To Be Struck by Lightning or Inspiration?

To be struck by lightning or by inspiration? Only the former guarantees some kind of recognition.

On Squandering Time

My concern isn’t with having squandered free time. It’s with having squandered it correctly.

Regarding the Possibility That I’m “Destined for Mediocrity”

Regarding the possibility that I’m “destined for mediocrity,” I have no concerns. Indeed, I’ve been mediocre for some time already.

Not a Line by Groucho Marx

I don’t feel myself till I’ve had a drink. After two drinks, I begin to feel others.

Self-Help vs. Ethical Philosophy: The Primary Difference Between Them

What’s the primary difference between self-help and ethical philosophy as a genre of literature? The former has a marketing budget.

The Secret of My One, Minor Success

I’ve managed, thus far, to avoid great public shame — largely as a result, I’d guess, of avoiding equally great ambitions.

On Incompetence and Its Ubiquity

A master is one with the capacity to make a difficult task appear simple. Men are more well suited to the opposite effect, however — that is, making a simple task appear almost impossible.

The Primary Benefit of the Microscope

It allows me to observe my intellectual equals.

Concerning the Author’s Deep and Abiding Commitment to Science

Is it possible to envy an insect? I didn’t know. Since asking the question, however, I’ve dedicated myself to finding the answer.

In the Unlikely Event That the Author’s Body Is a Temple

Is my body a temple? Likely not. If that’s the case, however, I send my condolences to the congregation.