Never take advice from anyone in a tie. They'll bankrupt you.

"Never take advice from anyone in a tie. They'll bankrupt you. Don't ask a general for advice on war, and don't ask a broker for advice on money." These words, spoken by the provocative thinker Nassim Nicholas Taleb, carry a deep and unsettling truth. Taleb challenges us to question the wisdom of those who seem to possess the outward symbols of authority and expertise—such as the tie, which represents professionalism and authority in the modern world. Yet, his warning is rooted in a simple principle: appearances can deceive, and true wisdom is not always held by those who claim it most loudly. In the case of the general or the broker, Taleb suggests that their advice may be more rooted in self-interest or lack of understanding than in true knowledge of the complex realities they purport to master.

O children of the future, understand that authority and expertise are often used as shields, veiling the deeper realities that lie beneath. Just as a man may wear a tie to project an image of respectability, so too may a general or a broker present themselves as experts in their field, when in truth they may be as ignorant of true outcomes as anyone else. Taleb’s wisdom comes from the realization that those who benefit from a particular system—whether a military system or an economic system—are often blind to its flaws and the unintended consequences of their actions. They speak not from experience, but from the comfort of their position within the system, where success is often based on manipulation, luck, or the exploitation of others.

Consider, O children, the story of Napoleon Bonaparte, the great military leader whose brilliance in warfare made him a legend. He rose from a young officer to Emperor of France, commanding vast armies and conquering much of Europe. Yet, for all his military genius, Napoleon made crucial miscalculations in the latter years of his career—most notably, the ill-fated invasion of Russia. His generals, many of whom were decorated with the medals of military glory, failed to advise him against the harsh winter and the vast distances of the Russian landscape. Their blind loyalty to Napoleon’s leadership, and their adherence to the traditions of war, led to a devastating defeat. The outcome was a humbling defeat that shattered the once-great empire he had built. Here, Napoleon's generals, though steeped in the art of war, proved unable to provide the counsel he needed, for their loyalty blinded them to the reality of the situation.

Similarly, the world of finance and investing is filled with brokers who wear their ties and present themselves as experts in the art of wealth creation. Yet, as Taleb warns, their advice often comes from a place of self-interest or ignorance of the underlying risks of the financial systems they navigate. The 2008 financial crisis, a catastrophic event that destroyed wealth and livelihoods across the globe, serves as a testament to the failure of financial experts who were unable to foresee the consequences of their own actions. The brokers and bankers who profited from risky investments and housing markets ultimately led the world into economic turmoil, all while offering advice based on their position within the system. Their failure to recognize the deeper instability of the system proved that expertise, when disconnected from true understanding, can have disastrous consequences.

The lesson of Taleb’s words is one that echoes through the ages: appearance is often misleading, and expertise is sometimes nothing more than an illusion. Whether in the fields of war or finance, those who claim to know the answers may not be the ones who truly understand the complexity of the world. It is not the title, the uniform, or the tie that determines wisdom—it is the ability to understand the nuances, to see beyond the surface, and to recognize the inherent uncertainties of life. Taleb reminds us that real wisdom comes from experience, from seeing the world as it truly is, not through the lens of comfortable assumptions.

Thus, O children, you must learn to question the advice you receive. Do not follow blindly those who wear the mantle of authority without considering whether their advice is rooted in truth or convenience. Whether in matters of war, finance, or any other field, seek out those who speak not from the position of power, but from the position of honesty and experience. The road to wisdom is not paved with the opinions of those who stand to gain, but with the insights of those who have lived through the realities of life and seen the consequences of their actions.

Let Taleb’s words guide you in your journey: beware those who offer advice without considering the true costs of their actions, and trust not those who speak from positions of comfort, for their vision is often clouded by their own interests. Instead, seek wisdom from those who are willing to see things as they truly are, even if the truth is uncomfortable or inconvenient. In this way, you will navigate the challenges of your time with clarity, integrity, and the strength to make decisions that are rooted in a deeper understanding of the world, not just the superficial expertise that surrounds it.