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About this quote

What does it mean?
The world often fails to match our expectations or behave reasonably.
In plain terms
Reality does not always follow our hopes or logic.
What can you take from it?
Expectations often clash with reality.

Where it applies

  • dealing with frustration
  • setting expectations

Putting it to work

  • managing expectations
  • coping with setbacks

Questions to consider

  • Why do we expect the world to be reasonable?
  • How do we handle disappointment?

Another view

It is a very general statement with little specific advice.

More from Stephen Jay Gould

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  3. Wallace's error on human intellect arose from the inadequacy of his rigid selectionism, not from a failure to apply it. And his argument repays our study today…

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