"Never miss a good chance to shut up" - 1 minute read

I'm reading Duty by Robert Gates, former Secretary of Defense under George W. Bush and Barack Obama, and it's an interesting read.  One of the more memorable quotes so far in the book is that, while regretting some comments that he made to the press, Gates moans that he forgot one of the more important rules in life: "Never miss a good chance to shut up."

Although probably more applicable to Secretary of Defense than to you and me, it's still good advice for you and me.

The book has left me with more patience for elected officials.  The number of complex issues that they have to deal with -- simultaneously -- it truly staggering.

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