"One blueprint for trouble, making collapse likely, is where there's a conflict of interest between the short-term interests of the decision-making elites and the long-term interests of the society as awhole. Especially if the elites are able to insulate themselves from the consequences of their actions."
Jared Diamond – an excerpt from his TED talk, "Why societies collapse"
"Naturally, the common people don't want war; neither in Russia, nor in England, nor in America, nor for that matter in Germany. That is understood. But after all, it is the leaders of the country who determine policy, and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a democracy, or a fascist dictatorship, or a Parliament, or a Communist dictatorship.....voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is to tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any country."
Hermann Göring – German Air Force commander and Nazi party leader testifying at the Nuremberg Trials (August 1945)
"It wasn't that I couldn't grasp the complexity of it; quite the reverse. My limitation was that some essential simplicity eluded me. All I really knew was that I had found the perfect place on a perfect wave, and I had remained there endlessly. Forever."
Allan Weisbecker – describing the wave at Pavones, Costa Rica, from In Search of Captain Zero
"It has been my experience that folks who have no vices have very few virtues."
"Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power."
"No matter how much the cats fight, there always seem to be plenty of kittens."
Abraham Lincoln (1809 - 1865)
"If A is success in life, then A equals x plus y plus z. Work is x; y is play; and z is keeping your mouth shut."
"I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones."
Albert Einstein (1879 - 1955)
"Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are."
John Wooden
