Priorities

The ordinary modes of human thinking are magical, religious, and social. We want our wishes to come true; we want the universe to care about us; we want the esteem of our peers. For most people, wanting to know the truth about the world is way, way down the list. Scientific objectivity is a freakish, unnatural, and unpopular mode of thought, restricted to small cliques whom the generality of citizens regard with dislike and mistrust -- John Derbyshire

Incentives

Institutions will try to preserve the problem to which they are the solution -- Clay Shirky

Ethics as virtue signalling

The precautionary principle is being used to shut down EU's largest source of zero-carbon electricity, block the most promising route to agricultural productivity, and impede the distribution of vaccines during a pandemic. Paying lip-service to safety while perpetuating harm. -- Michael Liebreich

Arsenal

The most potent weapon in the hands of the oppressor is the mind of the oppressed. -- Stephen Biko

Inheritance

Be careful to leave your sons well instructed rather than rich, for the hopes of the instructed are better than the wealth of the ignorant. -- Epictetus