Nassim Nicholas Taleb Quotes

Intelligence recognizes what has happened. Genius recognizes what will happen.

Prophecy, however honest, is generally a poor substitute for experience.

Knowledge, may it be said, is higher than magic and is more to be sought. It is quite possible to see what is happening and yet not know what is forward, for while seeing is believing, it does not follow that either seeing or believing is knowing.

My gran'ther's rule was safer 'n 'tis to crow: Don't never prophesy — onless ye know.

Foreknowledge is a wonderful thing.

Science is the observation of things possible, whether present or past; prescience is the knowledge of things which may come to pass, though but slowly.

I agree with the realistic Irishman who said he preferred to prophesy after the event.

We need to stop, and admit it: we have a prediction problem. We love to predict things—and we aren’t very good at it.

Prediction is difficult - particularly when it involves the future.

I've always been careful never to predict anything that had not already happened.

When I want to understand what is happening today or try to decide what will happen tomorrow, I look back.

To name something is to wait for it in the place you think it will pass.

Experience is the only prophecy of wise men.

It is far better to foresee even without certainty than not to foresee at all.

It is always wise to look ahead, but difficult to look further than you can see.

Wisdom consists of the anticipation of consequences.

Probability is expectation founded upon partial knowledge. A perfect acquaintance with all the circumstances affecting the occurrence of an event would change expectation into certainty, and leave nether room nor demand for a theory of probabilities.

Those who have knowledge, don't predict. Those who predict, don't have knowledge.

Prognostics do not always prove prophecies, at least the wisest prophets make sure of the event first.

Happy is the one who knows the causes of things.

Foreknowledge is power.

The further backward we look, the further forward we are likely to see.

I'd love to know what the future looks like.

I like to plan. I like to see the future.

I'm a historian. I really like the past. But most people seem far more interested in what you can tell them about the future.