Nassim Nicholas Taleb

Principles are our summary of their public statements.

• Focus on immutable knowledge

  Learning

  Avoid spending excessive time on subjects like history that are frequently revised, and focus on foundational tools like math.

  2 more supporting quotes are in the member records.

  Source Nassim Nicholas Taleb on Self-Education and Doing the Math (Ep. 41 - Live at Mercatus), 2018  (opens in a new tab)

• Trust your instincts on character

  Integrity

  Avoid associating with individuals who seem suspicious or lack integrity, even if they are powerful or influential.

  Source Wikipedia: Nassim Nicholas Taleb  (opens in a new tab)

• Prioritize Courage for Clarity

  Mindset

  Clear thinking is not a prerequisite for courage but a result of it; one must be brave enough to see the world as it is.

  Supporting quotes

  • “You are rich if and only if money you refuse tastes better than money you accept.”

  2 more supporting quotes are in the member records.

• Embrace Errors as Data

  Resilience

  A robust individual treats mistakes as valuable information rather than failures to be hidden.

  Supporting quotes

  • “You are rich if and only if money you refuse tastes better than money you accept.”

  2 more supporting quotes are in the member records.

• Avoid the Green Lumber Fallacy

  Learning

  Do not mistake academic or theoretical knowledge for the practical skills required to succeed in a specific field.

  3 more supporting quotes are in the member records.

  Source Nassim Nicholas Taleb and Bryan Caplan on What’s Missing in Education (BONUS), 2018  (opens in a new tab)

• Prioritize Technique Over Theory

  Learning

  Formal education often focuses on theoretical knowledge that is hard to retain, whereas apprenticeship and technical skills provide immediate and lasting value.

  3 more supporting quotes are in the member records.

  Source Nassim Nicholas Taleb and Bryan Caplan on What’s Missing in Education (BONUS), 2018  (opens in a new tab)

• Use Education for Signaling Only

  Career

  Treat formal degrees as a necessary stamp for the first job while focusing on actual skill acquisition through practice and self-study.

  3 more supporting quotes are in the member records.

  Source Nassim Nicholas Taleb and Bryan Caplan on What’s Missing in Education (BONUS), 2018  (opens in a new tab)

• Contrast Classical Values with Modernity

  Mindset

  Taleb emphasizes contrasting classical virtues like courage and elegance against modern issues like phoniness and narrow-mindedness.

  Source Wikipedia: The Bed of Procrustes  (opens in a new tab)