If you have to forecast, forecast often.

Various quotes from economist Edgar R. Fiedler.

The herd instinct among forecasters makes sheep look like independent thinkers.

If you have to forecast, forecast often.

The things most people want to know about are usually none of their business.

A cardinal principle of Total Quality escapes too many managers: you cannot continuously improve interdependent systems and processes until you progressively perfect interdependent, interpersonal relationships.

If all the economists were laid end to end, they'd never reach a conclusion.

If you’re ever right, never let ’em forget it.

Those who have knowledge, don't predict. Those who predict, don't have knowledge

Lao Tzu, 6th Century BC Chinese Poet

Those who have knowledge, don't predict. Those who predict, don't have knowledge.

Life is short, and Art long; the crisis fleeting; experience perilous, and decision difficult.

Aphorisms by Hippocrates, the very first aphorism:

Life is short, and Art long; the crisis fleeting; experience perilous, and decision difficult. The physician must not only be prepared to do what is right himself, but also to make the patient, the attendants, and externals cooperate.

A neat summation that remains true in virtually all fields today. It takes a long time to develop skills (Art long) compared to the allotted time we have to develop those skills (life is short), the pace of change is fast and we only have one chance to get it right (the crisis fleeting), the consequences are great (experience perilous) and as always the "decision difficult." The second sentence is not perhaps as crisp but is just as consequential. A good decision without support from all parties in the context (the patient, the attendants, and externals) is like as not to fail. The challenge is that in the modern era, rarely can we "make" others cooperate, rather we have to convince, motivate, or incent them to cooperate, an endeavor fraught with variable outcomes. A variability that is less and less desirable, the greater the consequences arising from the decision.

The Latin original is Vita brevis, ars longa, occasio praeceps, experimentum periculosum, iudicium difficile.