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Just a note on the final line: >Apple needs to decide if it wants to be “right,” or if it wants to be happy. I think Siracusa is referencing a line from The H
by Amorymeltzer 6y ago
Just a note on the final line:
>Apple needs to decide if it wants to be “right,” or if it wants to be happy.
I think Siracusa is referencing a line from The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, spoken by Slartibartfast as part of an exchange with Arthur Dent:
>"I'd far rather be happy than right any day."
>"And are you?"
>"No, that's where it all falls down, of course."
>"Pity," said Arthur with sympathy. "It sounded like quite a good lifestyle otherwise."
I love the book, but that particular line has stuck with me for quite a while. I try to use it as a guide whenever I start to lean toward being right over happiness. Works for relationships, code reviews, whatever you like.
- ambicapter 6y agoThat exchange sounds like he tried being happy over right and he didn't end up being happy anyways?
- Amorymeltzer 6y agoYou can try for happiness without actually achieving it. I'd prefer to be happy and right; sometimes I'm neither. Preferring one is no guarantee you'll get either. Also, Slartibartfast is pretty melancholy.
- HighlandSpring 6y agoI guess it's saying it can be difficult to practice what you preach.
- draw_down 6y agoYeah, I’m not sure this the mic-drop moment GP is implying it is.
- _bxg1 6y agoI've always known it as a classic adage in relationship contexts, particularly romantic relationships, where for the sake of the relationship it can make sense to stop trying to win the argument. I don't know if the saying is a reference to the book or if the book is referencing the saying.
- loopingyeti 6y agoA good friend likes to say, “being right is worth nothing.” In college a lecturer said, “would you rather be right, or get what you want?” He wasn’t a professor because he knew the steps required would make him unhappy. And completing them would only get him “prestige.” As he said, that’s what they give you when they don’t have anything valuable to offer.
- neatwithatwist 6y agoI'm going to remember this one. What an excellent observation.
- mdelvecchio 6y agoit’s an old adage. when arguing with your wife, would you rather be right, or happy?
- NotUsuallyRight 6y agoIf you're arguing with your wife, your chances of achieving either are (to the nearest approximation) zero. :D