Category Archives: Procrastination

Babbitt’s Razors

Posted on August 18, 2013 by David Mirman
Cover of Babbitt by Sinclair Lewis

I’m haunted by a scene from Sinclair Lewis’ novel Babbitt.  It is a mundane scene, not one that would seem to be the stuff for a haunting.  This is the scene:  after the character Babbitt shaves, he removes the used blade from … Continue reading →

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Never Let the Perfect be the Enemy of the Good

Posted on January 28, 2013 by David Mirman

“Never let the perfect be the enemy of the good”.  This is my preferred translation of Voltaire’s statement, sometimes also translated as “the best is the enemy of the good”.  I interpret it as a warning against perfectionism. Our writing … Continue reading →

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The Best Time to Plant a Tree…

Posted on September 3, 2012 by David Mirman

The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is today. The botanical basis of this proverb is clear enough. Because it takes a long time to grow a tree, to have a nice-sized … Continue reading →

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