Dean Christakos« And so it has come to this... | Main | The Summer Spike In Gas Prices »
February 8, 2006
My life in fortune cookies
One of my favorite books from high school, Hackers, ends with a scene in the early 1980s where most of the core brilliant Artificial Intelligence scientists have left MIT for startup companies, leaving the last true-believer, Richard Stallman as the only person left at MIT's AI lab still ordering Chinese food on a Friday night, hacking away. While working away in lab on my thesis or various dead-end projects on Friday nights eating Chinese food from Pu Pu Hot Pot, I would think of that story about Richard Stallman. I'd also save a few fortunes from the fortune cookies that I found particularly compelling for encouragement, and recently I've found those old fortunes lying around my own apartment. Here's a sample:
You are almost there.A man can fail many times, but he isn't a failure until he gives up.
Your path is arduous but will be amply rewarding.
You have inexhaustible wisdom and power.
Adapt to circumstances in order to make progress.
If you're always a pessimist, consider just how futile that attitude can be.
A chance meeting opens new doors to success and friendship.
There is no shame in failure--only in quitting.
The expert at anything was once a beginner.
The diligent reader will, of course, notice a pattern.
Posted by Dean at February 8, 2006 10:30 PM