Isaac Feldman

“Lack of confidence kills more dreams than lack of ability.

Talent matters—especially at elite levels—but people talk themselves out of giving their best effort long before talent becomes the limiting factor.

You're capable of more than you know. Don't be your own bottleneck.”

Poet Lucille Clifto n on emphasizing joy over status:

“One should wish to celebrate more than one wishes to be celebrated.”

Morgan Housel on finding the sensible balance between optimism and pessimism:

“Optimism is usually defined as a belief that things will go well. But that's incomplete. Sensible optimism is a belief that the odds are in your favor, and over time things will balance out to a good outcome even if what happens in between is filled with misery. And in fa... See more

“The most effective networking strategy I’ve found has nothing to do with conferences, cocktail hours, cold emails, or any of the common ideas you hear.

1) Do interesting things.

2) Share them publicly.

Repeat those two strategies and you'll become a magnet. Like-minded people will come to you.”

“Compliment others more.

You’ll barely remember you did it, but the other person may never forget that you did.

Kindness has unlimited upside.”

“A simple rule for life and work:

Don’t rush, but don’t wait.

Thoughtful action.”

“A brief guide to improvement:

1) Lots of research. Explore widely and see what is possible.

2) Lots of iterations. Focus on one thing, but do it in different ways. Refine your method.

3) Lots of repetitions. Stick with your method until it stops working.

Research. Iterate. Repeat.”

There are three things you cannot buy. Fitness: You have to keep fit, whether you’re rich or not. Diet: You cannot pay someone to be on a diet for you. I think that diet is the biggest sacrifice in my life. Then, looking after your soul. No one can possibly treat your soul but you yourself. This is something you can do through culture and philosoph... See more

Historian Barbara Tuchman on the power of books:

“Books are the carriers of civilization. Without books, history is silent, literature dumb, science crippled, thought and speculation at a standstill. Without books, the development of civilization would have been impossible. They are engines of change (as the poet said), windows on the world and ligh... See more