Introduction: Passing the pearls -- "If it were easy, everybody would do it" -- "The big picture is a bunch of little details" -- "Don't ever mix your ego and your ignorance" -- "Sometimes the easy answer is the right one" -- "If you aim at nothing, you're always going to hit it" -- "Why get mad? you've never been any good" -- "Patience is an overrated virtue" -- "You can't teach talent, but you can sure screw it up" -- "Take care of the people you meet, and they will take care of you" -- "Stop worrying about the socks."