(no subject)

[randomness]

There's a saying about being right (i.e., correct) in the wrong (i.e., socially unacceptable) way being much more dangerous than being wrong in the right way which I'd like to find as it's currently got a bit of resonance in my life.

Anyone know what saying I'm talking about, and where I might find it?

Comments

[carneggy.livejournal.com]

One possibility: Voltaire.

"It is dangerous to be right in matters on which the established authorities are wrong."

[r-ness.livejournal.com]

Not actually the one I was thinking of, but it might be the original quote!

Thanks!

[emilymorgan.livejournal.com]

I don't know, but it's a good point! In what context are you thinking about it?

[r-ness.livejournal.com]

Let's talk. :)

[r-ness.livejournal.com]

Yes, lets!

I'm finding the sentiment can make things a bit lonely.

[cerebralpaladin.livejournal.com]

On DeLong's site, I saw a quote from Keynes that perfectly fits the bill: "Worldly wisdom teaches that it is better for reputation to fail conventionally than to succeed unconventionally..." A longer excerpt (which is quite interesting, especially right now...) is at http://delong.typepad.com/sdj/2008/10/john-maynard-ke.html

[r-ness.livejournal.com]

Hey, thanks! Actually, I remember that quote from George Goodman's "The Money Game", which although dated (it's forty years old, amazingly enough!) is still the single most entertaining book on investment psychology I've ever read. Some things never change, I guess.

I think maybe the quote I'm looking for is actually from George Goodman, so I'm glad you reminded me of him.