12 lessons from America's most controversial philosopher: Thomas Sowell

I'm 56. When I was young I worshipped politics and believed in the myth of equality. Then I discovered Thomas Sowell, and he changed my life forever.

Thomas Sowell is a 93 year old badass.

• Studied at Harvard

• Political commentator

• Written for 150 newspapers

• Declined the role of Federal Trade Commissioner

He says F U to politicians and the system. His views are radical. Some good, some bad. But, he'll make you think.

1. “Intellect is not wisdom”

• Most modern intellect is the ability to memorize information.

• Intellects worship access to information rather than the application of the lessons.

Without execution, information is useless. It turns information into wisdom others can learn from.

2. “When you want to help people, you tell them the truth. 

When you want to help yourself, you tell them what they want to hear.”

• Modern-day politics is full of people repeating what we want to hear while doing nothing.

• Truth: we need action, not nice words.

3. "The truth is often not complicated. What gets complex is evading the truth.”

• Don’t let people lie to you with made-up complexity.

• If it's complex, it's bullsh*t.

Life is simple. We’re born, pay taxes, then die.

4. “Bailing out people who made ill-advised mortgages makes no more sense than...

Bailing out people who lost their life savings in Las Vegas casinos”

• 2008/2020 bail-outs were stupidity

• Bankruptcy keeps the system healthy

• The threat of going broke keeps people honest.

5. "Inflation is a hidden tax:

The money people have saved is robbed of part of its purchasing power, which is quietly transferred to the government that issues new money. It is a way to take people's wealth without having to openly raise taxes" – Thomas Sowell

• Once you see the true value of money, you’ll never look at tax the same way again.

• The fact you’re not told inflation is a tax is the real problem.

• Inflation distorts true price discovery.

• It’s what makes the rich get richer and the poor who have no assets get poorer.

6. "The problem is that Johnny doesn't know what thinking is. He confuses it with feeling.”

• We have trigger warnings because emotions control humans.

• Getting emotional about small stuff says more about you than the issue at hand.

See an idea/issue and practice non-reactivity. 

7. “It takes considerable knowledge just to realize the extent of your own ignorance.”

• Realize you don’t actually know much and your humility levels will explode. 

• People get glued to humility like bees to honey.

• The best you can hope for in life is to make people think.

8. “There are no solutions, only trade-offs.”

Human progress slows because we get fixated on perfect solutions. There are none.

Perfect solution:

• Solves a problem

• Actually gets put into action

Action will tell you more than a perfect solution that goes nowhere.

9. “When people get used to preferential treatment, equal treatment seems like discrimination.”

• One race: human

• Too much equality creates new problems.

Trying to be equal is impossible. Just be kind, not envious and respectful of people's differences.

10. “Too much of what is called 'education' is little more than an expensive isolation from reality.”

• Most education is masturbation sold as mandatory so colleges get rich.

• Is traditional education helping us learn...

Or distracting us from thinking about what matters?

11. "There's now a world in which the success of others is a grievance, rather than an example."

Ryan Holiday says:

• "The world is worse when we disregard success and celebrate mediocrity. 

• "Success is what advances humanity and makes us improve. 

Dare to learn from Elon.

12. “Since this is an era of 'fairness' and 'social justice...

What is your 'fair share' of what someone else has worked for?”

• It changes how you think about wealth. 

• Instead of handouts, dare to become self-made.

Any freebies you get should be a bonus, not an expectation.

Final Thought

Don’t worry whether you like Thomas Sowell. Be grateful he made you think. Thinking is what leads to the revelations that can change your life.