1. The intellect will always profit by the acquisition of any knowledge whatsoever, for thus what is useless will be expelled from it, and what is fruitful will remain. It is impossible either to hate or to love a thing without first acquiring knowledge of it.

    Thoughts on Art and Life

  2. The completeness of Iceland's National Register has eliminated the need for the country to conduct a regular census: population statistics can be obtained by simply querying the database.

    Iceland are way ahead of the rest of us. (emphasis mine, source)

  3. Fascinating — Konrad Lorenz compares cultural revolution with exoskeleton-clad Arthropods shedding their shells:

    The act of demolishing carefully erected structures, though indispensable if better adapted ones are to arise, is always followed by a period of vulnerability.

    On Aggression