Fun Quotes

“An artist should ruthlessly destroy his manuscripts after publication, lest they mislead academic mediocrities into thinking that it is possible to unravel the mysteries of genius by studying cancelled readings. In art, purpose and plan are nothing; only the results count.” Nabokov . See also Marc Slocum’s brilliant idea to use fragments from Nabokov’s unfinished manuscript for a mashup. (Too bad no one followed up on it).

“If I had to live my life again, I’d do everything the same, except that I wouldn’t see The Magus.” Woody Allen.

“I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones.” Albert Einstein.  (More quotes).

Here’s an interesting article from the Financial Times about the Greek financial problems:

…the Greek Finance Ministry had warned of “complete collapse” if the whole system…was not rethought…”Prices and value move in an atmosphere of imminent catastrophe,” he wrote.  “In Greece for a while now all the foundations of a healthy economy have been overturned.  There can be no stability, neither in economic equilibrium nor in monetary or financial affairs.”

…While the Italians…were genuinely worried by Greece’s financial crisis, it was the Germans who needed to be persuaded.  Initially, Altenburg’s advocacy of the Greek position was not well received even in his own Ministry.  But then the political stakes were suddenly raised…

…In Athens people expected the Finance Minister to win substantial concessions from the Germans.  In actual fact he was in a very weak position.

…It was not that the Greek financial crisis could be ignored; nor that the Greek Finance Minister lacked the wit or intelligence to present his case.  It was simply that no Greek politician carried enough weight to be heard seriously in Berlin.

Actually, this is not from the Financial Times at all, but from this  book (click the link!) (Thanks, Marginal Revolution).