Nassim Nicholas Taleb Quotes

You don't ever ask a barber whether you need a haircut.

I would draw a really big distinction between competition, or potential competition, and a conflict of interest. A conflict of interest implies wrongdoing, whereas competition is really healthy.

I mistrust the judgment of every man in a case in which his own wishes are concerned.

No one is a good judge in his own cause.

No man must be Judge who propounds unto himself any hope of profit, or glory, from the victory of either party.

A perception of a conflict of interest is jsut as bad as a conflict of interest,

No man can be judge to his own cause.

Never ask a barber if you need a haircut.

nobody is a good judge in his own cause!

And seeing every man is presumed to do all things in order to his own benefit, no man is a fit Arbitrator in his own cause

It was difficult being a neutral broadcaster - in the people's eyes - because of my association with the Celtics.

Whoever pays the consultant gets pretty much what they want to hear.

The public impression is that the government, industry or the highest bidder can buy a scientist to add credibility to any message. That crucial quality of impartiality is being lost.

The first essential in writing about anything is that the writer should have no experience of the matter.

It's the nature of journalism to need to be close to your subjects. And either you're able to be tough on them, which a lot of us are, or you get in bed with them, and some people do.

People who think there is something pedestrian about journalism are just ignorant.

As a reporter, I approach every situation knowing that everyone has his or her own agenda. It's not a bad thing; it's just a fact.

He never wants anything but what's right and fair; only when you come to settle what's right and fair, it's everything that he wants and nothing that you want.

It is unsound for an independent editor to be a financial contributor to any cause which would cause any type of special pleading.

The will to label will always prevail over what's being labeled, usually at the expense of either truth or understanding.

IT is difficult to speak or write with becoming moderation or propriety, on topics to which we are biased by prejudice, interest, or even principle.

Judge Bradley says of the electoral commission: "I firmly believe that the differences of opinion were honest and arose from the different standpoints of individuals." Not a doubt of it; seven members of the commission looked at the question from a standpoint of self-interest, and eight considered it from one of personal advantage.

If you’re going to give objective advice, you’ve got to take the self interest out of the equation.

vested interest

Everyone loves justice in the affairs of another.