Comparing yourself Quote by Eliezer Yudkowsky
““That was a lesson everyone (every human?) learned before puberty, not to let reality seem diminished by fiction. As the proverb went, It's bad enough comparing yourself to Isaac Newton without comparing yourself to Kimball Kinnison.””
About This Quote
The lesson warns against letting fictional narratives diminish our grasp of reality, urging us to compare ourselves to real achievements rather than idealized heroes.
In simple terms: Don’t let stories cloud your real‑world standards.
Key Takeaway
Focus on tangible role and realistic role models.
Themes
reality
fiction
comparison
humility
Mood
thoughtful
inquisitive
Type
philosophical
motivational
When to use this quote
- education
- personal growth
- media consumption
- career planning
Key Concepts
cognitive bias
self‑assessment
literary influence
Questions to Reflect On
- How does fiction inspire you?
- What realistic standards guide you?
A Different Perspective
Overlooks the motivational value of fiction.
![“Descartes gave sight to the blind. These saw the errors of antiquity and of the sciences. The path he struck out is since become boundless […] In fathoming this abyss no bottom has been found. We are now to examine what discoveries Sir Isaac Newton has made in it.” quote by Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/752/voltaire-173_abyss_descartes-gave-sight-to-the-blind-these_224597.jpg)
