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?
Man should forget his anger before he lies down to sleep.
Within seconds thoughts become words that slip off our tongue and into the world. Pausing before we speak may seem cumbersome, but it allows us to decide: Is this helpful? Does this need to be said now? What is the best way to say this?
If you are pitched into misery, remember that your days on this earth are counted and you might as well make the best of those you have left.
Anger is energising. The opposite of anger is depression, which is anger turned inward.
Those who think that it is easy to play chess are mistaken. During a game a player lives on his nerves, and at the same time he must be perfectly composed.
Things must be felt with the heart.
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