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It might seem daunting to think that effort and chance, as much as innate talent, are what counts. But I find it encouraging because, while our genetic makeup is out of our control, our degree of effort is up to us. And the effects of chance, too, can be controlled to the extent that by committing ourselves to repeated attempts, we can increase our odds of success.

— Leonard Mlodinow The Drunkard's Walk (2008)

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More quotes by Leonard Mlodinow

Perception requires imagination because the data people encounter in their lives are never complete and always equivocal.

The Drunkard's Walk (2008)

The law of small numbers is not really a law. It is a sarcastic name describing the misguided attempt to apply the law of large numbers when the numbers aren't large.

The Drunkard's Walk (2008)

Obviously it can be a mistake to assign brilliance in proportion to wealth.

The Drunkard's Walk (2008)

We unfortunately seem to be unconsciously biased against those in society who come out on the bottom.

The Drunkard's Walk (2008)

The theory of randomness is fundamentally a codification of common sense.

The Drunkard's Walk (2008)

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Quote text and notes from Wikiquote: Leonard Mlodinow (page history), available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source quality and labels are our own summary of what Wikiquote records.