Aphorisms and Etc

Misc Selections

An aphorism is a condensed form of writing in which one can find the theme of a novel, the lesson of an age, or a pithy diversion.

No aphorism is complete without context, but one may feel free to bring their own.

• The shedding of options is the strongest proof of intention.
• Cheap signaling only gets cheaper the louder it is broadcast.
• The filtering and periodic culling of one’s social connections is both a heartless and callous act — and yet completely completely necessary.
• In the parlance of Twitter, the block button is much much kinder than the mute.
• Speaking to be understood is so much harder than speaking to be heard.
• A shared understanding can be one of the strongest bonds between people.
• For persuasions of mass media, a thousand small pebbles weigh infinitely more than a single giant boulder.
• That old journalist ethos of neutrality has but one bastion remaining, the sports broadcasters.
• People can be admired for their accomplishments in one domain even if they’re complete bastards in another.
• In a power law distribution of media reach driven by network effects, cancel culture may actually be an appropriate means of ensuring some diversity of voice.
• For the campaign of political theater, speech writers are an obsolete front in a war against sound bites.
• Voters trust consistency, unfortunately even the consistently untrustworthy.
• Campaigning against an entire political party instead of against an individual is a sure way to ensure solidarity of the opposition.
• In order for divide and conquer to work one needs an adequate wedge.
• People believe what their neighbors tell them.
• Dramatically breaking the conventions of social norms is a sure way to attract the attention of the young or confused.
• There are a lot worse things to sell your soul for than a gold coin.
• Selling your attention is one and the same as selling your soul, even if you’re just giving it away.
• It is a healthy bias to distrust that which presents to you with twirling whistles and flashing lights.
• If you want to play a game with the odds in your favor, you have to make the rules.
• The predictability of inertia is compounded for competitors with increasing mass.
• Antitrust law precedence insufficiently considers a nation’s global competitiveness. (this one is speculation)
• It is both a bug and a feature of democracy that international policy may be turned on a dime.
• Too much stability is bad for stability.
• If you want to prevent forest fires, you have to light a few.
• Only you can prevent a forest fire.
• Metaphors should never be taken literally. Literally.
• Dance like no one is watching — unless someone is watching, then just kind of snap your fingers, bite your lip, and like sway a little bit.
• If Bob Dylan can be a world famous singer, then anyone can.
• The metronome is the worst thing that ever happened to music.
• Modern song-writing has nothing to do with composition, it’s more of a land grab competition for copyright.
• Constraints beget creativity.
• Abrupt endings are the surest way to leave them wanting more.

Jerry Garcia Band — Spike Driver Blues

Books that were referenced here or otherwise inspired this post:

Geary’s Guide to the World’s Great Aphorists — James Geary

Geary’s Guide to the World’s Great Aphorists

For further readings please check out the Table of Contents, Book Recommendations, and Music Recommendations. For more on Automunge: automunge.com