Disclosure: I didn’t note from which in the stack of magazines I’d taken this, but the more salient point is that it’s not my work. 

“The single most important thing in life is not to die. First, you stay alive. Then you can think about the future and evaluate risk.” – Tidjane Thiam in the Sept/Oct 2016 edition of Bloomberg Markets

For whatever reason, people often comment on my so called intelligence or the way that they are experiencing it. When people comment on this or any other element of my personality, I always ask them why they’ve said what they’ve said. I ask to understand and their logic and the connections that they’re making to conclude as they have. As I reflected on such an experience just now, I had this thought:

Intelligence and strength carry positive connotations. In reality though, they may also be used for evil, at one extreme; or not optimally for good. Intelligence and strength may even not be used at all when they otherwise should be, leading a loss of opportunities and benefit for one’s self and others. That makes these things truly agnostic – as they are only tools for the potential of good, not inherently so.  Besides building, tools may be used, maybe even designed, to destroy things. We should therefore be neither uncomfortable nor especially pleased when others suggest that we are in possession of said tools even if they don’t view them as tools, but as the very ends (the good and goods) themselves. We understand the true nature of tools, and can be balanced in thinking about them and applying them for appropriate use. 

Separately, I met Dave Chappelle last night. Given that I may never get around to blogging about that, I’ll simply say that he is one of coolest friendliest celebrities I’ve observed. We spoke briefly, and later in the night on his way out he went out of his way to say bye and give me a handshake. Very positive energy. He is in possession of his tools and in control of their application.