, and not on certainties.
Charles William Eliot
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Interpretation

What this quote means

Business decisions are based on beliefs and probabilities rather than sure outcomes.

The quote by Charles William Eliot emphasizes that in the world of business, actions and strategies are driven more by beliefs and estimations of future events rather than solid certainties. This highlights the inherent uncertainty in business operations, where leaders must make informed judgments based on incomplete information, thereby navigating risks and opportunities through their understanding and perception of the market.

Themes

BusinessBeliefsProbabilitiesCertaintyDecisions

In practice

Example use cases

A speaker at a business conference discussing market strategies could use this quote to illustrate the importance of intuition.

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Books are the quietest and most constant of friends; they are the most accessible and wisest of counselors, and the most patient of teachers.
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The best way to secure future happiness is to be as happy as is rightfully possible to-day.
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Books are the quietest and most constant of friends; they are the most accessible and wisest of counsellors, and the most patient of teachers.
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