Sometimes what is best for us.... • page 2/3 • Off-Topic Discussion • lichess.org

Sometimes what is best for us....is to stop being our own worst enemy, or as my dad used to tell me, make it easy on yourself son. - :]

CSKA_Moscou

#13

I think you just have to accept the most logical choice and never regret, never look at the past if it is not to learn from your mistakes (or to remember good times with person of your familly or friends). a choice must be made with conviction, otherwise this same choice would only be a coincidence that you followed or a chimera of what you really want.

LordSupremeChess

#14

@Skittle-Head said in #12:

Sometimes what is best for us....is to stop being our own worst enemy, or as my dad used to tell me, make it easy on yourself son. - :]
No, I refuse not to be my enemy, and I refuse to make it easy on myself.

@Skittle-Head said in #12: > Sometimes what is best for us....is to stop being our own worst enemy, or as my dad used to tell me, make it easy on yourself son. - :] No, I refuse not to be my enemy, and I refuse to make it easy on myself.

s2numbuq35i

edited

#15

@Noflaps said in #1:

It has been said that the "good" is the enemy of the "great." And that saying is not without value.

But it has also been said that perfect is the enemy of good. And that, too, is not a saying without value.

So great beats good and perfect beats good as well? Sounds like good isn't good at all then. So we need to improve it, by thinking of this as a rock-paper-scissors like configuration where:

great > good
perfect > great
good > perfect

Now if a decision has to be made, you can just make the corresponding hand signs simultaneously to see who wins the argument.

@Noflaps said in #1: > It has been said that the "good" is the enemy of the "great." And that saying is not without value. > > But it has also been said that perfect is the enemy of good. And that, too, is not a saying without value. So great beats good and perfect beats good as well? Sounds like good isn't good at all then. So we need to improve it, by thinking of this as a rock-paper-scissors like configuration where: great > good perfect > great good > perfect Now if a decision has to be made, you can just make the corresponding hand signs simultaneously to see who wins the argument.

Skittle-Head

edited

#16

Ah...a contrarian are you? - My father's advice, has served me well in life! - :] @LordSupremeChess #14

Noflaps

edited

#17

@s2numbuq35i perhaps you should think of each of my two quoted statements as you might think about a koan, like those used in Zen practice, rather than as a mathematical exercise based upon a well-ordering assumption that I did not make or even imply.

"Perfect" may not always be better than "great" or even "good" if perfection is not reasonably attainable within the realistic constraints of the world when "great" or "good" IS reasonably attainable. That is the point.

For example: one might look for a life partner. For years on end. Finding several wonderful (but not perfect) women (or men, or .. whatever lawfully floats one's boat) but refusing, nevertheless, to commit to one of them because "perfection" has not yet been found!

And the result? If that hesitance is taken to too-extreme lengths, one could end up eating one's oatmeal alone in one's Golden Years because one failed to realistically take advantage of excellent, though imperfect, opportunities for lovely companionship.

Is my point clearer now?

Furthermore, keeping what I just wrote in mind, can you see that I have NOT postulated or even implied that "perfect" is always better than "great" as you assume?

The core of the sun is almost perfectly hot. But I prefer to drink my coffee at a much cooler temperature. Absolute zero is perfectly cold, but I still wear clothing on a hot day, even if I am sweating!

@s2numbuq35i perhaps you should think of each of my two quoted statements as you might think about a koan, like those used in Zen practice, rather than as a mathematical exercise based upon a well-ordering assumption that I did not make or even imply. "Perfect" may not always be better than "great" or even "good" if perfection is not reasonably attainable within the realistic constraints of the world when "great" or "good" IS reasonably attainable. That is the point. For example: one might look for a life partner. For years on end. Finding several wonderful (but not perfect) women (or men, or .. whatever lawfully floats one's boat) but refusing, nevertheless, to commit to one of them because "perfection" has not yet been found! And the result? If that hesitance is taken to too-extreme lengths, one could end up eating one's oatmeal alone in one's Golden Years because one failed to realistically take advantage of excellent, though imperfect, opportunities for lovely companionship. Is my point clearer now? Furthermore, keeping what I just wrote in mind, can you see that I have NOT postulated or even implied that "perfect" is always better than "great" as you assume? The core of the sun is almost perfectly hot. But I prefer to drink my coffee at a much cooler temperature. Absolute zero is perfectly cold, but I still wear clothing on a hot day, even if I am sweating!

hisokaxhunter

#18

Too perfect...lose a chance to evolve

NM MrPushwood

#19

@Noflaps said in #5:

Incidentally, @MrPushwood , you might ask Leo but ... you know ... that would be difficult at this point.

Come on, he's not really dead (that guy was too pissed off to ever die).

@Noflaps said in #5: > Incidentally, @MrPushwood , you might ask Leo but ... you know ... that would be difficult at this point. Come on, he's not really dead (that guy was too pissed off to ever die).

Noflaps

edited

#20

Makes me wish I were angrier, mighty @MrPushwood . The damn spaniel keeps cheering me up.

That, and stumbling upon occasions to use the subjunctive mood.

Makes me wish I were angrier, mighty @MrPushwood . The damn spaniel keeps cheering me up. That, and stumbling upon occasions to use the subjunctive mood.