November 13, 2019

2019.11.13
No other textbook, and possibly no other book, will ever have a better opening paragraph than Goodstein's "States of Matter":



You know, I used to think it was awful that life was so unfair. Then I thought, wouldn't it be much worse if life were fair, and all the terrible things that happen to us come because we actually deserve them? So, now I take great comfort in the general hostility and unfairness of the universe.
Of course, the same thing applies as an argument against "meritocracies". If you can't recognize the luck - good or bad - that is a big part of whatever you're situation you're in, you are a fool.