we can try to shorten the distance between our actions and the money in question.

The essence of Becker’s theory is that decisions about honesty, like most other decisions, are based on a cost-benefit analysis.

this thought experiment suggests that we don’t cheat and steal as much as we would if we were perfectly rational and acted only in our own self-interest.

It seemed that merely trying to recall moral standards was enough to improve moral behavior.

it’s more likely that most of us need little reminders to keep ourselves on the right path.

As Tim Harford describes in his book The Logic of Life,* the birth of this theory was quite mundane.

Schrödinger’s scenario was intended to critique an interpretation of physics that held that quantum mechanics did not describe objective reality—rather, it dealt only in probability.

overstating billable hours by economic consultants.

I think this scene—both cinematic and historic—captures the romantic ideal of golf. It’s a demonstration of man versus himself, showing both his skill and nobil- ity. Perhaps these characteristics of self-reliance, self-monitoring, and high moral standards are why golf is often used as a metaphor for business ethics (not to mention the fact that so