One of the most special weaknesses of human nature is being concerned about how others perceive oneself. The three conditions that determine a person's wealth are: first, background; second, luck; and third, effort. Among these three, effort is the least significant. In the grand scheme of the universe, a person's life is no more important than that of an oyster. Freedom is not about being able to do whatever you want, but rather about having the choice not to do what you don't want to.