Bonus points if it’s usually misused/misunderstood by the people who say it

  • jmsy@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.

    That is not the definition of insanity

  • GladiusB@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    “if you can’t handle me at my worst you don’t deserve me at my best”.

    You’re basically excusing bad behavior. And never taking accountability. People are wrong. Mostly when they are so blindly following some perception of greatness rather than caring for those around you.

  • Sterile_Technique@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    “Sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.”

    An individual, uneducated observer might not be able to tell them apart, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t a distinction.

    One of the avengers movies dropped that line, and I feel like it’s spread like wild fire since then, and it’s just objectively not correct.

    • Ilovethebomb@lemmy.ml
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      1 year ago

      I understand much of the technology we use today isn’t magic, but it may as well be with how much I understand about how it works.

      I don’t think you quite grasp what Arthur C Clarke was going for with this one.

  • Donebrach@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    “They’re just one bad apple” in reference to (more often than not) shitty cops, but also for most malcontents in a position of public trust. This a misappropriation of the aphorism “one bad apple spoils the bunch” which is literally saying that if there’s one bad actor in a group, the entire group is comprised.

  • Ilovethebomb@lemmy.ml
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    1 year ago

    “think of how stupid the average person is, and then think half of them are dumber than that”

    So heavily overused.

    • Rikudou_Sage@lemmings.world
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      1 year ago

      Well, maple syrup is thicker than blood, so should I move to Canada?

      It’s sad that such an answer isn’t possible in my language, our version goes “blood is not water”.

  • juiceclaws@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    “Customer is always right” isn’t a trump card for customers to win disputes with the staff. When it comes to matters of preference, yes, the customer is always right. Ketchup on ice cream? Great. Down jacket and shorts? Sure thing! If it makes you happy and you’re paying for it then you’re always right.

    In most other matters though, customers are usually wrong. The idea that random people off the street know more about the products and the way a business should be run than the actual people selling said products and running said business is absolutely ridiculous.

    • jivemasta@reddthat.com
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      1 year ago

      I think the original quote was something along the lines of, “the customer is always right, in mattera of taste”. Meaning to accommodate the customers wishes, even if it’s ugly or a bad idea or whatever. Like if they want to paint their house pink with green trim, let them

      • deadbeef79000@lemmy.nz
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        1 year ago

        I think it’s even broader than that.

        If customers want green socks, sell green socks.

        It would be have been better said as demand is always right (not supply).

  • XEAL@lemm.ee
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    1 year ago

    “You must be funny at parties”

    Specially if you’re not around, bitch

  • leaky_shower_thought@feddit.nl
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    1 year ago

    That trickle-down economics quote. There’s studies about it [not working] published but it’s just studies.

    The original quote is “If you feed enough oats to the horse, some will pass through to feed the sparrows” from Galbraith.

    I imagine people are not yet ready to learn this “promise” ain’t holding water.

    • CileTheSane@lemmy.ca
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      1 year ago

      The original quote is “If you feed enough oats to the horse, some will pass through to feed the sparrows” from Galbraith.

      If my goal is to feed sparrows that’s a very costly and inefficient method. I also end up with an overweight horse.

  • TheInsane42@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    “Survival of the fittest” when used to indicate the stongest should survive. Instead of the one best suited for (fitting) the situation.

  • Okokimup@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    Anything described as “just common sense.” No, it’s knowledge/awareness that you picked up from your particular environment. Not everyone has had the same exposure as you.

    • Rhynoplaz@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      I’ve found that “common sense” just means “things that I believe, but I can’t explain why”.

    • crapwittyname@lemmy.ml
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      1 year ago

      “Common sense is just the set of prejudices acquired by the age of eighteen.”

      ~Albert Einstein

    • hemko@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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      1 year ago

      I think you’re misunderstanding it. Do what you do, you’re going to break something anyways just don’t half-ass it. Just like there’s a graveyard behind every doctor, there’s a pile of mistakes behind every sysadmin.