Today's quote

"It is crucial to establish a reputation for toughness. Remember that when you punish your son, you have lost the battle but are winning the war: the discomfort of imposing discipline should be weighed against the future misbehaviour you are preventing. [...] Perhaps this all seems like common sense, but you should be aware that two Nobel prizes have been awarded for this analysis. Economists have worked hard to demonstrate to you that sometimes you have to be cruel to be kind." - Tim Harford, Dear Undercover Economist (2009)