Transcription
Charlie, so many of the people who come here, um, come because they're looking for advice, not on business or investments as much as they're looking for just advice on life. There are a lot of questions today, people trying to figure out what the secret to life is, to a long and happy life. And I just wonder if you were, that is easy because it's so simple. What is, you don't have a lot of envy, you don't have a lot of resentment, you don't overspend your income, you stay cheerful in spite of your troubles, you deal with reliable people, and you do what you're supposed to do. And all these simple rules work so well to make your life better, and they're so trite. How old were you when you figured this out? About seven. I could tell that some of my older people were a little bonkers. I've always been able to recognize and other people were a little bonkers, and it helped me because there's so much irrationality in the world. And I've been thinking about it for a long time, its causes and its preventions and so forth. It sure has helped me. And like staying cheerful with, because of the wise thing to do is that so hard? And can you be cheerful when you're absolutely mired in deep hatred and resentment? Of course you can't. So why would you take it on?
Any advice you would go back and give your 20-year-old self? I have not. Many of my children have worked out well, and I've had very little to do with it. I think they come into the world to a certain extent pre-made, and you just sit there and watch. I, I, I, I don't think they're. It's been simply amazing to me as a parent to note how much is sort of preordained. The shy baby is a shy adult. The booming, obnoxious, domineering baby is the blooming, domineering, obnoxious adult. I have never found a way to fix that. [Laughter] I can be careful about it, but I can't fix it. I can change my reaction, but I can't change the outcome.
Well, Charlie, I want to thank you so much for your time today. It's really been a pleasure being here.