When discussing why the American system has succeeded over
the last several decades, when there were times when some thought Europe or Japan would overtake economic leadership. This quote reminded me of some of the
things Nassim Taleb has discussed in his work.
“The
Americans have succeeded as against the Europeans and the Japanese because they
have more extremes of random behavior. You have the mean, you have the bell
curve, and you have two extreme ends. And the more you have of the extreme ends
on the good side, the more creativity and inventiveness you have.” -Lee Kuan Yew:
The Grand Master's Insights on China, the United States, and the World