49 Quotes & Sayings By Clifford Cohen

All too often, our elegant political theories amount to nothing more than ideology triumphing over common sense. Clifford Cohen

We live in an age of equivocal competency: if you want, you can be a competent dictator, a competent self-promoter, a competent terrorist. Just because you can do something well does not mean you should be doing it. Clifford Cohen

Why do the powerful always insist on having a “back story” to justify whatever they do? Why can’t they–just once–do something for the simple reason that it is the right thing to do, in itself, for reasons understood and accepted by all? In politics, laws are passed to secretly serve hidden agendas, for without such agendas many lawmakers would never find the motivation to support anything at all. Clifford Cohen

We recognize authority based on whether we feel we could attain authority by the rules by which the authority was obtained. Clifford Cohen

Cooler heads prevail while things spin completely out of control. Clifford Cohen

Note from Alien cookbook: “The more intelligent the human is, the better it tastes. Clifford Cohen

If you want to impress someone, simply make up a vocation and preface it with the words “molecular” or “theoretical” (as in “molecular biologist” or “theoretical physicist”). After you do this no one will question the veracity of anything you say–whether it is related to your putative vocation or not. Clifford Cohen

Just because you say you will do something does not mean that you are also willing to do that thing. Ensuring that both things are true is especially important in the matter of either making or receiving a proposal of marriage. Clifford Cohen

If you can’t be brave in the face of adversity, at least be practical. Clifford Cohen

Amazing how too much passion in one part of your life can destroy passion in other parts of your life. Clifford Cohen

If someone tells you that they’re called “blueberries” because they’re berries and they’re blue–believe them. Clifford Cohen

Sex can be the result of love, but never the cause of it. Clifford Cohen

Some people say I raised a good child. I like to think of it as my child raised a good parent. Clifford Cohen

A psychologist’s job (if it’s done well) is to get you to seriously laugh at yourself. Clifford Cohen

There’s no arguing with a song that writes itself. Clifford Cohen

You have to know you don’t know before you can know. Clifford Cohen

It is more important to understand the book you are reading than to finish the book you are reading. Clifford Cohen

Chronic problems tend to come from chronic habits. Clifford Cohen

Be careful not to think that just because you know what a person is going to say, you know what that person is going to do. Be careful not to think that just because you know what a person is going to do to others, you know what that person is going to do (or not do) to you. Clifford Cohen

The tyrant’s formula for every genocide since the beginning of time: differentiate, divide, destroy. Clifford Cohen

When someone apologizes to you, be sure you know whether they’re sorry, or just scared. Clifford Cohen

Rare is not synonymous with valuable. Clifford Cohen

Eating healthy is not so much about what you eat, but what you don’t eat. Clifford Cohen

Humility and competence are the keys to a successful life. Clifford Cohen

My philosophy of life: “Don’t just sit around doing nothing and wasting your time–get off your butt and start doing something and wasting your time. Clifford Cohen

As I get older I find it more and more easy to watch a pot until it boils. Clifford Cohen

Emotion is the timbre of thought. Clifford Cohen

A few thoughts on crime and punishment: Punishment–either don’t merit it, or learn to embrace it. It is easy to endure punishment, much harder to accept it. Committing a crime is like incurring a debt: you can either pay it off now, or pay it off later–with interest. Clifford Cohen

There is no reason to assume our species will survive itself. Clifford Cohen

In any career, there is a moment when you are no longer need to be pushed up from below, but rather pulled up from above. Know when that moment comes and adjust your strategy accordingly. Clifford Cohen

Don’t think for a moment that you’ve gotta be perfect to be paid. Clifford Cohen

Give your ambition a name. Clifford Cohen

Two examples of irony:...a cheap knock-off of a Chinese Ming vase…made in China....getting murdered in a graveyard. Clifford Cohen

Just because something is ubiquitous does not mean that it is innocuous. Clifford Cohen

What is the meaning of life…to give life meaning. Clifford Cohen

Always try to align your loyalties and commitment with the largest scope of the context you find yourself in. For example, if you work for a department in a company, align yourself with the company–not the department; if you are in an army platoon, align yourself with the army. Clifford Cohen

Observing stupidity in others is a sure sign of stupidity in the observer. Clifford Cohen

You are not a better or wiser person simply because you’ve ceased to care. Clifford Cohen

Don’t ask a yes or no question unless the person being asked can say no without hesitation. Clifford Cohen

People usually have to be dragged kicking and screaming into what’s good for them. Clifford Cohen

Do first what you don’t want to do most. Clifford Cohen

There are four stages to a person’s career: In Stage 1 you are enthusiastic about your work, but inexperienced (start of your career). In Stage 2 you are both enthusiastic about your work and have gained experience (top of your career). In Stage 3 you’re tired of your work, but you are also still competent/experienced (maintenance stage). In Stage 4 you are sick of your work, and because you haven’t been motivated to keep up with your profession, you are now, once again, inexperienced relative to the state-of-the-art in your field (end of career). . Clifford Cohen

His problem is that he doesn’t want anyone until he can have anyone he wants. Clifford Cohen

Recognize and beware of the snare. Clifford Cohen