Another of my favorite passages from Atlas shrugged. which does not qualify for the blockbuster category is a statement by Francisco d’Anconia. Jim Taggart, who is about to enter his senior year of college, tells Francisco that the millions of dollars he is about to inherit are not for his personal enjoyment, but rather for a “trust “which should be used for the benefit of the underprivileged and the poor.
Francisco responds, “It is not advisable, James, to risk unsolicited opinions. You should save yourself the embarrassing discovery of their exact value to your listener.
I almost never appreciate unsolicited advice. I try to model that by not giving advice without first asking if it’s welcome.
The passage tangentially reminds me of an Allan Sherman song titled “Good advice.” I still remember the chorus:
And it was good advice, good advice,
Good advice costs nothing and is worth the price.